Intuniv added to Ontario Formulary
Intuniv XR will be publically reimbursed in Ontario for ADHD treatment from January 31, 2020 for children and adolescents (6 to 17 years old) as a standalone and combination therapy as follows:
- As an adjunctive therapy to psychostimulants;
- As monotherapy in patients with significant intolerance to psychostimulants and who have had an inadequate response to either atomoxetine or other non-stimulant alternative(s).
Health practitioners will be required to use the “reason for use” code 540. To learn more about the eligibility criteria for reimbursement of INTUNIV XR® in Ontario, please visit:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/formulary43/summary_edition43_20200123.pdf
Intuniv XR® is a selective alpha2A-adrenergic receptor agonist and provides an additional treatment option for children and adolescents in whom response to stimulant therapy has been suboptimal.1
Ontario and Quebec are currently the only two provinces to provide coverage for Intuniv XR®.
Additional Information
Intuniv XR® was approved by Health Canada in July 2013 as monotherapy for the treatment of ADHD in children aged 6 to 12 years, and as adjunctive therapy to psychostimulants for the treatment of ADHD in children, aged 6 to 12 years, with a sub-optimal response to psychostimulants. In September 2015, Health Canada extended both indications for INTUNIV XR® to include adolescents aged 13-17.
Intuniv XR® is also publicly reimbursed in the province of Quebec as part of the RAMQ (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec) “Exceptional medications” section of the List of Medications, in association with a psychostimulant, for the treatment of children and adolescents with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity, for whom it has not been possible to properly control the symptoms of the disease with methylphenidate and an amphetamine used as monotherapy. Before it can be concluded that the effectiveness of these drugs is sub-optimal, they must have been titrated at optimal doses.