Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Catapres Tab 0.1mg
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
CATAPRES tablets help reduce high blood pressure in patients that did not respond or who experienced unacceptable adverse events when using other medicines for high blood pressure.
What it does:
CATAPRES tablets belong to a group of medicines called antihypertensives which are used to reduce high blood pressure. The clonidine hydrochloride ingredient of CATAPRES is a vasodilator which causes widening of the blood vessels and therefore an increase in blood flow. When there is less resistance to blood flow, blood pressure is lowered.
When it should not be used:
Do not take CATAPRES if you:
Are hypersensitive or “allergic” to the active ingredient
clonidine hydrochloride or any other ingredient in this product or component of the container, (see ‘What the non-medicinal ingredients are:’ section)
- Have a slow heart rate due to heart problems
Have galactosaemia (a rare genetic condition causing
galactose intolerance)
What the medicinal ingredient is:
clonidine hydrochloride.
What the non-medicinal ingredients are:
calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous, lactose monohydrate, maize starch dried, povidone, silica colloidal anhydrous, soluble starch and stearic acid. 0.2 mg also contains FD&C Yellow #6.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Tablet; 0.1 mg (white), 0.2 mg (orange)
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
BEFORE you use CATAPRES, tell your doctor or pharmacist about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
have Raynaud’s disease or other circulation problems
- have any problems with circulation of blood to your brain
- have heart or kidney problems
- have a slow heart rate
- are suffering from constipation
- have symptoms of nerve disorders (such as altered sensation of the extremities or low blood pressure upon standing)
- have been told by your doctor that you have galactose intolerance
- are suffering from or have, in the past, suffered from depression
are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or if you are breast feeding
- have pheochromocytoma (tumour of the adrenal gland)
CATAPRES is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (under the age of 18 years ).
Other warnings you should know about:
CATAPRES tablets may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery and avoid alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Before taking CATAPRES, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines, and:
- any other medicine containing clonidine
- diuretic tablets (commonly called water tablets e.g. furosemide)
- other medicines to treat high blood pressure (e.g. beta blockers)
- alpha blockers (e.g. phentolamine)
- tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. imipramine)
- major tranquilizers (e.g. chlorpromazine)
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (e.g. ibuprofen)
- vasodilators (e.g. sodium nitroprusside)
- calcium antagonists (e.g. verapamil, diltiazem hydrochloride)
- ACE inhibitors (e.g. captopril, lisinopril)
- cardiac glycosides (e.g. digoxin)
- tablets which cause drowsiness
- tablets to decrease appetite
- neuroleptics (e.g. phenothiazines)
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Follow your doctor’s instructions about when and how to take your medicine and always read the label. Do not change your dose or stop taking CATAPRES without first talking to your doctor.
Usual dose:
Initial dose: The usual starting dose is 0.1 mg tablet twice daily (morning and bedtime). Elderly patients may benefit from a lower initial dose.
Maintenance dose: After a period of 2 to 4 weeks, a higher dose may be needed until the desired response is achieved. In those instances where it is not possible to take the same dose of the drug in the morning and at bedtime, taking the larger dose at bedtime may help reduce the dry mouth and drowsiness side effects.
Overdose:
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Always take the labelled medicine container with you whether or not there are any CATAPRES tablets left.
Missed Dose:
If you forget to take your medicine, take your dose when you remember and then your next dose at the usual time. If you forget a dose completely, do not take two doses at the same time.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Along with its intended action, any medication, including CATAPRES, may cause side effects. Most adverse events are mild and tend to diminish with continuation of therapy.
Side effects may include: dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, malaise, sleep disorder, sedation and erectile dysfunction.
If you experience any of these effects or any other effects not mentioned above and they persist or become troublesome, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
With the exception of allergic reaction, you should not stop taking CATAPRES without first consulting with your doctor as this may cause a severe withdrawal reaction which in rare cases can cause death.
CATAPRES can cause abnormal blood test results. They may indicate excess sugar in blood. Your doctor will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and seek immediate medical help | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| Common | Blood pressure effects: Fall in blood pressure on standing | √ | ||
Urinary effects: Urinary difficulty or retention | √ | |||
| Uncommon | Allergic reaction: Hives, swelling of lips, face or throat with difficulty breathing or speaking (signs of angioedema) | √ | ||
Hypersensitivity reactions: Skin rash, skin eruption or other effect on the skin or eyes | √ | |||
Muscle or joint effects: Muscle or joint pain and cramps of the lower limbs | √ | |||
| Hallucination | √ | |||
| Problem with circulation to the fingers and toes (Raynaud’s pheonomenon) | √ | |||
| Rare | Heart effects: Racing or irregular heart rate, slow heart rate | √ | ||
| Blockage of the large bowel: Colicky pain, constipation, vomiting, liver problems | √ | |||
Liver disorder: Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dark/brown urine | √ | |||
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and seek immediate medical help | ||
Only if severe | In all cases | |||
Not known | Confusion state | √ | ||
| Disability of the eye to change its focus from near to distant objects | √ | |||
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking CATAPRES, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
CATAPRES Tablets should be stored at room temperature (15-30°C).
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date which is printed on the packaging.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
REPORTING SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS
You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following 3 ways:
- Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
- Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program Health Canada
Postal Locator 0701E
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffect™ Canada Web site at
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.
NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of the side effect, please contact your health care provider before notifying Canada Vigilance. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
MORE INFORMATION
This document plus the full Product Monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found at:
http://www. boehringer-ingelheim.ca or by contacting the sponsor, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. at: 1-800-263-5103 Ext. 84633 (Medical Information)