Intuniv
FDA Label NDC 64725-0513

INTUNIV is indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy to stimulant medications. The efficacy of INTUNIV was studied for the treatment of ADHD in three controlled monotherapy clinical trials (up to 8 weeks in duration) and one controlled adjunctive trial with psychostimulants (8 weeks in duration) in children and adolescents ages 6-17 who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD [ ]. The effectiveness of INTUNIV for longer-term use (more than 8 weeks) has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials. ^®®®see Clinical Studies (14)^®

 Do not administer with high fat meals, due to increased exposure. Swallow tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, or break tablets because this will increase the rate of guanfacine release.

INTUNIV should be taken once daily, either in the morning or evening, at approximately same time each day. Begin at a dose of 1 mg/day, and adjust in increments of no more than 1 mg/week. Maintain the dose within the range of 1 mg to 4 mg once daily, depending on clinical response and tolerability, for both monotherapy and adjunctive therapy to a psychostimulant. Doses above 4 mg/day have not been systematically studied in controlled clinical studies . [ ] see Clinical Studies (14.1)

Clinically relevant improvements were observed beginning at doses in the range 0.05-0.08 mg/kg once daily in both mono- and adjunctive therapy. Efficacy increased with increasing weight-adjusted dose (mg/kg). If well tolerated, doses up to 0.12 mg/kg once daily may provide additional benefit.

In clinical trials, there were dose-related and exposure-related risks for several clinically significant adverse reactions (hypotension, bradycardia, sedative events). Thus, consideration should be given to dosing INTUNIV on a mg/kg basis, in order to balance the exposure-related potential benefits and risks of treatment. ^®

If switching from immediate-release guanfacine, discontinue that treatment, and titrate with INTUNIV following above recommended schedule. ^®

Do not substitute for immediate-release guanfacine tablets on a milligram-per-milligram basis, because of differing pharmacokinetic profiles. INTUNIV has a delayed T , reduced C and lower bioavailability compared to those of the same dose of immediate-release guanfacine . ^®_maxmax[ ] see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)

It is generally agreed that pharmacological treatment of ADHD may be needed for an extended period. The effectiveness of INTUNIV for longer-term use (more than 9 weeks) has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials. Therefore the physician electing to use INTUNIV for extended periods should periodically re-evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient. ^®®

Infrequent, transient elevations in blood pressure above original baseline (i.e., rebound) have been reported to occur upon abrupt discontinuation of guanfacine. To minimize these effects, the dose should generally be tapered in decrements of no more than 1 mg every 3 to 7 days.

When reinitiating patients to the previous maintenance dose after two or more missed consecutive doses, physicians should consider titration based on patient tolerability.

Dosage adjustments for INTUNIV are recommended with concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir, clarithromycin, conivaptan, grapefruit juice, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lopinavir/ritonavir, mibefradil, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir, telaprevir, telithromycin, and voriconazole), or CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., avasimibe, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, and St.John’s wort) (Table 1) . ^®[] see Drug Interactions (7)

Table 1: Dose Adjustments in Patients Taking Concomitant CYP3A4 Inhibitors or Inducers

1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg extended-release tablets

Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to INTUNIV , its inactive ingredients or other products containing guanfacine should not take INTUNIV . ^®[ ] see Description (11)^®

Treatment with INTUNIV can cause dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. Decreases were less pronounced over time of treatment. Orthostatic hypotension and syncope have been reported . ^®[] see Adverse Reactions(6.1)

Measure heart rate and blood pressure prior to initiation of therapy, following dose increases, and periodically while on therapy. Use INTUNIV with caution in patients with a history of hypotension, heart block, bradycardia, cardiovascular disease, or who have a history of syncope or may have a condition that predisposes them to syncope, such as hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia, or dehydration. Use INTUNIV with caution in patients treated concomitantly with antihypertensives or other drugs that can reduce blood pressure or heart rate or increase the risk of syncope. Advise patients to avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated. ^®®

Somnolence and sedation were commonly reported adverse reactions in clinical studies [ . Before using INTUNIV with other centrally active depressants (such as phenothiazines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines), consider the potential for additive sedative effects.  Caution patients against operating heavy equipment or driving until they know how they respond to treatment with INTUNIV Advise patients to avoid use with alcohol. ] see Adverse Reactions (6.1)^®®.

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labelling:  

• Hypotension, bradycardia, and syncope [ ] see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)
• Sedation and somnolence [ ] see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

A total of 2,028 subjects have been exposed to INTUNIV while participating in clinical trials. This includes 1,533 patients from completed studies in children and adolescents, and 495 subjects in completed studies in adult healthy volunteers. ^®

The mean duration of exposure of 446 patients that previously participated in two 2-year, open-label long-term studies was approximately 10 months.

Monotherapy Trials

The most commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and at least twice the rate for placebo) in the monotherapy trials (Studies 1 and 2) with INTUNIV were: somnolence, fatigue, nausea, lethargy, and hypotension. Most Common Adverse Reactions -^®

Twelve percent (12%) of patients receiving INTUNIV discontinued from the monotherapy clinical studies (Studies 1 and 2) due to adverse reactions, compared to 4% in the placebo group. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of INTUNIV -treated patients from the studies were somnolence/sedation (6%) and fatigue (2%). Less common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation (occurring in approximately 1% of patients) included: hypotension, headache, and dizziness. Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation -^®®

Adjunctive Trial

The most commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and at least twice the rate for placebo) in the adjunctive trial with INTUNIV were: somnolence, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, and abdominal pain. Most Common Adverse Reactions -^®

In the adjunctive clinical study, 3% of patients receiving INTUNIV discontinued due to adverse reactions, compared to 1% in the placebo group.  Each adverse reaction leading to discontinuation occurred in less than 1% of INTUNIV -treated patients. Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation –^®®

Short Term Monotherapy Clinical Studies

- Two short-term, placebo-controlled, double-blind pivotal studies (Studies 1 and 2) were conducted in children and adolescents with ADHD, using fixed doses of INTUNIV (1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg/day).  The most commonly reported adverse reactions (occurring in ≥ 2% of patients) that were considered drug-related and reported in a greater percentage of patients taking INTUNIV compared to patients taking placebo are shown in Table 2. Adverse reactions that were dose-related include: somnolence/sedation, abdominal pain, dizziness, hypotension, dry mouth and constipation. Common Adverse Reactions^®®

In an 8-week, placebo-controlled study in children 6-12 years of age with ADHD in which INTUNIV was dosed once (1-4 mg/day) in the morning or evening (Study 4), the safety profile was consistent with the once daily morning dosing of INTUNIV . ^®®

Short Term Adjunctive Clinical Study

- A 8-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-optimized pivotal study (Study 3) was conducted in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with a diagnosis of ADHD who were identified as having a sub-optimal response to psychostimulants. Patients received INTUNIV (1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg/day) or placebo, dosed in the morning or in the evening, in combination with their morning dose of psychostimulant. The most commonly reported adverse reactions (occurring in ≥ 2% of patients in the overall INTUNIV group) that were reported in a greater percentage of patients taking INTUNIV compared to patients taking placebo are shown in Table 3. Common Adverse Reactions^®®®

Effects on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

In the monotherapy pediatric, short-term, controlled trials (Studies 1 and 2), the maximum mean changes from baseline in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse were −5 mmHg, −3 mmHg, and −6 bpm, respectively, for all dose groups combined (generally one week after reaching target doses of 1 mg/day, 2 mg/day, 3 mg/day or 4 mg/day). These changes were dose dependent. Decreases in blood pressure and heart rate were usually modest and asymptomatic; however, hypotension and bradycardia can occur. Hypotension was reported as an adverse reaction for 7% of the INTUNIV group and 3% of the placebo group. This includes orthostatic hypotension, which was reported for 1% of the INTUNIV group and none in the placebo group. In the adjunctive trial, hypotension (3%) and bradycardia (2%) were observed in patients treated with INTUNIV as compared to none in the placebo group.  In long-term, open label studies, (mean exposure of approximately 10 months), maximum decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurred in the first month of therapy. Decreases were less pronounced over time. Syncope occurred in 1% of pediatric subjects in the clinical program. The majority of these cases occurred in the long-term, open-label studies. ^®®®

Other Adverse Reactions Observed in Clinical Studies

Table 4 includes additional adverse reactions observed in short-term, placebo-controlled and long-term, open-label clinical studies not included elsewhere in section 6.1, listed by organ system.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of guanfacine.  Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

An open-label post-marketing study involving 21,718 patients was conducted to assess the safety of guanfacine (as the hydrochloride) 1 mg/day given at bedtime for 28 days. Guanfacine was administered with or without other antihypertensive agents. Adverse events reported in the post-marketing study at an incidence greater than 1% included dry mouth, dizziness, somnolence, fatigue, headache and nausea. The most commonly reported adverse events in this study were the same as those observed in controlled clinical trials.

Less frequent, possibly guanfacine-related events observed in the post-marketing study and/or reported spontaneously, not included in , include: section 6.1

edema, malaise, tremor General:

palpitations, tachycardia Cardiovascular:

paresthesias, vertigo Central Nervous System:

blurred vision Eye Disorders:

arthralgia, leg cramps, leg pain, myalgia Musculo-Skeletal System:

confusion, hallucinations Psychiatric:

impotence Reproductive System, Male:

dyspnea Respiratory System:

alopecia, dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, pruritus, rash Skin and Appendages:

alterations in taste Special Senses:

Guanfacine is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 and its plasma concentrations can be affected significantly by CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (Figure 1). Dose adjustments are recommended . Guanfacine does not significantly affect exposures of methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine when coadministered (Figure 2). Therefore, no dose adjustments in methylphenidate or lisdexamfetamine are necessary. [] see Dosage and Administration (2.7)

Figure 1: Impact of Other Drugs on the Pharmacokinetics (PK) of Intuniv

Figure 1 (Intuniv 01)

Figure 2: Impact of Intuniv on the Pharmacokinetics (PK) of Other Drugs

Figure 2 (Intuniv 02)

Pregnancy Category B

Risk Summary

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of INTUNIV in pregnant women.  No fetal harm was observed in rats and rabbits with administration of guanfacine at 6 and 4 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose.  Because animal studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Animal data

Reproduction studies conducted in rats have shown that guanfacine crosses the placenta. However, administration of guanfacine to rats and rabbits at 6 and 4 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose of 4 mg/day on a mg/m basis resulted in no evidence of harm to the fetus. Higher doses (20 times the maximum recommended human dose in both rabbits and rats) were associated with reduced fetal survival and maternal toxicity. ²

It is not known whether guanfacine is excreted in human milk; however, guanfacine is excreted in rat milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when INTUNIV is administered to a nursing woman. Observe human milk-fed infants for sedation and somnolence. ^®

Safety and efficacy of INTUNIV in pediatric patients less than 6 years of age have not been established.  ^®

Animal Data

In studies in juvenile rats, guanfacine alone produced a slight delay in sexual maturation in males and females at 2-3 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD). Guanfacine in combination with methylphenidate produced a slight delay in sexual maturation and decreased growth as measured by a decrease in bone length in males at a dose of guanfacine comparable to the MRHD and a dose of methylphenidate approximately 4 times the MRHD.   

In a study where juvenile rats were treated with guanfacine alone from 7 to 59 days of age, development was delayed as indicated by a slight delay in sexual maturation and decreased body weight gain in males at 2 mg/kg/day and in females at 3 mg/kg/day.  The No Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for delayed sexual maturation was 1 mg/kg/day, which is equivalent to the MRHD of 4 mg/day, on a mg/m basis.  The effects on fertility were not evaluated in this study. ²

In a study where juvenile rats were treated with guanfacine in combination with methylphenidate from 7 to 59 days of age, a decrease in ulna bone length and a slight delay in sexual maturation were observed in males given 1 mg/kg/day of guanfacine in combination with 50 mg/kg/day of methylphenidate. The NOAELs for these findings were 0.3 mg/kg of guanfacine in combination with 16 mg/kg/day of methylphenidate, which are equivalent to 0.3 and 1.4 times the MRHD of 4 mg/day and 54 mg/day for guanfacine and methylphenidate, respectively, on a mg/m basis. These findings were not observed with guanfacine alone at 1 mg/kg/day or methylphenidate alone at 50 mg/kg/day. ²

The safety and efficacy of INTUNIV in geriatric patients have not been established. ^®

Renal Impairment

The impact of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of guanfacine in children was not assessed. In adult patients with impaired renal function, the cumulative urinary excretion of guanfacine and the renal clearance diminished as renal function decreased. In patients on hemodialysis, the dialysis clearance was about 15% of the total clearance. The low dialysis clearance suggests that the hepatic elimination (metabolism) increases as renal function decreases. It may be necessary to adjust the dose in patients with significant impairment of renal function.

Hepatic Impairment

The impact of hepatic impairment on PK of guanfacine in children was not assessed. Guanfacine in adults is cleared both by the liver and the kidney, and approximately 50% of the clearance of guanfacine is hepatic. It may be necessary to adjust the dose in patients with significant impairment of hepatic function.

INTUNIV is not a controlled substance and has no known potential for abuse or dependence. ^®

    Symptoms

Post-marketing reports of guanfacine overdosage indicate that hypotension, drowsiness, lethargy, and bradycardia have been observed following overdose. Initial hypertension may develop early and may be followed by hypotension.  Similar symptoms have been described in voluntary reports to the American Association of Poison Control Center’s National Poison Data System. Miosis of the pupils may be noted on examination No fatal overdoses of guanfacine have been reported in published literature. .

Treatment

Consult a Certified Poison Control Center by calling 1-800-222-1222 for up to date guidance and advice. 

Management of INTUNIV overdose should include monitoring for and the treatment of initial hypertension, if that occurs, as well as hypotension, bradycardia, lethargy and respiratory depression. Children and adolescents who develop lethargy should be observed for the development of more serious toxicity including coma, bradycardia and hypotension for up to 24 hours, due to the possibility of delayed onset hypotension. ^®

INTUNIV is a once-daily, extended-release formulation of guanfacine hydrochloride (HCl) in a matrix tablet formulation for oral administration only. The chemical designation is N-amidino-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamide monohydrochloride. The molecular formula is C H Cl N O·HCl corresponding to a molecular weight of 282.55. The chemical structure is: ^®₉₉₂₃

Spd503-chemical-stucture (Intuniv 03)

Guanfacine HCl is a white to off-white crystalline powder, sparingly soluble in water (approximately 1 mg/mL) and alcohol and slightly soluble in acetone. The only organic solvent in which it has relatively high solubility is methanol (>30 mg/mL). Each tablet contains guanfacine HCl equivalent to 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, or 4 mg of guanfacine base. The tablets also contain hypromellose, methacrylic acid copolymer, lactose, povidone, crospovidone, microcrystalline cellulose, fumaric acid, and glyceryl behenate. In addition, the 3mg and 4mg tablets also contain green pigment blend PB-1763.

Guanfacine is a central alpha -adrenergic receptor agonist. Guanfacine is not a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. The mechanism of action of guanfacine in ADHD is not known. _2A

Guanfacine is a selective central alpha -adrenergic receptor agonist in that it has a 15-20 times higher affinity for this receptor subtype than for the alpha or alpha subtypes. _2A2B2C

Guanfacine is a known antihypertensive agent. By stimulating central alpha -adrenergic receptors, guanfacine reduces sympathetic nerve impulses from the vasomotor center to the heart and blood vessels. This results in a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance and a reduction in heart rate. _2A

Effects on Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI)

Patients taking INTUNIV demonstrated similar growth compared to normative data. Patients taking INTUNIV had a mean increase in weight of 0.5 kg (1 lb) compared to those receiving placebo over a comparative treatment period. Patients receiving INTUNIV for at least 12 months in open-label studies gained an average of 8 kg (17 lbs) in weight and 8 cm (3 in) in height. The height, weight, and BMI percentile remained stable in patients at 12 months in the long-term studies compared to when they began receiving INTUNIV .  ^®®®®

Effect on ECG

The effect of two dose levels of immediate-release guanfacine (4 mg and 8 mg) on the QT interval was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo- and active-controlled, cross-over study in healthy adults. A dose-dependent decrease in heart rate was observed during the first 12 hours, at time of maximal concentrations. The mean change in heart rate was -13 bpm at 4 mg and -22 bpm at 8 mg.  An apparent increase in mean QTc was observed for both doses. However, guanfacine does not appear to interfere with cardiac repolarization of the form associated with pro-arrhythmic drugs. This finding has no known clinical relevance.

Absorption and Distribution

Guanfacine is readily absorbed and approximately 70% bound to plasma proteins independent of drug concentration. After oral administration of INTUNIV the time to peak plasma concentration is approximately 5 hours in children and adolescents with ADHD. ^®

Immediate-release guanfacine and INTUNIV have different pharmacokinetic characteristics; dose substitution on a milligram for milligram basis will result in differences in exposure. ^®

A comparison across studies suggests that the C is 60% lower and AUC 43% lower, respectively, for INTUNIV compared to immediate-release guanfacine.  Therefore, the relative bioavailability of INTUNIV to immediate-release guanfacine is 58%. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters in adults following the administration of INTUNIV 1 mg once daily and immediate-release guanfacine 1mg once daily are summarized in Table 5. _max0-∞^®®®

Note: Values are mean +/- SD, except for t which is median (range)   _max

Exposure to guanfacine was higher in children (ages 6-12) compared to adolescents (ages 13-17) and adults. After oral administration of multiple doses of INTUNIV 4 mg, the C was 10 ng/mL compared to 7 ng/mL and the AUC was 162 ng h/mL compared to 116 ng h/mL in children (ages 6-12) and adolescents (ages 13-17), respectively. These differences are probably attributable to the lower body weight of children compared to adolescents and adults. ^®_max

The pharmacokinetics were affected by intake of food when a single dose of INTUNIV 4 mg was administered with a high-fat breakfast. The mean exposure increased (C ~75% and AUC ~40%) compared to dosing in a fasted state. ^®_max

Dose Proportionality

Following administration of INTUNIV in single doses of 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg to adults, C and AUC of guanfacine were proportional to dose. ^®_max0-∞

Metabolism and Elimination

In vitro studies with human liver microsomes and recombinant CYP’s demonstrated that guanfacine was primarily metabolized by CYP3A4. In pooled human hepatic microsomes, guanfacine did not inhibit the activities of the major cytochrome P450 isoenzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 or CYP3A4/5).  Guanfacine is a substrate of CYP3A4/5 and exposure is affected by CYP3A4/5 inducers/inhibitors.

Renal and Hepatic Impairment

The impact of renal impairment on PK of guanfacine in children was not assessed . [] see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)

Carcinogenesis No carcinogenic effect of guanfacine was observed in studies of 78 weeks in mice or 102 weeks in rats at doses up to 6-7 times the maximum recommended human dose of 4 mg/day on a mg/ m basis.
²

Mutagenesis Guanfacine was not genotoxic in a variety of test models, including the Ames test and an chromosomal aberration test; however, a marginal increase in numerical aberrations (polyploidy) was observed in the latter study.
in vitro

Impairment of Fertility No adverse effects were observed in fertility studies in male and female rats at doses up to 30 times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/ m basis.
²

The efficacy of INTUNIV in the treatment of ADHD was established in 3 placebo-controlled monotherapy trials (Studies 1, 2, and 4) and in 1 placebo-controlled adjunctive trial with psychostimulants (Study 3) in pediatric population. Studies 1, 2, and 3 were conducted in children and adolescents ages 6-17 and Study 4 was conducted in children ages 6-12 years. ^®

Studies 1 and 2: Fixed-dose INTUNIV Monotherapy ^®

Study 1 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed dose study, in which efficacy of once daily dosing with INTUNIV (2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg) was evaluated for 5 weeks (n=345). Study 2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed-dose study, in which efficacy of once daily dosing with INTUNIV (1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg) was evaluated for 6 weeks (n=324). In both studies, randomized subjects in 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg dose groups were titrated to their target fixed dose, and continued on the same dose until a dose tapering phase started  The lowest dose of 1 mg used in Study 2 was assigned only to patients less than 50 kg (110 lbs).  Patients who weighed less than 25 kg (55 lbs) were not included in either study. ^®®

Signs and symptoms of ADHD were evaluated on a once weekly basis using the clinician administered and scored ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), which includes both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline to endpoint in ADHD-RS-IV total scores. Endpoint was defined as the last post-randomization treatment week for which a valid score was obtained prior to dose tapering (up to Week 5 in Study 1 and up to Week 6 in Study 2).

The mean reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at endpoint were statistically significantly greater for INTUNIV compared to placebo for Studies 1 and 2. Placebo-adjusted changes from baseline were statistically significant for each of the 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg INTUNIV randomized treatment groups in both studies, as well as the 1 mg INTUNIV treatment group (for patients 55-110 lbs) that was included only in Study 2 (see Table 6).  ^®®®

Dose-responsive efficacy was evident, particularly when data were examined on a weight-adjusted (mg/kg) basis. When evaluated over the dose range of 0.01-0.17 mg/kg/day, clinically relevant improvements were observed beginning at doses in the range 0.05-0.08 mg/kg/day. Doses up to 0.12 mg/kg/day were shown to provide additional benefit.

Controlled, monotherapy long-term efficacy studies (>9 weeks) have not been conducted.

In the monotherapy trials (Studies 1 and 2), subgroup analyses were performed to identify any differences in response based on gender or age (6-12 vs. 13-17).  Analyses of the primary outcome did not suggest any differential responsiveness on the basis of gender.  Analyses by age revealed a statistically significant treatment effect only in the 6-12 age subgroup. Due to the relatively small proportion of adolescent patients (ages 13-17) enrolled into these studies (approximately 25%), these data may not be sufficient to demonstrate efficacy in the adolescent patients. In these studies, patients were randomized to a fixed dose of INTUNIV rather than optimized by body weight. Therefore, some adolescent patients were randomized to a dose that might have resulted in relatively lower plasma guanfacine concentrations compared to the younger patients. Over half (55%) of the adolescent patients received doses of 0.01-0.04mg/kg. In studies in which systematic pharmacokinetic data were obtained, there was a strong inverse correlation between body weight and plasma guanfacine concentrations. ^®

Table 6: Fixed dose Studies

LS Mean: least-square mean; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; 95% CI (unadjusted) Doses were shown to be statistically significantly superior to placebo.   

^a

Study 3: Flexible-dose INTUNIV as Adjunctive Therapy to Psychostimulants ^®

Study 3 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-optimization study, in which efficacy of once daily optimized dosing (morning or evening) with INTUNIV (1mg, 2mg, 3mg and 4mg), when co-administered with psychostimulants, was evaluated for 8 weeks, in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with a diagnosis of ADHD, with a sub-optimal response to stimulants (n=455). Subjects were started at the 1 mg INTUNIV dose level and were titrated weekly over a 5-week dose-optimization period to an optimal INTUNIV dose not to exceed 4 mg/day based on tolerability and clinical response. The dose was then maintained for a 3-week dose maintenance period before entry to 1 week of dose tapering.  Subjects took INTUNIV either in the morning or the evening while maintaining their current dose of psychostimulant treatment given each morning.  Allowable psychostimulants in the study were ADDERALL XR , VYVANSE , CONCERTA , FOCALIN XR , RITALIN LA , METADATE CD or FDA-approved generic equivalents. ^{®®®®®®®®®®}

Symptoms of ADHD were evaluated on a weekly basis by clinicians using the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), which includes both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline to endpoint in ADHD-RS-IV total scores. Endpoint was defined as the last post-randomization treatment week prior to dose tapering for which a valid score was obtained (up to Week 8).

Mean reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at endpoint were statistically significantly greater for INTUNIV given in combination with a psychostimulant compared to placebo given with a psychostimulant for Study 3, for both morning and evening INTUNIV dosing (see Table 7). Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of subjects reached optimal doses in the 0.05-0.12 mg/kg/day range. ^®®

Study 4: Flexible-dose INTUNIV Monotherapy ^®

Study 4 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-optimization study, in which efficacy of once daily dosing (morning or evening) with INTUNIV (1mg, 2mg, 3mg, and 4mg) was evaluated for 8 weeks in children aged 6-12 years  (n=340). ^®

Signs and symptoms of ADHD were evaluated on a once weekly basis using the clinician administered and scored ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), which includes both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive subscales. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline score at endpoint on the ADHD-RS-IV total scores. Endpoint was defined as the last post-randomization treatment week for which a valid score was obtained prior to dose tapering (up to Week 8). 

Mean reductions in ADHD-RS-IV total scores at endpoint were statistically significantly greater for INTUNIV compared to placebo in both AM and PM dosing groups of INTUNIV (see Table 7). ^®®


Table 7: Flexible-Dose studies

LS Mean: least-square mean; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; 95% CI (unadjusted) Treatment was given in combination with a psychostimulant. Doses were shown to be statistically significantly superior to placebo.

<sup>a

b</sup>

NDC:64725-0515-1 in a CONTAINER of 30 TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASES

See FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information)

Dosing and Administration

Instruct patients to swallow INTUNIV whole with water, milk or other liquid. Patients should not take INTUNIV together with a high-fat meal, since this can raise blood levels of INTUNIV .  Instruct the parent or caregiver to supervise the child or adolescent taking INTUNIV and to keep the bottle of tablets out of reach of children. ^®Tablets should not be crushed, chewed or broken prior to administration because this may increase the rate of release of the active drug .^®®®

Instruct patients on how to properly taper the medication, if the physician decides to discontinue treatment. [ ]. see Dosage and Administration (2.5)

Adverse Reactions

Advise patients that sedation can occur, particularly early in treatment or with dose increases. Caution against operating heavy equipment or driving until they know how they respond to treatment with INTUNIV Headache and abdominal pain can also occur. If any of these symptoms persist, or other symptoms occur, the patient should be advised to discuss the symptoms with the physician. ^®[ ]. see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)

Advise patients to avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated, which may potentially increase the risks of hypotension and syncope Advise patients  to avoid use with alcohol. [ ]. see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)