CLONIDINE (Topical)
Drug Treatments for Facial Neuralgias

| Description | Links | Patient Experiences | References | Disclaimer |

DESCRIPTION
Trade Names:  Catapres, Dixarit

Conditions Treated:  Oral Neuropathic/Neuralgia pain, Anesthesia Dolorosa

Clonidine is most commonly used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.  It is available in tablet and trandsdermal patch.

Clonidine in cream form (0.2 mg/g)   has been used in pilot studies  to treat orofacial pain and to treat Anesthesia Dolorosa. 

A 1997 pilot study  on 17 patients with oral neuropathic (pain due to nerve damage) reported that clonidine may be effective in the management of some patients with oral neurlgia-like pain.

Dr. Steven Graff-Radford, director of the Head and Neck Section of Cedars Sinai Medical Center's Pain Center in Los Angeles uses topical clonidine to treat some cases of anesthesia dolorosa.

LINKS

  MedlinePlus Drug Information- Clonidine (Systemic)

PATIENT EXPERIENCES
None at present.

REFERENCES

1. Epstein JB, et al. "Topical clonidine for orofacial pain: a pilot study. " J Orofac Pain. 1997 Fall;11(4):346-52. PMID: 9656911; UI: 98321067.
2. Weigel, George, Trials and Treatments of Anesthesia Dolorosa, TN Alert, Winter 1996/1997