Drug interactions
Brimonidine + Clonidine
Severity: Moderate
Brimonidine and Clonidine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
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.
Summary
Brimonidine is an alpha-2 agonist like clonidine, and its systemic absorption after ocular use can add to clonidine's sedative and blood pressure lowering effects. The effect is generally modest but may cause drowsiness, hypotension or bradycardia in susceptible patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Brimonidine and Clonidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Brimonidine belongs to Miscellaneous; Clonidine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive alpha-2 adrenergic agonist effects on central sympathetic outflow.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation, especially in older adults or with frequent brimonidine dosing. Reduce clonidine dose if symptomatic hypotension occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Clonidine
- Acebutolol + Clonidine Major
- Amifostine + Clonidine Major
- Amiodarone + Clonidine Major
- Amoxapine + Clonidine Major
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Clonidine Major
- Atenolol + Clonidine Major
Other interactions of Brimonidine
- Brimonidine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Linezolid Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Brimonidine with Clonidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Brimonidine and Clonidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Brimonidine is an alpha-2 agonist like clonidine, and its systemic absorption after ocular use can add to clonidine's sedative and blood pressure lowering effects. The effect is generally modest but may cause drowsiness, hypotension or bradycardia in susceptible patients.
How serious is the interaction between Brimonidine and Clonidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation, especially in older adults or with frequent brimonidine dosing. Reduce clonidine dose if symptomatic hypotension occurs.
What other medicines interact with Clonidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clonidine with, for example, Acebutolol, Amifostine, Amiodarone. The full list is on the Clonidine page.
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