Clonidine is indicated in Anxiety, Cancer pain, Generalized anxiety disorder, Hypertension, Hypertensive crisis, Menopausal flushing, Migraine, Panic disorder, Severe anxiety disorders, Social anxiety disorder.
Centrally acting antihypertensive drugs (central sympatholytic)
Clonidine Hydrochloride stimulates alpha adrenoceptors in the brain stem. With immediate-release clonidine, blood pressure declines within 30 to 60 minutes after an oral dose, the maximum decrease occurring within 2 to 4 hours. Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate remain essentially unchanged. Normal postural reflexes are intact; therefore, orthostatic symptoms are mild and infrequent.
Adults: The dose of Clonidine 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 Dose: 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.
Clonidine may potentiate CNS depressive effect of alcohol, barbiturates or other sedative drugs. Hypotensive effect may be reduced if a patient receives Clonidine and tricyclic anti-depressant; where increased dose of Clonidine is required. Due to a potential for additive effects (such as bradycardia & A.V. block) caution is warranted in patients receiving Clonidine concomitantly with agents (e.g. digitalis, calcium channel blockers & β-blockers) known to affect sinus node function or A.V. nodal conduction.
Severe bradyarrhythmia secondary to 2nd- or 3rd-degree AV block or sick sinus syndrome. Patient with cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease including MI, occlusive peripheral vascular disorders (e.g. Raynaud's disease), or those w/ history of depression. Avoid abrupt withdrawal. Renal impairment. Pregnancy and lactation.
Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, depression, anxiety, nausea, fatigue, anorexia, parotid pain, paraesthesia, delusional perception, sleep disturbances, vivid dreams, impotence and loss of libido, urinary retention or incontinence, orthostatic hypotension, itching or burning sensations in the eye, accommodation disorder, decreased lacrimation, fluid retention, pruritus and rashes (transdermal), bradycardia, other ECG disturbances, heart failure, hallucinations, cramp, Raynaud's syndrome, gynaecomastia, transient abnormalities in LFTs.
Category C: Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the foetus (teratogenic or embryocidal or other) and there are no controlled studies in women or studies in women and animals are not available. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus.
Overdose may causes Hypotension, Bradicardia, Respiratory Depression, Hypothermia, Sedation, Abnormal Reflexes, Weakness & Miosis.
Keep below 30°C temperature, away from light & moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.
.png&w=384&q=75)