Clonidine hydrochloride (
Catapres®,
Catapres-TTS®,
Duraclon®) is a medication approved for several uses. It is available by prescription only and comes in three different forms. The tablets (Catapres) and skin patches (Catapres-TTS) are approved for
treating high blood pressure. Duraclon is given by continuous epidural infusion (an "epidural") and is approved to treat severe pain in people with cancer.
As tablets, clonidine is available in both brand-name and generic form. The tablets come in the following strengths:
- Clonidine 0.1 mg
- Clonidine 0.2 mg
- Clonidine 0.3 mg.
Clonidine belongs to a group of drugs known as alpha-2 adrenergic agonists. It works by stimulating alpha-2 receptors in the brain stem. This causes a decrease in both
blood pressure and heart rate. There is also some evidence that clonidine may decrease certain substances (such as renin or aldosterone) in the body, an action that might also contribute to decreased blood pressure.
(Click Clonidine for more information on when and how to take clonidine, to find out what side effects to look out for during treatment, and to learn about the warnings associated with this medicine.)
