Clonidine Side Effects

In Summary

Commonly reported side effects of clonidine include: drowsiness, fatigue, hypotension, lethargy, sedation, headache, and upper abdominal pain. Other side effects include: dizziness, and headache. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

For the Consumer

Applies to clonidine: oral suspension extended release, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by clonidine. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

Major Side Effects

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking clonidine:

Less common:

• Mental depression
• swelling of the feet and lower legs

Rare

• Anxiety
• blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
• chest pain or discomfort
• confusion as to time, place, or person
• decreased urine output
• dilated neck veins
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fever
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• hyperventilation
• irregular breathing
• irritability
• itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• mental depression
• paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes
• pounding, slow heartbeat
• problems in urination or increase in the amount of urine
• raised red swellings on the skin, lips, tongue, or in the throat
• restlessness
• seeing or hearing things that are not there
• shaking
• shortness of breath
• skin rash
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• tightness in the chest
• tingling or pain in the fingers or toes when exposed to cold
• trouble with sleeping
• troubled breathing
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vivid dreams or nightmares
• weight gain
• wheezing

If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking clonidine, get emergency help immediately:

Symptoms of overdose:

• Dizziness (extreme) or faintness
• feeling cold
• pinpoint pupils of the eyes
• unusual tiredness or weakness (extreme)

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with clonidine may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

More common:

• Constipation

Less common:

• Darkening of the skin
• decreased sexual ability
• dry, itching, or burning eyes
• loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting

Rare

• Blurred vision
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• inability to have or keep an erection
• leg cramps
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• muscle or joint pain
• pale skin
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
• weakness

Applies to clonidine: epidural injectable, epidural solution

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by clonidine. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

Severity: Moderate

If any of the following side effects occur while taking clonidine, check with your doctor or nurse as soon as possible:

More common:

• Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting
• slow heartbeat

Less common:

• Chest pain
• extremely shallow or slow breathing
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• hallucinations (seeing, feeling, or hearing things that are not there)
• mental depression
• sleepiness (excessive)
• vomiting

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with clonidine may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

More common:

• Anxiety
• confusion
• dry mouth
• nausea
• sleepiness

Less common:

• Constipation
• ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained noises in the ears
• sweating, unusual
• weakness

Side Effects: Post Treatment

After you stop taking this drug, it is possible that you may still experience side effects that need medical attention. If you notice any of the following side effects check with your doctor immediately:

• Agitation
• headache
• nervousness
• pounding heartbeat
• shaking or trembling

Applies to clonidine: transdermal patch extended release

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by clonidine. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

Major Side Effects

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking clonidine:

More common:

• Itching or redness of the skin

Incidence not known:

• Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
• blurred vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• darkening of the skin
• decreased urine output
• dilated neck veins
• dizziness
• extreme fatigue
• fainting
• fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fever
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• inability to speak
• irregular breathing
• itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes
• seizures
• severe or sudden headache
• shortness of breath
• slurred speech
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• temporary blindness
• tightness in the chest
• tingling or pain in the fingers or toes when exposed to cold
• troubled breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
• weight gain
• wheezing

If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking clonidine, get emergency help immediately:

Symptoms of overdose:

• Bluish lips or skin
• change in consciousness
• clumsiness
• confusion
• constricted, pinpoint, or small pupils (black part of the eye)
• depression
• difficult or troubled breathing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• drowsiness
• headache
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• irritability
• lack of coordination
• loss of consciousness
• low body temperature
• muscle aches or weakness
• nervousness
• not breathing
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• pounding in the ears
• shivering
• sleepiness
• sweating
• weak or feeble pulse

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with clonidine may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

Incidence not known:

• Anxiety
• burning or dryness of the eyes
• confusion as to time, place, or person
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• dry mouth
• hair loss
• hives or welts
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• hyperventilation
• inability to have or keep an erection
• itching skin
• leg cramps
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• loss of appetite
• muscle or joint pain
• raised red swellings on the skin, lips, tongue, or in the throat
• redness of the skin
• restlessness
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• shaking
• skin rash
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
• thinning of the hair
• trouble sleeping
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
• vivid dreams or nightmares
• weight loss

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to clonidine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral suspension extended release, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release, transdermal film extended release

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): Hypotension (45%), orthostatic hypotension (32%)
Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, tachycardia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sinus bradycardia, Raynaud's phenomenon, palpitations
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Atrioventricular block, palpitations, bradycardia, syncope, congestive heart failure, electrocardiographic abnormalities (i.e., sinus node arrest, high degree AV block), cerebrovascular accident
Frequency not reported: Bradyarrhythmia, hypertension, rebound hypertension^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Very common (10% or more): Contact dermatitis with the patch formulation (19%)
Common (1% to 10%): Sweating
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus, rash (localized or generalized), urticaria, erythema
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Alopecia, excoriation, burning
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Papules, throbbing, blanching, generalized macular rash, facial/tongue angioedema
Frequency not reported: Hives, localized hypo or hyper pigmentation^[Ref]

Endocrine

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gynecomastia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Dry mouth (40%), upper abdominal pain (15%), nausea (13%), vomiting (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, parotid gland pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Colonic pseudo-obstruction
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Parotitis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%): Erectile dysfunction
Frequency not reported: Micturition difficulty, loss of libido, decreased sexual activity, nocturia, urinary retention^[Ref]

General

Most adverse effects are mild and diminish with continued therapy. The most frequent (which appear to be dose-related) are dry mouth (40%), drowsiness (33%), dizziness (16%), constipation (10%), and sedation (10%).^[Ref]

Hematologic

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Peripheral blood flow disturbance, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Hepatic

Frequency not reported: Mild transient abnormalities of liver function tests, hepatitis^[Ref]

Metabolic

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blood glucose increased, serum creatine phosphokinase increased
Frequency not reported: Weight gain, anorexia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Muscle pain, joint pain, leg cramps^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Drowsiness (33%), dizziness (16%), somnolence (13%), sedation (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Headache
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paresthesia
Frequency not reported: Headache, localized numbness^[Ref]

Ocular

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Lacrimation decreased (dry eyes)
Frequency not reported: Accommodation disorder, ocular burning, vision blurred^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, tinnitus
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Malaise
Frequency not reported: Fever, pallor, weakness, positive Coombs' test, increased sensitivity to alcohol^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Confusion (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Depression, tearfulness, sleep disorder, hallucinations (both visual and auditory), nervousness, agitation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%):
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Delusional perception, nightmare
Frequency not reported: Libido decreased, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, behavior changes^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Hypoventilation
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Nasal dryness^[Ref]

Not all side effects for clonidine may be reported. You should always consult a doctor or healthcare professional for medical advice. Side effects can be reported to the FDA here.