This page was last updated/ edited on February 25, 2023.
Clonidine extended-release (US brand name Kapvay® and generic) is a centrally-acting alpha2-adrenergic agonist.
On this page, we will provide basic information about this medication. Links to other articles on this website with more advanced information and tips related to this medication and related topics are provided below—under Related pages below.
FDA-approved indications
Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD):
– As monotherapy, or
– As adjunctive therapy to stimulant medications
Dosage
Dosage needs to be individualized according to therapeutic needs and response. Initiated with 0.1 mg at bedtime and then adjusted in 0.1 mg/day increments at weekly intervals until the desired response is achieved. Doses should be taken twice a day, with either an equal or higher split dosage being given at bedtime.
Dosage guidance
Starting: 0.1 mg/day at bedtime and then adjusted weekly as below until desired response
Morning: 0.1 mg/day, Bedtime: 0.1 mg/day (Total: 0.2 mg/day)
Morning: 0.1 mg/day, Bedtime: 0.2 mg/day (Total: 0.3 mg/day)
Morning: 0.2 mg/day, Bedtime: 0.2 mg/day (Total: 0.4 mg/day)
Dosing instructions
- Tablets should NOT be crushed, chewed or broken before swallowing.
- Do not substitute for other clonidine products on a mg-per-mg basis, because of differing pharmacokinetic profiles
- Doses higher than 0.4 mg/day have not been evaluated and therefore not recommended.
- Since it has not been systematically evaluated for long-term maintenance treatment, physicians should periodically assess usefulness if prescribed for extended periods.
Discontinuation
The total dose should be tapered in decrements of no more than 0.1 mg every 3 to 7 days
Dosage forms and strengths
Extended-release tablets (brand name and generic): 0.1 mg and 0.2 mg
(0.2 mg tablets are no longer available as either generic or brand name)
Pharmacokinetics
The half-life of clonidine is about 12 hours but in some persons, it may extend even up to 24 hours (Almanac et al., 2014).
Important! This page does not provide all the information needed to prescribe this medication. Please refer to the full Prescribing Information (see link below) before prescribing this medication.
Related Pages
Clonidine
Clonidine (Kapvay®) extended-release tablets: Basic Information
Clonidine for ADHD
Guanfacine versus clonidine for ADHD
Guanfacine
Guanfacine extended-release (Intuniv®): Basic Information
Does guanfacine work for ADHD in adults?
Should we combine methylphenidate and guanfacine?
Guanfacine versus clonidine for ADHD
How to manage stimulant-induced hypertension
References
Prescribing information for clonidine (Kapvay®) extended-release tablets
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