Intuniv (Shire) shows positive response for children with ADHD

A new trial has assessed the efficacy and safety of Intuniv (guanfacine extended release), from Shire, as an adjunct to psychostimulants in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD who had a suboptimal response to a psychostimulant alone. Participants continued their stable dose of psychostimulant given in the morning and were randomised to receive Intuniv in the morning, Intuniv in the evening, or placebo. Subjects receiving Intuniv plus a psychostimulant showed significantly greater improvement from baseline to endpoint, as measured by the ADHD-Rating Scale IV total score, compared with subjects receiving placebo plus a psychostimulant. In particular, the inattention subscale rating and the hyperactivity/ impulsivity subscales of the ADHD-RS-IV showed significantly greater improvements from baseline in subjects receiving Intuniv with a psychostimulant compared with subjects receiving placebo plus psychostimulant. Significant benefits of adjunctive administration were observed whether Intuniv was administered in the morning or evening. No new safety signals emerged. See: "A Controlled Trial of Extended-release Guanfacine and Psychostimulants for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder" by Timothy E. Wilens et al. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Volume 51, Issue 1 (January 2012)(doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.012)