Author: Julian Orenstein, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Severe clonidine ingestion can present as a fluctuating mental status between typically accompanied by changes in vital signs (hypotension/bradycardia)
• Respiratory depression requiring intubation is not uncommon

References

Isbister GK, Heppell SP, Page CB, Ryan NM. Adult clonidine overdose: prolonged bradycardia and central nervous system depression, but not severe toxicity. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2017 Mar;55(3):187-192. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2016.1277234. Epub 2017 Jan 20. PubMed PMID: 28107093.

Spiller HA, Klein-Schwartz W, Colvin JM, Villalobos D, Johnson PB, Anderson DL. Toxic clonidine ingestion in children. J Pediatr. 2005 Feb;146(2):263-6. PubMed PMID: 15689921.

Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD