How Many Clonidine Does It Take To Overdose

Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive amanuensis, generally used to treat loftier claret pressure level.¹ Clonidine has several off-label uses including the management of hypertensive crises, menopausal flushing (hot flashes), Tourette's syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), opioid and alcohol withdrawal, smoking cessation, and migraine headache.^ane Generally speaking, clonidine helps blood menses more effortlessly through the body by relaxing claret vessels and decreasing your heart rate.^one

Clonidine abuse can exist a problem for some people. In detail, it could be an event for people who are prescribed the medication as a part of an opioid addiction treatment program. According to a written report published in The Psychiatric Quarterly, x out of 15 people who had sought treatment for opioid dependence best-selling they had abused clonidine to decrease the amount of heroin needed to attain the high they wanted and to prolong its duration.²

Though infrequently abused on its own, clonidine may be misused in conjunction with other intoxicating substances and may contribute to the development of compulsive patterns of drug utilise and addiction. It is possible to overdose on clonidine, and its misuse makes such an occurrence all the more likely.

Typical Signs and Symptoms

A clonidine overdose may consequence from taking more than than the recommended dose or past taking it more frequently than prescribed. Additionally, an overdose can accidentally occur if a young child gains admission to clonidine in the domicile—a discarded transdermal patch contains a sufficient amount of the drug to crusade overdose symptoms in children.⁵

You should call the local toxicant command center as soon as you discover someone has taken too much clonidine. If the person has complanate or is not breathing, call your local emergency services at 911.

Signs to look for that indicate a clonidine overdose include:^ane

• High blood pressure.
• Slow heart rate.
• Fainting.
• Shivering.
• Difficulty animate.
• Tiredness.
• Slurred speech.
• Cold, pale skin.
• Weakness.
• Constricted pupils.
• Sinus bradycardia (common in kid overdose).
• Drowsiness.
• Coma.

Clonidine overdose symptoms may be very serious, often necessitating intensive care management, and can fifty-fifty lead to expiry.^five Often, an overdose is unintentional, such equally when people mix clonidine and alcohol or other drugs due to lack of knowledge well-nigh the possible furnishings. Others make a witting decision to use the drugs together, considering they want to experience enhanced effects. If y'all mix clonidine and alcohol or other drugs together, it may exist a sign of habit.^six According to the National Found on Alcohol Corruption and Alcoholism, mixing drugs and prescription medications puts y'all at an increased hazard for unsafe interactions, fifty-fifty if yous don't take them at the aforementioned time.⁷

Because of the availability of clonidine in many homes with children, the risk of adventitious exposure and overdose is increasing, according to the Missouri Poison Center.⁸ A 2002 report indicated that out of 10,060 reported clonidine overdose exposures between 1993 and 1999, 57% involved children younger than 6 years quondam, and 34% involved children ages 6 through 12.^nine Overdose and toxicity symptoms in children can range in severity, with some being quite serious. In the aforementioned study by the Missouri Poison Centre, researchers indicated that the "almost prevalent symptoms were lethargy (eighty%), bradycardia (17%), hypotension (15%), and respiratory depression (5%)." In another report involving 113 pediatric patients who ingested clonidine, "all patients who developed toxic symptoms did so within four hours, with about symptoms being apparent within 1 hour."⁸

Clonidine Addiction

Someone who overdoses on clonidine may be struggling with an addiction, which is a chronic, relapsing disease in which someone continues using a substance despite knowing the negative consequences. According to the American Psychiatric Clan's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, some of the signs of addiction include:¹⁰

• Taking larger or more than frequent amounts of the substance than originally intended.
• Making unsuccessful attempts to cut down or terminate substance apply.
• Spending a lot of time trying to obtain, apply, and recover from the effects of the substance.
• Experiencing cravings for the drug.
• Failing to fulfill obligations at school, work, or home due to drug utilize.
• Continuing drug employ despite persistent social or interpersonal issues that are caused by the substance.
• Taking the substance when information technology's physically unsafe to do so (operating mechanism, driving, etc.).
• Continuing substance utilize despite knowing that you have a physical or psychological problem that is probably the upshot of the substance.
• Tolerance (meaning that you demand more of the drug to achieve previous results).
• Withdrawal (meaning that you experience negative concrete or psychological symptoms when yous effort to stop using).

Clonidine Overdose Handling

Clonidine overdose symptoms may present similarly to opioid overdose.⁸ Unlike treatment for many other types of drug overdose (including opioid overdose), activated charcoal and lavage are not recommended for clonidine due to the "rapid onset of CNS low and the inherent adventure for aspiration."⁸ Maintaining proper hemodynamic status (significant ensuring adequate blood flow) and sufficient respiratory exchange are crucial in treating an overdose. Maintaining acceptable respiratory exchange can be accomplished by using assisted or controlled ventilation. Attempts may be fabricated to treat severe respiratory depression resulting from a clonidine overdose with high doses of the opioid antagonist naloxone, which may be administered intravenously and simultaneously with respiratory resuscitation efforts. However, the results tin can be mixed and ventilation machines may be necessary.⁸

Source: https://projectknow.com/overdose/clonidine/

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