Clonidine (brand names include: Arkamin / Catapres / Dixarit / Duraclon / Apo-Clonidine / Novo-Clonidine / Nu-Clonidine) belongs to a group of medicines known as antihypertensives.

Clonidine has been used to treat high blood pressure.

Recently it has found new uses (off-label), including:

heroin or nicotine withdrawal; severe pain; dysmenorrhea; vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause; ethanol dependence; prophylaxis of migraines; glaucoma; diabetes-associated diarrhea; impulse control disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), clozapine-induced sialorrhea.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Clonidine exactly as directed.

Children

Hypertension: Children 12 years and older: Initial: 0.2 mg/day in 2 divided doses; increase gradually at 5- to 7-day intervals; maximum: 2.4 mg/day.

ADHD (unlabeled use): Initial: 0.05 mg/day; increase every 3-7 days by 0.05 mg/day to 3-5 mcg/kg/day given in divided doses 3-4 times/day (maximum dose: 0.3-0.4 mg/day).

Adults:

Acute hypertension (urgency): Initial 0.1-0.2 mg; may be followed by additional doses of 0.1 mg every hour, if necessary, to a maximum total dose of 0.6 mg.

Hypertension: Initial dose: 0.1 mg twice daily (maximum recommended dose: 2.4 mg/day); usual dose range: 0.1-0.8 mg/day in 2 divided doses.

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms: 0.1 mg twice daily to maximum of 0.4 mg/day for 3-4 weeks.

The dosages should be adjusted in elderly patients.

Precautions

Tell your doctor before using Clonidine, if:

you are allergic to any medicines;
you have any serious medical conditions;
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: clonidine hydrochloride.