Clonidine
Authors: MARK C. HOUSTON
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Letters and Corrections1 May 1980ClonidineMARK C. HOUSTON, M.D.MARK C. HOUSTON, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-92-5-718_1 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Several comments in the recent review of clonidine by Lowenstein (1) need clarification, as they are somewhat misleading. The author states that the predominant hemodynamic effect of clonidine in hypertensive patients is a reduction in cardiac output. The mechanism of blood pressure reduction with chronic administration of clonidine is controversial, with some previous studies showing a reduction in total peripheral resistance of 11% with no change in cardiac output or a return to normal within 4 to 6 weeks after initiation of therapy (2). Moreover, Onesti and colleagues (3) have demonstrated that the acute administration of clonidine...References1. LOWENSTEIN J. Clonidine. Ann Intern Med. 1980;92:74-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. SCHNEIDER K. Cardial hamodynamik imakuten Versuch nach chronischer Behandlung und um Belastungstest mit ST-155 in hochdruck Therapie. In: Symposion uber 2-(2.6-dichlorphenylamino)-2-imadazolin Hydrochlorid. HEILMEYER L, HOLTMEIER HJ, PFEIFFER EF, eds. Stuttgard: Theimé. 1968: 78. Google Scholar3. ONESTI G, SCHWARTZ A, and KIM K. Pharmacodynamic effects of a new antihypertensive drug catapres (ST-155). Circulation. 1969;39:219-28. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. HANSSON L, HUNYOR S, and JULIUS S. Blood pressure crisis following withdrawal of clonidine (Catapres, Catapresan) with special reference to arterial and urinary catecholamine levels, and suggestions for acute management. Am Heart J. 1973;85:605-10. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. REID J, WING L, DARGIE H, HAMILTON C, DAVIES D, and DOLLERY C. Clonidine withdrawal in hypertension: changes in blood-pressure and plasma and urinary noradrenaline. Lancet. 1977;1:1171-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. GOLDBERG A, RAFTERY E, and WILKINSON P. Blood pressure and heart rate and withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs. Br Med J. 1977;1:1243-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. LUND-JOHANSEN P. Hemodynamic changes at rest and during exercise in long-term clonidine therapy of essential hypertension. Acta Med Scand. 1974;195:111-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. ONESTI G, SCHWARTZ A, KIM K, PAZ-MARTINEZ V, and SWARTZ C. Antihypertensive effect of clonidine. Circ Res. 1971;28 (Suppl 2):ii-53-69. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. GOLDBERG A, RAFTERY E, and WILKINSON P. The overshoot phenomenon on withdrawal of clonidine therapy. Postgrad Med J. 1976;52(Suppl 7):128-34. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. GEYSKES G, BOER P, and DOURHOUT MEES E. Clonidine withdrawal mechanism and frequency of rebound hypertension. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1979;7:55-62. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: MARK C. HOUSTON, M.D. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 May 1980Volume 92, Issue 5Page: 718-718KeywordsBlood pressureCardiac outputHemodynamics ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 May 1980 PDF downloadLoading ...