Editing Clonidine (section)

===Drug withdrawal===
Clonidine may be used to ease drug withdrawal symptoms associated with abruptly stopping the long-term use of [[opioids]], [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]], [[benzodiazepines]], and [[nicotine]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fitzgerald PJ | title = Elevated Norepinephrine may be a Unifying Etiological Factor in the Abuse of a Broad Range of Substances: Alcohol, Nicotine, Marijuana, Heroin, Cocaine, and Caffeine | journal = Substance Abuse | volume = 7 | pages = 171–183 | date = October 2013 | pmid = 24151426 | pmc = 3798293 | doi = 10.4137/SART.S13019 }}</ref> It can alleviate [[opioid withdrawal]] symptoms by reducing the [[sympathetic nervous system]] response such as [[tachycardia]] and [[hypertension]], [[hyperhidrosis]] (excessive sweating), hot and cold flashes, and [[akathisia]].<ref>{{ cite book | vauthors = Giannini AJ | title = Drugs of Abuse | edition = 2nd | location = Los Angeles | publisher = Practice Management Information | year = 1997 }}</ref> It may also be helpful in aiding smokers to quit.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gourlay SG, Stead LF, Benowitz NL | title = Clonidine for smoking cessation | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2008 | issue = 3 | pages = CD000058 | date = 2004 | pmid = 15266422 | pmc = 7038651 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD000058.pub2 }}</ref> The sedation effect can also be useful. Clonidine may also reduce severity of [[neonatal withdrawal|neonatal abstinence syndrome]] in infants born to mothers that are using certain drugs, particularly opioids.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Streetz VN, Gildon BL, Thompson DF | title = Role of Clonidine in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Systematic Review | journal = The Annals of Pharmacotherapy | volume = 50 | issue = 4 | pages = 301–310 | date = April 2016 | pmid = 26783353 | doi = 10.1177/1060028015626438 | s2cid = 40652097 }}</ref> In infants with neonatal withdrawal syndrome, clonidine may improve the [[neonatal intensive care unit]] Network Neurobehavioral Score.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Disher T, Gullickson C, Singh B, Cameron C, Boulos L, Beaubien L, Campbell-Yeo M | title = Pharmacological Treatments for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis | journal = JAMA Pediatrics | volume = 173 | issue = 3 | pages = 234–243 | date = March 2019 | pmid = 30667476 | pmc = 6439896 | doi = 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5044 }}</ref>

Clonidine has also been suggested as a treatment for rare instances of [[dexmedetomidine]] withdrawal.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=Kukoyi A, Coker S, Lewis L, Nierenberg D | title = Two cases of acute dexmedetomidine withdrawal syndrome following prolonged infusion in the intensive care unit: Report of cases and review of the literature | journal = Human & Experimental Toxicology |date=January 2013 | volume = 32 |issue = 1 | pages = 107–110 | doi = 10.1177/0960327112454896 | pmid = 23111887 | s2cid = 31570614 }}</ref>