Arkamin

Arkamin (Clonidine) is a medicine used in the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). It lowers the blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels. Lowering the blood pressure helps to prevent future stroke and heart attack. Arkamin (Clonidine) is also used to prevent migraine and hot flushes in women during menopause.

The initial dose of Arkamin (Clonidine) is usually 100mcg (0.1mg) taken 2 times a day (morning and bedtime). Your doctor may adjust the dosage to get the best therapeutic effect. Maintenence dosage varies from 200mcg (0.2mg) to 600mcg (0.6mg) daily. The maximum recommended dose is 2.4mg (2400mcg) daily.

Arkamin (Clonidine) can be taken with or without food but it is better to take it at the same time every day. Swallow each tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush or break it. You should always take Arkamin (Clonidine) as advised by the doctor and should never stop it without consulting the doctor. Regular blood pressure tests should be taken while taking this medicine.

Taking Arkamin (Clonidine) can result in unwanted side effects. These can include the following.

Very common (>10% frequency):

• Dizziness
• Orthostatic hypotension
• Somnolence (dose-dependent)
• Dry mouth
• Headache (dose-dependent)
• Fatigue
• Skin reactions (if given transdermally)
• Hypotension

Common (1-10% frequency):

• Anxiety
• Constipation
• Sedation (dose-dependent)
• Nausea/vomiting
• Malaise
• Abnormal LFTs
• Rash
• Weight gain/loss
• Pain below the ear (from salivary gland)
• Erectile dysfunction

Uncommon (0.1-1% frequency):

• Delusional perception
• Hallucination
• Nightmare
• Paresthesia
• Sinus bradycardia
• Raynaud`s phenomenon
• Pruritus
• Urticaria

Rare (<0.1% frequency):

• Gynaecomastia
• Impaired ability to cry
• Atrioventricular block
• Nasal dryness
• Colonic pseudo-obstruction
• Alopecia

Before you being taking Arkamin (Clonidine), tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease or severe coronary artery disease
• heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats
• low blood pressure, or a history of fainting spells
• a history of heart attack or stroke
• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland)
• kidney disease
• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Clonidine

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Arkamin (Clonidine).

Arkamin (Clonidine) can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase certain side effects of Arkamin (Clonidine).

Arkamin (Clonidine) may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.