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Pharmacokinetics of a Guanfacine Extended‐Release Formulation in Children and Adolescents with Attention‐Deficit–Hyperactivity Disorder
Author(s) -
Boellner Samuel W.,
Pennick Michael,
Fiske Kimberly,
Lyne Andrew,
Shojaei Amir
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.27.9.1253
Subject(s) - guanfacine , pharmacokinetics , dosing , medicine , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , area under the curve , anesthesia , pharmacology , clonidine , psychiatry
Study Objective . To evaluate the single‐ and multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics of an oral extended‐release formulation of guanfacine in children and adolescents with a diagnosis of attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Design . Phase I‐II, open‐label, dose‐escalation study. Setting . Clinical study center. Patients . Fourteen children (aged 6–12 yrs) and 14 adolescents (aged 13–17 yrs) with ADHD. Intervention . All patients received guanfacine as a single 2‐mg dose on day 1. They received a daily dose of 2 mg on days 9–15, 3 mg on days 16–22, and 4 mg on days 23–29. Measurements and Main Results . Blood samples, vital signs, and electrocardiograms (ECGs) were obtained before dosing on day 1 and at intervals over 24 hours, with repeat measurements on days 14 and 28. Guanfacine demonstrated linear pharmacokinetics. Mean plasma concentrations, peak exposure (C max ), and total or 24‐hour exposure (area under the concentration‐time curve [AUC] 0–∞ or AUC 0–24 , respectively) were as follows in children and adolescents, respectively: after a single 2‐mg dose, AUC 0–∞ was 65.2 ± 23.9 ng•hour/ml and 47.3 ± 13.7 ng•hour/ml, and C max was 2.55 ± 1.03 ng/ml and 1.69 ± 0.43 ng/ml; after multiple 2‐mg doses, AUC 0–24 was 70.0 ± 28.3 ng•hour/ml and 48.2 ± 16.1 ng•hour/ml, and C max was 4.39 ± 1.66 ng/ml and 2.86 ± 0.77 ng/ml; and after multiple 4‐mg doses, AUC 0–24 was 162 ± 116 ng•hour/ml and 117 ± 28.4 ng•hour/ml, and C max was 10.1 ± 7.09 ng/ml and 7.01 ± 1.53 ng/ml. After a single 2‐mg dose, half‐life was 14.4 ± 2.39 hours in children and 17.9 ± 5.77 hours in adolescents. The most frequent treatment‐emergent adverse events were somnolence, insomnia, headache, blurred vision, and altered mood. Most were mild to moderate in severity, with the highest frequency associated with the 4‐mg doses. Blood pressure, pulse, and ECG readings were all within normal limits. Conclusion . Guanfacine extended‐release formulation demonstrated linear pharmacokinetics. Plasma concentrations and concentration‐related pharmacokinetic parameters were higher in children than in adolescents. These differences are likely due to heavier body weights in adolescents and young male subjects. No serious adverse events were reported.