title: Regimen for the control of blood pressure and symptoms during clonidine withdrawal.
abstract: Abrupt withdrawal of the centrally-acting antihypertensive agent, clonidine, is associated with a high incidence of rebound hypertension and tachycardia, with symptoms of sympathetic overactivity and increased catecholamine excretion. Gradual clonidine withdrawal has been recommended, but does not always avoid the reaction. A regimen is described comprising high doses of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin, the cardioselective beta-blocker, atenolol, and chlordiazepoxide, specifically designed to counter both central and peripheral effects of sudden withdrawal of a central alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist. This combination was completely successful in preventing the haemodynamic and symptomatic features of clonidine withdrawal in eight hypertensive patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000652:urine; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D009647:Normetanephrine; D001262:Atenolol; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine