Clonidine Test (Growth Hormone Stimulation)

Purpose
To investigate somatotropic function by stimulating growth hormone production.

Subject preparation
Subject fasting for 12 hours and at rest for 30 min.

Product
Clonidine (Catapressan®, 0.150 mg tablets) Boehringer Ingelheim France.

Dose
One 0.150 mg Catapressan® tablet.

Protocol
- Samples (dry tubes) at time intervals: -15 min (T-15) and 0 (T0).
- Oral administration of one Catapressan® tablet.
- Samples (dry tubes) at time intervals T+30, T+45, T+60, T+90 and T+180 min.

Side effects
- Close medical supervision is required due to risk of HYPOTENSION
- Check pulse and blood pressure every 30 min.
- If blood pressure drops or the patient feels faint, administer one 100 mg vial of hydrocortisone sodium succinate.

Assay
Growth Hormone (GH).