Clonidine (Parenteral-Local)

Brand Names : Duraclon

Before Using This Medicine

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

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to clonidine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies on birth defects with clonidine have not been done in pregnant women. However, it crosses the placenta. Clonidine has not been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies but may cause other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Clonidine passes into the breast milk. Because this medicine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are using it.

Children - 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.

Older adults - 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.

Other medicines - 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 clonidine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Beta-adrenergic blocking agents (acebutolol [e.g., Sectral], atenolol [e.g., Tenormin], betaxolol [e.g., Kerlone], bisoprolol [e.g., Zebeta], carteolol [e.g., Cartrol], labetalol [e.g., Normodyne], metoprolol [e.g., Lopressor, Toprol-XL], nadolol [e.g., Corgard], oxprenolol [e.g., Trasicor], penbutolol [e.g., Levatol], pindolol [e.g., Visken], propranolol [e.g., Inderal, Inderal LA], sotalol [e.g., Betapace], timolol [e.g., Blocadren]) - These medicines may increase the risk of harmful effects when clonidine treatment is stopped suddenly

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of clonidine. 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