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clonidine vs nebivolol

Side-by-side comparison of clonidine and nebivolol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP2D6 enzyme inhibitors may increase nebivolol levels ( 7.1 ) Reserpine or clonidine may produce excessive reduction of sympathetic activity. In patients who are receiving nebivolol and clonidine, discontinue nebivolol tablets for several days before the gradual tapering of clonidine.

Recommendation: If you need to stop these medicines, your doctor should have you stop nebivolol several days before slowly lowering your clonidine dose.

Drug Class
clonidine Central Alpha-2 Agonist
nebivolol Beta-1 Selective Blocker
Type
clonidine Prescription
nebivolol Prescription
Summary
clonidine

Clonidine (Catapres) is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.

nebivolol

Nebivolol is a medicine that lowers high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps prevent strokes and heart attacks.

What It Treats
clonidine

Clonidine is used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. This medicine helps to lower your blood pressure to a safer level.

nebivolol

Nebivolol treats high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Nebivolol can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.

How It Works
clonidine

Clonidine works in the brain to lower blood pressure. It tells your blood vessels to relax and widen. This makes it easier for blood to flow through your body, which lowers blood pressure.

nebivolol

Nebivolol is a beta-blocker that mainly affects the heart. It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing down your heart rate. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood and lowers blood pressure.

Common Side Effects
clonidine
  • Dry mouth (occurs in about 40 out of 100 people)
  • Drowsiness (occurs in about 33 out of 100 people)
  • Dizziness (occurs in about 16 out of 100 people)
  • Constipation (occurs in about 10 out of 100 people)
  • Feeling sleepy or sedated (occurs in about 10 out of 100 people)
nebivolol
  • Headache
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
clonidine
  • Pain 3,038
  • Tiredness 2,922
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,918
  • Headache 2,799
  • High blood pressure 2,597
nebivolol
  • Sudden kidney damage 922
  • Difficulty breathing 773
  • Diarrhea 724
  • Interaction with another medicine 616
  • Low blood pressure 610
Serious Warnings
clonidine

If you suddenly stop taking clonidine, your blood pressure may increase. This can cause serious problems. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medicine.

nebivolol

Do not stop taking nebivolol suddenly if you have heart disease. This can make chest pain worse or cause a heart attack. Talk to your doctor before stopping nebivolol. They will likely lower your dose slowly over 1 to 2 weeks.

Pregnancy
clonidine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if clonidine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

nebivolol

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Nebivolol may cause problems for the baby, such as low blood pressure or slow heart rate. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking nebivolol.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clonidine vs nebivolol Comparison

clonidine is classified in the Central Alpha-2 Agonist drug class, while nebivolol sits within the Beta-1 Selective Blocker class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, clonidine has 14,274 submissions while nebivolol has 3,645. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs work to slow down the body's nervous system activity. taking them together can cause an safely large drop in this activity.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between clonidine and nebivolol - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.