Catapres vs. Capoten

• Are Catapres and Capoten the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Catapres?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Capoten?
• What Is Catapres?
• What Is Capoten?
• What Drugs Interact with Catapres?
• What Drugs Interact with Capoten?
• How Should Catapres Be Taken?
• How Should Capoten Be Taken?

Catapres (clonidine hydrochloride) and Capoten (captopril) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Capoten is also used to treat heart failure, and to prevent kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes.

Catapres and Capoten belong to different drug classes. Catapres is a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent and Capoten is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

Common side effects of Catapres include:

• dry mouth,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• irritability,
• tiredness,
• mood changes,
• sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares),
• headache,
• ear pain,
• fever,
• feeling hot,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain,
• increased thirst,
• loss of interest in sex,
• impotence,
• difficulty having an orgasm, or
• cold symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose,
• sneezing,
• cough, or
• sore throat.

Many side effects of Catapres may go away after several doses. Serious side effects of Catapres include hypotension, bradycardia, congestive heart failure, weakness, and edema.

Common side effects of Capoten include:

• a dry and persistent cough,
• abdominal pain,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• skin itching or rash,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• fatigue,
• headache,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• loss of taste,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dry mouth,
• sores inside your mouth or on your lips,
• numbness in the hands or feet,
• kidney failure and
• increased levels of potassium in the blood.

Catapres (clonidine hydrochloride) is a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent used to treat hypertension. Catapres is available as a generic named clonidine (tablets and patches).

Capoten (captopril) is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prescribed for treating high blood pressure, heart failure, and for preventing kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Capoten is available as a generic drug.

Catapres may interact with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), antidepressants, beta-blockers, digitalis, other products containing clonidine, or other drugs to treat high blood pressure or heart problems.

Catapres may also interact with digoxin or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Capoten may interact with gold injections, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, drugs that can dilate blood vessels, aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Catapres (clonidine hydrochloride, USP and TTS) is available in strengths of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg tablets and patches for transdermal administration (TTS form). No adequate, well-controlled studies have been conducted in pregnant or breastfeeding women; this drug may be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients has not been established although some pediatric physicians have used the drug to treat hypertensive children.

Capoten dose ranges from 25-150 mg two or three times daily.