Catapres-TTS patches contain 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.
Catapres-TTS skin patch are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). They are sometimes used together with other blood pressure medications.
Catapres-TTS may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use this Catapres if you are allergic to clonidine.
To make sure Catapres-TTS is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
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heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;
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a heart rhythm disorder;
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history of heart attack or stroke;
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pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
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kidney disease; or
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if you have ever had an allergic reaction to clonidine.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Catapres is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
Clonidine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I use Catapres-TTS?
Use Catapres-TTS exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Catapres-TTS comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying a Catapres-TTS skin patch. Also wash the skin area where the patch is worn. Rinse and wipe dry with a clean tissue.
Apply the skin patch to a flat, hairless area of the chest, back, side, or outer side of your upper arm. To remove any hair from these areas, clip the hair short but do not shave it. Press the patch firmly with the palm making sure it sticks, especially around the edges.
Remove the Catapres-TTS skin patch after 7 days and replace it with a new one. Choose a different place on your skin to wear the patch each time you put on a new one. Do not use the same skin area 2 weeks in a row.
Do not wear more than 1 patch at a time unless your doctor has told you to.
Catapres-TTS skin patches come with optional "cover" patches. The cover patch is placed over the Catapres-TTS patch to help it stick to your skin. The Catapres-TTS patch is square and the cover patch is round. The cover patch does not contain any active medicine.
You may use a cover patch if the Catapres-TTS becomes loose or falls off before you have worn it for 7 days. Apply the cover patch over the Catapres-TTS patch. Keep both patches on for the rest of your 7-day wearing time.
After removing a skin patch fold it in half, sticky side in, and throw it away where children and pets cannot get to it.
The Catapres-TTS patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the patch before undergoing such a test.
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using Catapres-TTS. If you need emergency heart resuscitation, your family or caregivers should tell emergency medical personnel if you are wearing a Catapres-TTS skin patch. The patch should be removed before any electrical equipment (such as a defibrillator) is used on you.
Do not stop using Catapres-TTS suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.
Keep using this medicine as directed, 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 and heat. Keep each skin patch in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Apply a skin patch as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra patches 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, or pinpoint pupils).
What should I avoid while using Catapres-TTS?
Avoid using lotions, oils, or other skin products on the area where you will apply the skin patch. The patch may not stick properly to the skin.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of Catapres-TTS.
Clonidine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Catapres-TTS side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Catapres-TTS: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
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fast or pounding heartbeats;
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a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats per minute);
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shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
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confusion, hallucinations;
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fever, pale skin;
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little or no urinating;
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numbness or cold feeling in your hands or feet;
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a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; or
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severe skin irritation, swelling, burning, or blistering where the patch is worn.
Common Catapres-TTS side effects may include:
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dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling;
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dry mouth;
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headache;
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lack of energy; or
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skin discoloration or mild irritation where the patch is worn.
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.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Catapres-TTS?
Using this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or lower your blood pressure can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before using Catapres-TTS with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Other drugs may interact with clonidine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
