Adult Dosing
Hypertension
Catapres, clonidine (generic-IR form)
- Start 0.1 mg PO bid; increase by 0.1 mg/day qwk if necessary until desired response
- Usual range: 0.2-0.6 mg/day
- Max: 2.4 mg/day divided bid
Emergency treatment of hypertension (FDA unapproved)
- Start 0.1-0.2 mg PO, followed by 0.05-0.2 mg qhr as needed up to a total dose of 0.5-0.7 mg or until blood pressure is controlled
Pediatric Dosing
Note: Safety and effectiveness in patients <18 yrs have not been established
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Kapvay
- 0.1 mg PO qhs. Increase by 0.1 mg/day qwk until desired response. Max: 0.4 mg/day
- To discontinue, taper dose by decrements not to exceed 0.1 mg q3-7days
[Outline]
See Supplemental Patient Information
- Reduce dose over 2-4 days to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Sudden cessation has resulted in nervousness, agitation, headache, and tremor, accompanied or followed by a rapid rise in blood pressure. Rare cases of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accidents and death have been reported. Increased risk of withdrawal symptoms if concomitant beta blocker therapy is administered
- If discontinuing in a patient also receiving a beta-blocker, withdraw the beta-blocker several days before the gradual discontinuation of clonidine
- Use cautiously in geriatric patients due to increased risk of orthostatic hypotension and adverse CNS effects
- Therapy may exacerbate sinus node dysfunction and atrioventricular (AV) block, particularly in patients taking other sympatholytic drugs
- Therapy can cause decrease in blood pressure and heart rate , periodically check the blood pressure and heart rate while the patient is taking the treatment
- Uptitrate the dose gradually in patients with history of hypotension and those with underlying conditions that may be worsened by hypotension and bradycardia (eg, heart block, bradycardia, cardiovascular/vascular/cerebrovascular disease, or chronic renal failure)
- Patients who develop an allergic reaction from clonidine transdermal system may also elicit allergic reactions (eg, generalized rash, urticaria, angioedema)
- Avoid concomittant use with other antihypertensive drugs
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cardiac conduction defects
- Recent MI
- Hx of depression
- Hx of syncope
- Dehydration
- Alcohol use
Supplemental Patient Information
- Advise patients not to engage in potentially hazardous activities (operating machinery or driving) due to the sedative effect of clonidine
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Excreted in breastmilk. Due to the high serum levels in breastfed infants, other agents might be preferred. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 15 July 2010).
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Catapres 0.1 MG TABS [Bottle] (BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM)
60 mg = $99.99
180 mg = $289.96 - Catapres 0.2 MG TABS [Bottle] (BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM)
60 mg = $154.98
180 mg = $447.96 - Catapres 0.3 MG TABS [Bottle] (BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM)
60 mg = $165.98
180 mg = $455.94
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
