4.1. Therapeutic indications

Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5ml Oral Solution is indicated for the treatment of all grades of essential and secondary hypertension.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5ml solution is for oral administration only.

Adults:

Oral treatment should commence with 2.5 ml to 5 ml (50 to 100 micrograms) three times daily. This dose should be increased gradually every second or third day until control is achieved. Most patients will be controlled on divided daily doses of 15 ml to 60 ml (300 - 1200 micrograms). However, some patients may require higher doses, e.g. 1800 micrograms or more.

Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml oral solution may be added to an existing antihypertensive regimen where blood pressure control has not been satisfactorily achieved. If side-effects with existing therapy are troublesome the concomitant use of Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml oral solution may allow a lower dose of the established regimen to be employed. Patients changing treatment should have their existing therapy reduced gradually whilst Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml oral solution added to their regimen.

Patients undergoing anaesthesia should continue their Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/ 5 ml oral solution treatment before, during and after anaesthesia using oral or i.v. administration according to individual circumstances.

No specific information on the use of this product in the elderly is available. Clinical trials have included patients over 65 years and no adverse reactions specific to this age group have been reported

Paediatric Population:

There is insufficient evidence for the application of clonidine in children and adolescents younger than 18 years. Therefore the use of clonidine is not recommended in paediatric subjects under 18 years.

Patient with renal impairment:

Dose must be adjusted:

- according to the individual antihypertensive response which can show high variability in patients with renal insufficiency, careful monitoring is required (See Section 4.4)

- according to the degree of renal impairment.

Method of administration:

For oral use only.

4.3. Contraindications

Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or other components of the product, and in patients with severe bradyarrhythmia resulting from either sick sinus syndrome or AV block of 2nd or 3rd degree.

In case of rare hereditary conditions that may be incompatible with an excipient of the product (please refer to section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use) the use of the product is contraindicated

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Caution should be exercised in patients with Raynaud's disease or other peripheral vascular disease. As with all drugs used in hypertension, Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution should be used with caution in patients with cerebrovascular or coronary insufficiency.

Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution should also be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate bradyarrhythmia such as low sinus rhythm, and with polyneuropathy or constipation.

Patients with a known history of depression should be carefully supervised while under long-term treatment with Clonidine Oral Solution as there have been occasional reports of further depressive episodes during oral treatment in such patients.

As with other antihypertensive drugs, treatment with Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution should be monitored particularly carefully in patients with heart failure.

In hypertension caused by phaeochromocytoma no therapeutic effect of Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution can be expected.

Clonidine, the active ingredient of this medicinal product and its metabolites are extensively excreted in the urine. Dosage must be adjusted to the individual antihypertensive response, which can show high variability in patients with renal insufficiency (see Section 4.2); careful monitoring is required. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine haemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.

Sudden withdrawal of Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution, particularly in those patients receiving high doses, may result in rebound hypertension. Cases of agitation, restlessness, palpitations, nervousness, tremor, headache and abdominal symptoms have also been reported. Patients should be instructed not to discontinue therapy without consulting their physician. When discontinuing therapy the physician should reduce the dose gradually. However, if withdrawal symptoms should nevertheless occur, these can usually be treated with reintroduction of clonidine or with alpha and beta adrenoceptor blocking agents.

If Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution is being given concurrently with a beta-receptor blocker, Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution should not be discontinued until several days after the withdrawal of the beta-blocker.

Patients who wear contact lenses should be warned that treatment with Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution may cause decreased lacrimation.

The use and the safety of clonidine in children and adolescents has little supporting evidence in randomized controlled trials and therefore cannot be recommended for use in this population (see Sections 4.2, 4.3 and 5.1).

Serious adverse events, including sudden death, have been reported in concomitant use with methylphenidate. The safety of using methylphenidate in combination with clonidine has not been systematically evaluated.

Excipients warnings

This product contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5 ml, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The reduction in blood pressure induced by clonidine can be further potentiated by concurrent administration of other hypotensive agents. This can be of therapeutic use in the case of other anti-hypertensive agents such as diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE-inhibitors, but the effect of alpha1-blockers is unpredictable.

The anti-hypertensive effect of clonidine may be reduced or abolished and orthostatic hypotension may be provoked or aggravated by concomitant administration of tricyclic anti-depressants or neuroleptics with alpha-receptor blocking properties.

Substances which raise blood pressure or induce a sodium ion (Na+) and water retaining effect such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents can reduce the therapeutic effect of clonidine.

Substances with alpha2-receptor blocking properties, such as mirtazapine, may abolish the alpha2-receptor mediated effects of clonidine in a dose-dependent manner.

Concomitant administration of substances with a negative chronotropic or dromotropic effect such as beta-receptor blockers or digitalis glycosides can cause or potentiate bradycardic rhythm disturbances.

It cannot be ruled out that concomitant administration of a beta-receptor blocker will cause or potentiate peripheral vascular disorders.

Based on observations in patients in a state of alcoholic delirium it has been suggested that high intravenous doses of clonidine may increase the arrhythmogenic potential (QT-prolongation, ventricular fibrillation) of high intravenous doses of haloperidol. Causal relationship and relevance for anti-hypertensive treatment have not been established.

The effects of centrally depressant substances or alcohol can be potentiated by Clonidine.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are limited amount of data from the use of clonidine in pregnant women. This product should only be used in pregnancy if considered essential by the physician. Careful monitoring of mother and child is recommended.

Clonidine passes the placental barrier and may lower the heart rate of the foetus. Post partum a transient rise in blood pressure in the new-born cannot be excluded.

There is no adequate experience regarding the long-term effects of prenatal exposure.

During pregnancy the oral forms of clonidine should be preferred. Intravenous injection of clonidine should be avoided.

Non-clinical studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity.

Lactation

Clonidine is excreted in human milk. However, there is insufficient information on the effect on newborns. The use of Clonidine Oral solution is therefore not recommended during breastfeeding.

Fertility

No clinical studies on the effect on human fertility have been conducted with clonidine. Non-clinical studies with clonidine indicate no direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to the fertility index.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.

However, patients should be advised that they may experience undesirable effects such as dizziness, sedation and accommodation disorder during treatment with Clonidine hydrochloride 100 micrograms/5 ml Oral Solution. If patients experience the above mentioned side effects they should avoid potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinery.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Most adverse effects are mild and tend to diminish with continued therapy.

Adverse events have been ranked under headings of frequency using the following convention:

Very common

Common

Uncommon

Rare

Very rare

Not known

≥ 1/10

≥ 1/100, <1/10

≥ 1/1000, <1/100

≥ 1/10000, <1/1000

<1/10000

Cannot be estimated from the available data

Endocrine disorders:

Gynaecomastia

rare

Psychiatric disorders:

Confusional state

Delusional perception

Depression

Hallucination

Libido decreased

Nightmare

Sleep disorder

not known

uncommon

common

uncommon

not known

uncommon

common

Nervous system disorders:

Dizziness

Headache

Paraesthesia

Sedation

very common

common

uncommon

very common

Eye disorders:

Accommodation disorder

Lacrimation decreased

not known

rare

Cardiac disorders:

Atrioventricular block

Bradyarrhythmia

Sinus bradycardia

rare

not known

uncommon

Vascular disorders:

Orthostatic hypotension

Raynaud's phenomenon

very common

uncommon

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:

Nasal dryness

rare

Gastrointestinal disorders:

Colonic pseudo-obstruction

Constipation

Dry mouth

Nausea

Salivary gland pain

Vomiting

rare

common

very common

common

common

common

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Alopecia

Pruritus

Rash

Urticaria

rare

uncommon

uncommon

uncommon

Reproductive system and breast disorders:

Erectile dysfunction

common

General disorders and administration site conditions:

Fatigue

Malaise

common

uncommon

Investigations:

Blood glucose increased

rare

There are occasional reports of fluid retention during initial stages of oral treatment. This is usually transitory and can be corrected by the addition of a diuretic.

Occasional reports of abnormal liver function tests and two cases of hepatitis have also been reported.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Symptoms:

Manifestations of intoxication are due to a generalised sympathetic depression and include pupillary constriction, lethargy, bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, somnolence including coma and respiratory depression including apnoea. Paradoxical hypertension caused by stimulation of peripheral alpha1-receptors may occur. Transient hypertension may be seen if the total dose is over 10 mg.

Treatment:

There is no specific antidote for clonidine overdose. Administration of activated charcoal should be performed where appropriate.

Supportive care may include atropine sulfate for symptomatic bradycardia, and intravenous fluids and/or inotropic sympathomimetic agents for hypotension. Severe persistent hypertension may require correction with alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drugs.

Naloxone may be a useful adjunct for the management of clonidine-induced respiratory depression.