Clonidine
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alonso Alvarado, M.D. [2]
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Overview
Clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that is FDA approved for the treatment of hypertension. Common adverse reactions include contact dermatitis, erythema, pruritus, xerostomia, dizziness, headache, sedated, somnolence, fatigue.
Adult Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
Hypertension
Dosing Information
- Clonidine hydrochloride tablets must be adjusted according to the patient's individual blood pressure response. The following is a general guide to its administration:
- Initial dose: 0.1 mg tablet twice daily (morning and bedtime). Elderly patients may benefit from a lower initial dose.
- Maintenance: Further increments of 0.1 mg per day may be made at weekly intervals if necessary until the desired response is achieved. Taking the larger portion of the oral daily dose at bedtime may minimize transient adjustment effects of dry mouth and drowsiness. The therapeutic doses most commonly employed have ranged from 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg per day given in divided doses. Studies have indicated that 2.4 mg is the maximum effective daily dose, but doses as high as this have rarely been employed.
- Renal Impairment: Patients with renal impairment may benefit from a lower initial dose. Patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)
Guideline-Supported Use
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Condition 2
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Non–Guideline-Supported Use
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Pediatric Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
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Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)
Guideline-Supported Use
Condition 1
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Condition 2
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Non–Guideline-Supported Use
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Contraindications
- Clonidine hydrochloride tablets should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to clonidine.
Warnings
Withdrawal
Patients should be instructed not to discontinue therapy without consulting their physician. Sudden cessation of clonidine treatment has, in some cases, resulted in symptoms such as nervousness, agitation, headache, and tremor accompanied or followed by a rapid rise in blood pressure and elevated catecholamine concentrations in the plasma. The likelihood of such reactions to discontinuation of clonidine therapy appears to be greater after administration of higher doses or continuation of concomitant beta-blocker treatment and special caution is therefore advised in these situations. Rare instances of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accidents and death have been reported after clonidine withdrawal. When discontinuing therapy with clonidine tablets, the physician should reduce the dose gradually over 2 to 4 days to avoid withdrawal symptomatology.
An excessive rise in blood pressure following discontinuation of clonidine tablets therapy can be reversed by administration of oral clonidine hydrochloride or by intravenous phentolamine. If therapy is to be discontinued in patients receiving a beta-blocker and clonidine concurrently, the beta-blocker should be withdrawn several days before the gradual discontinuation of clonidine tablets.
Because children commonly have gastrointestinal illnesses that lead to vomiting, they may be particularly susceptible to hypertensive episodes resulting from abrupt inability to take medication.
Precautions
General
In patients who have developed localized contact sensitization to clonidine, continuation of clonidine or substitution of oral clonidine hydrochloride therapy may be associated with the development of a generalized skin rash.
In patients who develop an allergic reaction to clonidine, substitution of oral clonidine hydrochloride may also elicit an allergic reaction (including generalized rash, urticaria, or angioedema).
The sympatholytic action of clonidine may worsen sinus node dysfunction and atrioventricular (AV) block, especially in patients taking other sympatholytic drugs. There are post-marketing reports of patients with conduction abnormalities and/or taking other sympatholytic drugs who developed severe bradycardia requiring IV atropine, IV isoproterenol and temporary cardiac pacing while taking clonidine.
In hypertension caused by pheochromocytoma, no therapeutic effect of clonidine tablets can be expected.
Perioperative Use
Administration of clonidine hydrochloride tablets should be continued to within 4 hours of surgery and resumed as soon as possible thereafter. Blood pressure should be carefully monitored during surgery and additional measures to control blood pressure should be available if required.
Adverse Reactions
Clinical Trials Experience
Central Nervous System
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Cardiovascular
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Respiratory
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Gastrointestinal
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Hypersensitive Reactions
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Miscellaneous
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Condition 2
Central Nervous System
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Cardiovascular
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Respiratory
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Gastrointestinal
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Hypersensitive Reactions
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Miscellaneous
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Postmarketing Experience
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Drug Interactions
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Drug 1
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Drug 2
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Drug 3
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Drug 4
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Drug 5
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Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA):
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Pregnancy Category (AUS):
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Labor and Delivery
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Nursing Mothers
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Pediatric Use
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Geriatic Use
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Gender
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Race
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Renal Impairment
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Hepatic Impairment
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Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
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Immunocompromised Patients
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Others
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Administration and Monitoring
Administration
(Oral/Intravenous/etc)
Monitoring
Condition 1
(Description regarding monitoring, from Warnings section)
Condition 2
(Description regarding monitoring, from Warnings section)
Condition 3
(Description regarding monitoring, from Warnings section)
IV Compatibility
Solution
Compatible
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Not Tested
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Variable
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Incompatible
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Y-Site
Compatible
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Not Tested
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Variable
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Incompatible
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Admixture
Compatible
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Not Tested
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Variable
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Incompatible
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Syringe
Compatible
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Not Tested
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Variable
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Incompatible
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TPN/TNA
Compatible
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Variable
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Incompatible
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Overdosage
Acute Overdose
Signs and Symptoms
(Description)
Management
(Description)
Chronic Overdose
Signs and Symptoms
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Management
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Pharmacology
Clonidine
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Mechanism of Action
(Description)
Structure
(Description with picture)
Pharmacodynamics
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Pharmacokinetics
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Nonclinical Toxicology
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Clinical Studies
Condition 1
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How Supplied
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Storage
There is limited information regarding Clonidine Storage in the drug label.
Images
Drug Images
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Package and Label Display Panel
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Patient Counseling Information
(Patient Counseling Information)
Precautions with Alcohol
Alcohol-Clonidine interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.
Brand Names
There is limited information regarding Clonidine Brand Names in the drug label.
Look-Alike Drug Names
- (Paired Confused Name 1a) — (Paired Confused Name 1b)
- (Paired Confused Name 2a) — (Paired Confused Name 2b)
- (Paired Confused Name 3a) — (Paired Confused Name 3b)
Drug Shortage Status
Drug Shortage
Price
References
The contents of this FDA label are provided by the National Library of Medicine.