What is clonidine and chlorthalidone?
Clonidine lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels to relax and your heart to beat more slowly and easily.
Chlorthalidone is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
The combination of clonidine and chlorthalidone treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Clonidine and chlorthalidone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about clonidine and chlorthalidone?
Do not use this medication if you are unable to urinate.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, or if you have liver disease, kidney disease, asthma, allergies, gout, lupus, or diabetes.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of clonidine and chlorthalidone.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause nervousness, anxiety, severe high blood pressure, or life-threatening symptoms. You will need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to the side effects of clonidine and chlorthalidone.
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Keep using clonidine and chlorthalidone as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so you may not know when your blood pressure is high. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
What should I discuss with my doctor before taking clonidine and chlorthalidone?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to clonidine or chlorthalidone, or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using clonidine and chlorthalidone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take clonidine and chlorthalidone.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Clonidine and chlorthalidone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.