Production of Catapres for Hypertension Discontinued

January 6, 2021 – Boehringer Ingelheim has notified the U.S. FDA it will discontinue the manufacturing of Catapres® (clonidine hydrochloride), a medication approved in the 1970s for use either alone or in conjunction with other medications to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

Multiple generic versions of Catapres have been available for decades, the oldest being a generic from Actavis Pharma that received FDA approval in 1986. Patients who have been taking brand name Catapres should speak to their healthcare provider about switching to a generic or a therapeutic alternative.

Extended-release versions of clonidine hydrochloride are also available, both under the brand name Kapvay® (from Shionogi, Inc.) and as generics. However, they are indicated only to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and are not approved for hypertension.