Clonidine Drug Class

Clonidine hydrochloride (
 Catapres®, Catapres-TTS®, Duraclon®) is a prescription drug approved for several different uses. Clonidine tablets (Catapres) and skin patches (Catapres-TTS) are licensed for treating high blood pressure, while Duraclon is given by continuous epidural infusion to treat severe pain in people with cancer.
 
A part of the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist drug class, clonidine works in several different ways. It works to decrease both blood pressure and heart rate by stimulating alpha-2 receptors in the brain stem. It may also work to lower blood pressure by decreasing certain substances (such as renin or aldosterone) in the body. When used in an epidural to treat cancer pain, clonidine works by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain.
 
(Click Clonidine for more information about this medicine, including what you should discuss with your healthcare provider before using it and information about the possible side effects.)
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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