AANA journal course. 13. New technologies in anesthesia: update for nurse anesthetists--clonidine: an established drug with futuristic indications.

Clonidine, an alpha-2 agonist, has traditionally been used to treat hypertension. Recently, it has been found to be a potent analgesic when administered either orally, transdermally or parenterally. This antinociceptive action is mediated at the spinal cord level through presynaptic inhibition of norepinephrine. Clonidine is also a valuable adjunct to anesthesia in a variety of clinical scenarios. In this lesson, the potential uses of clonidine will be elucidated, along with an explanation of its pharmacological and physiological mechanisms of action. Clonidine will be explored as an alternative avenue for providing hemodynamic stability and analgesia without the undersirable side effects often encountered with opioids.