title: Guanfacine extended release for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guanfacine extended release (GXR) is a selective α(2A)-adrenoreceptor agonist originally developed as an antihypertensive agent and now FDA approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as monotherapy and as adjunctive to psychostimulants in children and adolescents 6-17 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Search of the PubMed and PsycInfo databases from 1990 to 2014 using the search term 'guanfacine'. Studies selected for review were either controlled or open trials of guanfacine or GXR. Shire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was contacted and supplied a synopsis of all available ADHD studies on GXR for review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GXR is an evidence-based treatment for ADHD in children and adolescents. Because this compound has a smaller effect size than psychostimulants for the symptoms of ADHD, it is generally considered a second-line treatment after the psychostimulants or in combination with psychostimulants. Evidence for efficacy is more robust in children than for adolescents. Because of its pharmacodynamic actions in prefrontal cortex, GXR shows considerable promise for other behavioral conditions frequently comorbid with ADHD and potential promise for emotional and behavioral dysregulation secondary to traumatic stress.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Health Care Center, Department of Psychiatry/MC1410 , 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, 06030-1410 CT , USA +1 860 679 2730 ; +1 860 679 4326 ; dconnor@uchc.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Amy F T
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Arnsten
authors.forename: Geraldine S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Gabriella F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Greco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002648:Child; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016316:Guanfacine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016316:Guanfacine
keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; child; guanfacine extended release; α2A-adrenoreceptor agonist