Clonidine as a preoperative sedative

The purpose of this study was to ­examine the use of oral clonidine as a preoperative sedative prior to parenteral moderate sedation. Initially, four patients were given 0.2 mg oral clonidine but reduced to 0.1 mg clonidine due to ­significant drops in blood pressure. Oral clonidine doses of 0.1 mg were then given to 19 patients preoperatively. In all these patients, blood pressure measurements decreased, but there were no significant differences in amounts of sedative agents needed in the clonidine group and the control group (N = 80). The conclusions reached suggest that clonidine has an advantage over other preoperative sedation agents in anxious patients exhibiting hypertension and tachycardia. However, the preop ideal dose required to reduce the amount of sedative drugs used as well as provide anxiolysis remains unknown. In further studies, different doses should be explored to determine what dosage of clonidine may offer hemodynamic protection as well as decrease sedative drugs needed.