Drug reference

Clonidine hydrochloride

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 178

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Hypertension ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: Initially 50–100 micrograms 3 times a day, increase dose every second or third day, usual maximum dose 1.2 mg daily Prevention of recurrent migraine | Prevention of vascular headache | Menopausal symptoms, particularly flushing and vasomotor conditions ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: Initially 50 micrograms twice daily for 2 weeks, then increased if necessary to 75 micrograms twice daily l UNLICENSED USE Clonidine may also be used for Tourette syndrome and sedation—unlicensed indications.

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Contra Indications

Severe bradyarrhythmia secondary to second- or third-degree AV block or sick sinus syndrome

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Cautions

Cerebrovascular disease. constipation. heart failure. history of depression. mild to moderate bradyarrhythmia. polyneuropathy. Raynaud’s syndrome or other occlusive peripheral vascular disease CAUTIONS, FURTHER INFORMATION ▶Elderly For centrally-acting antihypertensives, prescription potentially inappropriate (STOPP criteria), unless clear intolerance of, or lack of efﬁcacy with, other classes of antihypertensives (generally less well tolerated by older people). See also Prescribing in the elderly p. 33.

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: clonidine

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Side Effects

▶Common or very common Constipation. depression. dizziness. dry mouth. fatigue. headache. nausea. postural hypotension. salivary gland pain. sedation. sexual dysfunction. sleep disorders. vomiting ▶Uncommon Delusions. hallucination. malaise. paraesthesia. Raynaud’s phenomenon. skin reactions ▶Rare or very rare Alopecia. atrioventricular block. dry eye . gynaecomastia. intestinal pseudo-obstruction. nasal dryness ▶Frequency not known Accommodation disorder. arrhythmias. confusion

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Pregnancy

May lower fetal heart rate. Avoid oral use unless potential beneﬁt outweighs risk. Avoid using injection.

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Breast Feeding

Avoid—present in milk.

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Renal Impairment

Dose adjustments Use with caution in severe impairment— reduce initial dose and increase gradually.

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Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: oral suspension, oral solution, solution for injection Tablet CAUTIONARY AND ADVISORY LABELS 3, 8 ▶Clonidine hydrochloride (Non-proprietary) Clonidine hydrochloride 25 microgram Clonidine 25microgram tablets | 112 tablet P £14.44 DT = £4.58 ▶Catapres (Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd) Clonidine hydrochloride 100 microgram Catapres 100microgram tablets | 100 tablet P £8.04 DT = £8.04 Oral solution ▶Clonidine hydrochloride (Non-proprietary) Clonidine hydrochloride 10 microgram per 1 ml Clonidine 50micrograms/5ml oral solution sugar-free | 100 ml P £86.69 DT = £85.73

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Clinical care

Treatment Cessation

In hypertension, must be withdrawn gradually to avoid severe rebound hypertension.

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Patient And Carer Advice

Driving and skilled tasks Drowsiness may affect performance of skilled tasks (e.g. driving); effects of alcohol may be enhanced. l LESS SUITABLE FOR PRESCRIBING Clonidine is less suitable for prescribing.

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Dose text by age group

Adult

Initially 50–100 micrograms 3 times a day,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Initially 50 micrograms twice daily for 2 weeks,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 178

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Clonidine hydrochloride

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 178

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 178

Contra Indications

Severe bradyarrhythmia secondary to second- or third-degree AV block or sick sinus syndrome

PDF page 178

Cautions

PDF page 178

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: clonidine

PDF page 178

Side Effects

PDF page 178

Pregnancy

May lower fetal heart rate. Avoid oral use unless potential beneﬁt outweighs risk. Avoid using injection.

PDF page 178

Breast Feeding

Avoid—present in milk.

PDF page 178

Renal Impairment

Dose adjustments Use with caution in severe impairment— reduce initial dose and increase gradually.

PDF page 178

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 178

Clinical care

Treatment Cessation

In hypertension, must be withdrawn gradually to avoid severe rebound hypertension.

PDF page 178

Patient And Carer Advice

PDF page 178

Dose text by age group

Adult

Initially 50–100 micrograms 3 times a day,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 178

Adult

Initially 50 micrograms twice daily for 2 weeks,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 178

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.