Clonidine Hcl ER

COMMON BRAND(S): Kapvay

GENERIC NAME(S): Clonidine Hcl

Uses

Clonidine is used alone or with other medicines for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a part of the total treatment plan, including psychological treatment, social and other treatments.

How To Use Clonidine HCL ER

If you start taking Clonidine and you get a refill every time, read the Patient Information Letter before you are available from your pharmacist. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take Clonidine without your doctor-directed or mouth-mouthing, usually twice daily (morning and evening). If the dose is not equal, then take a large dose while sleeping.

To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication on low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

Do not crush or chew the expanded-release tablet. Doing this increases the risk of side effects, you can release all medicines at once. Also, do not divide the pills until they have a score line, and your doctor or pharmacist asks you to do this. Swallow whole or split tablet without crushing or chewing.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and treatment response.

Use Clonidine regularly to get the most benefit. To help you remember, take it every day at the same time. It is important to continue taking this medicine even if you feel OK.

Do not stop taking this medicine without consultation with your doctor. You may experience symptoms such as headache, rapid heartbeat, nausea, anxiety and flushing. Rapid increase in blood pressure can occur even when the medicine suddenly stops. If you use long-term or high amounts of this medication, or if you are also taking a beta blocker (e.g atenolol), then the risk is high. Preventing this drug very quickly has caused rare reports of serious, possibly fatal reactions (such as stroke). Therefore, it is important that you do not quit Clonidine or miss any dose. Tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you are unable to take medication (for example, due to vomiting). To prevent any reaction while stopping treatment with this drug, your doctor may gradually reduce your dose. Contact your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Report any new or deteriorating symptoms instantly.

Other forms of this medicine (like instant-release tablet) can provide different amounts of this drug. Do not switch between different forms of this medicine without the permission and instructions of your doctor. Also, do not take other Clonidine products while taking this medicine.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Side Effects

Dizziness, laziness, drowsiness, fatigue, stuffy noses, mouth drying or constipation can occur. If any of these effects persists or worsens, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

To reduce the risk of dizziness and lighthouse, slowly rise while sitting or lying down from the position of lying.

To relieve dry mouth, (hard-grained) suck hard candies or ice chips, use sugar (sugar-free) chewing gum, drink water, or use saliva.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this drug because he or she has decided that the benefit is higher than the risk of side effects. Many people using this drug do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if you have a serious side effect, including: unconsciousness, slow / irregular heartbeat, change in mental / mood (e.g irritability, depression).

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, if you see symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, get immediate medical help, including: granular, itching / swelling (especially the face / tongue / throat), severe dizziness, difficulty breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you do not list other effects above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In America – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can notify the FDA of side effects on 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report the health effects of Canada on 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking clonidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you are allergic to it (including rashes while using clonidine patches); Or if you have any other allergens. This product can have passive elements, which can cause allergic or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using Clonidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially: problems of heart rhythm (like slow / irregular heart beat), stroke, low blood pressure, kidney disease.

Clonidine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or dry. Unless you can safely do it, do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires caution. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and herbal products).

Those wearing contact lenses may need to use wet-eyed droplets because this drug can cause dry eyes.

Older adults may be more vulnerable to the side effects of this product, especially dizziness, or drowsiness. These side effects can increase the risk of falling.

During pregnancy, this drug should be used only when it is clearly necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Over Dose

If someone is treated and has serious symptoms like having trouble going out or breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call the Poison Control Center immediately. US residents can call their local venom control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canadians can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness / drowsiness, unconsciousness, slow / irregular heartbeat, slow / shallow breathing, seizures

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and / or medical tests (such as blood pressure, heart rate) should be periodically monitoring your progress or checking the side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, then leave the missed dose. Take your next dose at regular times. Do not double the dose to catch up. If you miss 2 or more dosages on the line, immediately contact your doctor.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Until instructed to do so, do not flush the medicines in the toilet and do not drain them. When this period expires or does not need it, then properly release this product. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.