Clonidine (Catapres) Side Effects

Possible side effects of clonidine are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects if they are severe or do not go away in a few days.

• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Lightheaded feeling
• Low energy
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Nervousness
• Sleep problems
• Decreased sexual ability
• Redness, itching, swelling, burning at the patch application site
• Changes in skin color at the patch application site

Some of the adverse effects of clonidine are more serious. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical help if you develop:

• Skin rash, hives, itching
• Shallow breathing
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Severe chest pain
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, lower legs, ankles, or feet
• Hoarseness

The above list may not include all the potential side effects of clonidine. Contact your healthcare provider if your side effects are unusual or severe or they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Clonidine Overdose: In case of an overdose, call your doctor immediately. You can also call the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If someone has lost consciousness, collapsed, is not breathing, or has had a seizure, call 911. Overdose symptoms may include shivering, cold and pale skin, slow heartbeats, shallow breathing, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, tiredness, weakness, drowsiness, small pupils, and fainting.

Source: FDA