Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD online

Intuniv is not a stimulant or a controlled substance like other well-known ADHD medications, including Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) and Ritalin (methylphenidate). It’s an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that stimulates alpha-2 receptors in the brain. Alpha-2 receptors carry chemical signals between nerve cells. They’re associated with regulating attention and impulse control. When the receptors are activated, chemical signals decrease, which creates a sense of calm, increased focus, reduced hyperactivity, and better impulse control. 

For people with ADHD, Intuniv can help with attention, emotion, and behavior regulation. 

A 2020 study published in BMC Psychiatry found that adults treated with extended-release guanfacine reported significant improvement in the symptoms of ADHD within the first 6 weeks. Their ADHD symptoms continued to improve over the course of the study for up to 50 weeks. Study participants also reported improvements in their executive functioning and quality of life. 

Learn about stimulant vs non-stimulant ADHD medications.

Generic guanfacine comes in immediate-release and extended-release (ER) tablets. Intuniv is an extended-release formulation. Only guanfacine ER and Intuniv are used for ADHD.

Intunive and guanfacine ER come in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-milligram tablets

The typical recommended starting dose is 1 milligram a day. If needed, your provider will have you gradually increase your daily dose by 1 milligram a week, to find the most effective dose for you. The highest dose is typically 4 milligrams a day. Higher doses haven’t been evaluated in children and adolescents.

You want to take Intuniv or guanfacine around the same time each day — in the morning or at bedtime. Swallow the tablet whole rather than chewing, crushing, or breaking it. You can take it with or without food. But avoid taking it with meals that are high in fat, which can increase absorption, so you get too much medication at once. 

If you need to stop taking Intuniv or guanfacine ER, your provider will have you gradually decrease your dose by up to 1 milligram every 3 to 7 days.

More research needs to be done on Intuniv’s effectiveness for ADHD in adults and how it compares to other ADHD medications. 

Intuniv works similarly to clonidine, another non-stimulant alpha-2 agonist medication used off-label for ADHD in adults. A 2008 study in the Journal for Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment reported that compared to clonidine, guanfacine ER produces less sedation and fewer changes in blood pressure and pulse rate while effectively treating the ADHD symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Guanfacine ER also has a longer half-life than clonidine, so it stays in the body longer, and its effects last longer. It’s longer half-life means it can be taken once a day compared to clonidine’s twice a day dosing schedule. 

The first-line treatment for ADHD is usually a stimulant medication like Adderall or Ritalin. Compared to non-stimulants, like Intuniv, stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which improve mood, focus, and impulse control. Intuniv works differently by reducing norepinephrine levels and calming the sympathetic nervous system, providing a calming effect rather than increasing alertness. 

Non-stimulants are also not controlled substances. Stimulants are controlled substances and have the potential for misuse, abuse, and dependency.

If stimulants aren’t effective or have unwanted side effects for you, your provider may recommend an alpha-2 agonist, like Intuniv, instead of or alongside a stimulant like Adderall or Ritalin — a treatment method known as adjunctive or combination therapy. 

Adderall and Ritalin are FDA-approved to treat ADHD in adults and controlled substances that can lead to abuse, misuse, and dependence. Both have side effects that may include, but aren’t limited to, insomnia, decreased appetite, nausea, irritability, and increased heart rate. Clonidine’s side effects can include dry mouth, drowsiness, sedation, dizziness, or constipation.

Learn more about stimulant vs non-stimulant ADHD medications.