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Clonidine is an alpha-adrenergic agonist capable of stimulating growth-hormone-releasing hormone, which in turn affects growth-hormone release. It may therefore be useful in the treatment of children with short stature.
Thirty-four pubertal children with chronic growth deficiency were given oral clonidine twice a day for up to twelve months. After six months of therapy, 25 children had an increase in height velocity; in 21 of these, height velocity was greater than 2 cm/yr. Of the 22 children who received clonidine for 12 months, linear growth was maintained in 13. After withdrawal of clonidine, some of the children continued to experience stimulated growth. In a few children, a second course of clonidine therapy after the initial withdrawal…