Clonidine/Beta-Blockers Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

These two medicines are taken together to help lower your blood pressure. In some people, they may increase blood pressure. If you stop taking clonidine and continue taking your beta-blocker, or if you stop taking them both at the same time, your blood pressure may also increase.

What might happen:

Your blood pressure may increase to a dangerous level, causing headache, nausea, vomiting, flushing, confusion, tremor, irritability with unrest, or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

What you should do about this interaction:

Contact your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) about taking these two medicines together. You may need to check your blood pressure more often when starting or stopping these medicines. They may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Follow closely any instructions that your doctor gives you about stopping these medicines.

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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.