Catapres vs. Minipress

• Are Catapres and Minipress the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Catapres?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Minipress?
• What is Catapres?
• What is Minipress?
• What Drugs Interact with Catapres?
• What Drugs Interact with Minipress?
• How Should Catapres Be Taken?
• How Should Minipress Be Taken?

Catapres (clonidine hydrochloride) and Minipress (prazosin hydrochloride) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Catapres and Minipris belong to different drug classes. Catapres is a centrally acting alpha-agonist and Minipress is an alpha-adrenergic blocker.

Common side effects of Catapres include:

• dry mouth,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• irritability,
• tiredness,
• mood changes,
• sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares),
• headache,
• ear pain,
• fever,
• feeling hot,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain,
• increased thirst,
• loss of interest in sex,
• impotence,
• difficulty having an orgasm, or
• cold symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose,
• sneezing,
• cough, or
• sore throat.

Many side effects of Catapres may go away after several doses. Serious side effects of Catapres include hypotension, bradycardia, congestive heart failure, weakness, and edema.

Common side effects of Minipress include:

• headache,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• weakness,
• blurred vision,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea, or
• constipation as your body adjusts to the medication

Other side effects of Minipress include:

• lightheadedness or dizziness upon standing, especially after the first dose and shortly after taking a dose of the drug during the first week of treatment.

Catapres (clonidine hydrochloride) is a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent used to treat hypertension. Catapres is available as a generic named clonidine (tablets and patches).

Minipress (clonidine hydrochloride) extended-release is a centrally acting alpha2-adrenergic agonist used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Minipress is available in generic form.

Catapres may interact with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), antidepressants, beta-blockers, digitalis, other products containing clonidine, or other drugs to treat high blood pressure or heart problems.

Catapres may also interact with digoxin or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Minipress may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Minipress may also interact with propranolol.

Catapres (clonidine hydrochloride, USP and TTS) is available in strengths of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg tablets and patches for transdermal administration (TTS form). No adequate, well-controlled studies have been conducted in pregnant or breastfeeding women; this drug may be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients has not been established although some pediatric physicians have used the drug to treat hypertensive children.

Initial dose of Minipress is 1 mg two or three times a day. The usual therapeutic dose ranges from 6 mg to 15 mg daily given in divided doses.