Intuniv, ADHD and Its Efficacy
What is Intuniv?
Intuniv is a common blood pressure medication that more recently is being used to try and reduce the symptoms of ADHD. With the new findings about Intuniv, ADHD symptoms can be reduced and controlled.
Intuniv, in the extended release form, according to the National Institutes of Health, can be used to treat ADHD by affecting the parts of the brain that controls impulsivity and attention. According to the Intuniv website, it is a nonstimulant and is not habit forming. As with any other medication it does come with common side effects.
Doses need to be increased on a gradual basis. One pill is taken and it lasts for twenty-four hours. The pills come in 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, and 4mg doses. For the treatment of ADHD, it is recommended to be used on children ages six to seventeen.
Pros and Cons
One of the downfalls of the medication is that it is so new in treating those with ADHD that there are unknown factors. On the Intuniv website itself, it states that the effectiveness of the medication, longer than nine weeks, has not been studied. Some of the research indicates that patients saw a decrease in symptoms, but it has only been observed on a small group of people.
This medication was only FDA approved for the use of treating ADHD in September of 2009. With it only on the market for a short while, it is still in its testing phase. For any medication to be successful, I think, it needs to be out a longer period of time, and used on more and more people in order to determine if it is beneficial in treating the symptoms of ADHD or not.
One great thing about this medication is that unlike many other ADHD medications like Ritalin, it is not a stimulant. Although stimulants have been proven to be effective at reducing the symptoms of ADHD, they are psychoactive medications that only temporarily reduce the symptoms. As soon as a child is off those medications, you can tell. With Intuniv, the medication stays in their system for twenty-four hours, and does not stimulate their brain, like the stimulants do. In addition, it does not cause any dependence.
Recommendation
With all of the above information about Intuniv, ADHD symptoms may or may not be reduced. Although the studies have been promising so far, more research is needed before a reasonably definitive statement can be made about its effectiveness. Remember to always consult a doctor before starting any new medication. You need to weigh the pros and cons as with any other prescription treatment. If it is a promising as it sounds, this will be the new trend in ADHD treatment.
Resources
National Institutes of Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000057
