Drug Safety Alert 2026: IPC Warns of Potential Hyponatremia Risk With Clonidine
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), in its latest Drug Safety Alert, has flagged a potential safety signal indicating the antihypertensive drug; Clonidine may be associated with hyponatremia, a condition characterized by abnormally low level of sodium in the blood.
Clonidine is a α2 adrenergic agonist, primarily indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Clonidine acts by stimulating α2 adrenaline receptor in the brain and reduces sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system, thereby lowering blood pressure. In addition to hypertension, Clonidine is also used in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), management of opioid withdrawal symptoms; prevent migraine attacks in woman, during menopause etc.
The safety alert noted that, based on the analysis of ADR reports from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) database, Clonidine has been reported to be associated with hyponatremia. Hyponatremia occurs when the concentration of sodium in the blood falls below normal level, potentially leading to symptoms such as nausea, headache, confusion, fatigue, muscle weakness, seizures and in severe cases coma.
In light of the above findings, IPC has urged healthcare professional and patients to closely monitor for the suspected adverse reactions associated with Clonidine therapy.
Why should you not stop taking clonidine abruptly?
MBH/PS