The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved clonidine hydrochloride in 1974 for the treatment of hypertension. It is also used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. It also prevents migraines and hot flashes in women during menopause.

It is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. It is also used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. It also prevents migraines and hot flashes in women during menopause.

Clonidine hydrochloride is available in tablet form of dose 100 mg. Your physician will decide the correct dosage and duration based on age, body weight, and disease condition. Swallow the tablet whole and intact. Do not crush, break, or chew the medicine.

Clonidine hydrochloride can cause side effects like any other medicine. Sometimes it may cause some serious side effects that include severe allergic reactions, excessive dizziness, numbness in the hands or feet and commonly, people may experience drowsiness, dryness of the eyes, lightheadedness, blurred vision, confusion. 

It is not recommended to take clonidine if you are allergic to clonidine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.Blood pressure can drop significantly when taking clonidine, particularly in the beginning of treatment or if the dosage is increased too quickly. Patients should be advised about getting up too rapidly, especially if they feel lightheaded or dizzy. Inform your physician if you have an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or any other heart problems. Inform your physician if you have mental depression, diabetes, constipation, nerve damage, and kidney problems. 

It is not yet clear if clonidine is safe to take while pregnant. It should only be taken if the possible advantages outweigh the possible hazards to the developing fetus during pregnancy. Before using clonidine, nursing moms should speak with their healthcare providers because it enters breast milk. The kidneys are largely responsible for excreting clonidine. Renal impairment patients may need to change their dosage, and it's important to routinely check on their kidney health.People should use caution when performing tasks that need for mental clarity, such operating machinery or driving as clonidine may cause drowsiness and sedation. 

In addition to taking medication, making lifestyle changes will also help to control your blood pressure. These changes include eating a diet that is low in fat and salt, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising at least 30 minutes most days, not smoking, and using alcohol in moderation. Inform your physician if you wear contact lenses because this medicine may cause dryness of eyes. Your doctor may take routine blood tests to check for the effectiveness of the therapy. 

1. Teva pharma limited, consumer medicine information, [revised on October 2021] [Accessed on June 2023] https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/c/ClonidineBNM.pdf
2. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., US Food and Drug Administration, [revised on October 2009] [Accessed on June 2023] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/017407s034lbl.pdf
3. Yasaei R, Saadabadi A. Clonidine. [Updated 2022 Jul 19]. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459124/ 

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.