Generic Name: clonidine (transdermal) (KLOE ni deen )Brand Names: Catapres-TTS-1, Catapres-TTS-2, Catapres-TTS-3
Clonidine lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels to relax and your heart to beat more slowly and easily.
Clonidine transdermal is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It is sometimes used together with other blood pressure medications.
Clonidine transdermal may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Before using clonidine transdermal, tell your doctor if you have heart disease or severe coronary artery disease, a heart rhythm disorder, a history of heart attack or stroke, or kidney disease.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause nervousness, agitation, headache, tremors, severe high blood pressure, or life-threatening symptoms. Talk with your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using clonidine transdermal. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of clonidine transdermal.Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Clonidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
The clonidine transdermal patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the clonidine patch before undergoing such a test.
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using clonidine transdermal. If you need emergency heart resuscitation, your family or caregivers should tell emergency medical personnel if you are wearing a clonidine skin patch. The patch should be removed before any electrical equipment (such as a defribrillator) is used on you.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using clonidine transdermal, tell your doctor if you have:
heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;
a heart rhythm disorder;
a history of heart attack or stroke;
if you have ever had an allergic reaction to clonidine transdermal.
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Before applying a skin patch, wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly. Also wash and dry the skin area where you plan to apply the patch. Rinse and wipe dry with a clean tissue.Apply the skin patch to a flat, hairless area of the chest, back, side, or outer side of your upper arm. To remove any hair from these areas, clip the hair short but do not shave it. Press the patch firmly with the palm making sure it sticks firmly, especially around the edges.
You will wear the patch for 7 days and then remove it and put on a new one. Apply the new patch to a different skin area on your arm or torso. Do not apply patches to the same skin area 2 weeks in a row. Do not wear more than 1 patch at a time unless your doctor has told you to.
If a patch becomes loose or falls off, apply the round adhesive cover to the patch to keep it on your skin for the entire 7-day wearing time. The adhesive cover contains no medicine and should be used only to secure a skin patch that has become too loose to stick by itself.
After removing a skin patch fold it in half, sticky side in, and throw it away where children and pets cannot get to it.
The clonidine transdermal patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the clonidine patch before undergoing such a test.
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using clonidine transdermal. If you need emergency heart resuscitation, your family or caregivers should tell emergency medical personnel if you are wearing a clonidine skin patch. The patch should be removed before any electrical equipment (such as a defribrillator) is used on you.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause nervousness, agitation, headache, tremors, severe high blood pressure, or life-threatening symptoms. Talk with your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using clonidine transdermal.Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep each skin patch in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it.Apply a skin patch as soon as you remember. If it is almost time to apply your next patch, skip the missed dose and apply a patch at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra patches to make up the missed dose.
Overdose symptoms may include high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath) followed by low blood pressure (feeling light-headed, fainting), drowsiness, cold feeling, slow heart rate, shallow breathing, weakness, fainting, or pinpoint pupils.
Avoid using lotions, oils, or other skin products on the area where you will apply the skin patch. The patch may not stick properly to the skin.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of clonidine. Clonidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.fast or pounding heartbeats;
a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats per minute);
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
swelling, rapid weight gain;
confusion, hallucinations;
fever, pale skin;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
numbness or cold feeling in your hands or feet;
feeling like you might pass out; or
severe skin irritation, redness, swelling, burning, or blistering where the patch is worn.
Less serious side effects may include:
feeling dizzy, drowsy, tired, or nervous;
dry mouth;
dry or burning eyes, blurred vision;
headache, muscle or joint pain;
nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite;
sleep problems (insomnia);
urinating more at night;
mild skin rash or itching;
decreased sex drive, impotence; or
skin rash, discoloration, or mild irritation where the patch is worn.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
The following drugs can interact with clonidine. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:
oral clonidine (tablets);
digitalis (digoxin, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon);
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;
a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others; or
any other drugs to treat high blood pressure or heart problems.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with clonidine transdermal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.