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. 2020 May 1;29(2):110–120.

Table 2.

Comparison of Findings Across Case Studies Examining Use of Clonidine in ASD.

Study # Patients Age range (years) Sex Clonidine Preparation Dose range Treatment duration Notable outcomes with clonidine use
Blew, Luiselli, & Thibadeau, 1999 1 9 female tablet 0.3–0.4mg daily 3.5 years

  • SIB frequency <10/day (untreated baseline average: 75/ day)
Cocchi, 1996 1 3 female tablet 0.05–0.1mg daily 3 months

  • Decreased stereotypies

  • Decreased aggression to others

  • Concurrent increase in diazepam may confound observations
Dillon, 1990 1 7.5 female transdermal patch 0.5mg weekly 18 months

  • SIB “disappeared”

  • “Marked reduction” in hyperactivity

  • Clonidine withdrawal precipitated SIB onset, resolved by restart of clonidine
Dowben, Grant, & Keltner, 2011 3 18–30 2 males 1 female tablet 0.05–0.15mg daily unclear

  • “Mild” to “marked” improvements in rigidity, reactivity, and social behaviours
Ghaziuddin, Tsai, & Ghaziuddin, 1992 7 5–13 5 males 2 females tablet 0.05–0.25mg day 3 months

  • Improved “social relatedness”

  • Increased irritability in 1 patient
Koshes & Rock, 1994 1 21 female tablet followed by transdermal patch 0.4–0.6mg daily 4 weeks

  • “More verbal and alert”, “cooperative, friendly”

  • “Generally without aggressive behaviour”

  • Able to stop more sedating medication
McCracken & Martin, 1997 1 8 male tablet 0.2mg daily unclear

  • Short-term improvement in SIB followed by acute increase of SIB, new onset depression

  • SIB and depression resolved with clonidine discontinuation
Ming et al., 2008 19 4–16 14 males 5 females tablet 0.05–0.1mg day 6–24 months

  • Aggression: partial to full resolution in 10/17

  • ADHD symptoms: partial to full resolution in 13/17

  • Sleep problems: partial to full resolution in 17/17

SIB: Self-injurious Behaviours