Catapres lowers high blood pressure, a condition also known as hypertension. There are usually no symptoms to diagnose hypertension. Regular blood pressure checks with your doctor are the best way to determine if you have high blood pressure.
If left unchecked high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and other serious health problems.
Catapres works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels making it easier for heart to pump blood around the body resulting in lower blood pressure.
Before taking Catapres
You must tell your doctor if you have, or had had any of the following conditions:
- heart failure or any heart or circulation problem.
- stroke, or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- mental depression
- sugar diabetes
- nerve damage, which may to weakness in the arms or legs
- phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumor of the adrenal gland)
- any kidney problems
If you are not sure if have had any of the above conditions, consult your doctor before taking Catapres.
Taking other medicines while using Catapres may result in unwanted side effects or reduce the effectiveness of Catapres. Tell you doctor if you are tking:
- other medicines for high blood pressure
- medicines for heart problems
- alcohol
- medicines used to control mood swings and some types of depression
- medicines used to relieve pain, swelling or other symptoms of inflammation.
Ask for your doctor's advice if you are pregnant, intend becoming pregnant, are breastfeeding or are intending to breastfeed during the course of taking Catapres.
Dosage and Administration
The correct dosage of Catapres will depend on the condition you are being treated for. Typically many patients start taking Catapres at 75mcg (½ a tablet) , two or three times a day. You doctor may increase your dosage by ½ tablet increments depending on how your blood pressure responds to the medication. The recommeneded long term dose for Catapres is one (150mcg) or two (300mcg) tablets, three times daily. However you are strongly advised to only take Catapres as directed by your doctor.
Take Catapres tablets at the same time each day. Tablets can be taken with a glass water.
What if I forget a dose?
Catapres should be taken as soon as you remember. However if it almost time for your next dose, miss the dose and take the usual amount at the next dosage time. Do not double up on the dosage to make up for missed dosages.
Overdose
Seek medical advice if you have taken more than the recommended or prescribed amount. Signs of overdose include: slow heart beat, drowsiness, temporarily stopping breathing, coma, dizziness, weakness, lethargy, feeling cold, vomiting, looking pale or an irregular heart beat.
Things you must do while taking Catapres
See your doctor regularly to get your blood pressure checked to determine if the medication is working and whether your current dosage is adequate.
You should not drive or operate machinery until you know Catapres affects you. It is possible that Catapres may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people.
Side Effects
There is the possibility that all presciption medication carry risk of side effects and despite thorough testing all possible side effects may not me known. You should consult your doctor if you have concerns about any effects Catapres may cause.
The more commonly reported side effects are: drowsiness, dryness of the mouth, nausea and vomiting.
Less common side effects include:
- blurred vision
- lightheadedness when you stand up suddenly
- dizziness
- confusion
- headache
- sleep disturbance
- mental depression
- irrational or abnormal thoughts
- irritablity
- decreased sex drive
- generally feeling unwell
- thinning of the hair
- rash / hives / itching
- constipation
- dryness of the nose and eyes
- pain in the salivary glands
- tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
- increased breast size, in men
- slow or irregular heart beat
Tell you doctor if these side effects persist or become bothersome.
Storage
Keep Catapres in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C or 90°F
Do not store in direct sunlight or heat
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