Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking clonidine as follows:
- Take a blood pressure and heart rate reading always before you take the pill. Maintain a log of every day blood pressure and heart rate readings, for an easy follow-up of the response to the medication intake. If the blood pressure and/or heart rate are too low, you can defer taking the medication for that dose. Notify your doctor regarding the same. Notify your doctor, if more of such occurrences are happening, so that, your medication dose could be revised.
- If the blood pressure and/or heart rate gets too low, secondary to clonidine use, it can result in some dizziness and make one drowsy and confused. The bradycardia and hypotension caused by clonidine can lead to episodes of confusion and dizziness, thus increasing the risk for fall and accidents. Starting the medication at a low dose, watching for the response, and gradually changing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to controlling/reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the dizziness and confusion with clonidine becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in the dose or plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side effects caused by clonidine intake. Observing compliance with use of assistive devices can help prevent falls and accidents. Seek for increased caregiver availability and assistance, until you are used to the side effects caused by clonidine intake.
