Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day

Clonidine Transdermal System general information

What is Clonidine Transdermal System used for?

Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day is a transdermal delivery system or skin patch containing a medication used to help lower blood pressure in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.  Although there are usually no other symptoms, essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest with usually no obvious and identifiable cause, increases risk of cardiovascular disease, and if uncontrolled can cause kidney damage, stroke, heart attack and heart failure.  Clonidine Transdermal System can be used alone as monotherapy or in conjunction with other antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering) medication.

How does Clonidine Transdermal System work?

Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day contains clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that is used to treat hypertension, by lowering high blood pressure.  Clonidine in Clonidine Transdermal System acts as an antiadrenergic agent, primarily on the central nervous system, by stimulating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain, which reduces activation of the sympathetic nervous system.  This part of the nervous system controls functions that work without intervention of conscious thought, such as heart rate, narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction) and blood pressure.  The overall effect of alpha-2 adrenergic stimulation is to reduce blood pressure.  Clonidine in Clonidine Transdermal System is also thought to act directly on the peripheral blood vessels, reducing the effect of vasoconstrictors (chemicals that cause blood vessels to contract and narrow) making them more relaxed and widened (vasodilation) and this reduces peripheral resistance to the action of blood pumping round the circulation, which also helps reduce blood pressure.  Another result of the action of clonidine in Clonidine Transdermal System is thought to be increased vagal tone, which is when only the parasympathetic nerve fibres (which have opposite functions to the sympathetic nerve fibres) carried by the vagus nerve, stimulate the heart to slow the heart rate, which also helps lower blood pressure.  The combined action of Clonidine in Clonidine Transdermal System reduces the force needed by the heart to pump blood around the body, reducing its workload and lowering blood pressure.  Clonidine Transdermal System is a skin patch that is applied to the skin, allowing clonidine to diffuse out of the patch through the skin and into the blood at a constant rate, delivering a dose of 0.3mg per day over a period of a week.

What does Clonidine Transdermal System contain?

Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day contains the active ingredient clonidine that is that is released from a transdermal delivery system or skin patch at a constant rate of 0.3 mg/24 hours over a period of a week and is used to treat hypertension, by lowering high blood pressure.  There is a solid matrix drug reservoir of clonidine that contains mineral oil, polyisobutylene and colloidal silicon dioxide and an adhesive layer of clonidine that also contains mineral oil, polyisobutylene and colloidal silicon dioxide.  The backing layer is pigmented polyethylene/polyester film, silicone/polyester film.

Treating hypertension with Clonidine Transdermal System

Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day contains clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that is used to lower blood pressure in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.  Although there are usually no other symptoms, hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest with usually no obvious and identifiable cause, increases risk of cardiovascular disease and if uncontrolled can cause kidney damage, stroke, heart attack and heart failure.  Clonidine in Clonidine Transdermal System acts primarily on the central nervous system by stimulating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain and this reduces blood pressure by reducing stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (controls functions that work without intervention of conscious thought), as well as causing peripheral blood vessels to relax and widen, and acting directly on the heart to slow down the heart rate.  The combined actions of Clonidine Transdermal System reduces resistance of peripheral blood vessels and the force needed by the heart to pump blood around the body, which in turn reduces the workload on the heart and lowers blood pressure.  Reducing blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack.  

What are the side effects of Clonidine Transdermal System?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day include drowsiness, dry mouth and local skin reactions.  Less common side effects are usually associated with oral clonidine tablets and include constipation, sleep disturbances, erectile dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension (light-headedness when you stand up suddenly) and dizziness.  Skin reactions can include non-allergic irritation and allergic contact dermatitis, with symptoms including: reddening of the skin under the patch, itching and in severe cases, swelling and vesiculation.

When should Clonidine Transdermal System not be used?

You should not use Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day if you:

• are allergic to clonidine or any ingredients in Clonidine Transdermal System
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have heart failure or severe coronary heart disease
• have certain heart problems, such as irregular/slow heart beat (bradyarrhythmia)
• have hypertension caused by phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland)
• are taking medicines that interact with Clonidine Transdermal System including other antihypertensive agents such as diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE-inhibitors, non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents(NSAIDs), the vasodilator tolazoline, digoxin for various heart conditions like heart failure, mirtazapine for depression, beta-receptor blockers for various heart conditions and hypertension, tricyclic anti-depressants, neuroleptics antipsychotics, alcohol

What medications interact with Clonidine Transdermal System?

Several medications interact with Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day and should either not be taken while you are taking Clonidine Transdermal System or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Clonidine Transdermal System: digoxin for various heart conditions like heart failure, beta-receptor blockers for various heart conditions and hypertension, alcohol
• Drugs that affect Clonidine Transdermal System: other antihypertensive agents such as diuretics, vasodilators, beta-receptor blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE-inhibitors, non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents, the vasodilator tolazoline, mirtazapine for depression, neuroleptics antipsychotics

How should Clonidine Transdermal System be used?

You should apply your Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day once a week after removing the old patch and only one patch should be worn at any time.  You can use Clonidine Transdermal System patches continually and the dose you use depends on your condition, how well you respond and your doctor’s recommendation.  Before you apply your patch, make sure your skin is clean and dry and is not oily, cut or irritated and choose an area of skin with little or no hair, such as upper arm or chest.  Leave the patch on even in the shower or bath or when swimming. If the patch becomes loose, cover it with the extra adhesive overlay provided, but if it becomes too loose or falls off apply a new one.  When you change your patch at the end of the week apply the next patch to a different part of your body as you should not use the same area of skin twice running.  You should continue to use your Clonidine Transdermal System patches for as long as your doctor recommends, as they will help reduce your blood pressure but will not cure your hypertension.   

How long should you take Clonidine Transdermal System?

You should continue to use your Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day for as long as your doctor recommends, as they will help reduce your blood pressure but will not cure your hypertension.  

Missed dose of Clonidine Transdermal System

If you miss a dose of Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day by forgetting to change your patch, change it as soon as you remember.  If it is more than 3 days, check with your doctor as your blood pressure may begin to rise. 

How should Clonidine Transdermal System be stored?

You should store your Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3mg/day below 25°C in a cool dry place.