Sa. Yablon et Ml. Sipski, EFFECT OF TRANSDERMAL CLONIDINE ON SPINAL SPASTICITY - A CASE SERIES, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 72(3), 1993, pp. 154-157
Clonidine, a centrally acting alpha2 receptor adrenergic agonist, has
been successfully used as adjunctive therapy in patients with spinal c
ord injury with problematic spasticity not adequately controlled by re
cognized spasmolytic agents. A transdermal system providing approximat
ely constant and continuous systemic delivery of clonidine has been re
cently introduced to enhance patient compliance. However, experience w
ith transdermal clonidine in the management of spasticity is limited.
Three cases are presented of patients with spasticity as the result of
cervical spinal cord injury, inadequately managed by oral baclofen, i
n whom transdermal clonidine was administered. Significant improvement
in spastic hypertonia was observed in all three cases. Transdermally
delivered clonidine was well tolerated, with reported side effects lim
ited to dryness of the mouth.