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Catapres

  • Generic Name: clonidine
  • Brand Name: Catapres

side effects drug center catapres (clonidine) drug - patient side effects and images

 

PROFESSIONAL

CONSUMER

SIDE EFFECTS

Catapres Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Catapres, Kapvay

Generic Name: clonidine (oral)

What is clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Clonidine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). The Kapvay brand of clonidine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This medicine is sometimes given with other medications.

Clonidine is also available as a transdermal patch worn on the skin. Do not use two forms of this medicine at the same time.

Clonidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: 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; or
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common side effects may include:

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.

What is the most important information I should know about clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Catapres Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to clonidine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

It is not known if clonidine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of clonidine on the baby.

Clonidine may affect fertility in men or women. Pregnancy could be harder to achieve while either parent is using this medicine.

If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice somnolence, tiredness, rapid breathing, and poor feeding in the nursing baby.

Catapres is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old. Do not give Kapvay to a child younger than 6 years old.

How should I take clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Clonidine 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.

Clonidine may be taken with or without food.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.

You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using clonidine suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting. This is especially important for a child taking clonidine.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Catapres Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling cold, irritable, weak, drowsy, or light-headed, or having weak reflexes, pinpoint pupils, slow heartbeats, shallow breathing, or a seizure.

What should I avoid while taking clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase certain side effects of clonidine.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.

What other drugs will affect clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Using clonidine with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, 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.

Where can I get more information (Catapres, Kapvay)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about clonidine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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