What Is Clonidine?

Many people may wonder what clonidine is.
 Clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres®, Catapres-TTS®, Duraclon®, Kapvay™, Nexiclon® XR) is a prescription medication that comes in a few different forms and is approved for three different uses. Depending on the particular product, clonidine may be approved for treating high blood pressure, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or cancer pain.
 
Clonidine patches (available in brand-name form only) come in the following strengths:
 
  • Catapres-TTS-1 -- delivers 0.1 mg of clonidine per day
  • Catapres-TTS-2 -- delivers 0.2 mg of clonidine per day
  • Catapres-TTS-3 -- delivers 0.3 mg of clonidine per day.
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Clonidine immediate-release tablets (available in brand-name and generic form) come in the following strengths:
 
  • Clonidine 0.1 mg
  • Clonidine 0.2 mg
  • Clonidine 0.3 mg.
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Clonidine epidural infusion (available in brand-name form only) comes in the following strengths:
 
  • Duraclon 100 mcg per mL (10 mL vials)
  • Duraclon 500 mcg per mL (10 mL vials).
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Clonidine extended-release tablets are available under two different brand names, Kapvay and Nexiclon XR. Kapvay (available in brand-name form only) is approved for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment and is available in the following strengths:
 
  • Kapvay 0.1 mg
  • Kapvay 0.2 mg.
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Nexiclon XR (available in brand-name form only) is approved for high blood pressure treatment and is available in the following strengths:
 
  • Nexiclon XR 0.17 mg tablets
  • Nexiclon XR 0.26 mg tablets
  • Nexiclon XR 0.09 mg per mL oral suspension (liquid).

 

(Click Clonidine for more information on what the drug is used for, to find out how it works, and to learn about the warnings and precautions associated with this medicine.)

 
List of references (click here)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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