Moxonidine
Description
Moxonidine is a medicine used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It lowers your blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels and decreasing your heart rate (the number of times the heart beats per minute).
Moxonidine may cause common side effects such as dizziness, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, dry mouth, constipation, etc. These side effects usually subside with time. However, consult your doctor if they persist or worsen.
Moxonidine is a prescription medicine and should be taken exactly as directed by your doctor. Take it at the same time every day to maintain a constant level of this medicine in your body. Avoid discontinuing the treatment without consulting your doctor, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms (agitation, restlessness, headache, etc).
Moxonidine should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have pre-existing heart or kidney problems before beginning treatment with this medicine. Also, inform your doctor about your current medications to avoid undesired effects.
Moxonidine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medication.
QUICK LINKS:
Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Moxonidine
- Sleep disturbances
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Rash
- Back pain
- Slow heart rate
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Dry mouth
Uses of Moxonidine
What is it prescribed for?
- Hypertension
Read More
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken by Moxonidine to show its effect is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Moxonidine remains active in your body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Avoid consumption of alcohol while on treatment with Moxonidine as it may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate. Also, avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience such symptoms.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies have been reported with Moxonidine.
- Usage in pregnancy?Moxonidine is not recommended during pregnancy unless necessary. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Moxonidine passes into the breastmilk. Hence this medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Moxonidine if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Heart diseases
Moxonidine is not recommended if you have heart conditions such as bradyarrhythmia (a slow heart rate with irregular heart rhythm), sick-sinus syndrome (a heart rhythm disorder), or heart block greater than first degree (a condition where the heartbeats are slow or abnormal due to problem with the electrical impulses that control heart beats) as it may further worsen your condition.
Malignant arrhythmias
Moxonidine is not recommended for use if you are diagnosed with malignant arrhythmias (a life-threatening condition with abnormal heart rhythms) as it increases the risk of serious side effects.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Moxonidine is not recommended during pregnancy unless necessary. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Moxonidine passes into the breastmilk. Hence this medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Other medicines
Moxonidine may interact with other medicines and cause undesired effects. Inform your doctor about your current medicines, including any herbs or supplements, before starting the treatment with this medicine.
Driving vehicles or operating machines
Moxonidine may cause sleepiness and dizziness. Hence avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy after taking this medicine.
Use in children
Moxonidine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age due to a lack of safety and efficacy studies.
Cardiac insufficiency
Cardiac insufficiency is when the heart muscles do not work efficiently in pumping blood throughout the body. Moxonidine should be used with extreme caution in case of cardiac insufficiency, as it may increase the risk of serious side effects. Your doctor may suggest regular clinical evaluation of heart function and vital signs. Also, your doctor may recommend appropriate dose adjustments or replacements with a suitable alternative, if necessary, based on your clinical condition.
Drug Withdrawal
Avoid sudden discontinuation of treatment with Moxonidine without consulting your doctor as it may cause withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, restlessness, rapid rise in blood pressure, nervousness, headache, nausea, etc. Your doctor will reduce the dose of this medicine slowly over a period to prevent any undesired effects.
Missed Dose
Try not to skip a dose of Moxonidine. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Do not double the dose to compensate for a missed one.
Overdose
Do not take more than the prescribed dose. Contact your doctor if you suspect an overdose with Moxonidine.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Avoid consumption of alcohol while on treatment with Moxonidine as it may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate. Also, avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience such symptoms.
Interaction with Medicine
Olanzapine
Tolazoline
Telmisartan
Disease interactions
Kidney Disease
Moxonidine is eliminated by kidneys and should be used with caution if you have pre-existing kidney problems due to the increased risk of side effects resulting from the accumulation of this medicine in your body. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney function and recommend dose adjustments, if necessary, based on your clinical condition.
Hypotension
Moxonidine may increase your risk of hypotension (low blood pressure). Inform your doctor if you experience any signs and symptoms of hypotension such as lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, confusion, fainting, etc. Monitor your blood pressure regularly while you are taking this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Moxonidine with or without food. Do not take more or less than the prescribed dose. Do not chew, crush, or break the tablet.
Do not discontinue Moxonidine without consulting your doctor, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms (agitation, restlessness, etc).
Moxonidine may cause dryness in your mouth. Take some sweets, mints, or chewing gum to help reduce the discomfort.
Avoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Moxonidine as it may affect your blood pressure.
Do not drive vehicles or operate machines if you experience any symptoms that may affect your alertness after taking Moxonidine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Moxonidine works by relaxing the blood vessels and decreasing the heart rate, thus improving blood flow throughout the body.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Anti-hypertensive agents, Antiadrenergic agents, centrally acting
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2022. Moxonidine 200 microgram film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. Moxonidine. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].
Ebs.tga.gov.au. 2022. TGA eBS - Product and Consumer Medicine Information Licence. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 14 Jul 2022
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.