Catapres

What is Catapres?

Catapres reduces your blood pressure by lowering the level of certain chemicals. Your blood vessels will relax, and your heart will beat more easily. Catapres is used in the treatment of hypertension. Sometimes it is given along with other medications. Catapres can also be purchased as a patch that is applied to the skin. You should not take two different forms of the medicine at once. Clonidine Kapvay is used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Duraclon is an IV form of clonidine that's used to treat cancer pain.

Warnings

Tell your doctor before taking Catapres if you suffer from heart disease, severe coronary arterial disease, heart rhythm disorders, slow heartbeats, or low blood pressure. Also, let them know if there is a history of a heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease.

Your thinking or reaction may be impaired by catapres. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires alertness. Avoid taking two forms of Clonidine simultaneously.

Even if you're feeling well, you should continue to take your medication if you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often a silent condition. Blood pressure medications may be needed for the rest of your life.

Stopping Catapres suddenly without consulting your doctor can cause severe blood pressure increases and other symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness, headaches, tremors, or shaking. Stopping suddenly can cause a significant rise in blood pressure and other symptoms, such as restlessness, headaches, and tremors. Rarely, death or stroke can result from Catapres withdrawal.

Tell the surgeon that you use Catapres before you have surgery. At times it may be necessary to temporarily discontinue taking medication.

Use Catapres as directed. Inform your doctor of any other medications you are taking or if you have any medical conditions or allergies.

Similar/related drugs

Amlodipine, lisinopril, metoprolol, losartan, furosemide, and hydrochlorothiazide

Before you take this drug

If you have an allergy to clonidine, Catapres should be avoided.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Catapres will be safe for you:

• Heart disease or severe coronary artery disease
• A heart rhythm disorder is characterised by slow heartbeats.
• High or Low Blood Pressure or a History of Fainting Spells
• A stroke or heart attack
• Pheochromocytoma
• Kidney disease
• If you've ever experienced an allergic reaction after using a Catapres TTS patch,

Clonidine is not known to harm a baby in utero. Notify your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.

You may find your name on a registry for pregnant women to track the effects clonidine has on the child. Clonidine can affect the fertility of men and women. Clonidine can make it harder for either parent to get pregnant.

Tell your doctor if the baby is not feeding well or if you see somnolence. Catapres have not been approved for anyone under the age of 18.

How to take Catapres?

Follow all instructions listed on your prescription label and read any medication guides or instruction sheets that come with your medicine. Pay close attention to all directions included with your medicine as they come.Sometimes your doctor will change the dose.

Catapres can be taken both in the morning and before bed. It is best to take a larger dose of Catapres at bedtime if you are taking different doses at different times. You can take Catapres with or without food. Inform your doctor of any planned surgeries.

Should you discontinue Catapres abruptly, withdrawal symptoms could occur. Before stopping your medication, consult with your doctor.

If you have nausea or vomiting, call your doctor. This information is important, especially for children taking Catapres.

Even if you feel fine, taking medication for high blood pressure should still be part of a daily regimen.High blood pressure is often asymptomatic. Store away from moisture, heat, and light at room temperature for optimal conditions.

Details on dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Oral:
Initial dose: 0.1mg orally, 2 times per day (morning and bedtime).
Titration: Weekly increments of 0.1 mg per day orally may be used to achieve the desired response.
Maintenance dose: 0.2–0.6 mg orally daily in divided doses
Maximum dosage: 2.4 mg per day orally in divided doses
Comments:
The larger dose of oral daily dosage taken at bedtime can minimise the transient effects of drowsiness and dry mouth.
Transdermal patches
Initial dose: 0.1 mg/24-hour patch every 7 days
If, after 1 or 2 weeks, the desired blood pressure reduction is not achieved, you can increase the dose by adding an additional 0.1 mg/24-hour patch or switching to a bigger system.
Maximum dose: Usually, additional efficacy is not seen with doses above two 0.3 mg/24-hour patches used every seven days.
Comments:
The transdermal patch is to be applied to a hairless, intact area of skin located on the outer upper arm or chest.
Each new patch must be placed on a separate area of the skin from where it was previously applied.
If the patch becomes loose after 7 days, apply the adhesive directly to the system to ensure adhesion.
Rarely, it has been reported that the patch needs to be changed before 7 days in order to maintain blood pressure control.
When substituting patches for oral formulations or other antihypertensive medications, physicians should know that the antihypertensive effects of the patches can begin 2 to 3 weeks after the initial application. It is therefore recommended that previous drug dosages be gradually reduced. It may be necessary to continue some or all of the previous antihypertensive therapy, especially for patients with severe hypertension.

Use: Hypertension alone or with other antihypertensive drugs

What happens if I miss the dose?

Do not take the missed dose. Use your next dose as usual. Do not take two doses in one go.

What happens if I overdose?

Reach out immediately if consuming poison and need immediate medical treatment. Call the Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222, or seek treatment in an ER for immediate assistance. Overdose symptoms include feeling cold, irritable, or weak. They may also be drowsy or lightheaded.

What should be avoided?

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can increase the side effects of Catapres. Do not drive or engage in any hazardous activities until you have a better understanding of how the medicine will affect you. Drowsiness or dizziness can lead to accidents or serious injuries. Avoid overheating or dehydration during exercise in hot weather.

Side effects of Catapres

If you experience symptoms indicative of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing and swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat it is crucial that emergency medical assistance be sought as soon as possible.

If you experience:

• Shortness of breath and irregular heartbeats are symptoms of severe chest pain.
• A very low heart rate,
• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.

Catapres may cause side effects such as:

• Drowsiness, dizziness;
• Feeling tired or irritable
• Dry mouth
• Constipation; loss of appetite
• Sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor.Reaching the FDA to report potential side effects is simple - call their 24-hour hotline at 1-800-FDA-1088!

Interaction with other drug

Using Catapres in conjunction with other drugs can increase this effect. Before taking an opioid, sleeping pill, muscle relaxant or any medication to treat anxiety or seizures, always consult with a licensed healthcare practitioner first.

Inform your physician of all medications being taken by you, such as:

• Other heart or blood pressure medications
• Antidepressants;
• Any other medication that contains clonidine.

This list is incomplete. Clonidine may interact with other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal products.This medication guide does not detail all possible interactions.