How Does INTUNIV Work?

INTUNIV is thought to work differently than stimulant medications your child may have tried.

Although it is not known exactly how INTUNIV works, guanfacine, the active ingredient in INTUNIV, has been shown to interact with certain receptors in the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Research has shown that behaviors related to ADHD, such as inattention and impulsiveness, may be controlled in this part of the brain.

How soon INTUNIV will work

It may take up to two weeks to see ADHD symptom improvement with INTUNIV.

In 2 clinical studies lasting 8 and 9 weeks, ADHD symptoms started to improve within 2 weeks. For most patients, symptom improvement continued over the course of the studies. Remember that it's important for your child to take INTUNIV exactly as prescribed by your child's doctor to balance efficacy and tolerability.

Can my child take "drug holidays"?

"Drug holiday" is a term some parents give to taking their child off some medication during weekends, school holidays, or summer vacations (not an afternoon). INTUNIV works differently than stimulant medications for ADHD. INTUNIV should be given once daily as prescribed by the doctor.

If your child is taking INTUNIV, it's important to continue treatment every day as prescribed by your child's doctor. Your child should not stop taking INTUNIV or change the dose until you talk with the doctor. Talk with the doctor about what to do if your child does not take INTUNIV as prescribed. The effectiveness of INTUNIV for longer-term use (more than 9 weeks) has not been studied.

If you would like to take your child off INTUNIV, talk with your child's doctor first. The dose will have to be gradually reduced, similar to the way it was gradually increased when your child first started to take it.