| What is the most important information
I should know about clonidine? |
 |
Do not stop taking clonidine suddenly. This
could cause severely high blood pressure, nervousness, and anxiety. |
 |
• |
Use caution when driving, operating machinery,
or performing other hazardous activities. clonidine may cause dizziness
or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. |
|
• |
Use caution when rising from a sitting or
lying position, especially first thing in the morning. You may become dizzy
while taking clonidine and you may fall and injure yourself if you get
up quickly. |
 |
• |
Do not use alcohol, antihistamines, prescription
pain relievers, sleeping pills, and other drugs that may cause drowsiness
or dizziness except under the supervision of your doctor. |
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• |
clonidine lowers blood pressure by decreasing
the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels
(veins and arteries) to relax (widen) and your heart to beat more slowly
and easily. |
|
• |
clonidine is used to treat hypertension (high
blood pressure). |
|
• |
clonidine may also be used for purposes other
than those listed in this medication guide. |
| Who should not take clonidine? |
|
• |
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor
if you |
|
· |
have any type of heart disease, |
|
· |
have had a heart attack or a stroke, |
|
• |
You may need a lower dose or special monitoring
during treatment with clonidine if you have any of the conditions listed
above. |
 |
• |
clonidine is in the FDA pregnancy category
C. This means that it is not known whether clonidine will harm an unborn
baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor
if you are pregnant. |
 |
• |
clonidine passes into breast milk. It is not
known whether clonidine will harm a nursing infant. Do not take clonidine
without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
|
• |
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be
more likely to experience side effects from clonidine therapy. You may
require a lower dose. |
| How should I take clonidine? |
|
• |
Take clonidine exactly as directed by your
doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist,
nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. |
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• |
Take each tablet with a full glass of water. |
|
• |
Take clonidine at bedtime unless otherwise
directed by your doctor. clonidine may make you drowsy and may cause some
dizziness. Taking it at bedtime may prevent falls and injuries. |
|
• |
Do not stop taking this medication suddenly
even if you feel better. You may need to take clonidine for the rest of
your life to control your condition. |
 |
• |
Store this medication at room temperature
away from moisture and heat. |
| What happens if I miss a dose? |
|
• |
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed
and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a
double dose of this medication. |
| What happens if I overdose? |
 |
• |
Seek emergency medical attention. |
|
• |
Symptoms of a clonidine overdose include drowsiness,
lethargy, weakness, lightheadedness, a slow heart rate, nausea, vomiting,
and possibly seizures. |
| What should I avoid while taking
clonidine? |
|
• |
Use caution when driving, operating machinery,
or performing other hazardous activities. clonidine may cause dizziness
or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. |
|
• |
Use caution when rising from a sitting or
lying position, especially first thing in the morning. You may become dizzy
while taking clonidine and you may fall and injure yourself if you get
up quickly. |
|
• |
Avoid alcohol while taking clonidine. It may
increase the drowsiness and may also increase dizziness. Use caution even
with small amounts of alcohol. |
|
• |
Avoid other drugs such as sleeping pills,
antihistamines, prescription pain relievers, and antidepressants unless
they are approved by your doctor. These medicines will increase the drowsiness
caused by clonidine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any other
prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking. |
| What are the possible side effects
of clonidine? |
|
• |
If you experience any of the following serious
side effects, stop taking clonidine and seek emergency medical attention: |
|
· |
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing;
closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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· |
a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats
per minute); or |
|
· |
unusually high or low blood pressure (severe
headache, redness of the face, neck, and chest, dizziness, and fainting). |
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• |
Other, less serious side effects may be more
likely to occur. Continue to take clonidine and talk to your doctor if
you experience any of the following: |
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· |
unusual fatigue, dizziness, or tiredness; |
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· |
constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; |
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· |
a dry mouth (sucking on ice chips or sugarless
hard candy may relieve this side effect). |
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• |
Side effects other than those listed here
may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual
or that is especially bothersome. |
| What other drugs will affect clonidine? |
|
• |
clonidine may increase the effects of other
drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines,
sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines,
and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are
taking, and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves. |
|
• |
Before taking clonidine, tell your doctor
if you are taking any of the following medicines: |
|
· |
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin),
acebutolol (Sectral), propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor), carvedilol
(Coreg), carteolol (Cartrol), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), or nadolol
(Corgard); |
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· |
levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa, Sinemet); |
|
· |
prazosin (Minipress); or |
|
· |
verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Isoptin, Covera-HS);
or |
|
· |
a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline
(Elavil, Endep), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor, doxepin
(Sinequan), and others. |
|
• |
You may require special monitoring or a dose
adjustment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. |
|
• |
Drugs other than those listed here may also
interact with clonidine or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and
pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. |
| Where can I get more information? |
|
Your pharmacist has additional information
about clonidine written for health professionals that you may read. |
clonidine
What
is the most important information I should know about clonidine?
|
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