Early clinical experience with clonidine in spinal spasticity

Paraplegia
F M Maynard

Abstract

The centrally active, alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine was given to 12 spinal cord injury patients with problematic spasticity not adequately controlled by recognized spasmolytic drug therapy. Five patients had an excellent reduction and 2 patients had some reduction in clinical spasticity (average dose 0.39 mg daily). Four of the 7 responders discontinued clonidine because of adverse reactions after an average of ten weeks of therapy. Three responders have continued to tolerate the drug well with excellent control of spasticity for 18 to 34 months. Five patients had no change in clinical spasticity (average dose of 0.24 mg daily). Three of the non-responders discontinued clonidine because of adverse reactions after an average of three weeks of therapy. Significant associated adverse reactions included syncopal seizures (3), cerebrovascular accident (1), deep vein thrombosis (1), autonomic hyperreflexia (3), lethargy/drowsiness (3), and nausea/vomiting (1). Possible mechanisms of action for clonidine to affect spasticity and the unstable cardiovascular system of quadriplegics is discussed. While spinal cord injured patients with severe spasticity may benefit from clonidine, great caution is recommended during its u...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1977·Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics·J L ReidE Neill
Jan 1, 1980·Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology·W A Pettinger
Jan 1, 1980·Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology·B N Garrett, N M Kaplan
Jun 19, 1980·The New England Journal of Medicine·B B Hoffman, R J Lefkowitz
Jan 8, 1981·The New England Journal of Medicine·R R Young, P J Delwaide
Mar 1, 1981·Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology·G D Tollefson
Jan 25, 1980·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·M S GoldH D Kleber

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 1, 1995·Journal of Neurology·O A Khan, M J Olek
Jul 3, 1989·Brain Research·C GaleanoB Jubelin
Aug 1, 1989·Paraplegia·H KinoshitaH Hirakawa
Feb 1, 1992·Paraplegia·D J Brown
Apr 28, 2000·Sports Medicine·K L DecD B McKeag
Sep 28, 2004·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·Ross ZafonteElie Elovic
Oct 1, 1996·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·S R Hinderer, S Gupta
Feb 20, 1999·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·H BarbeauA Leroux
Oct 1, 1993·The Journal of the American Paraplegia Society·S Rossignol, H Barbeau
Jul 1, 1994·The Journal of the American Paraplegia Society·P W Nance
Dec 1, 1991·The Journal of Urology·C S Trop, C J Bennett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.