Clonidine withdrawal in hypertension. Changes in blood-pressure and plasma and urinary noradrenaline.
Treatment was interrupted abruptly in 6 hypertensive patients receiving clonidine 0-45-5-4 mg daily. Blood-pressure rose to pretreatment levels within 24-48 h of withdrawal and was accompanied by insomnia, headache, flushing, sweating, and apprehension. These symptoms began 18-20 h after the last dose of clonidine. Plasma-noradrenaline levels and urinary catecholamine excretion increased 24-72 h after withdrawal of clonidine. The subjective symptoms were most prominent in patients on higher doses (greater than 1 mg/day) and in those who had previously been receiving treatment with other antihypertensive drugs. One patient on a very low daily dose (0-15 mg) of clonidine had no symptoms and no significant changes in blood-pressure or catecholamine production after drug withdrawal.
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*
D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine