What is Clonidine?
Clonidine is a generic medication used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure; a commonly used name brand version of this drug is Catapres. Clonidine is a medication classified as a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent which work on specific nerve cells in the brain to slow heart rate, lower blood pressure, and decrease physiological symptoms of withdrawal from a substance.
Clonidine Uses
Clonidine, or Catapres, can be used to treat several different medical conditions in addition to hypertension; for the treatment of high blood pressure, clonidine may be used in combination with other medications to control the condition. It can also treat severe cramping with menstruation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, smoking cessation, and alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms.
Clonidine lowers blood pressure by lowering the levels of certain chemicals in the blood, resulting in the heart beating more easily and at a slower pace.
