Teva Clonidine 25mcg

Teva Clonidine general information

What is Teva Clonidine used for?

Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg are used to treat several conditions in which small peripheral blood vessels are over-responsive to stimulation by chemicals that make them widen (vasodilation) or contract (vasoconstriction).  These conditions include migraine headache, recurrent vascular headache and menopausal flushing.  Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg are used to prevent changes in blood vessels in the brain associated with migraine and other vascular headaches, which helps prevent a migraine attack.  They are also used to manage changes in small blood vessels in the skin which cause hot flushes, which helps relieve this common symptom associated with menopause. 

How does Teva Clonidine work?

Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg contain clonidine, a centrally-acting alpha-agonist (acts on the central nervous system) that stimulates alpha adrenergic receptors in the brain.  This causes a negative feedback loop in the brain and inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline (chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate).  This central inhibition of noradrenergic neurotransmission (release of noradrenaline) reduces responsiveness of peripheral blood vessels in the brain to adrenergic stimuli (such as adrenaline and noradrenaline) which cause the blood vessels to widen (vasodilation) or contract (vasoconstriction).  Clonidine in Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg reduces responsiveness of small peripheral blood vessels which can cause headaches and thereby prevents migraine attack as well as other vascular headaches.  Clonidine in Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg also relieves menopausal flushing and it is thought to act by preventing vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels in the skin by the same mechanism, preventing increase blood flow to the skin due to dilated peripheral blood vessels, relieving hot flushes associated with loss of oestrogen during menopause. 

What does Teva Clonidine contain?

Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg contain the active ingredient clonidine hydrochloride, a centrally-acting alpha-agonist that is used to treat vascular headaches like migraine and menopausal hot flushes. 

What are the inactive ingredients in Teva Clonidine?

Teva Clonidine also contains the following inactive ingredients: Lactose monohydrate, Magnesium stearate, Maize starch, Microcrystalline cellulose, Pregelatinised maize starch, Purified talc and Sodium starch glycolate.

Treating migraine headache with Teva Clonidine

Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg contain clonidine, a centrally-acting alpha-agonist that interacts directly with alpha adrenergic receptors in the brain, which inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline (chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate).  Migraine headaches are thought to happen when blood vessels in the brain contract and expand inappropriately.  Stimulation of alpha adrenergic receptors by clonidine in Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg reduces the responsiveness of small blood vessels in the brain to adrenergic stimuli (such as noradrenaline) which causes blood vessels to widen (vasodilation) or contract (vasoconstriction).  Teva Clonidine 25mcg is used to prevent changes in blood vessels in the brain associated with migraine and other vascular headaches, which helps prevent a migraine attack.

Teva Clonidine for relieving menopausal hot flushes

Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg contain clonidine, a centrally-acting alpha-agonist that interacts directly with alpha adrenergic receptors in the brain, which inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter (chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate).  During menopause levels of oestrogen fall and this causes a variety of hormonal-related menopausal symptoms, including disruption in regulation of body temperature leading to hot flashes, when peripheral blood vessels in the skin become dilated increasing blood flow to the skin.  Stimulation of alpha adrenergic receptors by clonidine in Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg reduces the responsiveness of small blood vessels and helps prevent changes in small blood vessels in the skin, relieving symptoms of hot flushes.

What are the side effects of Teva Clonidine?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Teva Clonidine include sleep disturbances, depression, dizziness, sedation, fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, orthostatic hypotension, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, salivary gland pain, vomiting, sexual problems.

When should Teva Clonidine not be used?

You should not use Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg if you:

• are allergic to clonidine or any ingredients in Teva Clonidine
• are pregnant (without discussion with your doctor) or are breastfeeding
• have very slow, severe bradyarrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
• have kidney disease
• are taking medicines that interact with Teva Clonidine, including beta-receptor blockers, digoxin, phentolamine for hypertensive emergencies; tolazoline used to treat spasms of peripheral blood vessels; alcohol, tricyclic anti-depressants, diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists, ACE-inhibitors.

What medications interact with Teva Clonidine?

Several medications interact with Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg and should either not be taken while you are taking Teva Clonidine or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Teva Clonidine: beta-receptor blockers, digoxin
• Drugs that affect Teva Clonidine: phentolamine for hypertensive emergencies; tolazoline used to treat spasms of peripheral blood vessels; alcohol, tricyclic anti-depressants
• Drugs that are affected by Teva Clonidine: diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists, ACE-inhibitors

How should Teva Clonidine be taken?

You should take your Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg with a glass of water with or without food, twice daily.  The dose you take depends on your condition and your doctor’s recommendations.  If required, your doctor may increase your dose.  It may take 2-4 weeks until Teva Clonidine is fully effective, and you should continue to take your Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg daily for as long as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Teva Clonidine?

It may take 2-4 weeks until Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg are fully effective and you should continue to take your Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg daily for as long as recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Teva Clonidine

If you miss a dose of Teva Clonidine tablets 25mcg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Teva Clonidine be stored?

You should store your Teva Clonidine below 25°C in a cool dry place, well out of reach of children.