DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended starting dose of clonidine hydrochloride injection for continuous epidural infusion is 30 mcg/hr. Although dosage may be titrated up or down depending on pain relief and occurrence of adverse events, experience with dosage rates above 40 mcg/hr is limited. Familiarization with the continuous epidural infusion device is essential. Patients receiving epidural clonidine from a continuous infusion device should be closely monitored for the first few days to assess their response. The 500 mcg/mL (0.5 mg/mL) strength product must be diluted prior to use in 0.9% Sodium Chloride for Injection, USP, to a final concentration of 100 mcg/mL: Volume of Clonidine Hydrochloride Injection 500 mcg/mL Volume of 0.9% Sodium Chloride for Injection, USP Resulting Final Clonidine Hydrochloride Injection Concentration (100 mcg/mL) 1 mL 4 mL 500 mcg/5 mL 2 mL 8 mL 1000 mcg/10 mL 3 mL 12 mL 1500 mcg/15 mL 4 mL 16 mL 2000 mcg/20 mL 5 mL 20 mL 2500 mcg/25 mL 6 mL 24 mL 3000 mcg/ 30 mL 7 mL 28 mL 3500 mcg/ 35 mL 8 mL 32 mL 4000 mcg/40 mL 9 mL 36 mL 4500 mcg/45 mL 10 mL 40 mL 5000 mcg/50 mL Renal Impairment: Dosage should be adjusted according to the degree of renal impairment, and patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis. Clonidine hydrochloride injection must not be used with a preservative. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.