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|Catapres

Catapres

Catapres is used for:

Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Catapres is an alpha agonist. It works by relaxing (dilating) blood vessels and decreasing heart rate, which lowers blood pressure.

Do NOT use Catapres if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Catapres

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Catapres :

Some medical conditions may interact with Catapres . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney problems or the blood disorder porphyria
• if you have blood vessel disease affecting the brain or severe heart disease, or have had a stroke or a recent heart attack
• if you are scheduled for surgery

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Catapres . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil), or digitalis because a severe decrease in heart rate may occur
• Tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the effectiveness of Catapres may be decreased and certain side effects may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Catapres may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Catapres :

Use Catapres as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Catapres may be taken with or without food.
• Catapres works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
• Continue to use Catapres even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• Do not suddenly stop taking Catapres without talking to your doctor. Excessive elevations in blood pressure and symptoms such as nervousness, headache, and confusion may occur if Catapres is suddenly stopped.
• If you miss a dose of Catapres , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If you miss 2 or more doses in a row, contact your doctor.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Catapres .

Important safety information:

• Catapres may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Catapres . Using Catapres alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medications that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking Catapres . Catapres will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants.
• Catapres may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Also, sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness.
• Patients being treated for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after beginning therapy. Continue taking your medication even though you may not feel quite "normal". Contact your doctor or pharmacist about any new symptoms.
• If you experience dry mouth, use sugarless candy or gum, or melt bits of ice in your mouth to help keep your mouth moist.
• Before having any surgical or dental procedures or receiving emergency treatment, tell the doctor or dentist in charge that you are receiving Catapres .
• LAB TESTS, including blood pressure, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Catapres with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness.
• Use Catapres with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 12 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed. Also, CHILDREN who are sick and vomiting may be more sensitive to developing withdrawal symptoms.
• If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Catapres during pregnancy. Catapres is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Catapres , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

If you suddenly stop taking Catapres , you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms, including nervousness, agitation, headache, tremor, and rapid increase in blood pressure.

Possible side effects of Catapres :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; tiredness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in heartbeat; inability to have sex; pounding in the chest.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Accidental overdose of Catapres is an increasing cause of poisoning in children 3 years of age and younger. Symptoms may include difficult or slow breathing; drowsiness leading to unresponsiveness or coma; irritability; lightheadedness, especially upon standing; pinpoint pupils; slow heartbeat; vomiting; weakness.

Store Catapres at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), away from heat, moisture, and light. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Catapres out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Catapres , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Catapres is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Catapres . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.