Clonidine (Catapres) Uses

Clonidine immediate-release tablets and patches (generics and brand name Catapres and Catapres-TTS) are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) alone or in combination with other medications. The extended-release tablets (brand name Kapvay) are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

There may be other uses of clonidine, such as to treat dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods), menopausal hot flashes, Tourette’s syndrome (tics), hypertensive crisis (dangerously high blood pressure), alcohol and opiate withdrawal, as a smoking cessation aid, and for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information.

Clonidine (Catapres) Mechanism of Action

Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha agonist. It decreases the heart rate and relaxes the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily and thereby lowering blood pressure. Clonidine helps in treating impulsivity and attention deficit in people with ADHD by acting on the parts of the brain that control these functions.

Clonidine (Catapres) Doses

Clonidine is available as: 

0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.3 mg immediate-release tablets

0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.3 mg transdermal patch

0.1 mg and 0.2 mg extended-release tablets

To treat high blood pressure, the usual starting dose of clonidine is 0.1 mg twice a day. The dose may be increased up to 0.6 mg per day in divided doses, depending on your response to the antihypertensive effect of this medicine. 

The patch is applied once every 7 days. The usual starting dose is Catapres-TTS-1 and it can be increased to two of the Catapres-TTS-3 patches. 

To treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the usual oral daily dose is clonidine extended release tablet 0.1 mg at bedtime. The dose can be slowly increased to 0.4 mg per day in divided doses (0.2 mg in the morning and 0.2 mg in the evening).