Drug
Guanfacine
Pronounced
"GWAN-fuh-seen"
Uses
This medication is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as part of a total treatment plan including psychological, educational, and social measures. Unlike other drugs used to treat ADHD, guanfacine is not a stimulant. The exact way that guanfacine works to treat ADHD is unknown. Guanfacine is thought to affect receptors in the parts of the brain that lead to strengthening working memory, reducing distraction, and improving attention and impulse control. Guanfacine may help lessen ADHD symptoms such as being disruptive, inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive, and arguing with adults or losing one's temper.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start using guanfacine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily in the morning or evening. Do not take this medication with a high-fat meal. Doing so may increase the amount of drug you absorb, leading to increased side effects. Swallow this medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or split tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects.
Do not switch between different forms of this medication without talking with your doctor, because different forms of this medication may not provide the same amount of guanfacine.
Use this medication exactly as prescribed. The dosage is based on your medical condition, weight, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
To reduce the risks of side effects (such as low blood pressure, slow heart rate, drowsiness), your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Do not take more or less medication or take it more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster and your risks of side effects will increase. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Also, you may experience symptoms such as headache, nervousness, agitation, tremor, fast heartbeat, and high blood pressure. To prevent these symptoms while you are stopping treatment with this drug, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Report any new or worsening symptoms right away.
Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.