Use of Transdermal Clonidine in Trauma Patients

This study will attempt to learn how to better treat trauma patients with delirium who are on a breathing machine. Delirium, also known as acute, temporary brain dysfunction, is a common reason why ventilated patients can not be weaned from the breathing machine even though their lungs may be healthy enough to breathe without the machine. The study hopes to show that by decreasing the patient's delirium it will lead to quicker weaning from the breathing machine and possibly a quicker overall recovery as well. Patients enrolled in this study will be treated with Clonidine or placebo. Clonidine is a drug that produces significant calming effects, decreases anxiety, and reduces pain, but with a lower incidence of delirium than other medications used in the ICU for this purpose. Clonidine is not approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for treatment of delirium, but is commonly used for this purpose.