An Introduction to Guanfacine ER Uses
Guanfacine ER (
Intuniv™) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (
ADHD) in individuals age 6 to 17 years old. Unlike most other ADHD medications, guanfacine ER is not a stimulant and is not a controlled substance.
ADHD is a condition involving difficulty paying attention, sitting still, and controlling behavior. With ADHD, these problems are worse than expected for a typical child of the same age. Usually, the symptoms must be present before the age of seven to qualify as ADHD. Symptoms must also affect the school, work, or social life in a negative way to qualify as ADHD
(see ADHD and School and Relationships and ADHD for more information).
Although ADHD is generally thought of as a problem in children, teenagers and adults can also have it. However,
diagnosing ADHD in adults is not the same as diagnosing it in children, and it should be noted that guanfacine ER is not yet approved for treating
adult ADHD.
Any meaningful behavioral change usually requires a well-balanced ADHD treatment plan, including social, educational, and mental therapy
(see Behavior Therapy for ADHD). If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in changing behavior, ADHD medications such as guanfacine ER may be necessary.
