See Supplemental Patient Information
- Avoid abrupt withdrawal as nervousness, agitation, headache, tremor and confusion accompanied or followed by a rapid rise in blood pressure and elevated catecholamine concentrations in the plasma have occurred
- Consider special caution on discontinuation of clonidine therapy after administration of higher doses or continuation of concomitant beta-blocker
- Rare occasions of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accidents and death have occurred on withdrawal of therapy
- Gradually reduce the dose over 2-4 days while considering cessation of therapy
- Administer clonidine hydrochloride PO or phentolamine IV to reverse excessive rise in blood pressure following discontinuation of therapy
- Considering cessation of therapy, withdraw beta-blocker several days before the gradual discontinuation of transdermal therapeutic system in patients receiving a beta blocker and clonidine concurrently
- Rashes have occurred in patients with localized contact sensitization to transdermal therapeutic system on continuation of transdermal therapeutic system or substitution of oral clonidine hydrochloride therapy; allergic reactions (including generalized rash, urticaria, or angioedema) have also occurred on substituting with oral clonidine hydrochloride
- Rare occasions of loss of blood pressure control have occurred
- Avoid interruption of therapy during the surgical period; carefully monitor blood pressure during surgery and consider additional measures to control blood pressure if required
- Remove transdermal clonidine systems before attempting defibrillation or cardioversion because of the potential for altered electrical conductivity increasing the risk of arcing
- Remove the system before undergoing an MRI as skin burns may occur
- Therapy may exacerbate sinus node dysfunction and atrioventricular (AV) block, particularly in patients taking other sympatholytic drugs
Cautions: Use cautiously in
Supplemental Patient Information
- Instruct patients to avoid interruption of therapy without consulting their physician
- Advise patients to avoid engaging in activities requiring mental alertness such as operating a hazardous machinery or driving; inform that sedative effect may be increased by concomitant use of alcohol, barbiturates, or other sedating drugs
- Inform patients wearing contact lenses that dryness of eyes may occur
- Instruct patients to promptly consult their physicians if they observe generalized skin rash or moderate to severe localized erythema and/or vesicle formation at the site of application
- Instruct patients to substitute with a new system applied over a fresh skin site if they experience isolated, mild localized skin irritation during its 7-day use
- Instruct patients to place the adhesive cover directly over the system to ensure adhesion during its 7-day use if the system begins to loosen from the skin after application
- Caution patients to keep both used and unused films/patches out of the reach of children
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: An alternative agent is preferred while nursing a newborn or preterm infant as high serum levels are obtained in breastfed infants; may exhibit negative effects on lactation. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 16 December 2010). Manufacturer advises caution when administering to a nursing woman since the drug is excreted in breast milk.
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Catapres-TTS-1 0.1 MG/24HR PTWK [Box] (BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM)
4 24hr = $165.98
12 24hr = $470.96 - CloNIDine HCl 0.1 MG/24HR PTWK [Box] (TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA)
4 24hr = $109.99
12 24hr = $310.95 - Catapres-TTS-2 0.2 MG/24HR PTWK [Box] (BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM)
4 24hr = $271.98
12 24hr = $790 - CloNIDine HCl 0.3 MG/24HR PTWK [Box] (TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA)
4 24hr = $245.97
12 24hr = $709.95 - CloNIDine HCl 0.2 MG/24HR PTWK [Box] (TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA)
4 24hr = $179.99
12 24hr = $499.97 - Catapres-TTS-3 0.3 MG/24HR PTWK [Box] (BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM)
4 24hr = $369.99
12 24hr = $1059.98
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.
