Decreased Sexual Activity
Decreased sexual activity has been reported as a side effect of
clonidine. This would make sense, since clonidine can cause a decreased sex drive and
impotence. In clinical studies, up to 3 percent of people taking
clonidine tablets and 2 percent of people using clonidine patches reported decreased sexual activity. It has not been reported with epidural clonidine.
It is impossible for you or your healthcare provider to predict ahead of time whether you will develop any of these clonidine sexual side effects. Also, if a person does develop sexual side effects, it is challenging to know whether these problems are caused by clonidine itself or other factors. For instance,
high blood pressure (which clonidine is usually used to treat) can also cause sexual side effects.
If you develop sexual side effects while taking clonidine, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. There is treatment that he or she may be able to recommend. Depending on how severe your side effects are, he or she may also recommend that you adjust your
clonidine dosage or try another high
blood pressure medicine.
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