Drug reference
clonidine
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Drug class
Cardiovascular (Alpha-2 Agonist)
Mechanism of action
Postsynaptic alpha2-agonist stimulation may regulate subcortical activity in the prefrontal cortex, which may regulate the area of the brain responsible for attention, emotions, and behaviors, and thereby reduces hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness
Common side effects
- Dry mouth
- Somnolence
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Hypotension
- Postural hypotension
Boxed warnings
- Epidural clonidine is not recommended for obstetric postpartum or perioperative pain management because the risk of hemodynamic instability (eg, hypotension, bradycardia) may be unacceptable in this population Dilute product with strength of 500 mcg/mL prior to use
Contraindications
- Concurrent anticoagulants, bleeding diathesis Presence of injection site infections Administration above C4 dermatome, due to lack of adequate safety data Obstetric/perioperative pain
Related conditions
Frequently asked questions
What drug class is clonidine?
clonidine belongs to: Cardiovascular.
How does clonidine work?
Postsynaptic alpha2-agonist stimulation may regulate subcortical activity in the prefrontal cortex, which may regulate the area of the brain responsible for attention, emotions, and behaviors, and thereby reduces hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness
What are the common side effects of clonidine?
Dry mouth, Somnolence, Drowsiness, Headache, Fatigue, Hypotension, Postural hypotension
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