List the potential clinical uses of an alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonist. Outline the limitations of clonidine for each use.
Producing a list that included the following was required:
To treat hypertension and substance withdrawal.
To provide anxiolysis, sedation, analgesia, and sympatholysis.
A brief discussion of the abilities of clonidine in each of these areas would have rounded off
a good answer.
Many candidates listed only a couple of uses of these agents, and then followed this with a
comparison of clonidine and dexmedetomidine. Most answers did not include sufficient
information to achieve a pass mark.