Guanfacine for ADHD User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

Intuniv (guanfacine) "I love Intuniv! It takes time to help with focus, but it started helping with my anxiety within the first week of taking it. I take it in the morning since I take clonidine at night to help me sleep. It made me tired at first, but that eventually went away. Definitely try clonidine and Intuniv if you respond poorly to stimulants!"

• mary
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2016

Intuniv (guanfacine) "This has to be taken at least 3 weeks to see if it works/get adjusted to the body. This has been a transformation for my little brother age 6, still in kindergarten. He used to be very moody and seemed to get very hyper all the time. I would recommend this med to anyone suffering from ADHD and other behavioral issues. Side effects seem to be tolerable and get less over time. I have had mild headaches and vivid dreams."

• jmsdoe
• October 30, 2016

Intuniv (guanfacine) "Our son has been on Intuniv for 3 years. We started in kindergarten when he was diagnosed with ADHD. He is very impulsive, not easily compliant, with underlying anxiety. The behavioral issues in school were challenging, so we began at 1mg. A BIG NOTE HERE: I have read reviews, and I'm surprised a doctor prescribes this medication to a patient at a higher dosage! Always start at 1mg and increase as time goes on, if needed. My son was on 1mg for a year, then we increased to 2mg in October. By the following summer, I reduced back to 1mg. However, had to raise it again one month into school. We were able to get through that school year on 2mg. Now, in Year 3, we increased to 3mg 3 days ago. Does anyone have experience with 3mg with their 8-year-old? He is very sleepy as he adjusts and irritable, takes naps, wakes up, and seems happy again."

• Scared...
• October 22, 2014

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My son was given Intuniv on October 8th of this year. He was on it for eleven days when he started having really bad uncomfortable full body tics. I stopped the medication Sunday night. It's now Wednesday, and he's still having tics. The doctor says it will wear off, but as parents, it's very scary."

• LEO...
• December 20, 2017

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My child has Asperger's and ADHD combined. Today is day one for my six-year-old being on this medication: 1 mg extended release. This is the first medication I have ever had him on aside from Tylenol or ibuprofen once in a while when he doesn't feel good. He took the medication last night around 7:30 p.m. He had a bit of a meltdown today, not as long-lasting as it has been. He cleaned up everything, then started crying silently at his desk. His teacher said he hasn't done that before. She asked if he needed a break, and he said yes. He proceeded to fall asleep in his 'safe place' in the classroom (under the teacher's desk) from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. She tried to get him up several times, but he fell back to sleep. The pharmacist said it's normal for about 2 weeks. More to come..."

• Anonymous
• May 29, 2010

Intuniv (guanfacine) "I'm a 19-year-old male college student. I've been on Strattera 100 mg (another non-stimulant like Intuniv) for the last 4-5 years, but I wanted to try another drug because Strattera is starting to be less effective. While on Intuniv, I've noticed that it is doing what it's supposed to (decrease in anxiety, hyperactivity, and increase in focus), but the side effects are almost not worth it. I've been on Intuniv for two weeks now, and I've been on the 3 mg capsule for the last few days. But, I don't know if I'll be able to finish out the month due to a number of things. I've experienced extreme dry mouth, headaches, INCREASED appetite, and extreme fatigue at awkward hours. I've also found it impossible to wake up in the mornings."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 26, 2014

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My 9-year-old son has been taking Intuniv for about a year now and has greatly improved his behavior, mood, impulse control, and more. Both myself and his dad suffer from ADHD as well but need Adderall to manage. I was so happy to see a non-stimulant medicine work so well. The only problem we've had is excessive weight gain (excess of 30 lbs in 1 year). To the point it's very worrisome. Appointment is set to switch to something new."

• Conce...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2015

Intuniv (guanfacine) "Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: My son is 8 years old and has started taking Intuniv for his behavior, concentration, and mood swings. He does have CP. He has never been diagnosed with ADHD so that concerned me when the neurologist wanted to put him on Intuniv. He's taking 1mg at night and I have to tell you he is a new boy! He's cooperative, sleeping well, and he is doing better in class."

• JaneKB
• September 27, 2017

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My eight-year-old started this medication after a failed trial of stimulants. Prior to that, he had extensive behavioral therapy. In addition to ADHD, he has a tic disorder and sleep onset disorder. The stimulants exacerbated his tic, causing muscle strain and pain. This medication has helped with all of the above and takes the edge off of his difficult personality. He will now sit still and read a book. He is still irritable at times, but this has always been a problem for him; I don't feel this medication has made it any worse. Last year, his standardized test showed below-basic comprehension. The school feels this was due to his lack of impulse control on multiple-choice tests more than a lack of knowledge. We've got high hopes for a better school year."

• Aussie...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 26, 2019

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My son has anxiety and mild ADHD. He had about 3 months on Ritalin and Concerta, and after coming off it, I know he is far worse than he was before. Intuniv is a better option for him and helps him when struggling to focus at school. He is also on Lexapro for anxiety. He can only take 1 mg Intuniv, as it makes him tired. I have just started to give him his dose straight after school, as I figure it might help him stop feeling so tired in the last period of school, as this is a problem for him. We live in Australia, so it only costs me $5.50 for 28 tablets. I feel for you all having to pay those ridiculous prices for medicine and hospitalization."

• Vana...
• April 14, 2017

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My son took generic for about 6 months. His Dr. actually prescribed it to him to help him sleep. He has ADHD combined type with emotion dysregulation. I actually can't believe it was prescribed to help control ADHD behaviors. My son was taking Vyvanse during the day, then Guanfacine at night. It made him extremely irritable and tired. I took him off both of the meds. He's hyper but a whole lot less frustrated, that's for sure."

• Humbl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 16, 2022

Intuniv (guanfacine) "I have been on various doses of Adderall for years and simply put, it has changed my life. I went from being pretty undirected in life - to finding a truly niche career, buying a house, having kids, and perhaps most of all, just feeling more in control of my life than ever. Adderall has been a miracle for me. However, I have also always struggled with anxiety. I was actually initially hesitant to even try a stimulant because of this, but I find Adderall sometimes helps anxiety. All of this said, I eventually added Intuniv/guanfacine ER to my Adderall and WOW, it was like the final 'missing piece' was found. I get the huge benefit of the Adderall without the over-the-top jitters and ruminations amphetamine can cause. Curiously, even my skin looks better (it has basically stopped the Raynaud's from Adderall). I am sleeping a lot deeper, find sitting and working easier, and I think it's worth noting, I seem to be able to drink a few cups of coffee again without much issue."

• Jayds...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 24, 2016

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My son is 14 and has Tourette's and ADHD. He was put on Intuniv, and it has helped with his focus and his tics. At first, he was extremely tired, but after taking it for a bit, that part is not as bad. The teacher noticed a big improvement. Luckily, there have been no other side effects. We started at 1 mg and are now on 3 mg. It is my son's choice whether he wants to be on meds or not. He had chosen to go off for a bit in the summer, and then, once back in school, he wasn't doing so great, so he chose to go back on it. It really helps with the tics."

• Mom
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2018

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My 8-year-old daughter started this medication to help her behavior in school along with her other stimulant medication she takes for ADHD. This medication increased her irritability, aggression, and changed her happy, sweet self. It did not help her, it made her symptoms worse. Took her off of it as it didn't improve anything besides making her overly tired and grumpy. Increasing her bad behavior. Stimulants work best, but will try more behavioral therapy along with her current medication that helps, as Intuniv didn't help any behavior issues and being impulsive in my daughter."

• Insur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2013

Intuniv (guanfacine) "25-year-old female taking 3mg of Intuniv. I started Intuniv while I was unemployed. It does really help with my focus, keeps me from being super hyper, and helped my blood pressure. During this time, I would take a lot of naps during the day or even just sleep in till noon. I thought it was just me liking naps and not having much to do during the day. Well, I started a new job a month ago and have been falling asleep at my desk. I thought it was another medicine, but it did turn out to be my Intuniv. So, my doctor is having me go down in dose to see if lower doses will help or not. If not, he will be putting me on another medication. I also tried not taking it for a couple of days, but it caused withdrawal symptoms at the end of day 2."

• Jacob
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2021

Intuniv (guanfacine) "I can personally say from taking this medication for 5 years I've been okay. I've experienced sleepiness, withdrawal effects, and more severe symptoms. I'm 18 years old as of this month, and most people have good effects while on the drug, but after 5 years I've finally decided to quit. Wish me luck, I'll report back if I see any changes-that's if I remember my old self."

• Sarai
• July 15, 2016

Intuniv (guanfacine) "I had been taking Intuniv for a week at 10 mg. 32-year-old female, for ADD. Yesterday, out of the blue at night, I started getting brain zaps. My anxiety got so high I felt my heart was going to explode. I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin. It was an utter nightmare, and I ended up in the ER. I was afraid I was losing touch with reality. I'm still feeling anxious now too. I am never touching this med again. I just hope it gets out of my system soon. I can't believe they give it to kids. I almost went psychotic! It was a nightmare drug for me. Be careful, please. Even at a low dose, it can cause a nasty reaction. I'm also bipolar, so that might have played a role in it too."

• Rodgert
• June 19, 2018

Intuniv (guanfacine) "Male adult ADHD, mostly inattentive (but restless on the inside!), also bipolar type 2. I was on Ritalin for about a year and had a lot of problems with a dry and stuffy nose with frequent infections. Atomoxetine had similar effects: sleepy, nasal stuffiness, premature ejaculation (only ejaculation was premature). Intuniv actually reversed nasal dryness, my nose never felt better. Intuniv has both stimulating and calming effects, and my mood generally is better. I have more frequent urination at night, I often have to get up at 5 a.m. to go to the bathroom. Sometimes it is hard to get back to sleep, but then usually instant-release Clonidine helps (Clonidine has helped for problems with insomnia). I have NOT had any problems with sexual side effects on Intuniv, which is great. Perhaps only a slight increase in libido, but it could be due to improvement in mood as well. Appetite is normal, it has helped me lose a little weight. Ritalin used to give me increased hunger and sugar cravings."

• Paren...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2019

"We struggled with ADHD and SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) since our son was around 3 years old (was not diagnosed until age 6-7). We used a supplement called RelaxMax, which worked well for the first year (2nd grade). When that stopped working, we started on guanfacine 1 mg (age 9). Lots of issues at first - very tired, upset stomach. But the change at school was near immediate. That was good for 2-3 weeks and seemed to fade. So we upped to 2 mg and had the same thing happen. Upped to 3 mg and was still having tiredness around 3-4 pm, so the doctor advised switching to dosing at night. Now everything is normal, and we've been on 3 mg for a few months now, and the change in his behaviors has been life-altering. We are thankful to have found something that works that was a non-stimulant. Our advice - keep talking to your doctor and trying different things with it because everyone is different. Don't give up if the first try doesn't work because it's so worth it when you figure out the right dose combined with other factors."

• MomOf...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 17, 2015

Intuniv (guanfacine) "This medication has been a life changer. Adding it to the Concerta helped with the emotional sensitivity, fidgeting, and focus. No side effects other than a little sleepiness, and that wore off after a couple of weeks. We recently got the generic, and it did not work nearly as well. We had side effects from it, but not the brand name."

• idaho...
• October 6, 2014

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My son took this for a couple of years. At first, it was very effective, and I was excited to have a non-stimulant medication to treat his ADHD. It did make him sleepy, and that was problematic, and then its effectiveness wore off."

• Momma...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2015

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My 8-year-old son has high-functioning Autism and ADHD. This is a blessing for him. He used to run all over the place before we found this. He drives us crazy! Now he's way calmer and doesn't run from me. I can now take him out without him driving me crazy. I'm bipolar, so you know that it was hard on me. He has been on this for over a year now."

• Rach
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 6, 2020

"My son was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and prescribed guanfacine when he began kindergarten to help with his hyperactivity and trouble focusing. He was initially put on Vyvanse and did absolutely horrible! He had three major meltdowns regularly and couldn't be consoled. He lost 10 pounds in 1 month because he would not eat or drink. Then his doctor put him on guanfacine and it was like a light was switched. He’s been on it since, now age 11. Since he’s still growing, every so often his dose has been increased. He now takes 2 tablets in the morning and 1 at night. He is about due for another increase, but he does wonderful on it. It calms him to where he’s not bouncing off the walls (think Daffy Duck screaming woohoo!) Definitely wouldn't be able to function without it!"

• Anonymous
• October 31, 2010

Intuniv (guanfacine) "My son is 4 years old. I knew from a very young age he had ADHD because I see the same behaviors in my husband, and he was diagnosed as a child. It did take some getting used to. Like others have said, he was tired and emotional at first. He has been on Intuniv for about 6 months now, and I have seen great improvement. He has next to no aggression, he focuses a good bit better, but I still feel that could improve. Impulsive behavior is gone, he started caring about his actions and other people's feelings, and now he actually cares if he is in trouble. I am pleased, I feel like he is too young to try the heavier alternatives, and for us, we are happy with how he is doing."

• rglen...
• May 1, 2017

Intuniv (guanfacine) "Five days into starting on Intuniv XR (1 mg daily at bedtime) for mild hypertension, a massive panic attack occurred. I am a 52-year-old male with no prior history of such attacks. I stopped the medication the next day, but it continued at 100% intensity for five days straight. Sweating, shivers, tremors, moaning, racing pulse, hot flashes in face and extremities, tight sternum knot, stabbing pain in left chest. Constant feelings of hopelessness, despair, and suicide. Luckily, by day six it had dropped 50% strength, tapering off quickly at first, then more slowly over the next ten days. Three weeks later I still have palpitations and an inner tremor causing insomnia. The doctor refuses to believe it, but I'm convinced the drug caused the attack."