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Clonidine: Mechanism and Uses in Withdrawal

Clonidine is an antihypertensive drug that works by inhibiting central vasomotor centers in the brain, decreasing sympathetic nervous system outflow and reducing peripheral vascular resistance, heart rate, and blood pressure. It is prescribed to treat essential and malignant hypertension, severe pain, vascular headaches, nicotine withdrawal, and dysmenorrhea. Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and hypotension. Nurses should monitor patients closely when starting or stopping clonidine therapy due to risks of rebound hypertension and respiratory depression. Dosage is gradually increased and should be given at bedtime to minimize side effects.

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Dominic Cepe
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65 views2 pages

Clonidine: Mechanism and Uses in Withdrawal

Clonidine is an antihypertensive drug that works by inhibiting central vasomotor centers in the brain, decreasing sympathetic nervous system outflow and reducing peripheral vascular resistance, heart rate, and blood pressure. It is prescribed to treat essential and malignant hypertension, severe pain, vascular headaches, nicotine withdrawal, and dysmenorrhea. Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and hypotension. Nurses should monitor patients closely when starting or stopping clonidine therapy due to risks of rebound hypertension and respiratory depression. Dosage is gradually increased and should be given at bedtime to minimize side effects.

Uploaded by

Dominic Cepe
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Rhea Layos

Drug: CLONIDINE
Generic name: clonidine Brand Name: Catapres, Catapress-TTS, Dixarit, Duraclon Classifications: Antihypertensive Prescribed and Recommended Dosage, Frequency, and route of Administration Adults: Initially, 0.1 mg PO bid. Then increase by 0.1 to 0.2 mg daily q week. Usual dosage range is 0.1 to o.3 mg bid; infrequently, dosages as high as 2.4 mg are used. Mechanism of Action: Chemical effect: May inhibit central vasomotor centers, decreasing sympathetic outflow to heart, kidneys and peripheral vasculature, resulting in decreased peripheral vascular resistance, decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decreased heart rate. Produces analgesia by mimicking the activation of descending pain-suppressing pathways arising the release of substance P, an inflammatory neuropeptide. Therapeutic effect: Lowers blood pressure and decreases neurogenic pain. Indication: Essential, renal and malignant hypertension Severe pain Prophylaxis for vascular headache Adjunctive therapy for nicotine withdrawal Dysmenorrhea Ulcerative colitis Contraindication Hypersensitivity to drug Transdermal form is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to any component of adhesive layer. Injectable form is contraindicated in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy and patients with a bleeding diathesis or injection site infection Severe coronary insufficiency Recent MI Cerebrovascular disease Renal impairment

Adverse Reaction: CNS: anxiety, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, nervousness, sedation, somnolence, vivid dreams. CV: bradycardia, hypotension, severe rebound hypertension GI: constipation, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting GU: urine retention, impotence, UTI Metabolic: transient glucose intolerance Skin: pruritus and dermatitis Nursing Responsibilities: Drug may be given to lower blood pressure rapidly in some hypertensive emergency situations Adjust disage to patients blood pressure and tolerance Give last dose of day at bedtime Injection form is for epidural use only. Monitor px closely especially durng the first few days of therapy because respiratory depression may occur. When stopping therapy in patients receiving both clonidine and beta blocker, gradually withdraw beta blocker first to minimize adverse reactions Advise px not to stop drug abruptly because it may cause severe rebound hypertension. Caution px that drg can cause drowsiness, but that he will develop tolerance to this adverse effect.

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