Clonidine 100 mcg: uses, price & cheaper substitutes
Prescription required (Schedule H)
Common uses: High blood pressure, usually added when other BP tablets are not enough; Severe or hard-to-control hypertension, including hypertensive emergencies under medical supervision.
Listed MRPs range from ₹1.00 to ₹3.31 per tablet across 4 listings. Use only on a doctor's prescription.
Price comparison
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | MRP | ₹ / tablet | As on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clonidine Tablets IP 100 mcgJan Aushadhi | Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) | 10 | ₹10.32 | ₹1.03 | 19 October 2026 |
| Clozipres | Zeelab Pharmacy Pvt Ltd | 30 | ₹30.00 | ₹1.00 | 19 October 2026 |
| Arkapres 100 | Biokindle Lifesciences Pvt Ltd | 10 | ₹14.15 | ₹1.42 | 19 October 2026 |
| Arkamin | Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 30 | ₹99.28 | ₹3.31 | 19 October 2026 |
MRPs as printed/listed on the date shown; actual price may vary.
Uses
- High blood pressure, usually added when other BP tablets are not enough.
- Severe or hard-to-control hypertension, including hypertensive emergencies under medical supervision.
- Hot flushes of menopause when hormones cannot be used.
- Easing withdrawal symptoms from opioids or alcohol, under a doctor's care.
- ADHD in children (extended-release forms, specialist use).
How to take it
Take it exactly as prescribed, usually twice a day with doses spaced evenly, with or without food, at about the same times each day. Swallow with water. Your doctor will start with a low dose (100 mcg is the usual starting tablet) and raise it slowly. Clonidine can make you drowsy or dizzy, so see how it affects you before driving. Never stop it suddenly – stopping abruptly can cause a dangerous rebound rise in blood pressure with a fast heartbeat, headache, anxiety and shaking. Your doctor will reduce the dose gradually over several days. Keep your blood pressure checked regularly and drink enough fluids in hot weather, as dehydration increases dizziness.
Side effects
Common
- Dry mouth.
- Drowsiness, tiredness or weakness.
- Dizziness or light-headedness, especially on standing.
- Constipation.
- Headache.
Serious
Stop and get medical help urgently if you notice any of these.
- Fainting or a very slow heartbeat.
- Rebound high blood pressure if doses are missed or stopped suddenly – severe headache, pounding heart, agitation.
- Serious allergic reaction – rash, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing.
- Fast or irregular heartbeat.
Safety information
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol. It worsens the drowsiness and dizziness caused by clonidine.
Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding. Clonidine crosses the placenta and passes into breast milk; it is used in pregnancy only when a doctor judges it necessary.
Kidney problems
Tell your doctor about kidney disease; a lower dose and closer monitoring may be needed.
Liver problems
No specific dose change, but tell your doctor about liver problems.
Children
Only under a specialist, for ADHD or specific conditions; the pulse should be checked regularly. Keep tablets out of reach – even a single tablet can be dangerous to a small child.
Missed dose
Take it as soon as you remember unless the next dose is nearly due – then skip it. Never double up. Missing several doses can cause rebound high blood pressure, so do not run out of tablets.
Interactions
- Beta blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol) – the rebound rise in BP on stopping clonidine is worse; your doctor will manage the order of stopping.
- Other blood pressure tablets and diuretics – blood pressure may drop too far.
- Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine) – reduce clonidine's effect.
- Sleeping pills, alprazolam, opioid painkillers and sedating antihistamines – added drowsiness.
- Digoxin, verapamil, diltiazem – heart rate may slow too much.
Frequently asked questions
What is Arkamin tablet used for?
Arkamin contains clonidine 100 mcg. It lowers high blood pressure by calming the nerve signals that tighten blood vessels, and is usually added when other BP medicines are not enough. Doctors also use it for menopausal hot flushes and to ease opioid or alcohol withdrawal.
Why must I never stop Arkamin suddenly?
Stopping clonidine abruptly can cause rebound hypertension – a sharp, dangerous rise in blood pressure with a pounding heart, headache and anxiety within a day or two. Always taper the dose with your doctor and never let your tablets run out.
Can I take Arkamin with alcohol?
Avoid it. Alcohol makes the drowsiness and dizziness of clonidine much worse and can cause fainting.
Does Arkamin make you sleepy?
Yes, drowsiness and dry mouth are the most common side effects, especially at the start. Avoid driving until you know how it affects you; the sedation often eases over a few weeks.
Arkamin 100 vs Arkamin 300 – what is the difference?
Only the strength (100 mcg vs 300 mcg of clonidine). Treatment starts with 100 mcg and the dose is increased slowly if needed. Do not change strength on your own.
Is Arkamin used for anxiety or de-addiction?
Clonidine is used under supervision to ease withdrawal symptoms from opioids, alcohol and nicotine, and sometimes for anxiety-related conditions. These are specialist uses with careful dosing, not for self-medication.
Can Arkamin be taken with metoprolol or atenolol?
They can be combined by a doctor, but stopping them must be done in the right order – the beta blocker is usually withdrawn first – because stopping clonidine while on a beta blocker can cause a severe rebound rise in BP.
Is Arkamin safe in pregnancy?
Clonidine is used in pregnancy only when a doctor judges the benefit outweighs the risk; other BP medicines such as labetalol are usually preferred. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be.
Sources
- MedlinePlus – Clonidine (19 October 2026)
- NPPA Pharma Sahi Daam (ceiling prices) (19 October 2026)
- PMBI Jan Aushadhi Product & MRP List (19 October 2026)
Medyzen Editorial Team · Last updated
This page is general information, not medical advice. Do not start, stop or change a medicine without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Terms