MEDizzy - A 57-year-old homeless alcoholic man was brought to the

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Adrenergic drugs

A 57-year-old homeless alcoholic man was brought to the hospital by the police, who had found him lying on a side walk. Physical examination showed clear signs of alcohol withdrawal. Therapy was started that included clonidine. Which of the following best explains the most likely mechanism of action of clonidine in this patient?

Explanationa Clonidine is often used to decrease the symptom s of sympathetic activation, w hich are prominent during withdrawal from m any sedative drugs, including alcohol and opioids. Many of those symptom s are due to an increased ring from the locus ceruleus, a brain nucleus with a very high concentration of α receptors. By activating α2 presynaptic receptors, clonidine decreases the central sympathetic out ow, antagonizing the increased ring of the locus ceruleus.