Guanfacine is currently only available via prescription.

Providers on Sesame can either write or refill a prescription during a virtual or in-person visit and often arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you. Book your online consultation with a healthcare provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not guanfacine is right for you.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your healthcare provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.

Guanfacine slows the activity of your central nervous system. This can cause drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, mild abdominal pain, and constipation.

Serious side effects require immediate medical attention and include fainting, an unusually slow heart rate (bradycardia), severe dizziness, or a dangerous spike in blood pressure if you stop taking guanfacine suddenly.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and keep taking guanfacine as prescribed. Do not make up for a missed dose by taking two doses at once.

Contact your healthcare provider if you miss two or more doses in a row, as your dose may need to be adjusted to prevent a sudden spike in blood pressure.

Tell your provider if you have a history of low blood pressure, a slow heart rate, kidney disease, liver disease, or heart block. Speak to them about all prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements you take—especially other blood pressure medications or sedatives.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking guanfacine, as it significantly increases drowsiness and dizziness.

Depending on your medical history, a provider may consider alternative blood pressure drug classes. These include:

• ACE Inhibitors: Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
• ARBs: Losartan (Cozaar), Valsartan (Diovan), Telmisartan (Micardis), Olmesartan (Benicar)
• Calcium Channel Blockers: Amlodipine (Norvasc), Verapamil ER (Calan SR), Nifedipine (Procardia)
• Beta-Blockers: Metoprolol (Lopressor), Metoprolol ER (Toprol XL), Atenolol (Tenormin), Carvedilol (Coreg), Labetalol (Trandate, Normodyne), Nebivolol (Bystolic), Timolol (Blocadren)
• Alpha-Blockers: Terazosin (Hytrin), Prazosin (Minipress)
• Direct Vasodilators: Minoxidil

Standard guanfacine is prescribed for high blood pressure. However, the extended-release formulation (Intuniv) is FDA-approved to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and teens ages 6 to 17. Aside from guanfacine ER, ADHD options include:

• Atomoxetine (Strattera)
• Clonidine ER (Kapvay)
• Viloxazine (Qelbree)

Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances like Adderall and Vyvanse. Non-controlled options like guanfacine (Intuniv), atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree), however, can be prescribed via a video visit on Sesame.