clonidine
/ˈklɒnədiːn/Pharmacology
noun
A drug that acts as an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist, used in the treatment of hypertension, opiate withdrawal, and a variety of other conditions.
- Chemical name: 2, 6-dichloro-N-imidazolidine-2-ylideneaniline..
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in The Lancet. From clo- (in chloro-) + ni- (in nitro-) + -idine.