Fever clonidine

Two different patterns of clonidine-induced cardiovascular complications have been described (Swanson et ah, 1995). One is characterized by decreased pulse and BP, often with associated EKG changes, fatigue, and sedation, and responds to a decrease in dosage. The other presents with tachycardia, tachypnea, with or without fever, anxiety, panic, and acute mental status changes, and is often associated with a missed dose or an abrupt taper. This pattern often responds to reinstituting the dosage and slowly tapering as necessary. 

Body temperature Fever has been associated with clonidine [94 ]. 

Kelesidis T, Kelesidis I. Unexplained high fever in an elderly patient treated with clonidine, duloxetine, and atorvastatin. Clin Ther 2009 31(12) 2894-9. 

An advantage of clonidine is the absence of orthostatic hypotension, but like a-methyldopa and reserpine it may cause drowsiness, and marked sedation occurs in up to 50% of patients treated in some series. Sedation can be so severe as to proceed to semi-consciousness. Nightmares and delusions are another expression of the drug s influence upon the central nervous system. Apart from sedation, the complaint of dry mouth and nose is the most common side effect recorded with clonidine administration. Dizziness, headache and fatigue are frequently mentioned, as well as anorexia, nausea, constipation and even pseudo-obstruction (94 ), anxiety, depression, drug fever and rashes. Side effects occur in 50—70% of the patients treated and are in some 20% the reason for discontinuation of therapy (3 , 13, 83 ). 

---