- Pharmacokinetics: Rapid absorption, onset action within 1 hour, peak effects 2 to 4 hours
- Generally well tolerated
- Widespread usage/acceptability
- Short half-life (clonidine) creates potential for middle-of-the-night dosing
| - Little empirical evidence for efficacy, tolerability
- Effects on sleep architecture: Increased SWS, reduced REM
- May cause mid-sleep wakening
- Side effects:
- Hypotension
- Anticholinergic
- Irritability, dysphoria
- Rebound hypertension on discontinuation
- Exacerbation
- Parasomnias
- Tolerance often develops
- Narrow therapeutic index; risk of overdose
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