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Clonidine hydrochloride is a prescription centrally acting alpha agonist used for hypertension. Oral tablets come in 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.3 mg strengths under common current labels. Clonidine can be used alone or with other antihypertensive medicines. Other clonidine formulations have separate indications and dosing instructions.
read more about clonidine ...Clonidine stimulates alpha adrenergic receptors in the brain stem. This reduces sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system and lowers peripheral vascular resistance, renal vascular resistance, heart rate, and blood pressure. Blood pressure begins to fall within about 30 to 60 minutes after an oral dose, with the greatest decrease occurring within two to four hours.
Clonidine hydrochloride tablets are indicated for hypertension and can be used alone or with other antihypertensive medicines. Current tablet labeling does not establish pediatric safety and efficacy in adequate controlled trials. Dose selection is individualized according to blood pressure response, kidney function, age, and other medicines.
Adults commonly start with 0.1 mg twice daily, taken in the morning and at bedtime. The daily dose can increase by 0.1 mg at weekly intervals until the desired blood pressure response is reached. Common maintenance dosing ranges from 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg daily in divided doses. Kidney impairment can call for a lower starting dose.
Clonidine can cause dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, sedation, slow heart rate, and low blood pressure. Abrupt discontinuation can trigger nervousness, agitation, headache, tremor, and a rapid rise in blood pressure. Rare severe withdrawal reactions include hypertensive encephalopathy, stroke, and death. The dose is reduced gradually when treatment is stopped.
Oral clonidine hydrochloride tablets are approved for treatment of hypertension.
A common adult starting regimen is 0.1 mg twice daily, with later changes based on blood pressure response.
Yes. Drowsiness and sedation are among the more frequently reported reactions with oral clonidine.
No. Abrupt discontinuation can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure and other serious withdrawal reactions.
Clonidine. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682243.html. Date Accessed September 23, 2026.
Clonidine. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/clonidine. Date Accessed September 23, 2026.
Clonidine. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459124/. Date Accessed September 23, 2026.
DailyMed - CLONIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE tablet. https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=b359baee-6faf-4f7d-be86-ba7a1b1de770. Date Accessed September 23, 2026.
DailyMed - CLONIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE tablet. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=8171776a-dd14-4dcc-8860-3c27d8ea9504. Date Accessed September 23, 2026.