Clonidine, sold as the brand name Catapres among others, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, drug withdrawal(alcohol, opioids, or smoking), menopausal flushing, diarrhea, spasticity and certain pain conditions.[7] It is used by mouth, by injection, or as a skin patch.[7] Onset of action is typically within an hour with the effects on blood pressure lasting for up to eight hours.[7] It is an adrenergic α2 Agonist.[8]
Common side effect include dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, hypotension, and sleepiness.[7] Severe side effects may include hallucinations, heart arrhythmias, and confusion.[9] If rapidly stopped, withdrawal effects may occur.[7] Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is not recommended.[9] Clonidine lowers blood pressure by stimulating α2 receptors in the brain, which results in relaxation of many arteries.[7]
Clonidine was patented in 1961 and came into medical use in 1966.[10][11][12] It is available as a generic medication.[7] In 2018, it was the 75th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 11 million prescriptions.[13][14]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonidine
No comments:
Post a Comment