Complete dosing information for GAUNFACINE
Medical guidance required: Dosing information here is for educational purposes. Your healthcare provider will determine the appropriate dose based on your specific condition, kidney function, other medications, and medical history. Never adjust your dose without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended initial dose of guanfacine hydrochloride when given alone or in combination with another antihypertensive drug is 1 mg daily given at bedtime to minimize somnolence. If after 3 to 4 weeks of therapy 1 mg does not give a satisfactory result, a dose of 2 mg may be given, although most of the effect of guanfacine hydrochloride is seen at 1 mg (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ). Higher daily doses have been used, but adverse reactions increase significantly with doses above 3 mg/day. The frequency of rebound hypertension is low, but it can occur. When rebound occurs, it does so after 2 - 4 days, which is delayed compared with clonidine hydrochloride. This is consistent with the longer half-life of guanfacine. In most cases, after abrupt withdrawal of guanfacine, blood pressure returns to pretreatment levels slowly (within 2 - 4 days) without ill effects.