Clonidine: Blood Pressure Medicine is a Dangerous New Target for Drug Abuse

Clonidine is a blood pressure medicine that was found to help with the symptoms of withdrawal in patients with drug and alcohol addiction. Because it can prolong the effects of expensive drugs that are abused, it is now a dangerous new target for drug abuse. In high doses, it can give a user a "high."

Clonidine can cause dangerously low blood pressure, especially in high doses. Abrupt discontinuation of clonidine can cause withdrawal symptoms of its own, including rebound high blood pressure, stroke, and death.

Learn more about why this blood pressure medicine is now a new target for drug abuse.