Centrallyacting Alpha adrenergicagonistTherapy alonidine aclassofdrugsthatworkwithinthecentralnervoussystem to produce vasodilation primarily used totreat hypertension otheruses include severepain managementandtreatment of ADHD preventthe activationofperipheraladrenergicreceptors foundalongthenervesynapses intheONS workbydecreasingtherelease ofnorepinephrine within thesesynapses Thisactioncausesvasodialation which decreases bloodpressure threecommon centrallyactingalpha agonists clonidine methyldopa i guanfacine Pharmacokinetics of Clonidine absorption lipidsoluble wellabsorbedorallyÉtransdermally distribution widelydistributed metabolism in liver excreted throughkidneys crossesblood brainbarrier Pharmacodynamics of blonidine Moa clonidinereduces sympathetic outflowtothebloodvessels andtheheart clonidineworks tosuppress the sympatheic nerves to the heart whichcauses bradycardiaanddecreases cardiac output in additionthesympatheticregulation ofblood vessels is suppressedwhichproducesvasodialation Idecreases BP unset E 2 04 hrs unknown peak somknfbinrftrff.ae duration 8 to 12hr5 half life Leto12hr5 20hr after patch removal pre assessment baseline ptassessment assessfor pregnancy usuallyavoided inolderadults duetobradycardia hypotension history ofdrugmisuse loonidinecauseseuphoria inhigh doses contraindications known hypersensitivity pregnancy Precautions cardiovasculardisease renalimpairment COPD diabetesmellitus depression asthma pheochromocytoma Drug Interactions BetaBlockers addictiveeffect Diuretics nitrates s other antihypertensives addictive effectleadingto increasedhypotensive effects TCAs MAOIs appetitesuppressants amphetamines effects ofclonidinedecreased patientscan become increasingly hypertensive cancause addictiveCNSdepression whentaken with alcohol benzos andopioids Sideeffects drowsiness anorexia impotence rash xerostomialdrymouth taste changes na adverseeffects heartfailure rebound nth sudden withdrawn Patient Teaching drowsiness may occur donotstopmedication suddenly Irebound htn will occur xerostomia may occur frequentsipsofwater chewgum use contraceptives large dose of drugmaycausewaterretention