Clorpres

This combination medication is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Clonidine belongs to a class of drugs (central alpha agonists) that act in the brain to lower blood pressure. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Chlorthalidone is a diuretic (water pill) that helps rid the body of extra fluid and relaxes blood vessels. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Your doctor will usually direct you to take the individual medications first to find the best dose for you, then switch you to this combination product. It may take several weeks to find the best dose for you. Your doctor may recommend that you eat foods rich in potassium (e.g., bananas, orange juice) while taking this medication. Your doctor may also prescribe a potassium supplement during your treatment with this drug. Drugs that can decrease the absorption of chlorthalidone include cholestyramine and colestipol. If you are taking either of these drugs, take this medication at least 4 hours after cholestyramine or colestipol. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor because your condition may become worse. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased to prevent symptoms such as restlessness, pounding headache/heartbeat, confusion, and sweating. A serious rapid increase in your blood pressure (rebound hypertension) may occur when this drug is suddenly stopped or if you miss 2 or more doses in a row, especially if you have been taking it for a long time or at higher doses. There have been rare reports of serious (possibly fatal) problems from stopping this drug too quickly, including stroke. Therefore, it is important that you do not run out of this medication. Your risk of rebound hypertension increases if you are also taking beta blocker medication or MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine). When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase). Learn how to monitor your blood pressure while taking this medication. This will help you and your doctor make sure the medication is working well.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: cisapride, dofetilide. If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: beta blocker drugs (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), drugs that can affect heartbeat (e.g., calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem, verapamil), digoxin, drugs for diabetes (e.g., insulin, glipizide), lithium, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline). Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, phenobarbital), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., hydrocodone, codeine), psychiatric medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, nortriptyline, trazodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, fever/pain reducers) because they may contain ingredients that could cause drowsiness, increase your heart rate/blood pressure (e.g., phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine) or reduce the effect of this medication (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Caffeine may increase your blood pressure. Caffeine can be found in some nonprescription medications, soft drinks, coffee, and tea. Limit caffeine intake. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Do not share this medication with others. Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medication. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood levels of potassium/sodium) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Have your blood pressure checked regularly while taking this medication. Learn how to monitor your blood pressure, and share the readings with your doctor.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to clonidine or chlorthalidone; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe kidney disease (inability to make urine). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: asthma, blood circulation problem (e.g., Raynaud's disease, stroke), depression, gout, heart disease (e.g., irregular heartbeat, recent heart attack, chest pain, heart failure), kidney disease, liver disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Significant loss of body water from too much sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea can worsen dizziness. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. If you are on restricted fluid intake, consult your doctor for further instructions. Tell your doctor if you are unable to drink fluids or if you have persistent diarrhea/vomiting. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. If you have diabetes, this medication may make it more difficult to control your blood sugar levels. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed by your doctor. Inform your doctor of the results. Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. Your doctor may need to adjust your anti-diabetic medication or diet. This medication can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen. Contact lens wearers may need to use appropriate lubricating solutions if this medication causes dry eyes. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, elderly people may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug, especially dehydration. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, constipation, weakness, tiredness, or increased urination may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. This drug can lead to serious water and mineral loss (dehydration). Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these unlikely but serious symptoms of dehydration: loss of appetite, confusion, severe dizziness/fainting, unusual dry mouth/thirst, severe headache, fast/irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps/spasms, nausea/vomiting, numbness/tingling, restlessness, seizure, decrease in amount of urine, unusual weakness/tiredness. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: slow heartbeat, joint pain (e.g., big toe pain), decreased sexual function, swelling of the hands/feet, unusual weight gain. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bleeding/bruising, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), persistent nausea/vomiting, severe stomach/abdominal pain, pale stool, yellowing of eyes/skin, difficult urination, dark urine. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.