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OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of clonidine in hospitalized older people for acute management of hypertension. METHODS: This was an observational retrospective cross-sectional chart review study. Older people hospitalized between November 2017 and November 2018, with a one-time or as-needed clonidine order were eligible, and a random sample of these patients were included. Hospitalized patients could be admitted for hypertensive urgency or emergency, or for other reasons. RESULTS: During the 12-month study period, 546 charts were identified as having at least one clonidine prescription, 248 were screened and 205 were included. The mean age was 75 years of age ± 8 years of age and men made up 53% (n = 109) of the group. One hundred fifty-one patients (74%) received at least one dose of clonidine and the remaining patients has a clonidine prescription but did not reach the blood pressure threshold for clonidine administration. The mean number of doses per patient was 1.8 ± 2.0. Twenty-nine percent of clonidine doses were given when systolic and diastolic blood pressure was below 180 mmHg and 120 mmHg respectively. A total of 25 patients (17%) had a potential adverse reaction following clonidine administration. One patient had a stroke and two patients fell. Sixty-eight patients had evidence of target organ dysfunction related to hypertension prior to clonidine administration. CONCLUSIONS: Clonidine remains widely prescribed in hospitalized older people. It is possibly due to its rapid onset and little need for dosing adjustment. Clinical interventions should be designed and implanted to reduce its prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]