Catapres (Clonidine)

Catapres (Clonidine) Medication Information:

What is Catapres?

It is a prescription medication used to treat symptoms of high blood pressure, ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), and cancer pain. Catapres can be taken alone or in combination with other drugs. It belongs to the Alpha2 Agonists, Central-Acting, ADHD Agents family of medicines. This medicine is not known to be safe or effective in children under the age of 12.

Catapres Uses:

This drug is used to treat high blood pressure alone or in combination with other medications (hypertension).
Strokes, heart attacks, and kidney issues can all be prevented by lowering blood pressure. Clonidine is a medication that lowers blood pressure by acting on the central nervous system (central alpha agonists). It works by allowing blood to flow more freely by relaxing blood vessels.

Catapres Dosage and Directions:

Directions:

Take this medication by mouth, with or without food, twice daily as advised by your doctor (in the morning and at bedtime). To reduce the chance of adverse effects, take the bigger dose at bedtime if the doses are not equal.

The dosage is determined by your medical condition and treatment response.

Dosage:

0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.3 mg dose levels are available as tablets for oral use.

Catapres Side Effects:

You may have dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness, dry mouth, or constipation. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if any of these side effects persist or worsen.

When rising gently from a sitting or lying posture, you can limit the danger of dizziness and light-headedness.
Suck on (sugarless) hard candies or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute to ease dry mouth.

If you experience any serious adverse effects, such as fainting, a slow/irregular heartbeat, or mental/mood abnormalities, contact your doctor straight once (such as irritability, or depression).

This medicine seldom causes a severe allergic reaction. However, if you detect any symptoms of a major allergic response, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), extreme dizziness, or problems breathing, seek medical treatment right once.

Catapres Precautions:

• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to clonidine (especially if you get a rash while using clonidine patches) or if you have any other allergies before using it.
• Inactive chemicals may be included in this product, causing allergic reactions or other issues. For further information, speak with your pharmacist.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medical conditions you have, including kidney disease and heart rhythm issues (such as slow/irregular heartbeat, and second or third-degree atrioventricular block).
• Because this medicine can cause dry eyes, contact lens wearers may need to use wetting eye drops.
• The negative effects of this medicine, particularly dizziness or drowsiness, may be more noticeable in older persons. These side effects may make you more prone to falling.
• This drug should only be taken during pregnancy if necessary. Consult your doctor about the dangers and advantages.
• This medication can transfer into breast milk and have unfavorable effects on a nursing baby. Before you start breastfeeding, talk to your doctor.

Storage:

• Store between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C) at room temperature, with excursions allowed between 59°F and 86°F (15°C and 30°C).
• Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and heat.
• Keep out of children's reach.

Catapres Drug Interactions:

If you're taking any other drowsy medications, such as alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), sleep or anxiety medications (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, or opioid pain relievers, tell your doctor or pharmacist (such as codeine).

Some items/salt in the medication contain substances that can cause blood pressure to rise. Tell your pharmacist about the products you're using and how to use them safely (particularly cough and cold remedies, diet supplements, or NSAIDs like ibuprofen/naproxen).