CLONIDINE

Course overview

CLONIDINE IS AN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATION THAT ACTS ON ALPHA-ADRENERGIC AND IMIDAZOLINE RECEPTORS AGONISTS. CLONIDINE IS AN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUG THAT LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE BY RELAXING THE ARTERIES AND INCREASING THE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE HEART; IT HAS OTHER FDA-APPROVED INDICATIONS SUCH AS TREATMENT OF ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) IN CHILDREN (FDA APPROVAL 2010); MANAGEMENT OF TICS COMMONLY FOUND WITH TOURETTE SYNDROME; AND ADJUNCT THERAPY FOR SEVERING CANCER-RELATED PAIN. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILE, TOXICITY, DOSING, PHARMACODYNAMICS, AND MONITORING OF CLONIDINE, PERTINENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM WHEN IT IS INDICATED FOR THERAPY.