iewpoints Transdermal Clonidine Treatment for Mild Hypertension Effective but expensive

Clonidine in the transdermal formulation is available in patches to provide 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 mg/day for 1 week. Therapeutic plasma concentrations are reached 48-72 hours after application and, in 1 multicentre study, 60% of 85 mildly to moderately hypertensive patients achieved BP in the normal range for up to 3 months with its use. Adverse effects, although the same as those occurring with oral clonidine, are less severe and less frequent, and severe rebound hypertension on withdrawal has not yet been reported. However, the patch is comparatively expensive and local skin reactions occur frequently with its use. Medical Letter 27: 95·96 (25 Oct 1985)

2 INPHARMA® 23 Nov 1985 0156-2703/85/1005-0002/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press