Guanfacine (Tenex)
Selective central alpha-2A adrenergic agonist used for hypertension (immediate release, Tenex) and ADHD (extended release, Intuniv). Reduces sympathetic outflow and strengthens prefrontal cortical network regulation. Half-life ~17 hours; ~50% excreted renally unchanged, the remainder metabolized mainly by CYP3A4. Abrupt discontinuation can cause rebound hypertension; taper when stopping.
Projected serum levels — 1 mg, once daily
Maintenance schedule: 1 mg once daily (oral).
Loading schedule: 1.6 mg on day 1, then 1 mg once daily — reaching therapeutic levels sooner.
Modeled steady state after ~2 days: peak ≈ 1.1 mg, trough ≈ 0.49 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a 1 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.
Key facts
- Category
- Antihypertensive / Alpha-2 Agonist
- Route modeled
- Oral
- Model confidence
- inferred
- Half-life
- 17 h
- Common dose
- 1 mg
- Suggested maximum
- 4 mg/day
- Reference dose range
- 0.50–4 mg (single dose)
- Suggested cadence
- once daily
- Validated against
- 1 mg oral — Cmax 0.002 mg/L at 2.6 h