Conclusion: Our findings represent the most comprehensive available evidence base to inform patients, families, clinicians, guideline developers, and policymakers on the choice of ADHD medications across age groups. Taking into account both efficacy and safety, evidence from this meta-analysis supports methylphenidate in children and adolescents, and amphetamines in adults, as preferred first-choice medications for the short-term treatment of ADHD. New research should be funded urgently to assess long-term effects of these drugs.
Guanfacine side effects
Across 105 first-hand reports, people mentioned a side effect 14 times (about 13 per 100 reports). The most common: drowsiness, fatigue, shaky hands. User reports show what people notice — they can't tell you whether Guanfacine is safe for you.
Reported side effects
In their own words
“I'm on guanfacine after taking stimulants. It's….. better than taking nothing but guanfacine is like a 2 out of 10.”
“Currently i am taking clomipramine and guanfacine which helps for the anxiety and dpdr but makes me sleepy all day.”
“I've tried the traditional ADHD meds like Strattera and Guanfacine, and they don't offer any improvement.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if this pill does something for you although it didn't for me.”
“made me very calm and relaxed but not sedated. I could read, work and function without getting impaired by anxiety...one of the best compounds”
“I recently trialed Intuniv/guanfacine (alpha-2 adrenergic agonist) which induced these same dissociative symptoms 10x worse, but I've discontinued it a month ago”
Is Guanfacine safe? What the research covers
Conclusion: Some medications could improve core symptoms, although this could be likely secondary to the improvement of associated symptoms. Evidence on their efficacy and safety is preliminary; therefore, routine prescription of medications for the core symptoms cannot be recommended. Trial registration PROSPERO-ID CRD42019125317.
Conclusion: Overall, despite a class effect of improving clinical response relative to placebo, there were few differences among the individual ADHD pharmacotherapies, and most studies were at risk of at least one important source of bias. Furthermore, the certainty of the evidence was very low to low for all outcomes, and there was limited reporting of long-term adverse events. As such, the choice between ADHD pharmacotherapies may depend on individual patient considerations, and future studies should assess the long-term effects of individual pharmacotherapies on patient-important outcomes, including qu