Question 1

my son was prescribed clonidine .5mg.2day he was taken off clonidine & put on guanfacine 1mg. can he take guanfacine 2nite after taking clonidine a.m.?

Accepted Answer

Probably: I suspect your son was on 0.05 mg of Clonidine 2x a day; that's about the same as 1 mg of guanfacine.  They're in the same family of medications, working on the same system.  Talk with his doctor, but switching over that dose should not cause a problem, especially since Guanfacine typically has fewer side effects.  The biggest concern is a potential spike in BP from stopping Clonidine too fast.

Question 2

i've taken guanfacine, clonidine and  seroquel (quetiapine) for my tourettes to no avail. are there any other medications which are not anti psychotics ?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It depends on which symptom you are treating.  Tetrabenazine is also sometime effective for tics.  For ocd/impulsiveness, the serotonergic antidepressants can be effective.

Question 3

is clonidine good medication to treat tics and adhd?

Accepted Answer

No: Until recently, Clonidine was indicated only for adult high blood pressure. It was used "off label" for years for adhd. Now it is approved for that purpose. But it is still a blood pressure medication so it can lower the blood pressure and has many potential cardiac side effects. I think it is better to find the cause and fix a medical problem rather than to just prescribe drugs for symptoms.

Question 4

started .01mg of clonidine for motor tics. my resting heart rate is a healthy 42bpm. scared this med will drop my heart rate dangerously low & kill me?

Accepted Answer

Keep watch: 42 is pretty low for heart rate, check with your doctor.

Question 5

my daughter was put on 1/2mg of guanfacine. about how long would it take for that to become effective for adhd? also, can it help with tics?

Accepted Answer

: Guanfacine can be helpful both for adhd and tics. It lasts 4-6 hours, so it would be helpful to pay attention to how she is doing that period of time. It can be given several times per day if is helpful and it is wearing off.  If it works, there is an extended release version that is only once daily, but she would need to be able to swallow a pill without chewing the pill.

Question 6

can guanfacine be used for tic disorders?

Accepted Answer

See below:: According to recent studies (srour et al., 2008) 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 alpha-2-adrenergic agonists (clonidine) are commonly the first choice for treatment.

Question 7

does the medication guanfacine for tic disorders really work?

Accepted Answer

Questionable: According to recent studies (srour et al., 2008) there is controversy as to guanfacine’s usefulness in treating tics. There has been success when tic symptoms are occurring with adhd, and as such, Guanfacine and other alpha-2-adrenergic agonists (clonidine) are commonly the first choice for treatment.

Question 8

i have adhd. i've tried multiple medications such as adderall, vyvanse, strattera, ritalin, guanfacine. the adderall, vyvanse, ritalan gave me tics. the strattera gave me hot flashes and the guanfacine made me angry. is there anything else i can take?

Accepted Answer

: Most medications for ADHD are stimulants, with some variation. Strattera and guanfacine are different.  I would recommend seeing someone who specializes in ADHD treatment, would know the most recent medications being developed, and may be able to work with dosing and new medications, if there are any. Hopefully, you are also seeing someone to give you non-drug strategies for managing your ADHD.

Question 9

i have just been prescribed clonidine for my adhd. i take one dose morning and night. its my first time on adhd medication. how long till it helps? what can i expect once its working? will my dosing schedule provide around the clock improvement?

Accepted Answer

: If medication is effective, twice a day dosage should be enough for symptom relief around the clock. This medication can make you sleepy at first then you will develop tolerance, Dry mouth is another common side effect. If medication is effective, you are more relaxed, engaged and more focused in daily life. Good luck.

Question 10

how much could 0.6 of clonidine do?

Accepted Answer

That's a big dose: 0.6mg is a very big dose of clonidine. That is above the common recommended dose!

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Doctor answers about:

Guanfacine vs clonidine for tics

A member asked:

My son was prescribed clonidine .5mg.2day he was taken off clonidine & put on guanfacine 1mg. can he take guanfacine 2nite after taking clonidine a.m.?

A member asked:

I've taken guanfacine, clonidine and seroquel (quetiapine) for my tourettes to no avail. are there any other medications which are not anti psychotics ?

A member asked:

Is clonidine good medication to treat tics and adhd?

A member asked:

Started .01mg of clonidine for motor tics. my resting heart rate is a healthy 42bpm. scared this med will drop my heart rate dangerously low & kill me?

A member asked:

My daughter was put on 1/2mg of guanfacine. about how long would it take for that to become effective for adhd? also, can it help with tics?

A member asked:

Can guanfacine be used for tic disorders?

A member asked:

Does the medication guanfacine for tic disorders really work?

A member asked:

I have adhd. i've tried multiple medications such as adderall, vyvanse, strattera, ritalin, guanfacine. the adderall, vyvanse, ritalan gave me tics. the strattera gave me hot flashes and the guanfacine made me angry. is there anything else i can take?

A member asked:

I have just been prescribed clonidine for my adhd. i take one dose morning and night. its my first time on adhd medication. how long till it helps? what can i expect once its working? will my dosing schedule provide around the clock improvement?

A member asked:

How much could 0.6 of clonidine do?

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