Consumer Medicine Information
Catapres® TTS
Clonidine Hydrochloride
This leaflet answers some common questions about Catapres TTS. It does not contain all available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Keep this information with your Catapres TTS. You may need to read it again later.
To find out more about Catapres
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about your medicine or if you have any trouble before, during or after using Catapres.
What Catapres is used for
Catapres lowers high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps your blood move around your body. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day. You have hypertension when your blood pressure stays higher than normal, even when you are calm or relaxed.
There are usually no signs of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. You may feel fine and have no symptoms, but if high blood pressure is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems (such as heart disease).
Catapres works by relaxing and widening blood vessels and so helps to lower your blood pressure.
Your doctor may prescribe Catapres for other reasons. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Catapres has been prescribed for you.
Before you use Catapres
When you must not use Catapres
Only use Catapres if it has been prescribed for you by a doctor. Never give it to someone else even if their symptoms seem to be the same as yours. Do not use Catapres if you have certain heart problems, such as irregular/slow heart beat.
Do not use Catapres after the EXPIRY DATE on the carton has passed. Do not use Catapres if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Before you start to use Catapres
Before using Catapres, you must tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any of the following conditions:
- heart failure or any heart or circulation problem
- stroke, or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- mental depression
- sugar diabetes
- nerve damage, which may lead to weakness in the arms and legs
- phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland)
- any problems with your kidneys
If you are not sure if you have, or have had, any of these conditions you should ask your doctor. Before using Catapres it is advisable to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, obtained with or without a doctor's prescription. Some medicines and Catapres may interfere with each other. These include:
- other medicines for high blood pressure
- medicines for heart problems
- alcohol
- medicines used to control mood swings and some types of depression
These medicines may be affected by Catapres, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you what to do if you are using Catapres with other medicines.
Pregnancy / breastfeeding
Ask for your doctor's advice if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, are breastfeeding or intend to breast-feed during your course of medication. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Catapres during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Catapres passes into breast milk.
Using Catapres
Recommended Dose
Your doctor will tell you which strength of skin patch to use. This depends on your condition and whether you are taking other medicines. The usual dose is one skin patch once a week.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to use Catapres
Use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor as it will work only if applied correctly. Do not try to trim or cut the adhesive patch to adjust the dosage. Check with your doctor if you think the medicine is not working as it should. Apply the patch to a clean, dry area of skin on your upper arm or chest. Choose an area with little or no hair and free of scars, cuts, or irritation.
The patch should stay in place even during showering, bathing, or swimming. If the patch becomes loose, cover it with the extra adhesive overlay provided. Apply a new patch if the first one becomes too loose or falls off.
Each dose is best applied to a different area of skin to prevent skin problems or other irritation.
After removing a used patch, fold the patch in half with the sticky sides together. Make sure to dispose of it out of the reach of children. To help you remember to use your medicine, try to get into the habit of using it at regular times. Try to change the patch at the same time and day of the week.
If you forget to take a dose
It is important to use Catapres as directed. If you miss changing the patch for 3 or more days, check with your doctor right away. If your body goes without this medicine for too long, your blood pressure may go up to a dangerously high level and some unpleasant effects may occur.
How long to take Catapres
Catapres helps control your high blood pressure but does not cure it. Therefore continue taking Catapres for as long as your doctor prescribes it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.
Overdose
Seek medical advice if you have used more than the recommended or prescribed dose of Catapres. If overdose is suspected, remove the patch and contact your doctor, pharmacist or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766). Signs of overdose may include slow heart beat, drowsiness, temporarily stopping breathing and coma. Other signs include dryness of the mouth, dizziness, weakness, lethargy, feeling cold, vomiting, looking pale, or having an irregular heart beat.
While you are using Catapres
Things you must do
Have your blood pressure checked as instructed by your doctor, to make sure Catapres is working. If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint, get up slowly when getting out of bed or standing up. You may feel light-headed or dizzy when you begin to use Catapres or if the dose is increased. This is because your blood pressure is falling suddenly. Standing up slowly will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. The problem usually goes away after the first few days.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you begin taking any other medicine while you are using Catapres.
Effects on Ability to Drive or Operate Machinery
You should not drive or operate machinery until you know how Catapres affects you. It is possible that Catapres, like other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people.
Side effects
You should be aware that all prescription medicines carry some risks and that all possible risks may not be known at this stage despite thorough testing. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Catapres against the expected benefits. Ask for the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns about the effects of taking this medicine.
The more frequently reported side effects of Catapres are drowsiness, dryness of the mouth and local skin reactions. Local skin reactions of a non-allergic nature are usually mild and disappear once the patch has been replaced with continued treatment. More severe skin reactions of a contact allergic nature have been reported and may occur after 3 to 6 weeks of continuous treatment. These reactions disappear 1 to 2 weeks following discontinuation of therapy.
Less frequently reported side effects of Catapres include the following:
- blurred vision
- lightheadedness when you stand up suddenly
- dizziness
- confusion
- headache
- sleep disturbances
- mental depression
- irrational or abnormal thoughts
- irritability
- decreased sexual drive / impotence
- rash / hives / itching
- dryness of the nose and eyes
- pain in the salivary glands
- tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
- larger breasts than normal, in men
- slow or irregular heart beat
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any side effects during or after using Catapres, so that these may be properly treated. In addition, unexpected effects, not listed above, can occur with any medicine. You should tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything unusual, during or after using Catapres.
After using Catapres
Storage
Leave the patch in the sachet until it is time to use.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not store in direct sunlight or heat. Do not leave your medicine in the car or on the window sill. Keep your Catapres where young children cannot reach it.
Disposal
After removing a used patch, fold the patch in half with the sticky sides together. Make sure to dispose of it out of the reach of children. If you have been told by your doctor that you will not be using Catapres anymore, the unused medicine should be returned to your pharmacist so that it can be disposed of safely.
Product Description
What is CatapresTTS
Catapres TTS is the brand name of your medicine. Catapres TTS is a transdermal skin patch available in three strengths. Catapres TTS-1 contains 2.5 mg of clonidine, Catapres TTS-2 contains 5 mg of clonidine, Catapres TTS-3 contains 7.5 mg of clonidine.
Catapres TTS are available in cartons of 4 patches.
Distributor
Catapres TTS are supplied in New Zealand by:
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM (N.Z.) LIMITED
PO Box 76-216
Manukau City
Auckland
Ph 0800 802461
This leaflet was prepared on 15 December 2006.
® Boehringer Ingelheim 2009