Drug interactions
Chlorpromazine + Clonidine
Severity: Moderate
Chlorpromazine 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
Chlorpromazine has strong alpha-1 blocking and sedative properties that add to the hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine. This can cause pronounced orthostatic hypotension, dizziness and falls.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlorpromazine 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.
Chlorpromazine belongs to Central Nervous System; Clonidine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive hypotensive and CNS depressant effects (alpha-1 blockade plus central alpha-2 agonism).
What to do
Monitor supine and standing blood pressure and sedation, starting with low doses and titrating slowly. Reduce the dose of one agent if symptomatic hypotension develops.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Chlorpromazine and Clonidine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Chlorpromazine
- Chlorpromazine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Dronedarone Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Droperidol Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Metrizamide Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Panobinostat Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlorpromazine with Clonidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chlorpromazine 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. Chlorpromazine has strong alpha-1 blocking and sedative properties that add to the hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine. This can cause pronounced orthostatic hypotension, dizziness and falls.
How serious is the interaction between Chlorpromazine 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 supine and standing blood pressure and sedation, starting with low doses and titrating slowly. Reduce the dose of one agent if symptomatic hypotension develops.
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.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
