Prolonged-action ▼guanfacine (Intuniv-Shire Pharmaceuticals Ltd) is a non-stimulant drug that has recently been licensed in Europe for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years for whom stimulants are unsuitable.(1) The company suggests that it has a unique mechanism of action in ADHD, providing improvement in core symptoms within 3 weeks with once-daily flexible dosing.(2) Here we review the evidence on the efficacy and safety of guanfacine in ADHD and consider whether it offers any advantages over other therapeutic options.
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