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Catapres (clonidine) lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels to relax and your heart to beat more slowly and easily.
The Catapres brand of clonidine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). The Kapvay brand of clonidine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Duraclon brand of clonidine is an intravenous (IV) form of clonidine used to treat severe pain in cancer patients.
Catapres may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Before you take Catapres, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, severe coronary artery disease, a heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats, low blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, kidney disease, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a Catapres TTS transdermal skin patch.
Catapres may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Do not take two forms of clonidine at the same time.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Do not stop taking Catapres without speaking to your doctor. Suddenly stopping Catapres can lead to a severe rise in blood pressure and symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness, headaches, and tremors or shaking. Rarely, stroke and death can occur after Catapres withdrawal.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Catapres. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
You should not take Catapres if you are allergic to clonidine.
To make sure Catapres is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;
heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats;
low blood pressure, or a history of fainting spells;
a history of heart attack or stroke;
pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
kidney disease; or
if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a Catapres or Catapres TTS skin patch; or
if you wear contact lenses.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of clonidine.
It is not known whether Catapres will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Catapres.
Clonidine can pass into breast milk. It is unknown whether Catapres could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Catapres is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
Take Catapres exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Catapres is usually taken in the morning and at bedtime. If you take different doses of this medicine at each dosing time, it may be best to take the larger dose at bedtime.
Catapres may be taken with or without food.
Do not use two forms of clonidine at the same time. This medicine is also available as a transdermal patch worn on the skin (Catapres TTS).
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Catapres. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Do not stop using Catapres suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine. Rarely, stroke or even death can occur with Catapres withdrawal.
Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting. Prolonged illness can make it harder for your body to absorb clonidine, which may lead to withdrawal symptoms.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, pounding in your neck or ears, nosebleed, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath) followed by low blood pressure (feeling like you might pass out). Other overdose symptoms may include feeling cold, extreme weakness or drowsiness, weak or shallow breathing, pinpoint pupils, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase certain side effects of Catapres.
Catapres may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Catapres: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
severe chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats;
a very slow heart rate;
severe headache, pounding in your neck or ears, blurred vision;
nosebleeds;
anxiety, confusion; or
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults.
Common Catapres side effects may include:
dry mouth;
drowsiness, dizziness;
constipation;
feeling tired or irritable;
loss of appetite;
dry eyes, contact lens discomfort; or
sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking Catapres with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
other heart or blood pressure medications;
an antidepressant; or
any other medicine that contains clonidine.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with clonidine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Catapres only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Catapres-tts-3 (www.drugs.com/catapres.html).
Note: This document contains side effect information about clonidine. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Catapres.
Applies to clonidine: oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
Other dosage forms:
Along with its needed effects, clonidine (the active ingredient contained in Catapres) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking clonidine:
Less common
Rare
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking clonidine:
Symptoms of overdose
Some side effects of clonidine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Less common
Rare
Applies to clonidine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral suspension extended release, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release, transdermal film extended release
Very common (10% or more): Hypotension (45%), orthostatic hypotension (32%)
Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, tachycardia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sinus bradycardia, Raynaud's phenomenon, palpitations
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Atrioventricular block, palpitations, bradycardia, syncope, congestive heart failure, electrocardiographic abnormalities (i.e., sinus node arrest, high degree AV block), cerebrovascular accident
Frequency not reported: Bradyarrhythmia, hypertension, rebound hypertension
Very common (10% or more): Contact dermatitis with the patch formulation (19%)
Common (1% to 10%): Sweating
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus, rash (localized or generalized), urticaria, erythema
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Alopecia, excoriation, burning
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Papules, throbbing, blanching, generalized macular rash, facial/tongue angioedema
Frequency not reported: Hives, localized hypo or hyper pigmentation
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gynecomastia
Very common (10% or more): Dry mouth (40%), upper abdominal pain (15%), nausea (13%), vomiting (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, parotid gland pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Colonic pseudo-obstruction
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Parotitis
Common (1% to 10%): Erectile dysfunction
Frequency not reported: Micturition difficulty, loss of libido, decreased sexual activity, nocturia, urinary retention
Most adverse effects are mild and diminish with continued therapy. The most frequent (which appear to be dose-related) are dry mouth (40%), drowsiness (33%), dizziness (16%), constipation (10%), and sedation (10%).
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Peripheral blood flow disturbance, thrombocytopenia
Frequency not reported: Mild transient abnormalities of liver function tests, hepatitis
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blood glucose increased, serum creatine phosphokinase increased
Frequency not reported: Weight gain, anorexia
Frequency not reported: Muscle pain, joint pain, leg cramps
Very common (10% or more): Drowsiness (33%), dizziness (16%), somnolence (13%), sedation (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Headache
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paresthesia
Frequency not reported: Headache, localized numbness
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Lacrimation decreased (dry eyes)
Frequency not reported: Accommodation disorder, ocular burning, vision blurred
Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, tinnitus
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Malaise
Frequency not reported: Fever, pallor, weakness, positive Coombs' test, increased sensitivity to alcohol
Very common (10% or more): Confusion (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Depression, tearfulness, sleep disorder, hallucinations (both visual and auditory), nervousness, agitation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%):
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Delusional perception, nightmare
Frequency not reported: Libido decreased, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, behavior changes
Common (1% to 10%): Hypoventilation
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Nasal dryness
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Catapres-tts-3 (www.drugs.com/catapres.html).
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