Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Although there is no specific information comparing use of clonidine in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults. This medicine is usually used in children only when the pain is severe and other pain medicines did not help.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of clonidine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Breastfeeding

Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acebutolol
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amoxapine
  • Atenolol
  • Betaxolol
  • Bevantolol
  • Bisoprolol
  • Carteolol
  • Celiprolol
  • Ceritinib
  • Clomipramine
  • Crizotinib
  • Desipramine
  • Dilevalol
  • Diltiazem
  • Dothiepin
  • Doxepin
  • Esmolol
  • Imipramine
  • Iobenguane I 131
  • Levobunolol
  • Lofepramine
  • Macimorelin
  • Metipranolol
  • Metoprolol
  • Mirtazapine
  • Nadolol
  • Nebivolol
  • Nortriptyline
  • Oxprenolol
  • Penbutolol
  • Pindolol
  • Propranolol
  • Protriptyline
  • Sotalol
  • Tertatolol
  • Timolol
  • Trimipramine
  • Verapamil

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Cyclosporine
  • Fluphenazine
  • Mepivacaine
  • Naloxone
  • Yohimbine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Anticoagulant therapy or
  • Bleeding problems—Bleeding into the area around the spinal cord is possible
  • Heart or blood vessel disease—Clonidine may make these conditions worse
  • Infection at the place of injection or catheter (tube)—The risk of developing meningitis or an abscess is increased
  • Kidney disease—Effects of clonidine may be increased because of slower removal of clonidine from the body
  • Pain associated with surgery or
  • Pain during or following childbirth—The ability to tolerate some of the potential side effects of clonidine may be decreased