Guanfacine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity and hypertension. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
From the FDA label for Guanfacine Hydrochloride (application ANDA200881). Other guanfacine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Recommended dose: 1 mg to 7 mg (0.05 to 0.12 mg/kg target weight based dose range) once daily in the morning or evening based on clinical response and tolerability ( 2.2 ). Begin at a dose of 1 mg once daily and adjust in increments of no more than 1 mg/week ( 2.2 ). Do not crush, chew or break tablets before swallowing ( 2.1 ). Do not administer with high-fat meals, because of increased exposure ( 2.1 ). Do not substitute for immediate-release guanfacine tablets on a mg-per-mg basis, because of differing pharmacokinetic profiles ( 2.3 ). If switching from immediate-release guanfacine, discontinue that treatment and titrate with guanfacine extended-release as directed ( 2.3 ). When discontinuing, taper the dose in decrements of no more than 1 mg every 3 to 7 days to avoid rebound hypertension ( 2.5 ). 2.1 General Instruction for Use Swallow tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, or break tablets because this will increase the rate of guanfacine release. Do not administer with high fat meals, due to increased exposure. 2.2 Dose Selection Take guanfacine extended-release tablets orally once daily, either in the morning or evening, at approximately the same time each day. Begin at a dose of 1 mg/day, and adjust in increments of no more than 1 mg/week. In monotherapy-clinical trials, there was dose- and exposure-related clinical improvement as well as risks for several clinically…
The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypotension, bradycardia, and syncope [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Sedation and somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Cardiac conduction abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Rebound Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Most common adverse reactions (≥5% and at least twice placebo rate) in fixed-dose monotherapy ADHD trials in children and adolescents (6 to 17 years): hypotension, somnolence, fatigue, nausea, and lethargy ( 6.1 ). Flexible dose-optimization ADHD trials in children (6 to 12 years) and adolescents (13 to 17 years): somnolence, hypotension, abdominal pain, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, irritability, nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia ( 6.1 ). Adjunctive treatment to psychostimulant ADHD trial in children and adolescents (6 to 17 years): somnolence, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, and abdominal pain ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Actavis at 1-800-432-8534 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The…
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Typical price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $5 |
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AN;711 | 1 mg | white | oval | — |
| AN;711 | 1 mg | white | oval | — |
| AN;713 | 2 mg | white | oval | — |
| U;46 | 2 mg | blue | round | — |
| AN;713 | 2 mg | white | oval | — |
| AN;711 | 1 mg | white |
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Guanfacine extended-release is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to guanfacine extended-release or its inactive ingredients, or other products containing guanfacine. Rash and pruritus have been reported. History of hypersensitivity to guanfacine extended-release, its inactive ingredients, or other products containing guanfacine ( 4 ).
Table 14 contains clinically important drug interactions with guanfacine extended-release [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Table 14: Clinically Important Drug Interactions: Effect of other Drugs on Guanfacine Extended-Release Concomitant Drug Name or Drug Class Clinical Rationale and Magnitude of Drug Interaction Clinical Recommendation Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, e.g., ketoconazole, fluconazole Guanfacine is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 and its plasma concentrations can be significantly affected resulting in an increase in exposure Consider dose reduction [see Dosage and administration ( 2.7 )] Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inducers, e.g., rifampin, efavirenz Guanfacine is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 and its plasma concentrations can be significantly affected resulting in a decrease in exposure Consider dose increase [see Dosage and administration ( 2.7 )] Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors increase guanfacine exposure. Decrease guanfacine extended-release to 50% of target dosage when coadministered with strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors ( 2.7 ). Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inducers decrease guanfacine exposure. Based on patient response, consider titrating guanfacine extended-release dosage up to double the target dosage over 1 to 2 weeks ( 2.7 ).
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| T;198 | 1 mg | white | round | — |
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| T;199 | 2 mg | white | round | — |
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