Switching from Clonidine Immediate-Release to Guanfacine Extended-Release

摘要

As a clinical pharmacy specialist in child and adolescentmental health, I am frequently asked how to switchpatients from clonidine immediate-release (IR) to guanfacineextended-release (XR). This therapeutic switch may berequired when poor adherence to a clonidine IR regimen(typically requiring 3–4 doses daily) is identified, whenclonidine dose-optimization is limited by sedation, bradycardiaor hypotension, or when coverage situations change.The latter may occur if, for example, new eligibility for agovernment program or a third party-payer occurs.