- In this Article
- Risks and precautions
What are the risks of clonidine?
Common side effects include: constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, fainting, nausea, nervousness, reduced sexual ability, tiredness, vomiting, and weakness. Older people and those who weigh less than average or have kidney problems may experience confusion.
What precautions can you take?
Clonidine may worsen heart disease and have heightened effects in people with kidney disease. Tell your doctor if you have those conditions or a history of heart attack or stroke.
Inform your doctor of all prescription and over-the-counter drugs or supplements you're taking. Interactions with other medications—such as antidepressants, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin, or tranquilizers—may increase clonidine's side effects and its effects on your blood pressure and heart rate.
Because clonidine has sedative effects, don't drive a car or operate machinery until you know how the drug affects you. Be cautious about using alcohol or sedating drugs while taking clonidine.
Clonidine may cause dizziness or fainting when you rise too quickly from a lying position. Instead, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing.
The clonidine skin patch may cause a rash. Continuing to use it, or switching to the oral version, may trigger an allergic reaction.
To relieve dry mouth, chew gum or suck sugarless hard candy. If the condition persists for more than two weeks, check with your doctor or dentist. Prolonged dry mouth may increase the risk of dental disease.
Sudden discontinuation of clonidine can cause a rapid rise in your blood pressure as well as nervousness, headache, and uncontrollable shaking. Before stopping the drug, contact your doctor, who will reduce the dosage gradually to prevent those symptoms.
If you're having medical or dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you're taking clonidine.
Additional safety precaution for ADHD patients: Cardiovascular risks should be evaluated before starting clonidine for the treatment of ADHD. Some patients have reported changes in heart rate or rhythm.
Patients should be monitored for changes in pulse and blood pressure, and sedation while using clonidine.
Bottom line: Clonidine is a widely used drug for children, adolescents, and adults. Our advice: Talk to your doctor about all drug and non-drug treatment options for your condition. If first-line medications aren't effective or you can't tolerate them, ask your physician if there's sufficient evidence to use clonidine.
This off-label drug use report is made possible through collaboration between Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. This is the fourth article in a series based on professional reports prepared by ASHP.
These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by the multi-state settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin)
