Question: Can clonidine be used to reduce agitation in children.

Context:
Children receiving clonidine immediately after anesthesia induction had statistically significant improvement in postoperative agitation at the 15-minute mark (P = .096) and last score obtained (P = .095) using the Watcha scale.
Clonidine has proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of post-operative agitation at a higher dose (3 and 2 μg kg⁻¹).
Post-anaesthetic agitation was observed in two patients (6.6%) in group 1, eight patients (26.6%) in group 2 as compared to 12 patients (40%) in group 3 after 15 min of post-operative observation.
The mean scores in group 1 at 15 and 30 min were significantly lower than those in group 3 (P value <0.05)
Caudal clonidine at a lower dose (1 μg kg⁻¹) could be effective in reducing the incidence of sevoflurane-induced emergence agitation in children undergoing urogenital and lower limb surgery without any significant adverse effects.
Only the 4 microg kg-1 dose of clonidine was associated with a significant reduction in emergence agitation.
Fewer children in the clonidine 4 microg kg-1 group displayed agitation (25%) than in the midazolam group (60%) (P=0.025).
In comparison with midazolam, clonidine 4 microg kg-1 reduced sevoflurane-induced emergence agitation without increasing postoperative side-effects.
Prophylactic use of clonidine against sevoflurane-induced agitation may represent a new and promising application.
One hundred and twenty children were included in this study: 59 of whom received clonidine, and 61 placebo; 41% of those in the placebo group exhibited moderate-severe EA compared with only 22% of those in the clonidine group (P < 0.03).
Findings demonstrate that i.v. clonidine administered after induction of anesthesia significantly reduces the incidence of EA in young children, but is associated with sleepiness postoperatively.
Clonidine could not prevent agitation (incidence 54%, 13/24)
Clonidine 1.5 microg/kg did not differ from placebo with respect to postoperative agitation.
Clonidine is effective in treating sevoflurane-induced postanesthesia agitation in children.
Pain and discomfort scores were significantly decreased in the clonidine group; the incidence of agitation was reduced by 57% (P = 0.029) and the incidence of severe agitation by 67% (P = 0.064). Relative risks for developing agitation and severe agitation were 0.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.78) and 0.32 (0.09-1.17), respectively.
Clonidine produces a substantial reduction in the risk of postsevoflurane agitation in children.
Agitation was observed in 12 midazolam-treated and five clonidine-treated patients (P=0.05).
Compared with midazolam, clonidine premedication reduced agitation during sevoflurane induction.
Clonidine 3 micrograms kg-1 prevented agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia, independently of the route of administration. The effect of clonidine appears to be dose-dependent, as an epidural dose of 1 microgram kg-1 failed to reduce it.
Clonidine prevents sevoflurane-induced agitation in children.
In 16 placebo and 2 clonidine-treated patients agitation was observed (P < 0.001)
In 6 patients of the Placebo group, agitation was graded as severe, whereas none of the patients in the Clonidine group developed severe agitation (P = 0.02).
We conclude that clonidine effectively prevents agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia.
Clonidine 2 microg/kg IV after anesthetic induction effectively reduces the incidence of agitation without resulting in clinically relevant bradycardia and hypotension.
Children receiving clonidine prior to undergoing strabismus surgery have a small but noticeable reduction in postoperative agitation, stay slightly longer in the post-anesthesia care unit, and have higher rates of parent satisfaction.
We report three cases of preoperative use of intranasal clonidine in pediatric patients, all for different indications. One patient was treated for preoperative agitation and hallucinations associated with oral midazolam. One patient was given clonidine as a premedicant. The third patient was treated for preoperative agitation and hypertension. All three patients had subjective resolution of indicated symptoms and none experienced adverse outcomes.
Oral or intravenous clonidine has been successfully used for the prevention of sevoflurane-induced agitation during emergence from anaesthesia.

Answer: Yes, clonidine is effective in prevention of post-anesthesia agitation in children.
Exact answer: yes