Clonidine IR oral tablet: Side effects, dosage, uses, and more - Medical News Today
Clonidine IR oral tablets can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking this drug. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information about the possible side effects of clonidine IR oral tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you've had with clonidine IR oral tablets, you can do so through MedWatch.
Mild side effects
Mild side effects* of clonidine IR oral tablets can include:
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don't go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* This is a partial list of mild side effects from clonidine IR oral tablets. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the drug label information.
† For more information about this side effect, see "Side effect details" below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from clonidine IR oral tablets aren't common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you're having a medical emergency.
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:
* For more information about this side effect, see "Side effect details" below.
Side effect details
Here's some detail on certain side effects this drug may cause.
Lowered heart rate
Clonidine can slow your heart rate. This is one of the ways the medication works to lower your blood pressure. However, if your heart rate gets too slow, this could lead to serious problems. For example, it could cause fainting, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or a heart attack. However, it's rare for your heart rate to get dangerously slow while you're taking clonidine.
If your heart rate is below 60 beats per minute, this is generally considered to be slow. But it's not always dangerous. For example, athletes and people who regularly exercise often have a resting heart rate that's below 60 beats per minute.
Your heart rate is more likely to get too slow if you take certain other medications with clonidine. For examples of these medications, see the "Clonidine IR oral tablet interactions" section below.
Your doctor will regularly check your heart rate while you take clonidine, especially when you first start treatment, to make sure it's not too slow. They'll do this by taking your pulse. Your doctor can tell you what your heart rate should be during your treatment and show you how to check your pulse.
Call your doctor right away if your heart rate gets slower than it should be while you're taking clonidine. You should also call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of a serious heart problem. These may include:
- feeling like your heart is racing, fluttering, or skipping beats
- chest pain or discomfort
- shortness of breath
- feeling lightheaded
- fainting
Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you're having a medical emergency.
If your heart rate gets too slow while you're taking clonidine, your doctor will likely reduce your dose. If your heart rate becomes dangerously slow or you're having a serious heart problem, you may also need treatment in a hospital.
Feeling sleepy
Clonidine may cause sleepiness. This is one of the more common side effects of the drug.
Sleepiness can become worse if you drink alcohol with clonidine. This side effect can increase if you take clonidine with other medications that also cause sleepiness. For examples of these medications, see the "Clonidine IR oral tablet interactions" section below.
Along with sleepiness, clonidine can also cause dizziness and blurry vision. All of these side effects can affect your ability to drive or do other potentially dangerous activities safely.
If you feel sleepy, dizzy, or have blurry vision while taking clonidine, do not drive or operate machinery. And avoid other potentially dangerous activities, such as riding a bike or horse, or climbing ladders.
Sleepiness, dizziness, and blurry vision usually improve as you continue to take clonidine. But if these side effects become troublesome, more severe, or don't go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend switching to a different blood pressure medication.
Sexual problems
Like many other blood pressure medications, clonidine can sometimes cause sexual problems. These problems may include erectile dysfunction (trouble getting or keeping an erection) and loss of libido (sex drive).
If you're concerned about sexual problems while taking clonidine, talk with your doctor. These problems can often be solved by switching blood pressure medications.
If you have erectile dysfunction with clonidine, do not take medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) unless your doctor says it's safe to do so. Erectile dysfunction medications can lower your blood pressure, which could increase your risk for dizziness or fainting with clonidine.
Allergic reactionAs with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking clonidine IR oral tablets.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
- skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:
- swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
- trouble breathing
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to clonidine IR oral tablets, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you're having a medical emergency.
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