Question

A prescriber has ordered clonidine [Catapres] for a patient who has hypertension. The nurse teaches the patient about the side effects of this drug. Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Answer 1

Answer:

"I should chew sugar-free gum or drink water to reduce dry mouth."

Explanation:

Clonidine is an agonist at the alpha-2 receptors ( adrenergic receptors ).

There is an area in the central nervous system (lateral hypothalamus) responsible for the secretion of saliva ,as the clonidine acts on the central alpha-2 receptors ,it causes inhibition of the secretion of the saliva resulting in dry mouth.

As the alpha-2 receptors are inhibitory receptors (Gi-coupled ) clonidine results in decreased sympathetic autonomic nervous system outflow by activating alpha-2 receptors in the CNS.