Shire’s Intuniv Shown Safe for ADHD Children with Med Related Sleep Problems

Study determines Intuniv (ADHD medication from drug-maker Shire) can be safely used in combination with stimulant medications to treat ADHD symptoms in children ages 6 - 17.

A recent study conducted by Shire (the producer of Intuniv) has determined that the medication can be safely used in combination with stimulant medications to treat ADHD symptoms in children ages 6 - 17. Physicians have found that prescribing Intuniv (guanfacine), along with stimulant medication therapies, provided a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms in some children. Intuniv has demonstrated improvement with disruptive ADHD symptoms, such as inattention, arguing with adults, hyperactivity, impulsivity and anger. Specifically, Intuniv has been prescribed to help ADHD children with sleep issues related to stimulant medications.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among children -- nearly eight percent of children are thought to have ADHD. ADHD is typically treated with amphetamine or methylphenidate-based stimulants (such as Adderall, Ritalinand Concerta). At issue is the problem that about 30 percent of ADHD children are non-responsive to this sort of treatment, or they find the side effects difficult to manage.

Guanfacine has been on the market for about 40 years as a treatment for high blood pressure in adults. It has been used for approximately 20 years to treat ADHD symptoms in children. Currently, Intuniv is only FDA-approved as a single-drug treatment to treat a specific medical condition such as high blood pressure or ADHD; however, Andrew Cutler, MD, the lead investigator in this study of using Intuniv in combination with stimulant ADHD medications, says many doctors are already familiar with the combination strategy to treat ADHD symptoms and have found the combination therapy successful.

The nine-week pilot study conducted by Shire and led by Dr. Andrew Cutler included 75 children ages 6 - 17 who were already taking stimulant medications for the treatment of ADHD symptoms. The purpose of the study was to determine the safety of using Intuniv in combination with stimulant medications to treat ADHD. The combination was determined to be safe. Shire is presently designing a larger study to examine the effectiveness of the combination in addition to the safety.

Has your ADHD child been prescribed Intuniv along with a stimulant medication as a treatment for ADHD symptoms? Share your experience at ADDitude's Forums.

Read more about the Intuniv study at Behavioral Health Central