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.

Clonidine transdermal (skin patch) is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It is sometimes used together with other blood pressure medications.

Clonidine transdermal may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying a skin patch. Also wash the skin area where the patch is worn. Rinse and wipe dry with a clean tissue.

Apply the skin patch to a flat, hairless area of the chest, back, side, or outer side of your upper arm. To remove any hair from these areas, clip the hair short but do not shave it. Press the patch firmly with the palm making sure it sticks, especially around the edges.

Remove the skin patch after 7 days and replace it with a new one. Choose a different place on your skin to wear the patch each time you put on a new one. Do not use the same skin area 2 weeks in a row.

Do not wear more than 1 patch at a time unless your doctor has told you to.

Clonidine skin patches come with optional "cover" patches. The cover patch is placed over the clonidine patch to help it stick to your skin. The clonidine patch is square and the cover patch is round. The cover patch does not contain any active medicine. It should be worn only over a clonidine patch.

You may use a cover patch if the clonidine patch becomes loose or falls off before you have worn it for 7 days. Apply the cover patch over the clonidine patch. Keep both patches on for the rest of your 7-day wearing time.

After removing a skin patch fold it in half, sticky side in, and throw it away where children and pets cannot get to it.

The clonidine transdermal patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the clonidine patch before undergoing such a test.

Tell any healthcare provider who treats you that you are using clonidine transdermal. If you need emergency heart resuscitation, your family or caregivers should tell emergency medical personnel if you are wearing a clonidine skin patch. The patch should be removed before any electrical equipment (such as a defibrillator) is used on you.

Do not stop using clonidine transdermal suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.

Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep each skin patch in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it.

You should not use clonidine if you are allergic to clonidine.

To make sure clonidine transdermal is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease or severe coronary artery disease;

• a heart rhythm disorder;

• history of heart attack or stroke;

• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);

• kidney disease; or

• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to clonidine transdermal.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Clonidine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Clonidine transdermal is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Apply a skin patch as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra patches to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath) followed by low blood pressure (feeling light-headed, fainting, drowsiness, cold feeling, slow heart rate, shallow breathing, weakness, or pinpoint pupils).

Clonidine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid using lotions, oils, or other skin products on the area where you will apply the skin patch. The patch may not stick properly to the skin.

Drinking alcohol with clonidine can cause side effects.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Clonidine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

• a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats per minute);

• shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;

• hallucinations;

• fever, pale skin;

• painful or difficult urination;

• numbness or cold feeling in your hands or feet;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; or

• severe skin irritation, swelling, burning, or blistering where the patch is worn.

Common side effects of clonidine may include:

• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;

• feeling nervous;

• dry eyes, dry mouth;

• changes in your sense of taste;

• sexual problems;

• nausea, constipation; or

• skin discoloration or mild irritation where the patch is worn.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Using this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or lower your blood pressure can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before using clonidine transdermal with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with clonidine transdermal, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.