Guanfacine

Guanfacine (brand name Tenex, and the extended release Intuniv) is a sympatholytic. It is an agonist of the α2A subtype of norepinephrine receptors. These receptors are concentrated heavily in the prefrontal cortex and the locus coeruleus, with the potential to improve attention abilities via modulating post-synaptic α2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Guanfacine lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by activating the central nervous system α-2a norepinephrine autoreceptors, which results in reduced peripheral sympathetic outflow and thus a reduction in peripheral sympathetic tone. Its side-effects are dose dependent, with frequency and severity almost disappearing at doses of 2 mg and less.

Uses
Guanfacine is a sympatholytic. Sympatholytics are used for various reasons, such as lowering blood pressure, treating hyperactivity or treating anxiety or panic disorders. It reduces hypertension not just in short-term, but also as shown in long-term studies with normalization of blood pressure of 54% treated over a year and 66% over two years. Guanfacine has also been approved by the FDA for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an alternative to stimulant medications. Its beneficial actions are likely due to its ability to strengthen prefrontal cortical regulation of attention and behavior. Guanfacine is also used in conjunction with stimulants to augment therapeutic actions, counter side effects, reduce rebound, and when taken at night, to induce sleep. Guanfacine is thought to improve regulation of behavior, attention and emotion through actions at post-synaptic, alpha-2A adrenergic receptors on prefrontal cortical neurons, which strengthen prefrontal cortical network connections.

Another psychiatric use of guanfacine is for treatment of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Alpha-2A agonists such as guanfacine reduce sympathetic arousal, weaken the emotional responses of the amygdala, and strengthen prefrontal cortical regulation of emotion, action and thought. All of these actions likely contribute to the relief of the hyperarousal, re-experiencing, and impulsivity associated with PTSD. Due to its prolonged half-life, it also has been seen to improve sleep interrupted by nightmares in PTSD patients. 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. Guanfacine is also being investigated for treatment of withdrawal for opioids, alcohol, and nicotine.

Side effects
Usual: dizziness, drowsiness, headache, depression, constipation, gas pains, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and nasal congestion may occur.

Rare: chest pain, shortness of breath, skin rash, swelling of the hands or feet, blurred vision, yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Others: mental/mood changes, tingling of the hands or feet, dry mouth, impotence, decreased sexual desire, vision changes, taste changes, ringing in the ears, leg cramps.

Cardiovascular side effects include orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, palpitations, and tachycardia upon standing, and possibly bradycardia. Rebound hypertension is a possibility with abrupt discontinuation, and as such a gradual discontinuation is recommended.

Psychological indications
In animal models, guanfacine is seen to affect a number of cognitive factors, including working memory improvement, distractibility reduction, response inhibition improvement, and attention control. Performance increases in spatial working memory have also been observed in humans. Another study found no effect on healthy male adult's executive functions and working memory, and small decrements on 2 tasks relating to the sedative effect of guanfacine.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism
Guanfacine shows an absolute bioavailability of nearly 100%. There is no clear evidence of any first-pass metabolism. Elimination half-life is 17 hours with the major elimination route being renal. The principal metabolite is the 3-hydroxy derivative, with evidence of moderate biotransformation, and the key intermediate being an epoxide. It is also shown that elimination in patients with impaired renal function does not differ significantly from those with normal renal function. As such, metabolism by liver is the assumption for those with impaired renal function, as supported by increased frequency of known side effects of orthostatic hypotension and sedation. In animal models, guanfacine’s enhancing effects on the working-memory functions of the pre-frontal cortex are thought to be due to inhibition of cAMP-mediated signaling, which is effected by the Gi proteins that are generally coupled to the post-synaptic alpha-2a-adrenoceptors that guanfacine stimulates through binding.