Clinical Effects of Pediatric Clonidine Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Single Tertiary Care Center

Abstract Background Pediatric clonidine ingestions frequently result in emergency department visits and admission for cardiac monitoring. Detailed information on the clinical course and specifically time of vital sign abnormalities of these patients is lacking. Objective The objective of this study was to provide descriptive analysis of the rates and times to vital sign abnormalities, treatment, disposition, and outcomes in a single-center cohort of pediatric patients with report of clonidine poisoning. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients younger than 21 years who presented to a large, urban, tertiary care center with a report of single substance clonidine exposure between January 2004 and November 2017. Patients were dichotomized into younger (≤9 years or younger) and older (10–21 years) groups based on the expected physiologic and psychologic differences between older and younger children. Results Eighty-eight patients met our inclusion criteria. Younger patients (≤9 years or younger; n = 47) were more likely to be exposed to someone else's medication (53%) and older patients (10–21 years; n = 41) overwhelmingly (85%) were exposed to their own medication. Thirty-nine (45%) became bradycardic, 27 (32%) became bradypneic, and 38 (44%) became hypotensive. Eighty percent of patients had depressed mental status. Thirty-three (38%) patients received at least one dose of naloxone (median 0.07 mg/kg; interquartile range 0.03–0.11 mg/kg). Of those who received naloxone, 50% had a documented clinical response. Conclusions In this study of patients at a pediatric tertiary referral center, pediatric patients with report of clonidine exposures were likely to exhibit altered mental status and frequently develop vital sign abnormalities. Naloxone exhibited some effectiveness; given its wide safety margin, high-dose naloxone should be used in critically poisoned non–opioid-dependent patients. Because adolescents are much more likely to ingest their own clonidine medication, counseling with parents and other caregivers regarding safe medication storage is paramount.