Clonidine Patch

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Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Withdrawal

Patients should be instructed not to discontinue therapy without consulting their physician. Sudden cessation of clonidine treatment has, in some cases, resulted in symptoms such as nervousness, agitation, headache, tremor, and confusion accompanied or followed by a rapid rise in blood pressure and elevated catecholamine concentrations in the plasma. The likelihood of such reactions to discontinuation of clonidine therapy appears to be greater after administration of higher doses or continuation of concomitant beta-blocker treatment and special caution is therefore advised in these situations. Rare instances of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accidents and death have been reported after clonidine withdrawal. When discontinuing therapy with Clonidine Transdermal System, the physician should reduce the dose gradually over 2 to 4 days to avoid withdrawal symptomatology.

An excessive rise in blood pressure following discontinuation of Clonidine Transdermal System therapy can be reversed by administration of oral clonidine hydrochloride or by intravenous phentolamine. If therapy is to be discontinued in patients receiving a beta-blocker and clonidine concurrently, the beta-blocker should be withdrawn several days before the gradual discontinuation of Clonidine Transdermal System.

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Legal Issues

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Manufacturer Warnings

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FDA Labeling Changes

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Uses

Clonidine Transdermal System, USP is indicated in the treatment of hypertension. It may be employed alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents.

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History

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Other Information

Clonidine Transdermal System is a transdermal system providing continuous systemic delivery of clonidine for 7 days at an approximately constant rate. Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent. It is an imidazoline derivative with the chemical name 2, 6-dichloro-N-2-imidazolidinylidenebenzenamine and has the following chemical structure:

Clonidine Transdermal Structural Formula

Meets USP Drug Release Test 3.

System Structure and Components

Clonidine Transdermal System is a multi-layered film, 0.25 mm thick, containing clonidine as the active agent. The system areas are 3.33 cm2 (0.1 mg/day), 6.67 cm2 (0.2 mg/day), and 10.0 cm2 (0.3 mg/day) and the amount of drug released is directly proportional to the area (see DESCRIPTION: Release Rate Concept). The composition per unit area is the same for all three doses.

Proceeding from the visible surface towards the surface attached to the skin, there are three consecutive layers: (1) a backing layer of pigmented polyethylene and polyester film, (2) a solid matrix reservoir of clonidine, mineral oil, polyisobutylene, and colloidal silicon dioxide, (3) an adhesive formulation of clonidine, mineral oil, polyisobutylene, and colloidal silicon dioxide. Prior to use, a protective slit release liner of polyester that covers the adhesive formulation layer is removed.

Clonidine Transdermal Systems are packaged with additional pieces of protective film above and below the system within each pouch. These pieces of protective film are removed and discarded at the time of use.

Cross Section of the System:

Release Rate Concept

Clonidine Transdermal System is programmed to release clonidine at an approximately constant rate for 7 days. The energy for drug release is derived from the concentration gradient existing between the patch and the much lower concentration prevailing in the skin. Clonidine flows in the direction of the lower concentration at a constant rate.

Following system application to intact skin, clonidine in the adhesive formulation layer saturates the skin site below the system. Clonidine from the patch then begins to flow into the systemic circulation via the capillaries beneath the skin. Therapeutic plasma clonidine levels are achieved 2 to 3 days after initial application of Clonidine Transdermal System.

The 3.33 cm2, 6.67 cm2, and 10.0 cm2 systems deliver 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.3 mg of clonidine per day, respectively. To ensure constant release of drug for 7 days, the total drug content of the system is higher than the total amount of drug delivered. Application of a new system to a fresh skin site at weekly intervals continuously maintains therapeutic plasma concentrations of clonidine. If the Clonidine Transdermal System is removed and not replaced with a new system, therapeutic plasma clonidine levels will persist for about 8 hours and then decline slowly over several days. Over this time period, blood pressure returns gradually to pretreatment levels.

Sources

Clonidine Patch Manufacturers

Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc

Clonidine Patch | Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc

Apply Clonidine Transdermal System once every 7 days to a hairless area of intact skin on the upper outer arm or chest. Each new application of Clonidine Transdermal System should be on a different skin site from the previous location. If the system loosens during 7-day wearing, the adhesive cover should be applied directly over the system to ensure good adhesion. There have been rare reports of the need for patch changes prior to 7 days to maintain blood pressure control.

To initiate therapy, Clonidine Transdermal System dosage should be titrated according to individual therapeutic requirements, starting with Clonidine Transdermal System 0.1 mg/day. If after one or two weeks the desired reduction in blood pressure is not achieved, increase the dosage by adding another Clonidine Transdermal System, 0.1 mg/day or changing to a larger system. An increase in dosage above two Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3 mg/day is usually not associated with additional efficacy.

When substituting Clonidine Transdermal System for oral clonidine or for other antihypertensive drugs, physicians should be aware that the antihypertensive effect of Clonidine Transdermal System may not commence until 2 to 3 days after initial application. Therefore, gradual reduction of prior drug dosage is advised. Some or all previous antihypertensive treatment may have to be continued, particularly in patients with more severe forms of hypertension.
Renal Impairment
Patients with renal impairment may benefit from a lower initial dose. Patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.

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Physicians Total Care, Inc.

Clonidine Patch | Physicians Total Care, Inc.

Apply Clonidine Transdermal Systems once every 7 days to a hairless area of intact skin on the upper outer arm or chest. Each new application of Clonidine Transdermal System should be on a different skin site from the previous location. If the system loosens during 7-day wearing, the adhesive cover should be applied directly over the system to ensure good adhesion. There have been rare reports of the need for patch changes prior to 7 days to maintain blood pressure control.

To initiate therapy, Clonidine Transdermal System dosage should be titrated according to individual therapeutic requirements, starting with Clonidine Transdermal System 0.1 mg. If after one or two weeks the desired reduction in blood pressure is not achieved, increase the dosage by adding another Clonidine Transdermal System 0.1 mg or changing to a larger system. An increase in dosage above two Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3 mg is usually not associated with additional efficacy.

When substituting Clonidine Transdermal System for oral clonidine or for other antihypertensive drugs, physicians should be aware that the antihypertensive effect of Clonidine Transdermal System may not commence until 2-3 days after initial application. Therefore, gradual reduction of prior drug dosage is advised. Some or all previous antihypertensive treatment may have to be continued, particularly in patients with more severe forms of hypertension.

Renal Impairment: Dosage must be adjusted according to the degree of impairment, and patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.

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Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc

Clonidine Patch | Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc

Apply clonidine transdermal system USP once every 7 days to a hairless area of intact skin on the upper outer arm or chest. Each new application of clonidine transdermal system USP should be on a different skin site from the previous location. If the system loosens during 7 day wearing, the adhesive cover should be applied directly over the system to ensure good adhesion. There have been rare reports of the need for patch changes prior to 7 days to maintain blood pressure control.

To initiate therapy, clonidine transdermal system USP dosage should be titrated according to individual therapeutic requirements, starting with clonidine transdermal system USP 0.1 mg. If after one or two weeks the desired reduction in blood pressure is not achieved, increase the dosage by adding another clonidine transdermal system USP 0.1 mg or changing to a larger system. An increase in dosage above two clonidine transdermal system USP 0.3 mg is usually not associated with additional efficacy.

When substituting clonidine transdermal system USP for oral clonidine or for other antihypertensive drugs, physicians should be aware that the antihypertensive effect of clonidine transdermal system USP may not commence until 2 to 3 days after initial application. Therefore, gradual reduction of prior drug dosage is advised. Some or all previous antihypertensive treatment may have to be continued, particularly in patients with more severe forms of hypertension.

Renal Impairment

Patients with renal impairment may benefit from a lower initial dose. Patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.

No Recall
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Clonidine Patch | Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Apply Clonidine Transdermal System once every 7 days to a hairless area of intact skin on the upper outer arm or chest. Each new application of Clonidine Transdermal System should be on a different skin site from the previous location. If the system loosens during 7-day wearing, the adhesive cover should be applied directly over the system to ensure good adhesion. There have been rare reports of the need for patch changes prior to 7 days to maintain blood pressure control.

To initiate therapy, Clonidine Transdermal System dosage should be titrated according to individual therapeutic requirements, starting with Clonidine Transdermal System 0.1 mg/day. If after one or two weeks the desired reduction in blood pressure is not achieved, increase the dosage by adding another Clonidine Transdermal System, 0.1 mg/day or changing to a larger system. An increase in dosage above two Clonidine Transdermal System 0.3 mg/day is usually not associated with additional efficacy.

When substituting Clonidine Transdermal System for oral clonidine or for other antihypertensive drugs, physicians should be aware that the antihypertensive effect of Clonidine Transdermal System may not commence until 2 to 3 days after initial application. Therefore, gradual reduction of prior drug dosage is advised. Some or all previous antihypertensive treatment may have to be continued, particularly in patients with more severe forms of hypertension.
Renal Impairment
Patients with renal impairment may benefit from a lower initial dose. Patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.

No Recall
Barr Laboratories Inc.

Clonidine Patch | Barr Laboratories Inc.

Apply clonidine transdermal system USP once every 7 days to a hairless area of intact skin on the upper outer arm or chest. Each new application of clonidine transdermal system USP should be on a different skin site from the previous location. If the system loosens during 7 day wearing, the adhesive cover should be applied directly over the system to ensure good adhesion. There have been rare reports of the need for patch changes prior to 7 days to maintain blood pressure control.

To initiate therapy, clonidine transdermal system USP dosage should be titrated according to individual therapeutic requirements, starting with clonidine transdermal system USP 0.1 mg. If after one or two weeks the desired reduction in blood pressure is not achieved, increase the dosage by adding another clonidine transdermal system USP 0.1 mg or changing to a larger system. An increase in dosage above two clonidine transdermal system USP 0.3 mg is usually not associated with additional efficacy.

When substituting clonidine transdermal system USP for oral clonidine or for other antihypertensive drugs, physicians should be aware that the antihypertensive effect of clonidine transdermal system USP may not commence until 2 to 3 days after initial application. Therefore, gradual reduction of prior drug dosage is advised. Some or all previous antihypertensive treatment may have to be continued, particularly in patients with more severe forms of hypertension.

Renal Impairment

Patients with renal impairment may benefit from a lower initial dose. Patients should be carefully monitored. Since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine following dialysis.

No Recall