Catapres-TTS (Clonidine) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 26, 2012

Catapres-TTS

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High blood pressure facts

High blood pressure (hypertension) is designated as either essential (primary) hypertension or secondary hypertension and is defined as a consistently elevated blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg.
High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because it often causes no symptoms for many years, even decades, until it finally damages certain critical organs.
Poorly controlled high blood pressure ultimately can cause damage to blood vessels in the eye, thickening of the heart muscle and heart attacks, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), kidney failure, and strokes.
Most antihypertensive medications can be used alone or in combination. Some are used only in combination. Some are preferred over others in certain specific medical situations. And some are not to be used (contraindicated) in other situations.
Several classes of antihypertensive medications are available, including ACE i...

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Catapres-TTS Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using clonidine transdermal (Catapres-TTS)?

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

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using clonidine transdermal, tell your doctor if you have:

heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;
a heart rhythm disorder;
a history of heart attack or stroke;
kidney disease; or
if you have ever had an allergic reaction to clonidine transdermal.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether clonidine transdermal 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 use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use clonidine transdermal (Catapres-TTS)?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Before applying a skin patch, wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly. Also wash and dry the skin area where you plan to apply the patch. 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 firmly, especially around the edges.

You will wear the patch for 7 days and then remove it and put on a new one. Apply the new patch to a different skin area on your arm or torso. Do not apply patches to 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.

If a patch becomes loose or falls off, apply the round adhesive cover to the patch to keep it on your skin for the entire 7-day wearing time. The adhesive cover contains no medicine and should be used only to secure a skin patch that has become too loose to stick by itself.

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 clonidine transdermal patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the clonidine patch before undergoing such a test.

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using clonidine transdermal. If you need emergency heart resuscitation, your family or caregivers should tell emergency medical personnel if you are wearing a clonidine skin patch. The patch should be removed before any electrical equipment (such as a defribrillator) is used on you.

Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause nervousness, agitation, headache, tremors, severe high blood pressure, or life-threatening symptoms. Talk with your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using clonidine transdermal.

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 this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep each skin patch in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it.

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