Clonidine: study card

Clonidine — Centrally acting alpha-agonist antihypertensive. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Clonidine
Class: Centrally acting alpha-agonist antihypertensive
Mechanism: Stimulates alpha-adrenoreceptors in the brain stem, reducing sympathetic outflow, peripheral resistance, heart rate and blood pressure.
Used for: Hypertension
Common side effects: Dry mouth; Drowsiness; Dizziness; Constipation
Warnings: Rebound hypertension if stopped suddenly; Bradycardia and AV block; Sedation
Interactions: Alcohol and CNS depressants; Tricyclic antidepressants; Beta-blockers, digitalis, CCBs

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

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Label date: 20260908 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Clonidine: KLON-i-deen

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Body system

Cardiovascular · 47 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Amlodipine

Same body system: Cardiovascular

Mechanism: Dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that inhibits transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle.

On both cards: Used for — Hypertension · Common side effects — Dizziness

Only on the Amlodipine card: Used for — Symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina; Confirmed or suspected vasospastic angina; Reduction of angina hospitalization or coronary revascularization risk in patients with recently angiographically documented coronary artery disease, without heart failure or an ejection fraction below 40% · Common side effects — Edema; Flushing; Palpitations · Warnings — Symptomatic hypotension; Worsening angina or acute MI; Severe hepatic impairment · Interactions — CYP3A inhibitors; Simvastatin; Cyclosporine, tacrolimus

Atenolol

Same body system: Cardiovascular

Mechanism: Beta-1 selective adrenergic blocker without membrane stabilizing or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity; selectivity lost at higher doses.

On both cards: Used for — Hypertension · Common side effects — Dizziness

Only on the Atenolol card: Common side effects — Tiredness / fatigue; Cold extremities; Bradycardia; Depression · Warnings — Contraindicated in sinus bradycardia, >1st-degree block; Contraindicated in cardiogenic shock / overt failure · Interactions — Catecholamine depletors (reserpine); Calcium channel blockers, disopyramide, amiodarone; Clonidine withdrawal

Diltiazem

Same body system: Cardiovascular

Mechanism: Therapeutic effects are believed to relate to inhibition of calcium influx in cardiac and vascular smooth muscle; vascular relaxation lowers peripheral resistance and blood pressure.

On both cards: Used for — Hypertension · Common side effects — Constipation

Only on the Diltiazem card: Used for — Chronic stable angina · Common side effects — Rhinitis; Pharyngitis; Peripheral edema; Myalgia · Warnings — Sick sinus syndrome is contraindicated unless a functioning ventricular pacemaker is present; Second- or third-degree AV block is contraindicated unless a functioning ventricular pacemaker is present; Systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg is a contraindication · Interactions — Beta-blockers; Digitalis; CYP3A4 substrates

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.