Clonidine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Clonidine?

What is Clonidine for?

Clonidine is a drug to lower high blood pressure, helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This medicine can be used alone or in combination with other drugs.

Clonidine belongs to the class A drug (central alpha agonist) that acts on the brain to lower blood pressure. This medicine lowers the pressure of the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily. This medication may also be used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), coping with hot flushes that occurs at menopause, symptoms resulting from narcotics use, and helps people to quit smoking.

Clonidine dosage and clonidine side effects are described in more detail below.

How to use Clonidine?

Read the Patient Information leaflet if available from your pharmacist before starting clonidine and each time you get a refill. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Unpack and apply the patch to a clean, dry area and a lint-free upper arm skin or upper chest. Press the patch for about 10 seconds to make sure it stays in place. Do not place the patch on oily, injured, or irritated skin. Avoid applying the patch to areas of the skin where it may fall off easily (such as in skin folds). Use this medication as directed by your doctor. The patch is usually worn for 1 week and then replaced. Follow the dosing schedule carefully. Wash hands after touching patch.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and your body's response to treatment.

When changing your patch, make sure to apply the new patch to a different area. Fold the old patch in half with the sticky sides sticking together and throw it in the trash that is out of reach of children and pets. Don't throw the patch down the toilet.

If the patch starts to loosen up from the skin, you can apply adhesive over the patch so that it doesn't come off for about 1 week. This adhesive does not contain any medicine. If the patch falls off or if you have mild redness / itching / irritation around the area where the patch was applied, remove the patch as directed and apply the new patch to a different area.

Use this remedy regularly to get maximum results. As a reminder, change the patch on the same day every week. Mark calendars as reminders. It is important to continue using this medication even if you feel better. Most people with high blood pressure feel no pain.

Do not stop using this medication without an order from your doctor. You may experience symptoms such as restlessness, agitation, trembling, and headaches. Rapidly rising blood pressure can also occur if the use of this drug is suddenly stopped. The risk is greater if you use this drug for a long time or in high doses, or if you also take beta blockers (such as atenolol). There are also rare reports of possible serious fatal reactions (such as stroke) to stopping using this drug too quickly. Therefore, it is important that you do not run out of clonidine patches or miss doses. To prevent any reactions when you stop treatment with this medicine, your doctor may reduce the dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Report new symptoms or if they get worse.

When used for a long time, this drug may not work well and may require a different dose or additional medication. Talk to your doctor if the function of this drug has decreased (for example, your blood pressure remains high or tends to increase).

How is Clonidine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Clonidine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Clonidine for adults?

To treat hypertension, the dosage of clonidine is:

• Initial dose: 0.1 mg orally twice a day (morning and before bed).
• Maintenance dose: 0.2-0.6 mg / day given in divided doses.

To treat severe hypertension, the dosage of clonidine is:

0.2 mg orally once. An additional dose of 0.1 mg can be given as needed and tolerated hourly to control the blood pressure of this patient. Be aware of the risk of stroke or heart attack or other problems associated with aggressive lowering of blood pressure, especially in the elderly. The maximum total recommended daily dose for each case of hypertension that appears is 0.8 mg.

Some physicians have reported the antihypertensive effect of clonidine in patients with spinal cord injuries because this drug acts on the central nervous system to inhibit peripheral sympathetic tone, resulting in disruption of the central and peripheral nervous systems in these patients.

What is the dosage of Clonidine for children?

To treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), the dosage of clonidine is:

• Initial dose: 0.05 mg taken by mouth at bedtime. The dose was increased gradually every 3 to 7 days at 0.05 mg increments 2 times a day, then 3 times a day, then 4 times a day.
• Maximum dose: 0.2 mg / day orally for patients weighing 40.5 kg to 27; 0.3 mg / day for patients weighing 40.5-45 kg.

In what dosage is Clonidine available?

The availability of clonidine drugs are:

• Tablet
• Suspension

Clonidine side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Clonidine?

Less serious side effects include:

• Dizzy
• Sleepy
• Tired
• Restless
• Dry mouth
• Dry or burning eyes, blurred vision
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Frequent urination at night
• Mild skin rash or hives
• Decreased sex drive or impotence
• Rash on the skin, discoloration, or slight irritation where the patch was worn.

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns about side effects, please consult your doctor or pharmacist

Clonidine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Clonidine?

Before using certain drugs, consider the risks and benefits first. This is a decision you and your doctor will have to make. For this drug, pay attention to the following:

• Allergy.Tell your doctor if you have any unusual or allergic reactions to this or any other medicine. Also tell your doctor if you have any other types of allergies such as to food, coloring, preservatives, or animal allergies. For over-the-counter products, read the labels on the packaging carefully.
• Children. There are no studies that accurately describe the relationship between age and the effects of clonidine in children as young as 18 years of age and Kapvay® extended-release tablets in children younger than 6 years of age. There is no stipulation regarding the safety and efficacy of the drug.
• Elderly. The studies conducted to date have not revealed specific geriatric problems that will limit clonidine use in the elderly. However, elderly patients are at an increased risk of developing age-related kidney or liver problems which may require a high level of vigilance and an adjustment in the dose for patients taking clonidine.

Is Clonidine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Clonidine Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Clonidine?

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur. In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Taking this drug with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may not prescribe this medicine to you or will replace some of the drugs you are already taking.

• Amifampridine

Using this medication with some of the medicines below is not usually recommended, but in some cases it may be necessary. If both drugs are prescribed for you, your doctor will usually change the dosage or determine how often you should take them.

• Acebutolol
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bevantolol
• Bisoprolol
• Carteolol
• Celiprolol
• Clomipramine
• Crizotinib
• Desipramine
• Dilevalol
• Diltiazem
• Dotiepine
• Doxepin
• Esmolol
• Imipramine
• Degludec Insulin
• Levobunolol
• Lofepramine
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Mirtazapine
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Nortriptyline
• Oxprenolol
• Penbutolol
• Pindolol
• Propranolol
• Protriptyline
• Sotalol
• Tertatolol
• Timolol
• Trimipramine
• Verapamil

Taking this medication with the drugs below may increase your risk of side effects, but in some cases, a combination of these two drugs may be the best treatment. If both drugs are prescribed for you, your doctor will usually change the dosage or determine how often you should take them.

• Cyclosporine
• Fluphenazine
• Mepivacaine
• Naloxone
• Yohimbine

Can food or alcohol interact with Clonidine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Clonidine?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
• Severe coronary insufficiency
• Dehydration
• Heart attack
• Heart block
• Heart or blood vessel problems
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Acute kidney disease
• Stomach or intestinal problems
• Stroke
• Syncope (fainting)
• Kidney illness

Clonidine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of an overdose include:

• Fainting
• Slow heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Trembling
• Slurred speech
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Cold, pale skin
• Cough
• Weak
• Smaller pupils (dark circles in the center of the eyes)

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.