Clonidine Use in Psychiatry: Panacea or Panache
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, KCMH, Shwaikh, Kuwait.
Abstract
Clonidine, an alpha agonist, formally prescribed in clinical medicine as antihypertensive medication, is currently being used more frequently to address a multitude of psychiatric entities. The long-acting formulation is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in treating the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In addition to this only legitimate indication, it has long been used successfully for opiate detoxification, post-traumatic stress disorder and de la Tourette syndrome. Moreover, clonidine helps in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia, stimulant-induced insomnia and clozapine-induced sialorrhea. It has been tried in treating menopausal syndrome and psychogenic polydipsia. Although the strength of evidence supporting the use of clonidine in such clinical scenarios is highly variable and oscillating, from strong to only flimsy, this overview is intended to shed some light on the clonidine portfolio as a potential and attractive addition to the psychopharmacologic armamentarium.
Similar articles
Is clonidine useful for treatment of clozapine-induced sialorrhea?
Praharaj SK, Verma P, Roy D, Singh A.J Psychopharmacol. 2005 Jul;19(4):426-8. doi: 10.1177/0269881105053311.PMID: 15983000 Clinical Trial.
Brexpiprazole: another multipurpose antipsychotic drug?
Howland RH.J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2015 Apr;53(4):23-5. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20150323-01.PMID: 25856810
Clonidine in neuroleptic-induced akathisia.
Adler LA, Angrist B, Peselow E, Reitano J, Rotrosen J.Am J Psychiatry. 1987 Feb;144(2):235-6. doi: 10.1176/ajp.144.2.235.PMID: 2880516
[Indications for clonidine in child psychiatry].
Dollfus S.Encephale. 1993 Mar-Apr;19(2):83-7.PMID: 8275901 Review. French.
[Diagnosis and treatment of tics].
Topka H.MMW Fortschr Med. 2007 May 21;149 Suppl 2:4-7; quiz 8.PMID: 17724959 Review. German.
Cited by
Singal P, Nuñez NA, Joseph B, Hassett LC, Seshadri A, Singh B.Brain Sci. 2023 Mar 25;13(4):547. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13040547.PMID: 37190511 Free PMC article. Review.
Chronic Pain and Psychiatric Conditions.
Johnston KJA, Huckins LM.Complex Psychiatry. 2022 Sep 15;9(1-4):24-43. doi: 10.1159/000527041. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.PMID: 37034825 Free PMC article. Review.
A Potential Role for Neuroinflammation in ADHD.
Vázquez-González D, Carreón-Trujillo S, Alvarez-Arellano L, Abarca-Merlin DM, Domínguez-López P, Salazar-García M, Corona JC.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1411:327-356. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-7376-5_15.PMID: 36949317 Review.
ADHD-A Clinician's Bird's Eye View of Current Status and New Vistas!
Naguy A, Pridmore S, Alwetayan S, Elsori D, Alamiri B.Psychopharmacol Bull. 2023 Feb 28;53(1):46-54.PMID: 36873919 Review.
Hypertensive Crisis in a Pediatric Patient Experiencing Clonidine Withdrawal.
Cao C, Lorenz ML, Sojka P, Brindle AW, Topor LS.Case Rep Pediatr. 2022 Mar 22;2022:9005063. doi: 10.1155/2022/9005063. eCollection 2022.PMID: 35359336 Free PMC article.