Table 2 Dosage plan for clonidine

Day 1 Loading doses

Systolic BP^a must be > 120 mmHg at inclusion (i.e. before the first loading dose). For any of the subsequent loading doses: If systolic BP is < 100 mmHg, HR^b < 50 beats/min, or if RASS^c is − 3 or less no more study medication will be given until the planned maintenance dose the next morning. If RASS is − 2, the treating physician has to assess if study medication will be given or not

75 μg every 3rd hour until maximum 4 doses, (e.g.: at 2, 5, 8 and 11 pm)

Day 2–7 Maintenance doses

If systolic BP is < 100 mmHg, HR < 50 beats/min, or if RASS is − 3 or less just before a planned dose, no study medication will be given until the next planned dose 12 h later. If RASS is − 2, the treating physician has to assess if study medication will be given or not

75 μg BID^d, at 8–9 am and 8–9 pm