Limited evidence suggests that clonidine may oppose effects oflevodopa. Be aware that,as with all antihypertensives, additivehypotensive effects may occur.
5mg daily for 10 to 24 days) caused a worsening of parkinsonism (an exacerbation of rigidity and akinesia). The concurrent use of antimuscarinic drugs reduced effects of this interaction (See reference number 1)
Another report on 10 hypertensive and 3 normotensive patients with Parkinson’s disease, 9 of them taking levodopa and 4 of them not, claimed that concurrent treatment with clonidine did not affect control of parkinsonism. However, 2 patients stopped taking clonidine because of an increase in tremor and gait disturbance (See reference number 2).
A suggestion is that clonidine opposes antiparkinson effects by stimulating alpha-receptors in brain
Be alert for a reduction in control of Parkinson’s disease during concurrent use
ing used (See reference number 1). Also note,that as with all antihypertensives, additive hypotensive effects may occur.
Shoulson I,Chase TN. Clonidine and the anti-parkinsonian response to L-dopa or piribedil.Neuropharmacology (1976) 15, 25–7.
Tarsy D,Parkes JD, Marsden CD. Clonidine in Parkinson disease. Arch Neurol (1975) 32, 134–6.