n: caution is warranted in patients receiving clonidine concomitantly with agents known to affect sinus node function or av nodal conduction (e.g., digitalis, calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers) due to a potential for additive effects such as bradycardia and av block. ( 7 ) antihypertensive drugs: use caution when co-administered with clonidine hcl extended-release. ( 7 )

drugs. titrate slowly and monitor vital signs frequently. ( 5.5 ) 5.1 hypotension/bradycardia treatment with clonidine hcl extended-release can cause dose-related decreases in blood pressure and heart rate [see adverse reactions (6.1) ] . measure heart rate and blood pressure prior to initiation of therapy, following dose increases, and periodically while on therapy. titrate clonidine hcl extended-release slowly in patients with a history of hypotension, and those with underlying conditions that may be worsened by hypotension and bradycardia; e.g., heart block, bradycardia, cardiovascular disease, vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or chronic renal failure. in patients who have a history of syncope or may have a condition that predisposes them to syncope, such as hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia, or dehydration, advise patients to avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated. monitor blood pressure and heart rate, and adjust dosages accordingly in patients treated concomitantly with antihypertensives or other drugs that can reduce blood pressure or heart rate or increase the risk of syncope. 5.2 sedation and somnolence somnolence and sedation were commonly reported adverse reactions in clinical studies. in patients that completed 5 weeks of therapy in a controlled, fixed dose pediatric monotherapy study, 31% of patients treated with 0.4 mg/day and 38% treated with 0.2 mg/day versus 4% of placebo treated patients reported somnolence as an adverse event. in patients that completed 5 weeks of therapy in a controlled flexible dose pediatric adjunctive to stimulants study, 19% of patients treated with clonidine hcl extended-release+stimulant versus 7% treated with placebo+stimulant reported somnolence. before using clonidine hcl extended-release with other centrally active depressants (such as phenothiazines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines), consider the potential for additive sedative effects. caution patients against operating heavy equipment or driving until they know how they respond to treatment with clonidine hcl extended-release. advise patients to avoid use with alcohol. 5.3 rebound hypertension abrupt discontinuation of clonidine hcl extended-release can cause rebound hypertension. in adults with hypertension, sudden cessation of clonidine hydrochloride extended-release formulation treatment in the 0.2 to 0.6 mg/day range resulted in reports of headache, tachycardia, nausea, flushing, warm feeling, brief lightheadedness, tightness in chest, and anxiety. in adults with hypertension, sudden cessation of treatment with immediate-release clonidine has, in some cases, resulted in symptoms such as nervousness, agitation, headache, and tremor accompanied or followed by a rapid rise in blood pressure and elevated catecholamine concentrations in the plasma. no studies evaluating abrupt discontinuation of clonidine hcl extended-release in children with adhd have been conducted; however, to minimize the risk of rebound hypertension, gradually reduce the dose of clonidine hcl extended-release in decrements of no more than 0.1 mg every 3 to 7 days. patients should be instructed not to discontinue clonidine hcl extended-release therapy without consulting their physician due to the potential risk of withdrawal effects. 5.4 allergic reactions in patients who have developed localized contact sensitization to clonidine transdermal system, continuation of clonidine transdermal system or substitution of oral clonidine hcl extended-release therapy may be associated with the development of a generalized skin rash. in patients who develop an allergic reaction from clonidine transdermal system, substitution of oral clonidine hcl extended-release may also elicit an allergic reaction (including generalized rash, urticaria, or angioedema). 5.5 cardiac conduction abnormalities the sympatholytic action of clonidine may worsen sinus node dysfunction and atrioventricular (av) block, especially in patients taking other sympatholytic drugs. there have been post-marketing reports of patients with conduction abnormalities and/or taking other sympatholytic drugs who developed severe bradycardia requiring iv atropine, iv isoproterenol, and temporary cardiac pacing while taking clonidine. titrate clonidine hcl extended-release slowly and monitor vital signs frequently in patients with cardiac conduction abnormalities or patients concomitantly treated with other sympatholytic drugs.

idine release. due to the lack of controlled clinical trial data and differing pharmacokinetic profiles, substitution of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets for other clonidine products on a mg-per-mg basis is not recommended [see clinical pharmacology (12.3) ] . 2.2 dose selection the dose of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, administered either as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy to a psychostimulant, should be individualized according to the therapeutic needs and response of the patient. dosing should be initiated with one 0.1 mg tablet at bedtime, and the daily dosage should be adjusted in increments of 0.1 mg/day 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 (see table 1). table 1 clonidine hcl extended-release tablets dosing guidance total daily dose morning dose bedtime dose 0.1 mg/day 0.1 mg 0.2 mg/day 0.1 mg 0.1 mg 0.3 mg/day 0.1 mg 0.2 mg 0.4 mg/day 0.2 mg 0.2 mg doses of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets higher than 0.4 mg/day (0.2 mg twice daily) were not evaluated in clinical trials for adhd and are not recommended. when clonidine hcl extended-release tablets are being added-on to a psychostimulant, the dose of the psychostimulant can be adjusted depending on the patient's response to clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. 2.3 discontinuation when discontinuing clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, the total daily dose should be tapered in decrements of no more than 0.1 mg every 3 to 7 days to avoid rebound hypertension [see warnings and precautions (5.3) ] . 2.4 missed doses if patients miss a dose of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, they should skip that dose and take the next dose as scheduled. do not take more than the prescribed total daily amount of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets in any 24-hour period.

trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. two clonidine hcl extended-release adhd clinical studies (study 1, clon-301 and study 2, clon-302) evaluated 256 patients in two 8-week placebo-controlled studies. a third clonidine hcl extended-release adhd clinical study (study 3, shn-kap-401) evaluated 135 children and adolescents in a 40- week placebo-controlled randomized-withdrawal study. study 1: fixed-dose clonidine hcl extended-release monotherapy study 1 (clon-301) was a short-term, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of two fixed doses (0.2 mg/day or 0.4 mg/day) of clonidine hcl extended-release in children and adolescents (6 to 17 years of age) who met dsm-iv criteria for adhd hyperactive or combined inattentive/hyperactive subtypes. most common adverse reactions (incidence of ≥ 5% and at least twice the rate of placebo): somnolence, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, nightmare, constipation, dry mouth. adverse events leading to discontinuation of c lonidine hcl extended-release – five patients (7%) in the low dose group (0.2 mg), 15 patients (20%) in the high dose group (0.4 mg), and 1 patient in the placebo group (1%) reported adverse reactions that led to discontinuation. the most common adverse reactions that led to discontinuation were somnolence and fatigue. commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence of ≥2% in either active treatment group and greater than the rate on placebo) during the treatment period are listed in table 2. table 2 common adverse reactions in the fixed-dose monotherapy trial - treatment period (study 1) percentage of patients reporting event preferred term clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day n=76 clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day n=78 placebo (n=76) psychiatric disorders somnolence * nightmare emotional disorder aggression tearfulness enuresis sleep terror poor quality sleep 38% 4% 4% 3% 1% 0% 3% 0% 31% 9% 4% 1% 3% 4% 0% 3% 4% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% nervous system disorders headache insomnia tremor abnormal sleep-related event 20% 5% 1% 3% 13% 6% 4% 1% 16% 1% 0% 0% gastrointestinal disorders upper abdominal pain nausea constipation dry mouth 15% 4% 1% 0% 10% 5% 6% 5% 12% 3% 0% 1% general disorders fatigue † irritability 16% 9% 13% 5% 1% 4% cardiac disorders dizziness bradycardia 7% 0% 3% 4% 5% 0% investigations increased heart rate 0% 3% 0% metabolism and nutrition disorders decreased appetite 3% 4% 4% * somnolence includes the terms "somnolence" and "sedation". † fatigue includes the terms "fatigue" and "lethargy". commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence of ≥2% in either active treatment group and greater than the rate on placebo) during the taper period are listed in table 3. table 3 common adverse reactions in the fixed-dose monotherapy trial - taper period* (study 1) percentage of patients reporting event preferred term clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day n=76 clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day n=78 placebo (n=76) abdominal pain upper 0% 6% 3% headache 5% 2% 3% gastrointestinal viral 0% 5% 0% somnolence 2% 3% 0% heart rate increased 0% 3% 0% otitis media acute 3% 0% 0% * taper period: 0.2 mg dose, week 8; 0.4 mg dose, weeks 6 to 8; placebo dose, weeks 6 to 8 study 2: flexible-dose clonidine hcl extended-release as adjunctive therapy to psychostimulants study 2 (clon-302) was a short-term, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a flexible dose of clonidine hcl extended-release as adjunctive therapy to a psychostimulant in children and adolescents (6 to 17 years) who met dsm-iv criteria for adhd hyperactive or combined inattentive/hyperactive subtypes during which clonidine hcl extended-release was initiated at 0.1 mg/day and titrated up to 0.4 mg/day over a 3-week period. most clonidine hcl extended-release treated patients (75.5%) were escalated to the maximum dose of 0.4 mg/day. most common adverse reactions (incidence of ≥ 5% and at least twice the rate of placebo): somnolence, fatigue, decreased appetite, dizziness. adverse events leading to discontinuation – there was one patient in the clon+stm group (1%) who discontinued because of an adverse event (severe bradyphrenia, with severe fatigue). commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence of ≥2% in the treatment group and greater than the rate on placebo) during the treatment period are listed in table 4. table 4 common adverse reactions in the flexible-dose adjunctive to stimulant therapy trial - treatment period (study 2) preferred term percentage of patients reporting event clonidine hcl extended-release+stm (n=102) pbo+stm (n=96) psychiatric disorders somnolence * aggression affect lability emotional disorder 19% 2% 2% 2% 7% 1% 1% 0% general disorders fatigue † irritability 14% 2% 4% 7% nervous system disorders headache insomnia 7% 4% 12% 3% gastrointestinal disorders upper abdominal pain 7% 4% respiratory disorders nasal congestion 2% 2% metabolism and nutrition disorders decreased appetite 6% 3% cardiac disorders dizziness 5% 1% * somnolence includes the terms: "somnolence" and "sedation". † fatigue includes the terms "fatigue" and "lethargy". commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence of ≥2% in the treatment group and greater than the rate on placebo) during the taper period are listed in table 5. table 5 common adverse reactions in the flexible-dose adjunctive to stimulant therapy trial - taper period* (study 2) preferred term percentage of patients reporting event clonidine hcl extended-release+stm (n=102) pbo+stm (n=96) nasal congestion 4% 2% headache 3% 1% irritability 3% 2% throat pain 3% 1% gastroenteritis viral 2% 0% rash 2% 0% * taper period: weeks 6 to 8 adverse reactions leading to discontinuation thirteen percent (13%) of patients receiving clonidine hcl extended-release discontinued from the pediatric monotherapy study due to adverse events, compared to 1% in the placebo group. the most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of clonidine hcl extended-release monotherapy treated patients were from somnolence/sedation (5%) and fatigue (4%). effect on blood pressure and heart rate in patients that completed 5 weeks of treatment in a controlled, fixed-dose monotherapy study in pediatric patients, during the treatment period the maximum placebo-subtracted mean change in systolic blood pressure was -4.0 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day and -8.8 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day. the maximum placebo-subtracted mean change in diastolic blood pressure was -4.0 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day and -7.3 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day. the maximum placebo-subtracted mean change in heart rate was -4.0 beats per minute on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day and -7.7 beats per minute on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day. during the taper period of the fixed-dose monotherapy study the maximum placebo-subtracted mean change in systolic blood pressure was +3.4 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day and -5.6 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day. the maximum placebo-subtracted mean change in diastolic blood pressure was +3.3 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day and -5.4 mmhg on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day. the maximum placebo-subtracted mean change in heart rate was -0.6 beats per minute on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.2 mg/day and -3.0 beats per minute on clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day. 6.2 postmarketing experience the following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of clonidine hcl extended-release. because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. these events exclude those already mentioned in 6.1: psychiatric: hallucinations cardiovascular: q-t prolongation

n: caution is warranted in patients receiving clonidine concomitantly with agents known to affect sinus node function or av nodal conduction (e.g., digitalis, calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers) due to a potential for additive effects such as bradycardia and av block. ( 7 ) antihypertensive drugs: use caution when co-administered with clonidine hcl extended-release. ( 7 )

esorptions were seen in rats and mice administered oral clonidine hydrochloride from implantation through organogenesis at 10 and 5 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose (mrhd) given to adolescents on a mg/m 2 basis. no developmental effects were seen in rabbits administered oral clonidine hydrochloride during organogenesis at doses up to 3 times the mrhd (see data ) . the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. in the u.s. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriages in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. data animal data oral administration of clonidine hydrochloride to pregnant rabbits during the period of embryo/fetal organogenesis at doses of up to 80 mcg/kg/day (approximately 3 times the oral maximum recommended daily dose [mrhd] of 0.4 mg/day given to adolescents on a mg/m 2 basis) produced no developmental effects. in pregnant rats, however, doses as low as 15 mcg/kg/day (1/3 the mrhd given to adolescents on a mg/m 2 basis) were associated with increased resorptions in a study in which dams were treated continuously from 2 months prior to mating and throughout gestation. increased resorptions were not associated with treatment at the same or at higher dose levels (up to 3 times the mrhd) when treatment of the dams was restricted to gestation days 6 to 15. increases in resorptions were observed in both rats and mice at 500 mcg/kg/day (10 and 5 times the mrhd in rats and mice, respectively) or higher when the animals were treated on gestation days 1 to 14; 500 mcg/kg/day was the lowest dose employed in this study. 8.2 lactation risk summary based on published lactation studies, clonidine hydrochloride is present in human milk at relative infant doses ranging from 4.1% to 8.4% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. although in most cases, there were no reported adverse effects in breastfed infants exposed to clonidine, there is one case report of sedation, hypotonia, and apnea in an infant exposed to clonidine through breast milk. if an infant is exposed to clonidine hydrochloride through breastmilk, monitor for symptoms of hypotension and bradycardia, such as sedation, lethargy, tachypnea and poor feeding (see clinical considerations ) .the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for clonidine hcl extended-release and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from clonidine hcl extended-release or from the underlying maternal condition. exercise caution when clonidine hcl extended-release is administered to a nursing woman. clinical considerations monitor breastfeeding infants exposed to clonidine hcl extended-release through breast milk for symptoms of hypotension and/or bradycardia such as sedation, lethargy, tachypnea, and poor feeding. 8.3 females and males of reproductive potential infertility based on findings in animal studies revealed that clonidine hcl extended-release may impair fertility in females and males of reproductive potential [see nonclinical toxicology (13.1) ] . 8.4 pediatric use the safety and efficacy of clonidine hcl extended-release in the treatment of adhd have been established in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years of age. use of clonidine hcl extended-release in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years of age is supported by three adequate and well-controlled studies; a short-term, placebo-controlled monotherapy trial, a short-term adjunctive therapy trial and a longer-term randomized monotherapy trial [see clinical studies (14) ] . safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below the age of 6 years has not been established. juvenile animal data in studies in juvenile rats, clonidine hydrochloride alone or in combination with methylphenidate had an effect on bone growth at clinically relevant doses and produced a slight delay in sexual maturation in males at 3 times the maximum recommended human dose (mrhd) for clonidine and methylphenidate. in a study where juvenile rats were treated orally with clonidine hydrochloride from day 21 of age to adulthood, a slight delay in onset of preputial separation (delayed sexual maturation) was seen in males treated with 300 mcg/kg/day, which is approximately 3 times the mrhd of 0.4 mg/day on a mg/m 2 basis. the no-effect dose was 100 mcg/kg/day, which is approximately equal to the mrhd. there was no drug effects on fertility or on other measures of sexual or neurobehavioral development. in a study where juvenile rats were treated with clonidine alone (300 mcg/kg/day) or in combination with methylphenidate (10 mg/kg/day in females and 50/30 mg/kg/day in males; the dose was lowered from 50 to 30 mg/kg/day in males due to self-injurious behavior during the first week of treatment) from day 21 of age to adulthood, decreases in bone mineral density and mineral content were observed in males treated with 300 mcg/kg/day clonidine alone and in combination with 50/30 mg/kg/day methylphenidate and a decrease in femur length was observed in males treated with the combination at the end of the treatment period. these doses are approximately 3 times the mrhd of 0.4 mg/day clonidine and 54 mg/day methylphenidate on a mg/m 2 basis. all these effects in males were not reversed at the end of a 4-week recovery period. in addition, similar findings were seen in males treated with a lower dose of clonidine (30 mcg/kg/day) in combination with 50 mg/kg/day of methylphenidate and a decrease in femur length was observed in females treated with clonidine alone at the end of the recovery period. these effects were accompanied by a decrease in body weight gain in treated animals during the treatment period but the effect was reversed at the end of the recovery period. a delay in preputial separation (sexual maturation) was observed in males treated with the combination treatment of 300 mcg/kg/day clonidine and 50/30 mg/kg/day methylphenidate. there was no effect on reproduction or sperm analysis in these males. 8.6 renal impairment the impact of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of clonidine in children has not been assessed. the initial dosage of clonidine hcl extended-release should be based on degree of impairment. monitor patients carefully for hypotension and bradycardia, and titrate to higher doses cautiously. since only a minimal amount of clonidine is removed during routine hemodialysis, there is no need to give supplemental clonidine hcl extended-release following dialysis.

lescents on a mg/m 2 basis. no developmental effects were seen in rabbits administered oral clonidine hydrochloride during organogenesis at doses up to 3 times the mrhd (see data ) . the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. in the u.s. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriages in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. data animal data oral administration of clonidine hydrochloride to pregnant rabbits during the period of embryo/fetal organogenesis at doses of up to 80 mcg/kg/day (approximately 3 times the oral maximum recommended daily dose [mrhd] of 0.4 mg/day given to adolescents on a mg/m 2 basis) produced no developmental effects. in pregnant rats, however, doses as low as 15 mcg/kg/day (1/3 the mrhd given to adolescents on a mg/m 2 basis) were associated with increased resorptions in a study in which dams were treated continuously from 2 months prior to mating and throughout gestation. increased resorptions were not associated with treatment at the same or at higher dose levels (up to 3 times the mrhd) when treatment of the dams was restricted to gestation days 6 to 15. increases in resorptions were observed in both rats and mice at 500 mcg/kg/day (10 and 5 times the mrhd in rats and mice, respectively) or higher when the animals were treated on gestation days 1 to 14; 500 mcg/kg/day was the lowest dose employed in this study.

ood, a slight delay in onset of preputial separation (delayed sexual maturation) was seen in males treated with 300 mcg/kg/day, which is approximately 3 times the mrhd of 0.4 mg/day on a mg/m 2 basis. the no-effect dose was 100 mcg/kg/day, which is approximately equal to the mrhd. there was no drug effects on fertility or on other measures of sexual or neurobehavioral development. in a study where juvenile rats were treated with clonidine alone (300 mcg/kg/day) or in combination with methylphenidate (10 mg/kg/day in females and 50/30 mg/kg/day in males; the dose was lowered from 50 to 30 mg/kg/day in males due to self-injurious behavior during the first week of treatment) from day 21 of age to adulthood, decreases in bone mineral density and mineral content were observed in males treated with 300 mcg/kg/day clonidine alone and in combination with 50/30 mg/kg/day methylphenidate and a decrease in femur length was observed in males treated with the combination at the end of the treatment period. these doses are approximately 3 times the mrhd of 0.4 mg/day clonidine and 54 mg/day methylphenidate on a mg/m 2 basis. all these effects in males were not reversed at the end of a 4-week recovery period. in addition, similar findings were seen in males treated with a lower dose of clonidine (30 mcg/kg/day) in combination with 50 mg/kg/day of methylphenidate and a decrease in femur length was observed in females treated with clonidine alone at the end of the recovery period. these effects were accompanied by a decrease in body weight gain in treated animals during the treatment period but the effect was reversed at the end of the recovery period. a delay in preputial separation (sexual maturation) was observed in males treated with the combination treatment of 300 mcg/kg/day clonidine and 50/30 mg/kg/day methylphenidate. there was no effect on reproduction or sperm analysis in these males.

ate release formulation, plasma clonidine concentration peaks in approximately 3 to 5 hours and the plasma half-life ranges from 12 to 16 hours. the half-life increases up to 41 hours in patients with severe impairment of renal function. following oral administration about 40% to 60% of the absorbed dose is recovered in the urine as unchanged drug in 24 hours. about 50% of the absorbed dose is metabolized in the liver. although studies of the effect of renal impairment and studies of clonidine excretion have not been performed with clonidine hcl extended-release, results are likely to be similar to those of the immediate release formulation. the pharmacokinetic profile of clonidine hcl extended-release administration was evaluated in an open-label, three-period, randomized, crossover study of 15 healthy adult subjects who received three single-dose regimens of clonidine: 0.1 mg of clonidine hcl extended-release under fasted conditions, 0.1 mg of clonidine hcl extended-release following a high fat meal, and 0.1 mg of clonidine immediate-release under fasted conditions. treatments were separated by one-week washout periods. mean concentration-time data from the 3 treatments are shown in table 7 and figure 1. after administration of clonidine hcl extended-release, maximum clonidine concentrations were approximately 50% of the clonidine immediate-release maximum concentrations and occurred approximately 5 hours later relative to clonidine immediate-release. similar elimination half-lives were observed and total systemic bioavailability following clonidine hcl extended-release was approximately 89% of that following clonidine immediate-release. food had no effect on plasma concentrations, bioavailability, or elimination half-life. table 7 pharmacokinetic parameters of clonidine in healthy adult volunteers clonidine immediate-release-fasted n=15 clonidine hcl extended-release-fed n=15 clonidine hcl extended-release-fasted n=14 parameter mean sd mean sd mean sd c max (pg/ml) 443 59.6 235 34.7 258 33.3 auc inf (hr*pg/ml) 7,313 1,812 6,505 1,728 6,729 1,650 ht max (hr) 2.07 0.5 6.80 3.61 6.50 1.23 t 1/2 (hr) 12.57 3.11 12.67 3.76 12.65 3.56 figure 1 mean clonidine concentration-time profiles after single dose administration multiple-dose pharmacokinetics in children and adolescents plasma clonidine concentrations in children and adolescents (0.1 mg bid and 0.2 mg bid) with adhd are greater than those of adults with hypertension with children and adolescents receiving higher doses on a mg/kg basis. body weight normalized clearance (cl/f) in children and adolescents was higher than cl/f observed in adults with hypertension. clonidine concentrations in plasma increased with increases in dose over the dose range of 0.2 to 0.4 mg/day. clonidine cl/f was independent of dose administered over the 0.2 to 0.4 mg/day dose range. clonidine cl/f appeared to decrease slightly with increases in age over the range of 6 to 17 years, and females had a 23% lower cl/f than males. the incidence of "sedation-like" aes (somnolence and fatigue) appeared to be independent of clonidine dose or concentration within the studied dose range in the titration study. results from the add-on study showed that clonidine cl/f was 11% higher in patients who were receiving methylphenidate and 44% lower in those receiving amphetamine compared to subjects not on adjunctive therapy. figure 1

erformed with clonidine hcl extended-release, results are likely to be similar to those of the immediate release formulation. the pharmacokinetic profile of clonidine hcl extended-release administration was evaluated in an open-label, three-period, randomized, crossover study of 15 healthy adult subjects who received three single-dose regimens of clonidine: 0.1 mg of clonidine hcl extended-release under fasted conditions, 0.1 mg of clonidine hcl extended-release following a high fat meal, and 0.1 mg of clonidine immediate-release under fasted conditions. treatments were separated by one-week washout periods. mean concentration-time data from the 3 treatments are shown in table 7 and figure 1. after administration of clonidine hcl extended-release, maximum clonidine concentrations were approximately 50% of the clonidine immediate-release maximum concentrations and occurred approximately 5 hours later relative to clonidine immediate-release. similar elimination half-lives were observed and total systemic bioavailability following clonidine hcl extended-release was approximately 89% of that following clonidine immediate-release. food had no effect on plasma concentrations, bioavailability, or elimination half-life. table 7 pharmacokinetic parameters of clonidine in healthy adult volunteers clonidine immediate-release-fasted n=15 clonidine hcl extended-release-fed n=15 clonidine hcl extended-release-fasted n=14 parameter mean sd mean sd mean sd c max (pg/ml) 443 59.6 235 34.7 258 33.3 auc inf (hr*pg/ml) 7,313 1,812 6,505 1,728 6,729 1,650 ht max (hr) 2.07 0.5 6.80 3.61 6.50 1.23 t 1/2 (hr) 12.57 3.11 12.67 3.76 12.65 3.56 figure 1 mean clonidine concentration-time profiles after single dose administration multiple-dose pharmacokinetics in children and adolescents plasma clonidine concentrations in children and adolescents (0.1 mg bid and 0.2 mg bid) with adhd are greater than those of adults with hypertension with children and adolescents receiving higher doses on a mg/kg basis. body weight normalized clearance (cl/f) in children and adolescents was higher than cl/f observed in adults with hypertension. clonidine concentrations in plasma increased with increases in dose over the dose range of 0.2 to 0.4 mg/day. clonidine cl/f was independent of dose administered over the 0.2 to 0.4 mg/day dose range. clonidine cl/f appeared to decrease slightly with increases in age over the range of 6 to 17 years, and females had a 23% lower cl/f than males. the incidence of "sedation-like" aes (somnolence and fatigue) appeared to be independent of clonidine dose or concentration within the studied dose range in the titration study. results from the add-on study showed that clonidine cl/f was 11% higher in patients who were receiving methylphenidate and 44% lower in those receiving amphetamine compared to subjects not on adjunctive therapy. figure 1

ed, fixed dose study of children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 (n=236) with a 5-week primary efficacy endpoint. patients were randomly assigned to one of the following three treatment groups: clonidine hcl extended-release (clon) 0.2 mg/day (n=78), clonidine hcl extended-release 0.4 mg/day (n=80), or placebo (n=78). dosing for the clonidine hcl extended-release groups started at 0.1 mg/day and was titrated in increments of 0.1 mg/week to their respective dose (as divided doses). patients were maintained at their dose for a minimum of 2 weeks before being gradually tapered down to 0.1 mg/day at the last week of treatment. at both doses, improvements in adhd symptoms were statistically significantly superior in clonidine hcl extended-release-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients at the end of 5 weeks as measured by the adhdrs-iv total score (table 8). study 2 (clon-302) was an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible dose study in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 (n=198) with a 5-week primary efficacy end point. patients had been treated with a psychostimulant (methylphenidate or amphetamine) for four weeks with inadequate response. patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: clonidine hcl extended-release adjunct to a psychostimulant (n=102) or psychostimulant alone (n=96). the clonidine hcl extended-release dose was initiated at 0.1 mg/day and doses were titrated in increments of 0.1 mg/week up to 0.4 mg/day, as divided doses, over a 3-week period based on tolerability and clinical response. the dose was maintained for a minimum of 2 weeks before being gradually tapered to 0.1 mg/day at the last week of treatment. adhd symptoms were statistically significantly improved in clonidine hcl extended-release plus stimulant group compared with the stimulant alone group at the end of 5 weeks as measured by the adhdrs-iv total score (table 8). table 8 short-term trials study number treatment group primary efficacy measure: adhdrs-iv total score mean baseline score (sd) ls mean change from baseline (se) placebo-subtracted difference a (95% ci) study 1 clonidine hcl extended-release (0.2 mg/day) clonidine hcl extended-release (0.4 mg/day) placebo 43.8 (7.47) 44.6 (7.73) 45.0 (8.53) -15.0 (1.38) -15.6 (1.33) -6.5 (1.35) -8.5 (-12.2, - 4.8) -9.1 (-12.8, - 5.5) -- study 2 clonidine hcl extended-release (0.4 mg/day) + psychostimulant psychostimulant alone 38.9 (6.95) 39.0 (7.68) -15.8 (1.18) -11.3 (1.24) -4.5 (-7.8, -1.1) -- sd: standard deviation; se: standard error; ls mean: least-squares mean; ci: unadjusted confidence interval. a difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline. maintenance monotherapy for adhd study 3 (shn-kap-401), was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized-withdrawal study in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years (n=253) with dsm-iv-tr diagnosis of adhd. the study consisted of a 10-week, open-label phase (4 weeks of dose optimization and 6 weeks of dose maintenance), a 26-week double-blind phase, and a 4-week taper-down and follow-up phase. all patients were initiated at 0.1 mg/day and increased at weekly intervals in increments of 0.1 mg/day until reaching personalized optimal dose (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 or 0.4 mg/day, as divided doses). eligible patients had to demonstrate treatment response as defined by ≥ 30% reduction in adhd-rs-iv total score and a clinical global impression-improvement score of 1 or 2 during the open label phase. patients who sustained treatment response (n=135) until the end of the open label phase were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups, clonidine hcl extended-release (n=68) and placebo (n=67), to evaluate the long-term efficacy of maintenance dose of clonidine hcl extended-release in the double-blind phase. the primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of patients with treatment failure defined as a ≥ 30% increase (worsening) in adhd-rs-iv total score and ≥ 2 points increase (worsening) in clinical global impression – severity scale in 2 consecutive visits or early termination for any reason. a total of 73 patients experienced treatment failure in the double-blind phase: 31 patients (45.6%) in the clonidine hcl extended-release group and 42 patients (62.7%) in the placebo group, with a statistically significant difference in the primary endpoint favoring clonidine hcl extended-release (table 9). the cumulative proportion of patients with treatment failure over time during the double-blind phase is displayed in figure 2. table 9 treatment failure: double-blind full analysis set (study 3) study 3 double-blind full analysis set clonidine hcl extended-release placebo number of subjects 68 67 number of treatment failures 31 (45.6%) 42 (62.7%) basis of treatment failure clinical criteria a,b 11 (16.2%) 9 (13.4%) lack of efficacy c 1 (1.5%) 3 (4.5%) withdrawal of informed assent/consent 4 (5.9%) 20 (29.9%) other early terminations 15 (22.1%) 10 (14.9%) adhd-rs-iv = attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-rating scale-4 th edition; cgi-s = clinical global impression-severity a at the same 2 consecutive visits a (1) 30% or greater reduction in adhd-rs-iv, and (2) 2-point or more increase in cgi-s. b two subjects (1 placebo and 1 clonidine hcl extended-release) withdrew consent, but met the clinical criteria for treatment failure. c three subjects (all placebo) discontinued the study due to treatment failure, but met only the criterion for adhd-rs-iv. figure 2: kaplan-meier estimation of cumulative proportion of patients with treatment failure (study 3) figure 2

instruct patients to use caution when driving a car or operating hazardous machinery until they know how they will respond to treatment with clonidine hcl extended-release. also advise patients to avoid the use of clonidine hcl extended-release with other centrally active depressants and with alcohol [see warnings and precautions (5.2) ] . rebound hypertension advise patients not to discontinue clonidine hcl extended-release abruptly [see warnings and precautions (5.3) ] . allergic reactions advise patients to discontinue clonidine hcl extended-release and seek immediate medical attention if any signs or symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction occur, such as generalized rash, urticaria, or angioedema [see warnings and precautions (5.4) ] . pregnancy registry advise patients that there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in patients exposed to clonidine hcl extended-release during pregnancy [see use in specific populations (8.1) ] . lactation advise breastfeeding women using clonidine hcl extended-release to monitor infants for excess sedation, decreased muscle tone, and respiratory depression and to seek medical care if they notice these signs [see use in specific populations (8.2) ] . fertility advise females and males of reproductive potential that clonidine hcl extended-release may impair fertility [see use in specific populations (8.3) and nonclinical toxicology (13.1) ] . distributed by: amneal pharmaceuticals llc bridgewater, nj 08807 rev. 02-2020-01

clonidine hcl extended-release tablets if you are allergic to clonidine in clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. see the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. what should i tell my doctor before taking clonidine hcl extended-release tablets? before you take clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, tell your doctor if you: have kidney problems have low or high blood pressure have a history of passing out (syncope) have heart problems, including history of heart attack have had a stroke or have stroke symptoms had a skin reaction (such as a rash) after taking clonidine in a transdermal form (skin patch) have any other medical conditions are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. it is not known if clonidine hcl will harm your unborn baby. talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. there is a pregnancy registry for females who are exposed to adhd medications, including clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, during pregnancy. the purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of females exposed to clonidine hcl extended-release tablets and their baby. if you or your child becomes pregnant during treatment with clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the national pregnancy registry of adhd medications at 1-866-961-2388 or visit online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/adhdmedications/. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. clonidine hcl passes into your breast milk. talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. clonidine hcl extended-release tablets and certain other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects. sometimes the doses of other medicines may need to be changed while taking clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. especially tell your doctor if you take: anti-depression medicines heart or blood pressure medicine other medicines that contain clonidine a medicine that makes you sleepy (sedation) ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of these medicines, if you are not sure if your medicine is listed above. know the medicines that you take. keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. how should i take clonidine hcl extended-release tablets? take clonidine hcl extended-release tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. your doctor will tell you how many clonidine hcl extended-release tablets to take and when to take them. your doctor may change your dose of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. do not change your dose of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets without talking to your doctor. do not stop taking clonidine hcl extended-release tablets without talking to your doctor. clonidine hcl extended-release tablets can be taken with or without food. clonidine hcl extended-release tablets should be taken 2 times a day (in the morning and at bedtime). if you miss a dose of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, skip the missed dose. just take the next dose at your regular time. do not take two doses at the same time. take clonidine hcl extended-release tablets whole. do not chew, crush or break clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. tell your doctor if you cannot swallow clonidine hcl extended-release tablets whole. you may need a different medicine. if you take too much clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, call your poison control center (1-800-222-1222) or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. what should i avoid while taking clonidine hcl extended-release tablets? do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking clonidine hcl extended-release tablets until you talk with your doctor. clonidine hcl extended-release tablets taken with alcohol or medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse. do not drive, operate heavy machinery or do other dangerous activities until you know how clonidine hcl extended-release tablets will affect you. avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated. what are possible side effects of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets? clonidine hcl extended-release tablets may cause serious side effects, including: low blood pressure and low heart rate. your doctor should check your heart rate and blood pressure before starting treatment and regularly during treatment with clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. sleepiness. withdrawal symptoms. suddenly stopping clonidine hcl extended-release tablets may cause withdrawal symptoms including: increased blood pressure, headache, increased heart rate, lightheadedness, tightness in your chest and nervousness. the most common side effects of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets include: sleepiness tiredness irritability trouble sleeping (insomnia) nightmare constipation dry mouth decreased appetite dizziness tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that does not go away. these are not all of the possible side effects of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. for more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. you may report side effects to fda at 1-800-fda-1088. how should i store clonidine hcl extended-release tablets? store clonidine hcl extended-release tablets between 68° to 77°f (20° to 25°c). keep clonidine hcl extended-release tablets in a tightly closed container. keep clonidine hcl extended-release tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children. general information about the safe and effective use of clonidine hcl extended-release tablets medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a patient information leaflet. do not use clonidine hcl extended-release tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. do not give clonidine hcl extended-release tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. it may harm them. this patient information leaflet summarizes the most important information about clonidine hcl extended-release tablets. if you would like more information, talk with your doctor. you can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about clonidine hcl extended-release tablets that is written for healthcare professionals. for more information about clonidine hcl extended-release tablets, go to www.amneal.com or call 1-877-835-5472. what are the ingredients in clonidine hcl extended-release tablets? active ingredient: clonidine hydrochloride, usp inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, pregelatinized starch (corn), and sodium lauryl sulfate. distributed by: amneal pharmaceuticals llc bridgewater, nj 08807 rev. 02-2020-01