Adult ADHD
Visual Abstract
Comparing guanfacine and dextroamphetamine for the treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Guanfacine vs Adderall for Adult ADHD
F B Taylor , J Russo
Summarized by:
May 15, 2023
study source
J Clin Psychopharmacol
April 2001
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What they studied
This study wanted to compare the effectiveness of guanfacine with dextroamphetamine (Adderall) as a treatment for adult ADHD.
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What they found
Both were safe and effective in reducing ADHD symptoms. Adderall may have been more effective in improving motivation, while guanfacine may have improved attention on cognitive tests.
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What this means
This study is consistent with other studies demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of guanfacine as an ADHD treatment.
Comparing guanfacine and dextroamphetamine for the treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Objectives
This study wanted to compare the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine (Adderall) and guanfacine in treating adult ADHD.
Dextroamphetamine (Adderall) is a stimulant medication that’s one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for adult ADHD.
Guanfacine is a non-stimulant medication that’s currently approved as a treatment for ADHD as well.
Study Quote
The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of the alpha-2a agonist guanfacine with that of dextroamphetamine for the treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods
The study tested dextroamphetamine (Adderall), guanfacine, and a placebo control in a crossover study.
Seventeen adults took each of these medications and were evaluated for ADHD symptoms and with cognitive testing.
With the trial's crossover design, researchers could see the drug's specific effects on the same group of patients, though it was a small study.
Study Quote
Seventeen adult outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study comparing drug effects on ADHD symptoms. Measures of change included the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist for Adults and the Copeland Symptom Checklist for Adult...
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Results
The results showed that both medications were effective in reducing ADHD symptoms. There was no evidence of differences in overall effectiveness, though the trial was too small to detect minordifferences.
There were some differences seen in the specific effects of each drug.
Participants showed more improvement in their ability to pay attention when taking guanfacine. On the other hand, they showed more improvement in motivation when taking Adderall.
The two drugs also showed differences in side effects. Fatigue was the most commonside-effect when taking guanfacine, while muscle tension was most common among those taking Adderall.
Study Quote
Both drugs significantly reduced ADHD symptoms on the DSM-IV Adult Behavior Checklist for Adults over placebo (p < 0.05). The Stroop Color subscale showed significant improvement for both drugs (p < 0.05), but the Color-Word measures showed significant improvement for guanfacine only (p ...
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Conclusions
These results suggest that guanfacine may be an effective treatment for adult ADHD.
Based on this study and similar studies, guanfacine is a drug currently approved as an ADHD treatment by the FDA.
It’s been shown to be a safe and effective treatment over the long term in children:
It’s also been shown to be safe to take alongside stimulant medications:
Study Quote
This preliminary study indicates that guanfacine may be a well-tolerated treatment option for adult ADHD.