Clonidine
Clonidine is a type of drug called an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist or antihypertensive. It is sold under various brand names including Catapres, Dixarit, Jenloga and Kapvay.
Clonidine is used to treat a range of conditions including high blood pressure, dysmenorrhea, hypertensive crisis, Tourette's syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, menopausal hot flashes, and alcohol and opiate withdrawal.
Clonidine works by decreasing your heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body.
Clonidine has been shown to be effective in reducing impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity associated with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. Because of this some researchers believe it can also be used to treat hyperarousal behaviours associated with autism.
Related Glossaries
Related Publications
There are 19 publications matching this term. Click Here to view the list (New Window).
About This Glossary
This glossary is designed to explain some of the jargon and gobbledygook used by some people when they talk about autism or research..
You may be able to find more information, including links to other parts of this website, by clicking on the title of an item.
If you know of any other items we should include in this section, please email info@informationautism.org.
Please note that we reserve the right not to include an item if we feel that it is not appropriate.
Disclaimer
The fact that an intervention is listed in this glossary does not necessarily mean that we agree with its use. Nor does it necessarily mean that there is any scientifically valid or reliable evidence behind it.