Pronunciation: KLOE-ni-deen
Generic Name: Clonidine
Brand Name: Examples include Catapresand Jenloga
Clonidine is used for:
Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Clonidine is an alpha agonist. It works by relaxing blood vessels and decreasing heart rate, which lowers blood pressure.
Do NOT use Clonidine if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Clonidine
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Clonidine:
Some medical conditions may interact with Clonidine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have had a skin reaction to the patch form of Clonidine
- if you have kidney problems, heart problems, problems with the blood vessels in your heart or brain, or the blood disease porphyria, or if you will be having surgery
- if you have a history of stroke or a recent heart attack
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Clonidine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol) because severe and sometimes life-threatening increased blood pressure may occur if Clonidine is suddenly stopped
- Calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil) or digoxin because they may increase the risk of Clonidine's side effects
- Tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because they may decrease Clonidine's effectiveness
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Clonidine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Clonidine:
Use Clonidine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Clonidine by mouth with or without food.
- Take Clonidine on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
- Continue to take Clonidine even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
- If you miss a dose of Clonidine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Clonidine.
Important safety information:
- Clonidine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Clonidine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Clonidine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
- Talk to your doctor before using alcohol or medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Clonidine; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Clonidine before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
- If you have high blood pressure, do not use nonprescription products that contain stimulants. These products may include diet pills or cold medicines. Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
- If you experience dry mouth, use sugarless candy or gum, or melt bits of ice in your mouth to help keep your mouth moist.
- Patients who wear contact lenses may notice dry eyes while using Clonidine. If you experience eye dryness or irritation, talk with your doctor about ways to lessen this effect.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Clonidine without talking to your doctor. Nervousness, agitation, confusion, tremor, and headache may occur. These may be followed by a rapid, severe rise in blood pressure. You may be at greater risk if you use high doses or if you also take a beta-blocker (eg, propranolol). If you need to stop taking Clonidine, follow your doctor's instructions for slowly decreasing your dose.
- Contact your doctor if you develop an illness that includes vomiting or if you vomit soon after you take Clonidine.
- Lab tests, including blood pressure, may be performed while you take Clonidine. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Clonidine with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness.
- Clonidine should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Clonidine while you are pregnant. Clonidine is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Clonidine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
If you suddenly stop taking Clonidine, you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms, including nervousness, agitation, headache, tremor, flushing, fast heartbeat, chest tightness, and rapid increase in blood pressure. Do not suddenly stop taking Clonidine without checking with your doctor.
Possible side effects of Clonidine:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; nausea; tiredness; trouble sleeping.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain; decreased sexual desire or ability; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes (eg, anxiety, agitation, depression, hallucinations); severe or persistent headache or dizziness; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Clonidine side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Accidental overdose of Clonidine is an increasing cause of poisoning in children 3 years of age and younger. Symptoms may include coma; decreased body temperature (feeling very cold); difficult or slow breathing; irritability; pinpoint pupils; seizures; severe or persistent dizziness or drowsiness; slow or irregular heartbeat; weakness.
Proper storage of Clonidine:
Store Clonidine at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Do not store in the bathroom. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep Clonidine out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Clonidine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Clonidine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Clonidine. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Clonidine resources
- Clonidine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Clonidine Dosage
- Clonidine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Clonidine Drug Interactions
- Clonidine Support Group
- 92 Reviews for Clonidine - Add your own review/rating
Compare Clonidine with other medications
- ADHD
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
- Bipolar Disorder
- High Blood Pressure
- Hyperhidrosis
- Hypertensive Emergency
- Insomnia, Stimulant-Associated
- Migraine Prevention
- Opiate Withdrawal
- Pain
- Perimenopausal Symptoms
- Persisting Pain, Shingles
- Pheochromocytoma Diagnosis
- Postanesthetic Shivering
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Smoking Cessation
- Tardive Dyskinesia
- Tourette's Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
No comments:
Post a Comment