Catapres-TTS-3

Catapres-TTS-3 is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure. Catapres-TTS-3 belongs to a group of drugs called centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agents, which work by relaxing the blood vessels and decreasing heart rate.

Catapres-TTS-3 comes as a patch that is placed on the skin once every 7 days.

Common side effects of Catapres-TTS-3 include dry mouth, fatigue (feeling tired), and headache. Catapres-TTS-3 can also cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medication will affect you. Alcohol may intensify this side effect.

Catapres-TTS-3 is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Common side effects of Catapres-TTS-3 include:

• dry mouth
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• headache
• insomnia
• dizziness
• dry throat
• constipation
• nausea
• change in taste
• nervousness

This is not a complete list of Catapres-TTS-3 side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Catapres-TTS-3. See “Drug Precautions” section.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• alcohol
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital
• tricyclic antidepressants such as selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl), amitriptyline (Elavil), or nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)
• antipsychotics such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), and olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Calan), diltiazem (Cardizem), or amlodipine (Norvasc)
• beta blockers such as carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and atenolol (Tenormin)

This is not a complete list of Catapres-TTS-3 drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Catapres-TTS-3 including:

• Rash. Use of Catapres-TTS-3 may result in a rash, and a switch to Catapres tablets may or may not cause this side effect.
• Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction. Use of Catapres-TTS-3 may result in a rash, and a switch to Catapres tablets may or may not cause this side effect. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms:
  • rash
  • itchiness
  • swelling of face or throat
• Skin burns. This side effect has been reported at the patch site in patients wearing Catapres-TTS-3 during a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI). It is recommended for the physician to have the patch removed before the patient has an MRI done.
• Catapres-TTS-3 can cause drowsiness or dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Catapres-TTS-3 affects you.
• To avoid withdrawal side effects (e.g. nervousness, headaches, tremors), do not suddenly stop using Catapres-TTS-3. Discuss with your doctor about slowly decreasing the dose before stopping use of this medication altogether.
• Catapres-TTS-3 may worsen pre-existing heart conduction abnormalities, especially if you are taking other drugs similar to the way clonidine works.
• Do not use Catapres-TTS-3 if you have a known hypersensitivity (allergic reaction) to clonidine or to any other component of the tablet or patch forms.

• Talk to your doctor promptly about the possible need to remove the patch if they observe moderate to severe localized erythema and/or vesicle formation at the site of application or generalized skin rash.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Catapres-TTS-3, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Catapres-TTS-3.

Alcohol may intensify some of the side effects of this medication.

Before using Catapres-TTS-3, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• if redness or swelling develops at patch site
• have a history of heart problems
• have hypertension due to pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal glands)
• are planning to undergo surgery
• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• wear contact lenses
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Catapres-TTS-3 falls into category C. No adequate studies have been done in pregnant women. Animal study results do not always equal that of human response. Catapres-TTS-3 should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It is not known if Catapres-TTS-3 will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

The active ingredient in Catapres-TTS-3 is excreted in human breast milk. The effect of Catapres-TTS-3 on the nursing infant is not known.

• Use Catapres-TTS-3 exactly as prescribed.
• Catapres-TTS-3 comes as a patch.
• To avoid withdrawal side effects (e.g. nervousness, headaches, tremors), do not suddenly stop using Catapres-TTS-3. Discuss with your doctor about slowly decreasing the dose before stopping use of this medication altogether.
• If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose (tablet), skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not apply two doses of Catapres-TTS-3 at the same time.
• Catapres-TTS-3 is applied to the skin once every 7 days. On Day 8, a new patch is applied, and the old patch should be removed. Apply the patch to a hairless area of intact skin (no burns, bruises, or cuts) on the upper outer arm or chest. Each new patch should be applied on a skin site different from the site of the old patch. If the patch loosens during 7-day wearing, the adhesive cover should be applied directly over the patch to ensure good adhesion.
• Discuss with your doctor about what to do if redness or swelling occurs at patch site.

Use Catapres-TTS-3 exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

To start therapy, the patch dosage should be adjusted according to individual needs, starting with the lowest patch dose (0.1 mg). If after one or two weeks the desired decrease in blood pressure is not achieved, your dose may be increased by your doctor by adding another Catapres-TTS-1 (clonidine) 0.1 mg patch or changing to Catapres-TTS-3 (clonidine) 0.3 mg.

If you applied more Catapres-TTS-1 than directed, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

During or even after use, patch contains active medication which may be harmful to infants and children if accidentally applied or ingested. After use, fold in half with the sticky sides together. Dispose of carefully out of reach of children.