Clonidine

Uses of Clonidine

Clonidine lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels to relax and your heart to beat more slowly and easily. Clonidine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).  Clonidine is sometimes given with other medications. Clonidine is also available as a transdermal patch worn on the skin. Do not use two forms of this medicine at the same time.

Precautions and Warnings

Before you take clonidine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease or severe coronary artery disease, a heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats, low blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, kidney disease, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a Catapres TTS transdermal skin patch.

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to clonidine.

To make sure clonidine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;
• a heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats;
• high or low blood pressure, or a history of fainting spells;
• a heart attack or stroke;
• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
• kidney disease; or
• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a Catapres TTS transdermal skin patch.

It is not known if clonidine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension

Oral:
-Initial dose: 0.1 mg orally 2 times a day (morning and bedtime)
-Titration: Increments of 0.1 mg orally per day may be made at weekly intervals to desired response
-Maintenance dose: 0.2 to 0.6 mg orally per day in divided doses
-Maximum dose: 2.4 mg orally per day in divided doses

Comments: Taking the larger portion of the oral daily dose at bedtime may minimize transient adjustment effects of dry mouth and drowsiness

Side Effects

Common  side effects:

• drowsiness, dizziness;
• feeling tired or irritable;
• dry mouth;
• constipation, loss of appetite; or
• sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats;
• a very slow heart rate; or
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.