adhd - Drugs for ADHD

Clonidine is similar to Tenex. It is primarily used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Some consider it helpful to reduce ADHD symptoms such as aggression, but may not improve attention deficit or distractibility. Low doses are often prescribed to control the side effects of stimulants, such as insomnia. Tenex is usually prefered to clonidine or the catapress patch.

Common side effects:

Drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness,dry mouth or throat; headache; lack of energy; mild skin irritation; tiredness; insomnia or blurred vision. 

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of clonidine.

Severe side effects requiring medical attention:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; decrease sexual desire or ability; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; mental or mood changes; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; skin irritation; rash, blisters, burning, or color change at the application site; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet.

Warnings

Stopping clonidine suddenly can cause nervousness, anxiety, severe high blood pressure, or life-threatening symptoms.

Clonidine may impair thinking or reactions. Be careful driving, running machinery or doing anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Clonidine and Catapress are FDA pregnancy category C drugs. This means that it may be harmful to an unborn baby.  Also, Clonidine can pass into breast milk and thus harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.  

Overdose Symptoms:

Drowsiness, slow or uneven heart rate, shallow breathing, weakness, fainting, seizure (convulsions), and coma. If you have these symptoms seek medical attention immediately.

Use of the Catapres patch (clonidine transdermal)

Avoid using lotions or oils on the area where the patch will be applied. Otherwise, the patch may not stick well.

Before applying a skin patch, wash and dry your hands and the skin area where you plan to apply the patch.

Apply the skin patch to a flat, hairless area of the chest, back, side, or outer side of your upper arm. To remove any hair from these areas, clip the hair short but do not shave it. Press the patch firmly with the palm making sure it sticks firmly, especially around the edges.

After removing a skin patch, fold it in half, sticky side in, and throw it away where children and pets cannot get to it.

The skin patch may cause a local rash.

Since the safety and effectiveness Clonidine and Catapres Patches has not been established in children, be very cautious with children under 12 years old

General Catapres and Clonidine drug interactions:

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by clonidine.

Specific Catapres and Clonidine drug interactions:

Oral clonidine (tablets);digitalis (digoxin, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); beta-blocker such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), esmolol (Brevibloc), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), penbutolol (Levatol), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren); calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil).