Guanfacine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2011

Guanfacine for ADHD "My 12-year-old daughter was on Vyvanse and had great success with it, but after the end of the school year, the doctor and I decided to switch to something else during the summer. After 5 days on Intuniv at 1 mg, she was lethargic, cranky, and feeling downright gloomy. I also noticed she was starting to stutter. We discontinued the Intuniv immediately."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2011

Guanfacine for ADHD "I was put on Intuniv because I have schizophrenia and ADHD, as I can't take the stimulant-type medications. I used the starter kit and did not notice any improvement in my focus or attention. I was so tired I was falling asleep at 7-9 pm at night and waking up at 6-7 in the morning. I went to table tennis and was just a zombie. I was asleep on my feet and couldn't wait for class to end instead of being my normal, happy, active self during class. I stopped taking this medicine... even if it had helped with my ADHD, it would probably have not been worth the side effects."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 20, 2020

For ADHD "I like Intuniv ER a lot. I'm 18 years old, and I've been taking it for about 4 years. It helps control my racing thoughts. At one point, I was having symptoms of bipolar mania, and I upped the dosing on Intuniv from 3 mg to 5 mg. It brought me back down to normal, and now I take 5 mg every night. I think it's a good medication if you have ADHD and may be bipolar. It also helps my ODD, and I don't obsess on things as much. I really like Intuniv, but it can make me a little tired sometimes, but not at 5 mg."

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

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."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2018

For Tourette's Syndrome "My son had ADHD, and at age 11 started to develop tics that are debilitating. He had minor vocal throat-clearing tics and arm flapping, etc., when younger, but Drs ignored, saying he would be fine. Well, after several rounds of strep, he is not fine! This was prescribed to try and help tics, I am not sure if it is working. It might be, tics have lessened, but he is very tired and gaining weight rapidly. I hope Drs can figure out a better way to help and treat so many children with all these disorders who seem to be suffering similar problems. He has severe anxiety, and now we are trying even more intensive therapies. I have always taken the best care, knowing he needed it and did CBT and neuro testing by 3rd grade. Seems like a helpful medication, but I am concerned about these side effects, and I cannot get our insurance to cover the name brand extended release, so the dose fluctuates!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2016

For ADHD "My son was for a short period of time on Tenex for impulsive control at the age of 8 years. It kind of worked since it turned him into a zombie. He had no energy and was starting to nap after school. He has not napped since he was a baby. We took him off Tenex after a few weeks. For the last 3 years after stopping the meds, he is complaining about headaches and has random nosebleeds. I think the biggest mistake we made was listening to the doctor and teachers pushing meds."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

Guanfacine for ADHD "I started Intuniv XR a month and a half ago. I take 5 mg of it in the morning along with three 27 mg Concerta pills. When starting Intuniv and ramping up the dose my doctor wanted me at, with each dose increase I'd get the tiredness in the afternoon and the upset stomach in the morning for four or five days after, then it would settle. Intuniv started working for me at 3 mg and really, really worked at 4 mg. 5 mg didn't seem as good, but I know it takes a while to adjust, so I waited. Then I got my period, and it was like the Intuniv had suddenly and completely stopped working. It actually seemed to be worse than it was before starting the Intuniv. I haven't experienced my ADHD this strongly since I was a child. I've never experienced a medication so clearly ceasing to function before. It hasn't started up again a few days or so later, so I'm going to be talking to my doctor about it. I may also try going down to 4 mg again as that's where it really seemed to work."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2021

For ADHD "So tired and exercise is a no-go with me and this med. It actually made my vision so blurry after just a walk on the beach with a friend. And I quit being able to read and focus. Also, stomach bloating and sleeping for 10 plus hours and still so tired. Ear ringing and breaking out on skin. Didn't help focus and just made me too tired to function."

• Jay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2023

For Tourette's Syndrome "I'm 61. Have taken nothing for years and lived with mild tics. Recently, my wife and I built a house, acting as the GC's. There were times the stress was so intense that my tics went ballistic, to what I've been used to. I had been on guanfacine for a couple of years, but increased it to 2 mg. It helped some, but not completely. We moved it up to 3 mg and most of my tics went away, and the sleep at night was so wonderful! However, I started getting really tired and sometimes very weak. It was impacting gym workouts and even walking the dog. Also, my dry mouth got much worse. I've just dropped it down to 2 mg and will be monitoring results."

• Fiv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2020

For Tourette's Syndrome "I use Tenex for a motor tic disorder, which causes neck turning. It has definitely improved my symptoms a ton now that I have found the right dose, and with no side effects that I have noticed at this dose (I currently take 1/4 mg at bedtime). I did find that when I was trying higher doses than this, it made me very nauseous, headachy, tired, and generally quite depressed, as well as giving me weird heart rhythms and actually making my tics somewhat worse. So I would suggest trying out different dosages (after asking the doctor) if you are getting a lot of side effects and not much benefit at first!"

• Age...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2022

Guanfacine for ADHD "Been taking Intuniv for 40 days. 1 mg is the dose for ADHD. Side effects: takes me more time to be aroused and takes me more time to reach climax during sexual activity. I also have blacked out or fainted at least once when mixing with alcohol (4 drinks), which normally is nothing to me. Refraining from overuse of alcohol, I now have felt faint at least three times, especially getting up quickly or bending over. My energy levels seem low. Feel more lazy, however, I do feel less emotional and less sensitive, which is good, but still have had social aggression and an argument with a McDonald’s employee over an ice cream cone. I feel tired throughout the day. I have GAD, which I take 100 mg of Zoloft for. I have been on Zoloft for 3 years, low to moderate, and have a high dose for me. For the anxiety, which seems good, but feel that the anxiety helped me get stuff done for ADHD. When the deadline was looming, I was able to complete tasks, but now I let tasks slip even with consequences."

• h83...
• March 13, 2015

Guanfacine for ADHD "28 yrs old. I couldn't take it. I was tired all the time."

• Hay...
• May 16, 2020

For ADHD "My son took this medication for about a month and would be so tired! The teacher even mentioned that he would fall asleep in class (which never happened before taking) would not recommend this med."