CATAPRES - Clonidine

Catapres Used For

Catapres - Clonidine lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax (widen) and your heart to beat more slowly and easily. Cardura is prescribed for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure).

Directions for Catapres

Recommended dose of Catapres for adults and teenagers is 100 mcg (0.1 mg) two times a day, which may be increased gradually from 200 mcg (0.2 mg) to 600 mcg (0.6 mg) a day taken in divided doses. Use and dose of Catapres in children must be determined by the doctor.

How Catapres medication works

Inform your doctor if you have any type of heart disease, have had a heart attack or a stroke, have liver or kidney disease before you are started on Catapres treatment. These conditions might require a lower dose of the medication with special monitoring through out the treatment. Lactating mothers should not start on Catapres without medical advice since the medication is known to pass into breast milk; though it is not known whether it will harm the nursing infant. Patients 60 years of age or over are more likely to have side effects from Catapres and may require a lower dose. Caution is advised when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities while under treatment with Catapres as it may lead to dizziness or drowsiness. Patients on this medication should also avoid rising suddenly from a sitting or lying position, especially in the morning as they may experience dizziness and may fall down and cause injury to themselves. Avoid alcohol while taking Catapres as the combination of the two may severely increase dizziness and drowsiness. Other drugs such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, prescription pain relievers, and antidepressants should be strictly avoid unless otherwise approved by your doctor since these medicines can interact with Catapres to increase drowsiness.

Side effects of Catapres medication

Catapres can have strong side effects including a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats per minute) or unusually high or low blood pressure (severe headache, redness of the face, neck, and chest, dizziness, and fainting). Immediate medical help should be sought should any of these occur. The medication can also lead to other less serious side effects like unusual fatigue, dizziness, or tiredness; headache; constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; insomnia; or a dry mouth (sucking on ice chips or sugarless hard candy may relieve this side effect).

Other Catapres Information

Take each tablet with a full glass of water. Tablet may be split and taken at half the dosage.