Catapres Dosage: An Introduction
The dose of
Catapres® (
clonidine hydrochloride) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The severity of your high blood pressure
- Your age
- How you respond to the medication
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Catapres comes in the form of tablets or skin patches. This article applies to the tablet form only
(see Catapres-TTS for information about the patch form).
Recommended Catapres Dosing
For most people, the starting dosage for
high blood pressure treatment is Catapres 0.1 mg twice daily in the morning and at bedtime. If necessary, your healthcare provider may slowly increase your dose. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you take a larger portion of the daily dose at bedtime (and a smaller portion in the morning), in order to reduce bothersome
Catapres side effects like drowsiness or dry mouth.
Elderly individuals and people with kidney disease may need a lower Catapres dosage.
You should not abruptly stop taking Catapres, as serious problems (including a
stroke or even death) may result. Your healthcare provider will advise you about how to safely stop taking this medication. It is usually recommended to slowly reduce the dose over at least two to four days, with careful monitoring. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop any problems while stopping Catapres.
