Clonidine (klon-ih-deen) is a medicine that can be used to treat a
number of conditions including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
tic disorders (e.g. Tourette’s syndrome), sleeping problems, pain, high blood
pressure and to help with the weaning of strong pain medication.
Clonidine tablets are made by different companies, and different
brands of the same medicine have different names (e.g. Catapres, APO-Clonidine).
Giving your child clonidine
Your child’s doctor will work out the amount (the
dose) of clonidine that is right for your child. The dose will be shown on the
medicine label. Always check that you are giving the right amount of clonidine.
Giving too much clonidine can be dangerous because it can make your child
drowsy and affect their breathing. It is important to store clonidine out of
children’s reach. If more than one person usually gives your child their
medication, make sure that you tell each other and write down doses given so
that you don’t give extra doses by mistake.
Clonidine comes in tablet form, there is no commercially made liquid form
(or suspension) available. The RCH Pharmacy department make an oral liquid form
for patients who are prescribed small doses and cannot take tablets.
Compounding pharmacies may also make liquid forms of clonidine, these may have
different amounts of clonidine to the RCH liquid. Patients should use the
tablet form where possible to prevent dosing mistakes.
Clonidine patches are not registered in Australia but may be
imported for some patients. Always remove the old patch before applying a new
one. Fold the used patch in half with the sticky sides together and put it in
the bin out of the reach of children and pets.
When should I give clonidine?
For sleep disorders:
clonidine is best given about an hour before bedtime.
For ADHD and tic disorders
(e.g. Tourette’s syndrome): your doctor will tell you the time of
day to give your child clonidine based on their needs.
For pain relief or when weaning
strong pain medication: give your child clonidine as advised
by your doctor/pharmacist or hospital pain team staff.
Possible side effects
Medicines sometimes have side effects.
Some side effects will go away with time, or come back after the dose has been
changed. Speak to your child’s doctor if you are worried about any of the following
possible side effects of clonidine:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
Take care with some activities
like bike riding or climbing, or, for teenagers, driving or operating heavy
machinery.
You should call an ambulance immediately if your child:
- is
very drowsy or difficult to wake up
- shows
any signs of an allergic reaction (e.g. skin rash or swelling of the lips,
mouth or throat, or difficulty breathing [short of breath, puffing when
speaking])
There may be other side effects that are not listed in this fact
sheet. If you notice anything unusual or are worried about your child, contact
your doctor or pharmacist.
What
to do if a dose is missed
Skip the missed dose and continue giving
the clonidine at normal times.
- Never give a double dose to make up for a missed dose as this may
make your child too sleepy or affect their blood pressure.
- You do not need to wake up a sleeping child to give a missed dose.
What to do if you want to stop clonidine
If your child takes clonidine every day and wants to stop taking
clonidine, talk with a doctor in case the dose needs to be reduced slowly. If
your child takes clonidine each day for a long time and stops taking it suddenly,
it may cause high blood pressure or agitation.
What to do if you give too much clonidine
If you think you
may have given your child too much clonidine, call the Poisons Information
Centre on 13 11 26 as soon as possible, even if your child shows no symptoms. In the case of an emergency, call an ambulance (000) or take
your child to the nearest hospital emergency department. Have the
medicine container or packaging with you, even if it is empty, as this
information is useful.
General medicine advice
- Store
clonidine out of children’s reach and always keep medicine in the
container or box that it came in.
- Give clonidine only as directed and only
to the person who the medicine was prescribed for. Never give it to another
person as this could do harm.
- If your
child needs surgery, you must tell the anaesthetist that your child is taking clonidine.
- Store clonidine
tablets and suspension at room temperature, in a cool, dry place away from heat
or direct sunlight, below 250C.
- If your
child is no longer taking clonidine, return any unused medicine to your local
pharmacy or hospital for disposal.
Key points to remember
- Store clonidine out of children’s
reach.
- Use the
tablet form where possible to reduce mistakes with doses.
- Never give a double dose to make up
for a missed dose as this may make your child too sleepy and affect their blood
pressure.
- Call an ambulance immediately if your child is very drowsy or difficult to
wake up, has any signs of an allergic reaction or has difficulty
breathing.
For more information
Common questions our doctors are asked
Can
other medicines be given at the same time as clonidine?
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any
other medicines to your child. This includes prescription medicine, medicine
purchased from a pharmacy or supermarket without a prescription and herbal or
complementary medicines.
Can I stop giving my child clonidine
suddenly?
If you or your child want to stop
taking clonidine, discuss this with your doctor. They can explain how to reduce
the dose slowly over time.
Developed
by The Royal Children's Hospital Quality and Improvement, General Paediatrics
and Anaesthesia and Pain Management Departments. We
acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Developed
May 2022.
Kids
Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To
donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.