{"id":54233,"date":"2022-10-11T21:35:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T01:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=54233"},"modified":"2025-10-22T17:05:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T21:05:03","slug":"clonidine-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/clonidine-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Clonidine alternatives: What can I take instead of clonidine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Compare clonidine alternatives<\/a>\u00a0| Diovan<\/a> | Hydrochlorothiazide<\/a> | Norvasc<\/a> | Toprol XL<\/a> | Intuniv<\/a> | Natural alternatives<\/a> | How to switch meds<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Clonidine<\/span> is a unique drug with an unusual set of <\/span>Food and Drug Administration<\/span> (FDA) indications that includes treatment of <\/span>high blood pressure<\/span><\/a> in adults and <\/span>attention deficit hyperactivity disorder<\/span> (<\/span>ADHD<\/span>)<\/span><\/a> in children. Despite its <\/span>FDA-approved<\/span> uses, <\/span>clonidine<\/span><\/a> is not a first-line therapeutic for either condition, and for good reason. More effective and better <\/span>tolerability<\/span> options exist for both <\/span>hypertension<\/span> and <\/span>ADHD<\/span>. If you or your child is taking <\/span>clonidine<\/span>, you are right to question whether there might be a more suitable alternative. Our objective will be to introduce you to other options, in order for you to sit down with your <\/span>healthcare<\/span> provider and discuss the alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What is <\/b>clonidine<\/b>?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of <\/span>clonidine<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Clonidine<\/span>\u2019s mechanism of action in <\/span>ADHD<\/span> is not known, but both <\/span>clonidine<\/span> and another alpha-2 agonist, <\/span>guanfacine<\/span>, have a niche in <\/span>ADHD<\/span> care. They function as alternatives to <\/span>CNS <\/span>stimulants<\/span><\/a> which are more effective than alpha-2 agonists but may have intolerable <\/span>side effects<\/span>. Some potential <\/span>side effects of clonidine<\/span> may include dizziness, <\/span>lightheadedness<\/span>, fainting, and <\/span>constipation<\/span>. If neither of these categories is working out, <\/span>selective norepinephrine reuptake <\/span>inhibitors<\/span><\/a> (SNRIs) can be called on. Clearly, you have some drug class options to choose from, but you will want to know more before deciding whether to switch from <\/span>clonidine<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare clonidine alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clonidine<\/span> hydrochloride<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n0.1 to 0.4 mg twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nClonidine<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kapvay<\/span> (<\/span>clonidine<\/span> extended release<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nPediatric<\/span> ADHD<\/span><\/td>\n0.1 to 0.4 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nKapvay<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Catapres<\/span> TTS<\/span> (<\/span>clonidine<\/span> transdermal)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n0.1 to 0.6 mg\/day with patch changed weekly<\/span><\/td>\nCatapres<\/span> TTS<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chlorthalidone<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, peripheral edema (swelling)<\/span><\/td>\n12.5 to 100 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nChlorthalidone coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, peripheral edema<\/span><\/td>\n12.5 to 50 mg once daily (higher doses up to 200 mg may used for edema)<\/span><\/td>\nHydrochlorothiazide coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diovan (valsartan)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, congestive heart failure (CHF) with low ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular dysfunction (reduced heart squeeze) after MI<\/span><\/td>\n80 to 320 mg once daily (or divided into two doses)<\/span><\/td>\nDiovan coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diovan HCT (valsartan\/HCTZ)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n80 mg\/12.5 mg to 320 mg\/25 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nDiovan HCT coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zestril (lisinopril)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, CHF with low EF, acute MI<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 to 40 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nZestril coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zestoretic (lisinopril\/hydrochlorothiazide)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n10 mg\/12.5 mg, 20 mg\/12.5 mg, or 20 mg\/25 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nZestoretic coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Norvasc (amlodipine)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, coronary artery disease (CAD)<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 to 10 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nNorvasc coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toprol XL (metoprolol <\/span>extended release<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, angina, CHF with low EF<\/span><\/td>\n25 to 400 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nToprol XL coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hydralazine<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n10 to 50 mg four times daily<\/span><\/td>\nHydralazine coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cardura (doxazosin)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlarged prostate)<\/span><\/td>\n1 to 16 mg once daily (or maximum of 8 mg for BPH)<\/span><\/td>\nCardura coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Intuniv (<\/span>extended release<\/span> guanfacine<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nPediatric<\/span> ADHD<\/span><\/td>\nStart 1 mg once daily and adjusted as needed up to a max dose determined by weight<\/span><\/td>\nIntuniv coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Focalin XR (<\/span>extended release<\/span> dexmethylphenidate)<\/span><\/td>\nADHD<\/span><\/td>\n5 to 30 mg once daily for children over 6 years<\/span><\/td>\nFocalin XR coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)<\/span><\/td>\nADHD<\/span><\/td>\n30 to 70 mg once daily in children over 6 years<\/span><\/td>\nVyvanse coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to <\/span>clonidine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Clonidine<\/span><\/a> stimulates alpha-2 adrenergic <\/span>receptors<\/span> in the central <\/span>nervous system<\/span> (CNS) resulting in reduced levels of the adrenaline hormone norepinephrine in the bloodstream. Therefore, <\/span>blood vessels<\/span> relax with this <\/span>alpha agonist<\/span><\/a> action, which explains the blood pressure lowering effect. The results can be profound with <\/span>adrenergic agonists<\/span> like <\/span>clonidine<\/span>. However, other antihypertensive mechanisms may be more predictable and less prone to problems. These include <\/span>angiotensin II <\/span>receptor<\/span> blockers<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>angiotensin converting enzyme <\/span>inhibitors<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>beta blockers<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>diuretics<\/span><\/a> (water pills), and direct vasodilators.<\/span><\/p>\n