Kapvay

Generic Name: clonidine (oral) (KLOE ni deen)

Brand Names: Catapres, Kapvay, Nexiclon XR

What is clonidine?

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 is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). The Kapvay brand of clonidine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Clonidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about clonidine?

Before you take clonidine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease or severe coronary artery disease, a heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats, low blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, kidney disease, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a clonidine transdermal skin patch (Catapres TTS).

Do not take two forms of clonidine at the same time.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using clonidine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Do not stop using clonidine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using clonidine.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication 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.

Clonidine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking clonidine?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to clonidine.

To make sure you can safely take clonidine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;

  
  


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  heart rhythm disorder, slow heartbeats;

  
  


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  low blood pressure;

  
  


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  a history of heart attack or stroke;

  
  


• kidney disease; or


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  if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a clonidine transdermal skin patch (Catapres TTS).

  
  

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known if clonidine is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Clonidine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give Kapvay to a child younger than 6 years old.

How should I take clonidine?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Do not take two forms of clonidine at the same time.

Clonidine may be taken with or without food.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure the liquid with a special dose measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using clonidine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Do not stop using clonidine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using clonidine.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication 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 at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

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.

What should I avoid while taking clonidine?

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of clonidine. Clonidine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Clonidine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  fast or pounding heartbeats, tremors;

  
  


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  a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats per minute);

  
  


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  feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

  
  


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  swelling, rapid weight gain;

  
  


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  confusion, hallucinations;

  
  


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  flu symptoms;

  
  


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  urination problems;

  
  


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  feeling like you might pass out.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  drowsiness, dizziness;

  
  


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  feeling tired or irritable;

  
  


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  cold symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat;

  
  


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  mood changes;

  
  


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  sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares;

  
  


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  headache, ear pain;

  
  


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  mild fever;

  
  


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  feeling hot;

  
  


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  constipation, diarrhea, pain in your upper stomach;

  
  


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  dry mouth, increased thirst; or

  
  


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  loss of interest in sex, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect clonidine?

Before taking clonidine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by clonidine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

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  clonidine transdermal skin patches (Catapres TTS);

  
  


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  digitalis (digoxin, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

  
  


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  an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;

  
  


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  a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Dutoprol, Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;

  
  


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  heart or blood pressure medicine such as amlodipine (Norvasc, Caduet, Exforge, Lotrel, Tekamlo, Tribenzor, Twynsta), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others; or

  
  


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  any other drugs to treat high blood pressure or heart problems.

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with clonidine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Kapvay resources

• Kapvay Side Effects (in more detail)
• Kapvay Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Kapvay Drug Interactions
• Kapvay Support Group
• 11 Reviews for Kapvay - Add your own review/rating

• Kapvay Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Kapvay Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Kapvay Extended-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Kapvay Consumer Overview


• Catapres Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Catapres Consumer Overview


• Catapres MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Clonidine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Clonidine Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Duraclon Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Nexiclon XR MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Nexiclon XR Prescribing Information (FDA)


• clonidine Epidural Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Compare Kapvay with other medications

• ADHD

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about clonidine.

See also: Kapvay side effects (in more detail)