Clonidine
Brand: Catapres-TTS (patch); Catapres tablets and Kapvay discontinued (generic)
No boxed warning on the current FDA label.
- Caution
- Abrupt discontinuation causes rebound hypertension; clonidine and clonazepam are an ISMP confused-name pair.
Common side effects
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Constipation
Key interactions
- Additive sedation with CNS depressants
- Beta blockers worsen rebound hypertension on withdrawal
- Tricyclics reduce its effect
Counseling points
- Never stop abruptly: rebound high blood pressure can be severe
- Rise slowly from sitting or lying
- Rotate patch sites weekly if using the transdermal form
- Easily confused with clonazepam: check the label carefully
We ask 6 questions about Clonidine.Practice Clonidine →Test yourself on medications like Clonidine.Practice Medications →
High-yield study aid for exam prep, not a substitute for the package insert or a pharmacist’s dispensing reference.