From the Guidelines
Yes, clonidine can cause nausea.
Clonidine Side Effects
- Nausea is a potential side effect of clonidine, as reported in studies combining clonidine with other medications for ADHD treatment 1 and in breast cancer survivors taking clonidine for hot flashes 1.
- The study on breast cancer survivors found that clonidine reduced hot flash frequency and severity, but side effects included nausea, sleep difficulties, dry mouth, fatigue, and dizziness 1.
- In the context of ADHD treatment, clonidine is often combined with stimulants like MPH, and side effects such as nausea were found to be mild and twice as common when compared to either medication alone 1.
- When using clonidine, it is essential to start with a low dose, such as 0.05 mg at bedtime, and increase slowly to minimize side effects like nausea 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, anorexia, constipation, hepatitis, malaise, mild transient abnormalities in liver function tests, nausea, parotitis, pseudo-obstruction (including colonic pseudo-obstruction), salivary gland pain, and vomiting.
- Nausea is listed as a potential adverse reaction to clonidine.
- The FDA drug label for clonidine 2 directly supports this answer.
From the Research
Clonidine and Nausea
- Clonidine has been studied for its effects on nausea and vomiting in various clinical settings 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- The evidence suggests that clonidine can reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing surgery 4, 6, 7
- In a study of children undergoing appendectomy, oral clonidine premedication was found to reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) 4
- Another study found that clonidine premedication was effective in preventing shivering and nausea after general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia in elderly patients 6
- A study comparing the effectiveness of clonidine in postoperative nausea and vomiting found that both epidural and oral administration of clonidine were effective in reducing the incidence of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy 7
Mechanism of Action
- Clonidine is an α2-agonist that acts as a sedative, anxiolytic, antihypertensive, antiemetic, and antisialogogue 3
- The antiemetic effect of clonidine is thought to be related to its ability to decrease the release of noradrenaline in the central nervous system 5
Clinical Implications
- Clonidine may be a useful adjunct in the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting, particularly in patients undergoing surgery who are at high risk of developing PONV 4, 6, 7
- The optimal dose and route of administration of clonidine for the prevention of PONV are still to be determined, but studies suggest that oral or epidural administration may be effective 4, 6, 7