Clonidine : Before Using - Catapres-TTS-1, Catapres-TTS-2, Catapres-TTS-3, Dixarit, Catapres

Clonidine - Systemic

Brand Names

Catapres-TTS-1, Catapres-TTS-2, Catapres-TTS-3, Dixarit, Catapres Clonidine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For clonidine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to clonidine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substance, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Clonidine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pets have shown that clonidine causes harmful effects in the fetus, but not birth defects.

Breast-feeding problem

Although clonidine passes into breast milk, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Children may be more sensitive than adults to clonidine. Clonidine overdose has been reported when children accidentally took this drug.

Elderly care

Dizziness or faintness may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are more sensitive than adults people to the effects of clonidine.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking clonidine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Beta-blockers - acebutolol " Sectral ", atenolol " Tenormin ", betaxolol " Kerlone ", carteolol " Cartrol ", labetalol " Normodyne ", metoprolol " Lopressor ", nadolol " Corgard ", oxprenolol " Trasicor ", penbutolol " Levatol ", pindolol " Visken ", propranolol " Inderal ", sotalol " Sotacor ", timolol " Blocadren " These medication may increase the risk of harmful effects when clonidine treat is stopped suddenly

Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Pertofrane ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Aventyl ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil " These medication may decrease clonidine's effects on blood pressure

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of clonidine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Heart or blood vessel disease Clonidine may make these conditions worse

Irritated or scraped skin - with transdermal system "skin patch " only The effects of clonidine may be increased if the skin patch is placed on an area of scraped or irritated skin because more drug is absorbed into the body

Kidney disease Effects of clonidine may be increased because of slower removal of clonidine from the body

Mental depression - history of
Raynaud's syndrome Clonidine may make these conditions worse

Polyarteritis nodosa
Scleroderma
Systemic lupus erythematosus - SLE - with transdermal system "skin patch " only Effects of clonidine may be decreased because absorption of this drug into the body is blocked