Description
Clonidine is used to treat high blood pressure and can be taken orally or applied topically as patches. It works by altering blood chemical concentrations and activating alpha2-adrenoceptors in the brain stem to lessen signal transmission from the brain to other parts of the body. Due to its effects, peripheral resistance, renal vascular resistance, heart rate, and blood pressure are reduced.
Dosage
Do not use this drug if it was not prescribed to you by your physician. If you choose to use patches, you should place one every seven days on a bare patch of skin on your upper arm or torso. Typically, patients take clonidine twice daily; the dosage is based on how each patient's blood pressure reacts. Select a different area of skin when replacing the patch.
Missed dose
Never take an additional dose to make up for a missed one. If you forget to take a dose, do so as soon as you remember. If your next dose is almost due, skip the forgotten dose.
Overdose
Seek immediate medical attention if you believe you took too much clonidine and your blood pressure first becomes too high (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, and chest pain), followed by low blood pressure (fainting, cold feeling, and sluggish heartbeat).
Storage
In a light-resistant container away from moisture, tablets and patches should be kept at room temperature between 15 and 30 C (59 and 86 F).
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dosing schedule.The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.If you also take certain drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take this product at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after these medications.Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. Your doctor may direct you to start taking the individual medications first, and then switch you over to this combination product if this is the best dose combination for you. This effect may increase the amount of urine you make when you first start the medication. The risk is greater if you have used this drug for a long time or in high doses, or if you are also taking a beta blocker (such as atenolol).
I was diagnosed with a type of brain cancer at 16, and at 17, my parents were able to take me off all my anti-depressants and put me on a medication they gave me to treat my mood instability. I remember walking into my first doctor's appointment in a hospital gown and a T-shirt. If there's anything we don't do well enough, it's ask someone about it.
These medications can lower the amount of potassium in your body, so this factor will be monitored by your doctor. Be especially cautious with potassium supplements, salt subsitutes (which can contain potassium), and other drugs that can affect the amount of potassium in your blood, since ARBs may increase your potassium levels. By allowing your blood to flow more easily and relieving some of the stress on your heart, beta blockers decrease heart rate, cardiac output, and ultimately blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers work by interrupting the movement of calcium into the heart and blood vessel cells, which in turn decreases the force of contraction of the myocardium (muscle of the heart) and relaxes and widens blood vessels.