Clonidine
may be useful in the treatment of acute opioid withdrawal. Epidural
clonidine 1–2μgkg –1 increases the duration and potency of analgesia
provided by epidural opioid or local anaesthetic drugs.
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ChEBI: A clonidine that is 4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-amine in which one of the amino hydrogens is replaced by a 2,6-dichlorophenyl group.
Pharmacokinetics
Clonidine is lipid soluble and rapidly absorbed after oral administration,
with a peak plasma concentration occurring in 60–90min. O ral, intravenous
and intramuscular routes may be used for sedation or analgesia. I n addition,
epidural and intrathecal clonidine is used to augment regional anaesthesia,
but perineural administration is of limited or no effect. The elimination halflife
is 9–13h and is prolonged in renal failure. Fifty percent of an
administered dose is excreted unchanged by the kidneys, and 50% is
metabolised in the liver to inactive metabolites.
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Clonidine is well absorbed orally, with peak plasma
concentrations after 60–90min. I t is highly lipid soluble, and approximately
50% is metabolised in the liver to inactive metabolites; the rest is excreted
unchanged via the kidneys, with an elimination half-life of 9–12h.
