Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
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Medication

Clonidine

Central alpha-2 agonist (antihypertensive)

Brand names: Catapres

Oral health effects

  • Pronounced xerostomia

    Dry mouth is a common and often significant side effect.

    Mechanism: Central sympatholytic action reduces salivary secretion.

    Clinical management: Aggressive caries prevention, salivary substitutes, frequent recall.

Sources

  1. A Guide to Medications Inducing Salivary Gland Dysfunction, Xerostomia, and Subjective Sialorrhea: A Systematic Review Sponsored by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI. Wolff A, Joshi RK, Ekström J, et al. Drugs in R&D, 2017.