Guanfacine

Not to be confused with Guanine, Guanosine, Guanidine, Guaifenesin, or Clonidine.
Guanfacine
Clinical data
Trade names Afken, Estulic, Intuniv, Tenex
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a601059
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
Routes of
administration		 oral, intravenous
ATC code C02AC02 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 80-100% (IR), 58% (XR)[1][2]
Protein binding 70%[1][2]
Metabolism CYP3A4[1][2]
Biological half-life IR: 10-17 hours; XR: 17 hours (10-30) in adults & adolescents and 14 hours in Paediatrics[1][2][3][4]
Excretion renal (80%; 50% [range: 40-75%] as unchanged drug)[1][2]
Identifiers
CAS Number 29110-47-2 YesY
PubChem (CID) 3519
IUPHAR/BPS 522
DrugBank DB01018 YesY
ChemSpider 3399 YesY
UNII 30OMY4G3MK YesY
KEGG D08031 N
ChEMBL CHEMBL862 YesY
Chemical and physical data
Formula C9H9Cl2N3O
Molar mass 246.093 g/mol
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
 NYesY (what is this?)  (verify)

Guanfacine (brand name Estulic, Tenex and the extended release Intuniv) is a sympatholytic drug used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and hypertension (not to be confused with guaifenesin, an expectorant).[5] It is a selective α2A receptor agonist. These receptors are concentrated heavily in the prefrontal cortex and the locus coeruleus, with the potential to improve attention resulting from interaction with receptors in the former.[6] Guanfacine lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by activating the central nervous system α2A norepinephrine autoreceptors, which results in reduced peripheral sympathetic outflow and thus a reduction in peripheral sympathetic tone.[7]

Guanfacine is currently approved and marketed in the United States[8] and Europe[9] as Intuniv for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years.

Medical uses

Hypertension

It has been shown to reduce hypertension not just in the short-term, but also in long-term studies to be able to achieve normalization in the blood pressure of 54% of patients treated over a year and 66% over two years. The average reduction in mean arterial pressure of all patients was 16% at the end of the first year and 17% at the end of the second year.[10]

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Guanfacine is used alone or with stimulants to treat children and teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[11][12]

Its effectiveness in this condition is likely due to its ability to strengthen prefrontal cortical regulation of attention and behavior.[13]

Anxiety

Another psychiatric use of guanfacine is for treatment of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Guanfacine and other α2A agonists have anxiolytic-like action,[14] reducing the emotional responses of the amygdala, and strengthening prefrontal cortical regulation of emotion, action and thought.[15] These actions arise from both inhibition of stress-induced catecholamine release, and from prominent, post-synaptic actions in prefrontal cortex.[15] Due to its prolonged half-life, it also has been seen to improve sleep interrupted by nightmares in PTSD patients.[16] All of these actions likely contribute to the relief of the hyperarousal, re-experiencing of memory, and impulsivity associated with PTSD.[17][18] Guanfacine appears to be especially helpful in treating children who have been traumatized or abused.[15]

Tourette Syndrome and Tics

According to recent studies (Srour et al., 2008)[19] there is controversy as to guanfacine’s usefulness in treating tics. There has been success when tic symptoms are co-morbid with ADHD, and as such, guanfacine and other α2A-adrenergic agonists (clonidine) are commonly the first choice for treatment.

Treatment of withdrawal syndrome

Guanfacine is also being investigated for treatment of withdrawal for opioids, ethanol, and nicotine.[20] Guanfacine has been shown to help reduce stress-induced craving of nicotine in smokers trying to quit, which may involve strengthening of prefrontal cortical self-control.[21]

Red pills
1 mg guanfacine tablets.

Adverse effects

Side effects of guanfacine are dose-dependent.[22] Adverse effects incidence:[2]
Very common (>10% incidence) adverse effects include:

  • Xerostomia (dry mouth)
  • Somnolence (sleepiness)
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain

Common (1-10% incidence) adverse effects include:

Unknown frequency adverse effects include:

Interactions

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism

Guanfacine has an oral bioavailability of 80%. There is no clear evidence of any first-pass metabolism. Elimination half-life is 17 hours with the major elimination route being renal. The principal metabolite is the 3-hydroxy-derivative, with evidence of moderate biotransformation, and the key intermediate being an epoxide.[23] It is also shown that elimination in patients with impaired renal function does not differ significantly from those with normal renal function. As such, metabolism by liver is the assumption for those with impaired renal function, as supported by increased frequency of known side effects of orthostatic hypotension and sedation.[24] In animal models, guanfacine’s enhancing effects on the working-memory functions of the pre-frontal cortex are thought to be due to inhibition of cAMP-mediated signaling, which is effected by the Gi proteins that are generally coupled to the post-synaptic alpha-2a-adrenoceptors that guanfacine stimulates through binding.[25]

Pharmacology

Guanfacine is a highly selective agonist of the α2A adrenergic receptor, with negligible affinity for any other receptor.[26] However, it may also be a potent 5-HT2B receptor agonist, potentially contributing to valvulopathy, theoretically.[27]

Receptor Ki (nM)
α2A 71.8
α2B 1200.2
α2C 2505.2

History

In 2010 guanfacine was approved by the FDA for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for people 6–17 years old.[11]

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guanfacine (guanfacine) Tablet [Genpharm Inc.]". DailyMed. Genpharm Inc. March 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "guanfacine (Rx) - Intuniv, Tenex". Medscape Reference. WebMD. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Hofer, Kristi N.; Buck, Marcia L. (2008). "New Treatment Options for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Part II. Guanfacine". Pediatric Pharmacotherapy. Medscape (14): 4.
  4. ↑ Cruz, MP (Aug 2010). "Guanfacine Extended-Release Tablets (Intuniv), a Nonstimulant Selective Alpha(2A)-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist For Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.". P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. 35 (8): 448–51. PMC 2935643Freely accessible. PMID 20844694.
  5. ↑ Monograph
  6. ↑ Kolar, Dusan; Keller, Amanda; Golfinopoulos, Maria; Cumyn, Lucy; Syer, Cassidy & Hechtman, Lily (2008), "Treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder", Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 4 (2): 389–403, PMC 2518387Freely accessible, PMID 18728745.
  7. ↑ Van Zwieten, P.; Thoolen, M. & Timmermans, P. (1983), "The pharmacology of centrally acting antihypertensive drugs", British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 15 (Suppl 4): 455S–462S, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb00311.x, PMC 1427667Freely accessible.
  8. ↑ "FDA Approves Intuniv". Drugs.com. September 2009.
  9. ↑ "European Medicines Agency: Intuniv". ema.europa.eu. October 2015.
  10. ↑ Jerie, P. (1980). "Clinical experience with guanfacine in long-term treatment of hypertension: Part I: efficacy and dosage". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 10 (Suppl 1): 37S–47S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb04903.x. PMC 1430120Freely accessible. PMID 6994777..
  11. 1 2 Kornfield R, Watson S, Higashi A, Dusetzina S, Conti R, Garfield R, Dorsey ER, Huskamp HA, Alexander GC (April 2013). "Impact of FDA Advisories on Pharmacologic Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder". Psychiatric Services. 64 (4): 339–46. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201200147. PMC 4023684Freely accessible. PMID 23318985.
  12. ↑ Zito, J et al. Off-label psychopharmacologic prescribing for children: History supports close clinical monitoring. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 2(1) PMID 18793403 PMC 2566553
  13. ↑ Arnsten AF (October 2010), "The use of α2A adrenergic agonists for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder", Expert Rev Neurother, 10 (10): 1595–605, doi:10.1586/ern.10.133, PMC 3143019Freely accessible, PMID 20925474
  14. ↑ Morrow BA, George TP, Roth RH Noradrenergic alpha-2 agonists have anxiolytic-like actions on stress-related behavior and mesoprefrontal dopamine biochemistry. Brain Res. 2004 Nov 19;1027(1-2):173-8. PMID 15494168
  15. 1 2 3 Arnsten AF, Raskind MA, Taylor FB, Connor DF The effects of stress exposure on prefrontal cortex:Translating basic research into successful treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Neurobio. Stress 2015 Jan 1;1(1):89-99. PMID 25436222
  16. ↑ Kozarlc-Kovaclc, D. (2008), "Psychopharmacotherapy of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder", Croatian Medical Journal, 49 (4): 459–475, doi:10.3325/cmj.2008.4.459, PMC 2525822Freely accessible, PMID 18716993.
  17. ↑ Kaminer, D.; Seedat, S. & Stein, D. (2005), "Post-traumatic stress disorder in children", World Psychiatry, 4 (2): 121–5, PMC 1414752Freely accessible, PMID 16633528
  18. ↑ Neylan,, T.; Lenoci, M. & Samuelson, K. (2006), "No Improvement of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms With Guanfacine Treatment", American Journal of Psychiatry, 163 (12): 2186–2188, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.12.2186, PMID 17151174
  19. ↑ Srour M, Lespérance P, Richer F, & Chouinard S (2008). "Psychopharmacology of Tic Disorders". J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 17 (3): 150–159.
  20. ↑ Sofuogul, M. & Sewell, A. (2009), "Norepinephrine and Stimulant Addiction", Addiction Biology, 14 (2): 119–129, doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2008.00138.x, PMC 2657197Freely accessible, PMID 18811678
  21. ↑ McKee SA, Potenza MN, Kober H, Sofuoglu M, Arnsten AF, Picciotto MR, Weinberger AH, Ashare R, Sinha R. A translational investigation targeting stress-reactivity and prefrontal cognitive control with guanfacine for smoking cessation. J. Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar; 29(3)300-311. PMID 25516371
  22. ↑ Jerie, P. (1980), "Clinical experience with guanfacine in long-term treatment of hypertension: Part II: adverse reactions to guanfacine", British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 10 (Suppl 1): 157S–164S, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb04924.x, PMC 1430125Freely accessible, PMID 6994770.
  23. ↑ Kiechel, J. (1980), "Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of guanfacine in man: A review", British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 10 (Suppl 1): 25S–32S, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb04901.x, PMC 1430131Freely accessible, PMID 6994775.
  24. ↑ Kirch, W.; Kohler, H. & Braun, W. (1980), "Elimination of guanfacine in patients with normal and impaired renal function", British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 10 (Suppl 1): 33S–35S, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb04902.x, PMC 1430110Freely accessible, PMID 6994776.
  25. ↑ Ramos, Brian P.; Stark, David; Verduzco, Luis; van Dyck, Christopher H.; Arnsten, Amy F. T. (2006), "α2A-adrenoceptor stimulation improves prefrontal cortical regulation of behavior through inhibition of cAMP signaling in aging animals", Learning & Memory, 13 (6): 770–6, doi:10.1101/lm.298006, PMC 1783631Freely accessible, PMID 17101879.
  26. ↑ Roth, BL; Driscol, J (12 January 2011), "PDSP Ki Database", Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (PDSP), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the United States National Institute of Mental Health, retrieved 15 November 2013
  27. ↑ Xi-Ping Huang; Vincent Setola; Prem N. Yadav; John A. Allen; Sarah C. Rogan; Bonnie J. Hanson; Chetana Revankar; Matt Robers; Chris Doucette; Bryan L. Roth (29 June 2009), Parallel Functional Activity Profiling Reveals Valvulopathogens Are Potent 5-Hydroxytryptamine2B Receptor Agonists: Implications for Drug Safety Assessment, ASPET Journals, retrieved 1 January 2014

External links

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