Guanfacine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Jer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2019

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I'm an 18-year-old male. I've been taking ADHD medications since I was 7 years old. The big problem I had with them is anxiety. I was taking 80mg Vyvanse previously and was able to drop it to 60mg with 1mg Intuniv. This worked great and helped solve some of my anxiety. Since my workload has increased dramatically, I had to once more increase my doses slightly. It's my first day on 70mg of Vyvanse and 2mg Intuniv. Honestly, this medication is very good. As a little bonus, I find it really helps control and notice one's own impulsive behaviors. Overall, very good. I'll keep you posted on how the 2mg on Intuniv works. (I'm 155 lbs, 5'10. Started Intuniv 5 months ago.)"

• Kyl...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 24, 2021

For ADHD "I've been on guanfacine since I was a child. I have also had severe anxiety, depression, suicidality, and other fun stuff when I hit puberty. It got worse and worse and worse. I was never happy. I was always scared. Nothing I did, no drug I was put on, ever made a single difference at all, and I thought I was irrevocably unable to get better. I never thought it was the guanfacine until I couldn't afford all my meds, so I couldn't fill it that month. And then I got better. Significantly better. I was genuinely happy. My anxiety decreased dramatically. I actually felt like I was living life. Eventually, I figured it out. It was the guanfacine. That was the only change in my life that could account for that. I looked closely at the website for it, and I found out that it was a depressant. They try to avoid outright saying it, but if you research it enough, and know what to look for, you find out it is. It literally gave me depression I didn't have. I was miserable for nine years."

• Lim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2019

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I’ve been experiencing side effects that make my day-to-day life very difficult. I’m dizzy, I feel like my vision is blacking out when I walk, I’m extremely lethargic, and find myself sleeping all the time. I’ve been having stomach problems, a high heartbeat (and I thought Intuniv was supposed to subdue you), an extremely dry mouth, and so much anxiety. I haven’t even noticed any positive changes in my ability to focus since I’m constantly disoriented or asleep."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2020

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I'd give this NEGATIVE stars if I could. It caused me to pass out when I got up to use the bathroom one night. I lost my sense of self, felt more tired than normal, had worse anxiety. I would not recommend this garbage drug."

• SF1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2020

For ADHD "I have bipolar 2 and ADD inattentive type. Bipolar is well controlled with meds, but social anxiety, mental fuzziness, and my ability to recall things I know have stayed the same or gotten worse even though I take Dex. Just over a month ago, I started guanfacine 2 mg at bedtime and 1 mg on arising. Memory and mental sharpness have improved. I now use PRN Xanax rarely instead of daily and finally feel comfortable being myself on social occasions. Dr. Dodson at ADDitude magazine says the drug is a miracle for 1 in 3 patients. I feel lucky."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2022

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I have been using Intuniv 2 mg alongside Adderall IR 30-40 mg/day. I have been on the Adderall for many years, and it is very helpful for planning, focus, and following through with things, but it most definitely has some side effects that are related to its stimulant effects: anxiety, restlessness, agitation, etc., which are all pretty normal for stimulants. Lowering the dose of the stimulant can help, but then the positive benefits are not as pronounced, in my experience. After a few months of discussing this with my doctor, we decided to try guanfacine ER (Intuniv). My experiences with this drug combination have been life-changing. If you look up 'guanfacine and stimulants' on PubMed or Google, you will see there are a number of studies that show they synergize very well. I feel as though I have all of the benefits from the Adderall, but now the anxiety and restlessness are very much turned down. The effects of both seem to last all day. I am also sleeping better. Amazing."

• Who...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "43 years old male, ADHD and anxiety. I'm also on Dexedrine 10 mg twice a day. This medication is definitely not for me. At week 2, I couldn't take my stimulants anymore, had the D/Ts, massive anxiety attacks. I tried to ride it out for a month, but I just got more anxiety, depression, and insomnia. I will stop this med and am not looking forward to the rebound hypertension and whatever else nasty happens. Not a good option for me."

• Who...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "43 years old male, ADHD and anxiety. I'm also on Dexedrine 10 mg twice a day. This medication is definitely not for me. At week 2, I couldn't take my stimulants anymore, had the D/Ts, massive anxiety attacks. I tried to ride it out for a month, but I just got more anxiety, depression, and insomnia. I will stop this med and am not looking forward to the rebound hypertension and whatever else nasty happens. Not a good option for me."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2011

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I am currently taking Vyvanse and Intuniv. I am 16 years old, and I have ADD. I am on week 2 of the Intuniv. I have noticed that every time I get up from sitting down or laying down, I get very dizzy. I haven't felt sleepy or tired, but I think that's just because I am taking the Vyvanse too. I am taking Intuniv to try to cancel out the anxiety side effect of the Vyvanse. I haven't noticed a difference at all. I am just very frustrated at this point. I have tried almost every ADD medicine out there. I still have impulses and still am a perfectionist. I am still hoping that it will improve over time."

• Dav...
• September 15, 2017

For ADHD "I take guanfacine 1 mg twice daily. It has three benefits in my case. It lowers blood pressure, reduces anxiety, and augments some of the side effects from stimulant medication. Quick story: I took stimulants for years, then developed anxiety to the point where I could no longer handle taking stimulants anymore. I discontinued the stimulants, but the anxiety persisted. I began benzodiazepine medication early in my college years. Eventually, the benzos stopped working, and my anxiety was even worse. I started guanfacine and really began to notice a difference. I stopped taking the benzos easily. My blood pressure and anxiety were under control, and I started back on the stimulants again. Lo and behold, the stimulant medication was tolerable again."

• Sar...
• July 15, 2016

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "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."

• pil...
• September 19, 2020

For Tourette's Syndrome "I've been on guanfacine for 10 years for Tourette's. At first, I was young, so I didn't understand what it was doing to me. Skip a few years later. I go on Google and search the side effects of guanfacine. As soon as I read all of them, I realized that I always felt those side effects. So I talked with a family therapist, and they told me to go off of it to see what it would do. I went slowly from 3 mg to 2 mg until I didn't take it anymore (to acclimate). Literally, all my side effect symptoms have gone away, I have so much energy. I can finally let out all my testosterone without packing it into a bag. I don't have difficulty breathing, stuffy noses, anxiety-just straight up nothing. Like a normal person. I tic a lot, but who cares? I'd rather be a crazy person who can let out all their energy than be on guanfacine, which turns people into zombies. Pills should only be necessary if you have extreme stuff that you need the pills to fix. But that's it. Don't take children's happiness and energy with this."

• ADH...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2023

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I have found Intuniv (guanfacine ER) to be a tremendously helpful medication. I take it with Vyvanse, 60 mg/day. The primary reason I started Intuniv was because I was having issues with jitters and anxiety on the Vyvanse. It was frustrating because I absolutely had moments where I felt great and had brilliant focus, but I would sometimes get stuck in these rumination loops, anxieties, etc. CBT therapy helped a little, but I saw Dr. Russell Barkley talk about how Intuniv can be taken with a stimulant to help with emotional control, so I asked my psychiatrist about it, and he knew all about Intuniv. I eventually settled on 4 mg/day. I am way more 'chill' these days, yet still very much me. I just feel more level-headed. The only downside is this drug can make you tired, and it can have a bit of a notorious hypotension side effect. Occasionally, I would be tired and winded, which was not dangerous but from low blood pressure. Taking the medication at night has helped this completely."

• Asp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2023

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I am a 44-yr-old male with Asperger's, OCD, major depression, and ADHD. I take 140 mg of Vyvanse, which does work great but gives me the jitters and increased anxiety, which interferes with the focus and attention of the stimulant. Three days ago, the doctor added Intuniv, and I feel calm, focused, less impulsive, and even serene and quite 'zen.' A great medication."

• Mor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 25, 2025

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I have been on this medication for 1.5 years, I started on this as a solution to some of my bad ADHD sides. I was very happy with the medication, it has worked wonders for me. Recently, I decided that it's about time to step out of Intuniv. Stopping this medication is kinda rough, at least it was for me. I was at 1 mg depot medication for the entire period. When quitting, I got anxiety, high blood pressure, fast pulse, etc., for 3-4 weeks. The withdrawal symptoms were rough for me, but I was still happy with the medication as I was in way worse shape when I started it and really needed the help."

• sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2022

For Tourette's Syndrome "Every medication works differently for everyone. As it worked for a lot of people, it didn't work for me. It made my tics worse, I was having tic attacks every night, and that led to being tired all day the next day. One of the side effects is 'anxiety,' and I really felt it. The anxiety made my tics a lot worse, I switched about a week later."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I don't recommend taking this drug, Intuniv. 18 male, 63 kg, 170 cm. Was prescribed for my ADHD and anxiety, 2 mg. All the way, first 2 weeks only tired, but concentration improved. 3rd week was real bad, I got extremely anxious, random panic attacks all the time, heart pain, dark thoughts, started crying every other hour, was exhausted and irritated, also lost control of my emotions, got angry out of nowhere. And worst of it was that I forgot who I was sometimes, panicked because I couldn’t remember my parents. Please don’t take this drug, look for something else, stimulants or whatever, but Intuniv can destroy your life or make it much worse."

• Moj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2018

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I've been taking Intuniv in conjunction with Vyvanse for five months now and managed to work my way up to 6 mg before going back down. It's an odd medication, initially, I had experienced constipation, fatigue, and sleepiness for the first two months. This was followed by insomnia when I started taking 5 or 6 mg. I've been feeling very anxious lately, I'm not sure if that's due to jumping down from 6 to 4 mg yesterday or not having slept for more than 4 hours per day for the last few weeks. The Intuniv reduces the emotional blunting I get from a low dose of Vyvanse, but I haven't felt like it does much if I take more than 30 mg of the stimulant."

• Abc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 11, 2022

Intuniv (guanfacine) for ADHD "I'm an 18-year-old taking this alongside Concerta for my ADHD. I was put on Intuniv because of high blood pressure and tics from the main stimulant, but I can't say that I noticed a real positive difference. I kept crashing in the middle of the day and couldn't continue working until I took a nap, but I still even felt tired after that. Constantly dizzy and nauseous in the afternoons while taking anything above 1 mg. I even started experiencing anxiety, which has never been an issue before. 1 mg is working fine for me right now, but I got up to 4 mg, which was definitely way too high. I might've been better off just asking to switch the main stimulant rather than taking 2 ADHD medications at once. I will say this definitely helped my tics, but I ended up having low blood pressure and felt tired all the time despite being naturally high energy. It just kind of took the life out of me. I can see why this would be good for a child if you don't like stimulants, but it's just not for me."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2024

Tenex (guanfacine) "I have inattentive ADD and have tried stimulants but never felt they worked as well as other people say. Ritalin 20 mg a day gives me energy when my brain is all over the place in the morning but nothing else. I still struggle to organize myself and sometimes Ritalin triggers my anxiety, and I get less done than without it. With Guanfacine, at first, I felt it was not working, and I just felt more calm, but I realized I was getting more organized, I was looking at the bigger picture, and I was cleaning without thinking about it at night (never in my life). My emotions are a lot better, and I have energy in the evening to do things instead of feeling horribly exhausted. I have clear thoughts. I love it. I don't know why I was given Tenex instead of the LR, but it has worked for me up to now more than stimulants. My brain seems clear, and even my handwriting is better. It fixes some part of my ADD I had never seen. Could it be executive function? I am 32."