NEXICLON™ XR (clonidine) Extended-Release Tablets are available for oral administration in 0.17 mg tablets, which is equivalent to 0.2 mg of immediate-release clonidine hydrochloride. Tablets are scored and may be split for more precise dose titration.
Dosing Guidelines1
Initial Dose
0.17 mg once daily
Elderly patients may benefit from a lower initial dose.
Initial dose is recommended to be administered at bedtime.
Maintenance Dose
Further increments of 0.09 mg once daily may be made at weekly intervals if necessary until the desired response is achieved. The therapeutic doses most commonly employed have ranged from 0.17 to 0.52 mg once daily.
Doses higher than 0.52 were not evaluated and are not recommended.
NEXICLON XR is supplied as clonidine base and contains the same active moiety (clonidine) that is found in clonidine hydrochloride immediate-release tablets. The recommended dose of NEXICLON XR for patients who are currently taking clonidine hydrochloride immediate-release tablets is provided in the table below. The dose of NEXICLON XR must be adjusted according to the patient’s individual blood pressure response. Dose adjustments may be made at weekly intervals until the desired response is achieved.
NEXICLON XR (clonidine) Extended-Release Tablets | Equivalent dose of Clonidine HCl Immediate-Release Tablets |
|
---|---|---|
Initial Dose | 0.17 mg once daily | 0.1 mg twice daily |
Maintenance Dose Titration Increments | 0.09 mg once daily | 0.05 mg twice daily |
Common Doses Used for Blood Pressure Effect | 0.17 mg once daily | 0.1 mg twice daily |
0.34 mg once daily | 0.2 mg twice daily | |
0.52 mg once daily | 0.3 mg twice daily |
Patient Counseling Information
Caution patients against interruption of NEXICLON XR therapy without your advice. When discontinuing therapy with NEXICLON XR, reduce the dose gradually over 2 to 4 days to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Advise patients who engage in potentially hazardous activities, such as operating machinery or driving, of a possible sedative effect of clonidine. The sedative effect may be increased by concomitant use of alcohol, barbiturates, or other sedating drugs.
References:
- NEXICLON XR [prescribing information]. Athens, GA: Athena Bioscience LLC; 2021.