Yes, guanfacine is available over the counter and its active ingredients are also available as supplements. As with most medications and supplements, you should speak to your doctor before taking it to make sure there aren’t any individual risks for you.
Unless you have a pre-existing medical condition or are on other medications, it’s generally safe to take guanfacine as an OTC supplement. It has a variety of uses and can be taken in different ways.
This guide will explore what guanfacine is, how much you should take, potential side effects, and more.
Table of Contents
What is Guanfacine?
Guanfacine is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. It’s a drug that’s used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Guanfacine is also sold under other names, including Intuniv and Tenex.
Guanfacine is classified as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). This means that it works by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine. Guanfacine helps to regulate the central nervous system, which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and ADHD.
People with anxiety disorders often experience feelings of restlessness, insomnia, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. Guanfacine can help treat these symptoms by decreasing overactive neurons in the brain.
It inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine, which increases the amount of this neurotransmitter in the brain. Increased norepinephrine can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
How Does It Work?
Guanfacine is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that is used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Guanfacine is also sold under other names, including Intuniv and Tenex.
Guanfacine is classified as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). This means that it works by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine. Guanfacine helps to regulate the central nervous system, which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and ADHD.
People with anxiety disorders often experience feelings of restlessness, insomnia, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. Guanfacine can help treat these symptoms by decreasing overactive neurons in the brain.
Benefits of taking guanfacine OTC
- Guanfacine for anxiety and stress – People with anxiety disorders often experience feelings of restlessness, insomnia, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. Guanfacine can help treat these symptoms by decreasing overactive neurons in the brain.
- Guanfacine for ADHD – People with ADHD often have trouble with focus and attention. Guanfacine helps to improve attention and reduce hyperactivity by regulating the central nervous system.
- Guanfacine for high blood pressure – High blood pressure is when your blood exerts too much force against the walls of your arteries. This can lead to a number of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Guanfacine can help to lower high blood pressure by relaxing the muscles in your arteries.
- Guanfacine for tic disorders – People with tic disorders, such as Tourette’s syndrome, often experience sudden, repetitive, and uncontrollable movements or sounds. Guanfacine can help to ease symptoms by regulating the central nervous system.
How to take guanfacine
Guanfacine can be taken in a few different ways, depending on your dosage. Most people take it orally, but it can also be taken by injection or by applying a patch to the skin.
- For oral dosage – You should take your oral guanfacine dosage with or without food. Follow the dosage recommended by your doctor.
- For injectable dosage – This can be given as an injection into a muscle or a vein. It is usually given as a single dose.
- For topical (skin) dosage – The topical dosage is applied once a day to the skin.
You should avoid driving or operating dangerous machinery while taking guanfacine, as it can make you drowsy. You should also avoid alcohol while taking this medication, as it may make you drowsy and increase the chances of you experiencing side effects.
Side effects of guanfacine
- Mood swings – You may experience mood swings while taking guanfacine. This is most common in teenagers and young adults who take it for ADHD.
- Headaches – Headaches are common side effects of guanfacine. You can ease these symptoms by taking painkillers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Dizziness – Guanfacine can make you feel dizzy and drowsy. If you experience dizziness, avoid driving and operating dangerous machinery.
- Dry mouth – Guanfacine can dry out your mouth. You can ease this side effect by chewing sugarless gum or by drinking lots of water.
Is Guanfacine an amphetamine?
No, guanfacine is not an amphetamine. Amphetamines are drugs that are used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Guanfacine, however, is one of the medications that can be used to treat ADHD, along with Ritalin and Adderall.
While guanfacine and amphetamines are both drugs used to treat ADHD, they are very different in terms of their chemical makeup, usage, and effects. Guanfacine works to improve attention by regulating the central nervous system, whereas amphetamines have been known to cause extreme energy, euphoria, and talkativeness.
If you are taking guanfacine, you do not need to worry about becoming addicted to it. This is because it does not have the same addictive potential as amphetamines. If you are taking guanfacine and are worried about becoming addicted to it, do not worry; you will not become addicted.
Conclusion
Guanfacine is a drug that is used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Guanfacine is also sold under other names, including Intuniv and Tenex.
Guanfacine is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that is used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Guanfacine is also sold under other names, including Intuniv and Tenex.
People with anxiety disorders often experience feelings of restlessness, insomnia, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. Guanfacine can help treat these symptoms by decreasing overactive neurons in the brain.
Guanfacine can be taken in different ways, depending on your dosage. Most people take it orally, but it can also be injected or applied to the skin as a patch.
