DIFFICULT TO TREAT MANIA: CLONIDINE AS AN OPTION?

Efficacy and side effect profile of medications can vary across ethnicities. Use of clonidine for treatment of only mania has not been reported in the Indian population. We present the case of a 20 year old lady admitted with first episode mania treated with clonidine as an adjunct medication. The patient had shown a poor response to adequate doses of olanzapine and chlorpromazine. Also, 5 sessions of ECT did not produce substantial improvement. Subsequently clonidine was started and increased to 0.3 mg per day, while chlorpromazine and benzodiazepines were continued. The manic symptoms substantially improved after starting of clonidine and the patient was discharged.