Catapres Side Effects

Catapres Side Effects, Information and Catapres Tidbits

What is Catapres?

Catapres (Clonidine) helps reduce high blood pressure. It works by helping to relax blood vessels and decreasing the heart rate which lowers blood pressure. Catapres is an alpha agonist. Catapres is generally used as an antihypertensive, but it has found new uses including treatment of neuropathic pain, sleep hyperhidrosis, opoid detox, and anaesthetic use. It has even become an accepted treatment for insomnia and relief of menopausal symptoms.

It works by stimulating alpha2 receptors in the brain which helps to decrease cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance - which of course lowers blood pressure.

Potential for Abuse?

No information available.

Catapres Side Effects

Call your doctor immediately if you have an allergic reaction such as hives, rash, itching, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat or difficulty breathing; chest pain, decreased sexual desire or ability, fainting, fast slow or irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, mood changes, severe headache, swelling of the hands, ankles or feet.

Less serious common Catapres side effects:

• constipation
• dizziness
• drowsiness, tiredness
• dry mouth
• nausea
• vomiting

This is not a complete list of Catapres side effects. Consult your doctor for a full list.

Interesting Catapres Tidbits

Here are some interesting tidbits on Catapres:

• Catapres can cause hypotension.
• It can cause difficulty in orgasm for women.
• The FDA approved use to treat withdrawal symptoms from long-term use of narcotics, alcohol and smoking.
• It has been used for migraine headaches, hot flashes during menopause and ADHD.
• It works well for opiate addicts by alleviating their withdrawal, namely tachycardia and hypertension - the sweating, hot and cold flashes and general restlessness.
  

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