clonidine, Catapres, Catapres-TTS, Jenloga (cont.)

Pharmacy Author:

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

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Medical and Pharmacy Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Cocaine, pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, and phenylpropanolamine also can reverse the blood pressure lowering effects of clonidine.

PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies of clonidine in pregnant women.

NURSING MOTHERS: Clonidine is excreted into breast milk and potentially could cause adverse effects in the infant.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects noted with clonidine are tiredness, lethargy, drowsiness, constipation, and dry mouth. Headache, dizziness, fatigue, and weakness also occur with clonidine. Most of these effects subside with prolonged therapy or if doses are reduced. Skin reactions including redness, itching, and darkening of skin, may occur with clonidine patches.

Sexual dysfunction including impotence, decreased sexual desire, and ejaculatory dysfunction, have been reported with clonidine therapy. Such reactions also have been reported with other medications used to treat hypertension.

Severe rebound high blood pressure can occur following withdrawal from clonidine. This reaction is more likely to occur if clonidine is stopped suddenly (without a gradual dose reduction). Symptoms can include increased salivation, nervousness, headache, heart palpitations, agitation, anxiety, sweating, nausea, muscle pain, and abdominal pain. Slowly reducing the dose of clonidine over several days will prevent these symptoms.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

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