FL
A 60-year-old male asked:
Does clonidine 0.1 mg., as a blood pressure prescription, have the effect of slightly slowing the heart beat/rate? is it a beta blocker?
3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Garneranswered
Cardiology 17 years experience
It's not: Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-2 stimulator (what we call an agonist). It works on the feedback loop for adrenaline responsive nerves, and rather effectively. ~4% of people will experience bradycardia with it.
4.7k viewsReviewed Jan 15, 2021
Dr. James Chapmananswered
Cardiology 42 years experience
Bradycardia: Yes, Clonidine can cause the heart rate to slow. It is an Alpha agonist, not a beta blocker.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jerome Zacksanswered
Cardiology 52 years experience
Yes...and No.: Clonidine's central nervous system effects reduce the release of stress substances thereby lowering BP and mildly slowing ones heart rate. There a re two potential mechanisms for these effects, one of which is alpha2 receptor stimulation. It is not a beta blocker.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 15, 2021
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