Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking clonidine as follows:
- Clonidine use can induce extreme dry mouth and constipation. Sucking on ice chip or a sugar free hard candy can help with symptomatic relief of dry mouth. Proper hydration measures and compliance with daily fluid intake recommendations can help with relief from constipation. If you experience any further bothersome constipation, report it to your physician for a recommendation on laxative/stool softener use. Observing compliance with fiber intake recommendations in the diet can also help with preventing episodes of constipation with the medication.
- Also, do not take clonidine with alcohol or opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, as these products can add to the dizziness and confusion caused by clonidine. A number of OTC cough medications, antihistamines, antiseizure medications, muscle relaxants, and antianxiety medications, can potentiate the dizziness and confusion caused by clonidine, thus resulting in many cross reactions and side-effects and so, must be avoided taking along with clonidine.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
