Catapres 150mcg

Catapres general information

What is Catapres used for?

Catapres tablets 150mcg are used to treat essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest with no known cause; also secondary hypertension, which is high blood pressure due to a known cause, such as kidney disease, or a side effect of another medication. Although there are usually no other symptoms, high blood pressure increases risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack. Catapres 150 can be used alone as monotherapy or in conjunction with other antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering) medication.

How does Catapres work?

Catapres tablets 150mcg contain clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that acts primarily on the central nervous system by stimulating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain, which reduces activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This part of the nervous system controls functions that work without intervention of conscious thought, such as heart rate, narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction) and blood pressure. The overall effect of alpha-2 adrenergic stimulation is to reduce blood pressure. Clonidine in Catapres tablets 150mcg is also thought to act directly on the peripheral blood vessels reducing the effect of vasoconstrictors (chemicals that cause blood vessels to contract and narrow) making them more relaxed and widened (vasodilation) and this reduces peripheral resistance to the action of blood pumping round the circulation, which also helps reduce blood pressure. Another result of the action of Clonidine in Catapres 150 is thought to be increased vagal tone, which is when only the parasympathetic nerve fibres (which have opposite functions to the sympathetic nerve fibres) carried by the vagus nerve stimulate the heart to slow the heart rate, which also helps lower blood pressure. The combined action of Clonidine in Catapres tablets 150mcg reduces the force needed by the heart to pump blood around the body, reducing its workload and lowering blood pressure.

What does Catapres contain?

Catapres tablets 150mcg contain the active ingredient clonidine hydrochloride, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that is used as an antihypertensive to lower blood pressure. They also contain lactose, dibasic calcium phosphate, maize starch, aerosil 200, polyvidone 25, starch soluble, stearic acid.

Treating hypertension (high blood pressure) with Catapres

Catapres tablets 150mcg contains clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that is used to treat essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure with no known cause; also secondary hypertension, which is high blood pressure due to a known cause, such as kidney disease or a side effect of another medication. Clonidine in Catapres tablets 150mcg acts primarily on the central nervous system by stimulating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain and this reduces blood pressure by reducing stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (controls functions that work without intervention of conscious thought), as well as causing peripheral blood vessels to relax and widen, and acting directly on the heart to slow down the heart rate. The combined actions of Catapres 150 reduces resistance of peripheral blood vessels and the force needed by the heart to pump blood around the body, which in turn reduces the workload on the heart and lowers blood pressure. Reducing blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack.

What are the side effects of Catapres?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Catapres tablets 150mcg include: drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, fatigue, blurred vision, orthostatic hypotension (light-headedness when you stand up suddenly) dizziness, drowsiness, sleep disturbances, depression, erectile dysfunction.

When should Catapres not be used?

You should not use Catapres tablets 150mcg if you:

• are allergic to clonidine or any ingredients in Catapres 150
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney disease
• have certain heart problems, such as irregular/slow heart beat (bradyarrhythmia)
• hypertension caused by phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland)
• are taking medicines that interact with Catapres, including: other antihypertensive agents such as diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE-inhibitors, non steroidal anti inflammatory agents, the vasodilator tolazoline, digoxin for various heart conditions like heart failure, mirtazapine for depression, beta-receptor blockers for various heart conditions and hypertension, tricyclic anti-depressants, neuroleptics antipsychotics, alcohol

What medications interact with Catapres?

Several medications interact with Catapres tablets 150mcg and should either not be taken while you are taking Catapres or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Catapres: digoxin for various heart conditions like heart failure, beta-receptor blockers for various heart conditions and hypertension, alcohol
• Drugs that affect Catapres: other antihypertensive agents such as diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE-inhibitors, non steroidal anti inflammatory agents, the vasodilator tolazoline, mirtazapine for depression, neuroleptics antipsychotics

How should Catapres be taken?

You should take your Catapres tablets 150mcg with a glass of water once daily at night. The dose you take and how often depends on your condition and your doctor’s recommendation and may be increased until your blood pressure is controlled. You should continue to take your Catapres 150 daily for as long as your doctor recommends, as it will help reduce your blood pressure but will not cure your hypertension. You should not stop taking Catapres 150 suddenly as your blood pressure may rise rapidly, but should reduce your dose gradually, if required by your doctor.

How long should you take Catapres?

You should continue to take your Catapres tablets 150mcg daily for as long as your doctor recommends, as it will help reduce your blood pressure but will not cure your hypertension. You should not stop taking Catapres 150 suddenly and your blood pressure may rise rapidly, but should reduce your dose gradually, if required by your doctor.

Missed dose of Catapres

If you miss a dose of Catapres tablets 150mcg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Catapres be stored?

You should store your Catapres tablets 150mcg below 30°C in a cool dry place.