Guanfacine for ADHD User Reviews (Page 5)

• JNi...
• February 1, 2013

Guanfacine "My 7-year-old son has ADHD/ODD. His doctor has him on 10 mg Prozac and 30 mg of Vyvanse in the morning, and 3 mg of Intuniv before bedtime (she just upped it from 1 mg). Unfortunately, for the two days he's been on the increased Intuniv, each day he's gone to the nurse's office twice because he can't stay awake in class. Getting it reduced to 2 mg today and hoping he becomes less zombie-like."

• CSL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2015

Guanfacine "My 8-year-old daughter has been taking the medication for 4 months now, and although we have seen a good improvement in her behavior, the weight gain has been substantial. She has gained over 10 lbs in 4 months, which is incredibly unhealthy. Her blood pressure has also been on the very low side. Unfortunately for us, we can't risk the bad side effects even though we have seen a positive behavior change."

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

Guanfacine "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."

• Air...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 8, 2017

Guanfacine "I've been on Intuniv for about 10 months, and I am in high school. Intuniv has been working for me. I mean, the first few months I was really tired and was falling asleep in band class. But it has been working, I am not as tired anymore, but I get dizzy whenever I stand up, no matter how slow I stand up or drink water. I have been getting really mad lately, though. My mom won't let me change my meds, any ideas?"

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2020

"My goodness, this medication guanfacine was terrible for my daughter. It gave her awful hallucinations, and it broke my heart to see her that way. She would wake up out of her sleep screaming, 'Spiders are on me.' Then I thought she just had a bad dream. Nope. While she was awake, she jumped up and started screaming, jumping around and pointing at her arms, saying, 'Spiders.' My baby was torn to pieces. Then another time, we were all watching a cartoon movie, 'Trolls,' and she did it again. She jumped up crying so bad, saying, 'Mommy, please help me, they are going to get me. I'm scared.' She insisted they were really there and didn't understand why we couldn't see them. Knowing that really hurt her feelings and her self-esteem. I wouldn't try this on younger kids like my daughter, who is 7 years old, for ADHD. In sensitive kids, it is hard to restore that self-esteem they once had. It's a long road ahead of us, but that's my job as a mother to make sure she gets help, so I wish you all good luck."

• mot...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 18, 2012

Guanfacine "My daughter (11 years old) had been on Vyvanse, but was still struggling and experiencing accelerated heart rate. She was not eating, not sleeping, and losing weight. Grateful for the medication, but side effects were starting to be a problem. Doctor added Intuniv 2 mg on top of Vyvanse, and it was great. Seemed to offset all the negative caused by Vyvanse."

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2010

Guanfacine "We have had much success with our 11-year-old on this medication. He is conversing with us more and stays better focused on the task at hand (i.e., schoolwork). He is not as easily frustrated by things and has started sharing his feelings, which he never did before. He started on Tenex in August 2009, and we switched to Intuniv about two months ago. Tenex helped, but Intuniv seems to have really done the trick. We still have some issues, but everything is more tolerable for both him and us!"

• Use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2020

"I have taken many medications like Mirtazapine, Abilify, Klonopin, propranolol, and Vyvanse, and none of them have had side effects close to guanfacine. I’m not a doctor, but I can tell you guanfacine was the worst one by far. My doctor increased my dose from 1 mg to 4 mg after every week. I am an 18-year-old healthy male, and I can tell you this medication had horrible side effects. I felt like a zombie, was constantly tired, had trouble remembering the simplest of tasks, and avoided everyone I was around. This is not how everyone reacts to the drug, but I would just be careful and watch how it affects your body."

• shu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2025

"I am an adult female diagnosed with ADHD. I did not want to take a stimulant drug, so my psychiatrist put me on guanfacine 1 mg at night. At first, I had a dry mouth, but that went away, and I didn't experience a significant difference. Although, I have nothing to compare it to since it is the only medication I have tried. I had to think about if I saw any improvement when my doctor asked. I realized I was completing tasks promptly. Over time, my ability to focus on a conversation improved. My memory recall improved. Overstimulation decreased, and my patience vastly improved. Over time, I realized I was such a mess before being medicated. I no longer was constantly missing my turn while driving to a location. Amid my new diagnosis and medication, I took a math test, and I felt like I was seeing the world through different eyes. My immediate comprehension, retention, and ability to solve complex problems were something I had never experienced. I was blown away."

• Sta...
• March 15, 2017

"I just got diagnosed with ADHD, and my doctor prescribed me this medication. She told me I can take up to 4 mg a day, so I started myself off with 1 mg. I didn't like it for the first few days because I have 4 kids, a husband, a full-time job, and I'm a part-time student. I didn't like that this medicine was making me sleepy, so I stopped taking it. My friend that takes the same meds, and he has been taking it for some years, told me the trick. He said to take 1 mg at night when it's your bedtime, and it worked. Taking the meds right at bedtime helps a lot, so I won't be sleepy during the day, and then it only took the meds like 4/5 days to start working. When I say my brain is working like a living scanner, a picture in my head for everything now."

• Anonymous
• February 24, 2012

Guanfacine "Our son was diagnosed with ADHD at age 5. He just turned 9 and has been on every stimulant medication, sometimes at the highest dose. We know him as bright, funny, and very loving. Without medication, however, he can be a mean little bugger and cannot stay focused on a task. Because stimulant medications suppressed his appetite, he weighs only 60 pounds. We recently switched him from Vyvanse to Intuniv with great results, except... he has started having the worst gas issue and is afraid that his friends will tease him."

• DX-...
• May 6, 2010

Guanfacine "I am a 33-year-old female. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 10 years old. I have been on all the older ADD medicines: Ritalin, Vyvanse, and Focalin. This is my third week on Intuniv. I started on the 3 mg dose last night. I can hardly get up in the morning. I am so tired at work. When I get home, all I want to do is sleep. I am also so cranky. I am also noticing that I am having the famous 'ADD stare' often. I haven't had that in years. I started this medicine because the Concerta 72 mg I take every morning at 7 am is wearing off at 1 pm."

• cla...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 13, 2024

Guanfacine "I've been on Intuniv for the second time for a year. The first time I took this drug was in combination with a stimulant (Adderall) for many years, but now I take it alone because of stimulants causing me to have manic episodes. The effect of this drug on ADD is subtle, but I do believe that it works. I can't tell that it is helping me until I sit down and do my schoolwork (I'm working on my second degree), and I notice that I'm able to sit down and focus for several hours without getting up many times/fidgeting. The side effect of calmness is an added bonus. I take this drug 2 mg twice a day to cut back on how much it lowers my blood pressure at one time because I do experience dizziness and orthostatic hypotension with it. The effects are definitely not as noticeable as stimulants, but it's so much better for ADD than nothing at all. It also especially helps cut down on impulsivity. I would recommend trying this drug as an adult, but don't expect an overnight miracle from it."

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

Guanfacine "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."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2023

"My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD this year at age 5 1/2. She has had so many setbacks with her development, so the constant impulsiveness and inability to focus on anything was hindering her further. After 3 months of trying behavioral therapies, and multiple calls, messages, and meetings with school and daycare, we finally broke down and agreed to start a medication recommended by her PCP and child psychiatrist: guanfacine. We started the medication (1 mg ER daily) over holiday break to make sure she had time to adjust. At first, it made her very sleepy, but that only lasted 3-4 days. We started giving it to her at night so she would sleep through side effects. We have since found out that 3 am is the ‘sweet spot’ that will get her through the whole day. It’s been AMAZING. She still has her wild personality, and now the teacher says she’s the best behaved in class. She gets more positive feedback, which has helped her feel good about herself. The impulses are non-existent now."

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

Guanfacine "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."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2011

Guanfacine "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."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2019

"I love Tenex (guanfacine). My situation is a little different than other people taking this medication. I have a lot of paranoia and high anxiety due to my schizoaffective disorder. My psychiatrist actually started me on it to help control my anxiety. Before this, I was on Vistaril, which worked but made me very sleepy. The Tenex does not make me sleepy, I take 1 mg twice a day, and it has my anxiety almost completely under control. And it helps me be more focused too, so I can see why they prescribe this for ADHD so much. Been on it for about four months and have nothing but good things to say about it."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2017

"I am a 24-year-old male with ADHD, high-functioning ADD, as well as impulse control issues. I've only been on this medication for a few weeks now, but I can feel a strong difference in my ability to make decisions and keep a steady train of focus in everyday tasks. I am noticing, however, from these other experiences, that Guanfacine ER is not a medication for young children. I take 1 mg every morning when I wake up. It makes me a tad tired for the first hour or so, but after that, if I make my mind up to do something, I stick with it. I don't feel like I have no control over myself anymore. I highly recommend this more to adults 20-30. It seems to be more effective in that age range. But then again, I'm not a doctor."

• Mol...
• September 29, 2016

Guanfacine "Our 8-year-old son has done so much better with Intuniv. He takes 2 mg at night. I see posts on the cost, check a Canadian pharmacy. We only pay $450 for 90 days, brand. Otherwise, it would be $900 here in the States. You fax your prescription and they mail you a 3-month supply. No side effects for us."

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

Guanfacine "Intuniv worked terribly for me. I was prescribed it for ADHD, and it caused so many issues and fixed absolutely none. Dry mouth, low blood pressure (and in turn, dizziness and confusion), extreme tiredness no matter how much sleep I got, constipation, ear pain upon standing, painful dry eye, etc. I wouldn’t recommend."

• mcm...
• October 21, 2011

Guanfacine "My 7-year-old son has ADHD and has been on medicines since 3.5 years old. Right now, he's got two days left on his first week of 1 mg Intuniv before we go up a dose. The first few days, he was tired a bit, and all seemed to be improving on his defiance and irritation. We are on day 5, and at this point, I'm anxious to get going on the 2 mg dose as he seems to have simply gotten 'used to' the 1 mg dose. Update...started the 2 mg a few days ago and did not seem to have many issues. A bit sluggish, but nothing concerning. School called today, and he had THREE seizures. My son has no medical issues other than ADHD. Seizures are a very rare side effect of this medicine. Intuniv is definitely NOT for my son. Obviously."

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2019

Guanfacine "Well, I was taking Ritalin just by itself, which has helped immensely, but I needed something to make it last longer, as I would get mild comedowns between doses and need to take another dose before the 3-hour mark. Roughly about 2 hours and 40 minutes, I would feel the comedown, so I've started Intuniv with it. 1mg has been amazing, making it stretch out longer without having to also deal with the comedown and faster heart, etc. Now that I've started on 2mg, I notice I get really slow and tired, also sometimes a faster heart rate, but oxygen levels are still good. I think 2mg for me is too much, I might stick to 1mg. Overall, I think it's great, but yeah, for me, 2mg makes me feel like rubbish."

• Dav...
• September 15, 2017

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 3, 2017

"I don't know what you guys are talking about, guanfacine works really well. I take one 2.5 mg tablet every day, and right away, it shows a big improvement on my heart. I can breathe better, I can relax, and I can enjoy myself. 10/10."