Compare Catapres vs. Kapvay
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers blood pressure.
Catapres (Clonidine) is a good addition if you need more than one medicine to control your blood pressure, but it has a lot of side effects. You can't miss doses.
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3.2/ 5 average rating with 78 reviewsforCatapres
Treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Kapvay (clonidine) is one of the few medicines for ADHD that isn't a stimulant and not addictive, but it can lower your blood pressure.
Upsides
- Can be added to other blood pressure-lowering medicines if you need additional blood pressure control.
- Available in a weekly patch for people that aren't good at taking medicine by mouth.
- Works in the brain, so it can help treat some nervous system and psychiatric conditions.
- Under the brand name Kapvay, it's used to treat ADHD in children and teenagers.
- Can be used alone or together with a stimulant-type medicine to treat ADHD.
- Also treats blood pressure and some nervous system and psychiatric conditions.
- Kapvay (clonidine) is available in generic.
Downsides
- Has a lot of side effects compared to other blood pressure-lowering medicine because it works in the brain.
- The pill form can make some people sleepy, dizzy, and have dry mouth.
- You can't miss doses. Stopping Clonidine suddenly can cause your blood pressure to go up suddenly, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Kapvay (clonidine) is not a first choice medicine to treat ADHD.
- Kapvay (clonidine) can make you feel very dizzy or cause low blood pressure.
- Stopping Kapvay (clonidine) suddenly can cause your blood pressure to jump and your heart to beat very fast.
- It can take up to two weeks of taking Kapvay (clonidine) to notice any changes in behavior.
- Kapvay (clonidine) has to be swallowed whole, which can be hard for some children to do.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended release
- Patch
- Extended release
Price
Lowest price
$4.00
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$17.60
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Reviews
78 reviews so far
42%
saidit'sworth it
33%
saiditworked well
35%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Catapres (Clonidine)?
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Side effects
17possible side effects
- Erythema / pruritis26%
- Dry mouth25%
- Drowsiness12%
- Localized vesiculation7%
- Fatigue6%
- Headache5%
- Allergic contact sensitization5%
- Hyperpigmentation5%
- Lethargy3%
- Sedation3%
- Edema3%
- Excoriation3%
- Burning3%
- Insomnia2%
- Dizziness2%
- Impotence/sexual dysfunction2%
- Dry throat2%
12possible side effects
- Sleepiness19%
- Fatigue14%
- Headache7%
- Upper abdominal pain7%
- Decreased appetite6%
- Dizziness5%
- Insomnia4%
- Aggression2%
- Mood changes2%
- Emotional disorders2%
- Irritability2%
- Stuffy nose2%
Risks and risk factors
- Withdrawal
- Sudden discontinuation of medicine
- Driving impairment
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Low heart rate (bradycardia)
- Age 65 years or older
- Using other medicine(s) that slows the heart
- Low blood pressure and low heart rate
- Sleepiness
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- High blood pressure
- Stopping Kapvay (clonidine) suddenly