Clonidine 0.3 mg Immediate Release Tablets — Generic For Catapres — TruPharma

Medication Summary

Medication Summary: This section summarizes DailyMed drug label information to make the label easier to understand. It is not a substitute for the official label, pharmacist counseling, prescriber instructions, or medical advice.

Overview

Clonidine hydrochloride tablets are prescription oral tablets used to treat high blood pressure. The tablets are available in several strengths, including 0.3 mg, and may be used alone or with other antihypertensive medicines.

This medicine works in the brain stem to reduce sympathetic nerve signals. Blood pressure may start to drop within 30 to 60 minutes after a dose, with the greatest effect usually seen in 2 to 4 hours.

Do not stop clonidine suddenly without medical guidance. The label warns that sudden stopping can cause symptoms such as nervousness, agitation, headache, tremor, and a rapid rise in blood pressure.

Common side effects include dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and sedation. The label also warns about possible slow heart rate, low blood pressure, and withdrawal-related effects.

Storage Information

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).

Key Counseling Points

• Take clonidine only as prescribed.
• Do not stop taking it suddenly; the dose should be reduced gradually if it is being discontinued.
• Tell a healthcare professional about all other medicines you take, including alcohol, barbiturates, other sedating drugs, beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or neuroleptics.
• This medicine can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision; use caution when driving or operating machinery.
• Alcohol and other sedating medicines may increase drowsiness.
• Dry mouth is common; eye dryness may also occur, especially in contact lens wearers.
• The medicine may slow heart rate; seek medical attention for symptoms that suggest a very slow pulse or fainting.
• Take special care to follow instructions if surgery is planned, since the label says clonidine is usually continued close to surgery and blood pressure should be monitored.
• If a dose is missed or vomiting prevents taking medicine, contact a healthcare professional for guidance rather than stopping abruptly.

Helpful Patient Education

Clonidine hydrochloride tablets USP are prescription oral antihypertensive tablets used to treat hypertension. The label describes clonidine as a centrally acting alpha-agonist that lowers blood pressure by reducing sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system. This product is available in multiple strengths, including 0.3 mg tablets, and may be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.

Educational labeling information notes important safety points such as not stopping clonidine suddenly, because abrupt withdrawal can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure and other symptoms. Common adverse effects listed on the label include dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and sedation, and the medicine may also affect heart rate and cause other cardiovascular or nervous system effects.

Medication Summary last generated: 2026-07-17 02:58:32