Intuniv - Prescription Medication Review

Intuniv is a prescription medication used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in children ages six to 17 years old. My eight-year-old son Sam, who has Asperger's Syndrome, was prescribed Intuniv to help with his poor impulse control.

Intuniv Side Effects

The serious side effects, as listed by Drugs.com, are fast or slow heart rates, pounding heartbeats, chest tightness, numbness or tingling, or feeling like you might faint.

The less serious side effects, according to Drugs.com, are drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, stomach pain, weight gain, headache or feeling irritable.

Sam's Side Effects on Intuniv

The only side effect Sam suffered while on Intuniv isn't mentioned in the possible side effects listed above. His doctor said that Sam may fall asleep in class and be extremely drowsy, but in fact, the opposite was true.

Sam had never had any prior sleeping problems, yet on Intuniv, he suffered from nightmares and insomnia. He even begged me to let him skip his dosage for a couple nights so he could get some sleep.

Benefits of Intuniv

Sam started taking Intuniv as a replacement for Risperdal. It's not the same kind of drug, but we were hoping for similar outcomes.

Intuniv worked for Sam. He was slower to react when angered, which meant he wasn't getting into as much trouble for hitting or reacting violently. He was much more calm and peaceful during the day. He made little to no mouth noises and seemed fairly content.

Taking Sam off Intuniv

Because Sam suffered from insomnia, his doctor and I made the decision to change it from a morning dose to an evening dose.

When Sam began taking Intuniv at night, he was able to sleep, but the drug had lost its daytime effectiveness. Because of this, his doctor and I decided to take him off Intuniv completely.

Would I recommend Intuniv to parents?

As I mentioned before, Intuniv worked well for Sam, except for him being unable to sleep. He didn't experience any of the other side effects listed. He didn't gain weight like he had on Risperdal, he didn't suffer from stomach pain or constipation, and he wasn't irritable - quite the opposite.

There is a long list of medications should not be taken with Intuniv, such as blood pressure medications, St. John's wort, certain antibiotics and antidepressants, or seizure medications. If your child is on any of these medications (or others, as listed on Drugs.com), it may be better to try another medication instead of Intuniv.

However, if your child can handle Intuniv, I would recommend trying it out. But please talk to your doctor about all possible side effects and benefits before trying the prescription drug Intuniv.

Sources:

Personal Experience

"Intuniv", www.drugs.com