Chlorthalidone/Clonidine Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you've searched online for a "chlorthalidone/clonidine shortage" or tried to find Clorpres at your pharmacy only to come up empty, here's the most important thing to understand: this is not a shortage. This is a permanent discontinuation. Clorpres — the brand name for the fixed-dose combination of chlorthalidone and clonidine — has been pulled from the US market entirely.

A shortage is temporary — supply catches up with demand eventually. A discontinuation means the product will not return. Understanding this distinction matters because it shapes how you respond and plan your care.

What Exactly Was Discontinued?

The discontinued product is the fixed-dose combination tablet that contained both chlorthalidone and clonidine in a single pill. This includes:

Brand-name Clorpres in all three strengths (0.1/15 mg, 0.2/15 mg, 0.3/15 mg)

Any generic equivalents of the combination tablet

What was not discontinued:

Generic clonidine tablets (0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, 0.3 mg) — still widely available

Generic chlorthalidone tablets (25 mg, 50 mg) — still widely available

Clonidine transdermal patches — available, though supply can be more variable

Was It Discontinued for Safety Reasons?

No. According to GoodRx and drugs.com, the Clorpres discontinuation was not due to safety concerns or questions about how well the drug worked. The most likely reason is commercial — older combination products with limited demand are frequently discontinued when the economics of manufacturing no longer justify continued production, especially when cheap generic alternatives provide the same effect.

What Does This Mean for Your Treatment?

Your blood pressure treatment does not have to be interrupted. The path of least resistance — and the one most likely to be recommended by your prescriber — is to switch to the individual generic components: clonidine and chlorthalidone taken as separate pills at the same doses you were already on.

This is therapeutically identical to Clorpres. The only difference is that you'll be taking two pills instead of one. Most patients and prescribers find this a straightforward transition.

The Danger of Going Without Clonidine

One critical point: do not let a gap develop in your clonidine therapy while you sort out the transition. Clonidine carries a black box warning about abrupt discontinuation. Stopping clonidine suddenly — whether intentional or because you ran out and couldn't get a refill — can trigger a rapid, dangerous rise in blood pressure (rebound hypertension). This can cause a heart attack or stroke. The risk is serious enough that it appears in the FDA's most prominent warning category.

If you are currently taking Clorpres and your supply is running low, contact your prescriber today — not when you run out. They can call in a prescription for generic clonidine immediately to bridge the gap.

38,781+ patients found their medications in stock

38K+

Find Chlorthalidone/Clonidine In Stock Today →

Are the Individual Generics Readily Available?

Yes — in 2026, both generic clonidine IR tablets and generic chlorthalidone tablets are generally widely available at US pharmacies. Multiple manufacturers produce each drug, which creates supply redundancy and keeps availability stable. You may occasionally encounter a specific strength or quantity that's temporarily out of stock at a particular location, but the medications themselves are not in shortage.

How to Stay on Top of Your Prescriptions

Once you've made the transition to individual generics, use medfinder to confirm your pharmacy has both medications in stock before you run low. For a step-by-step guide, see our full post on how to find chlorthalidone/clonidine near you.