Comprehensive medication guide to Chlorthalidone/Clonidine including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
The combination pill is discontinued. Individual generic clonidine and chlorthalidone are each Tier 1 on most insurance plans, with $0–$10 copays per medication. No prior authorization is typically required for either generic.
Estimated Cash Pricing
Clorpres (chlorthalidone/clonidine) has been permanently discontinued. The individual generics — clonidine and chlorthalidone — are available separately at $4–$10/month each with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons, or $4–$20/month at retail.
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Chlorthalidone/clonidine — sold under the brand name Clorpres — was a fixed-dose combination antihypertensive medication that paired two blood pressure drugs into a single oral tablet. It was FDA-approved for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults who had already been individually titrated on both component medications.
The combination included clonidine hydrochloride (a centrally acting alpha-2 adrenergic agonist) and chlorthalidone (a thiazide-like diuretic). It was available in three strengths: 0.1 mg/15 mg, 0.2 mg/15 mg, and 0.3 mg/15 mg of clonidine/chlorthalidone.
Important: Clorpres (chlorthalidone/clonidine) has been permanently discontinued in the United States — not due to safety concerns, but for commercial reasons. Both individual generic components (clonidine and chlorthalidone) remain widely available.
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Chlorthalidone/clonidine lowered blood pressure through two complementary mechanisms. Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that works in the brainstem to suppress sympathetic nervous system outflow — reducing the signals that tell blood vessels to constrict and the heart to beat faster. The result is vasodilation (blood vessel relaxation) and reduced heart rate, lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic that works on the kidneys, blocking sodium reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule. This increases excretion of sodium and water, reducing overall blood volume. Lower blood volume reduces the workload on the heart and lowers blood pressure. Chlorthalidone has a long half-life (40–60 hours) compared to hydrochlorothiazide, providing sustained blood pressure control. The 2025 ACC/AHA guidelines name chlorthalidone as a preferred first-line thiazide-like diuretic.
The dual-mechanism approach — targeting both the neurogenic (nervous system) and volume (kidney) components of hypertension — explains the combination's effectiveness and why it was a useful option for patients who needed both mechanisms addressed.
0.1 mg/15 mg — tablet
Clonidine 0.1 mg + Chlorthalidone 15 mg (discontinued)
0.2 mg/15 mg — tablet
Clonidine 0.2 mg + Chlorthalidone 15 mg (discontinued)
0.3 mg/15 mg — tablet
Clonidine 0.3 mg + Chlorthalidone 15 mg (discontinued)
Impossible — the combination pill is permanently discontinued. Clorpres (chlorthalidone/clonidine) as a fixed-dose combination tablet no longer exists in the US marketplace. No pharmacy carries it; no manufacturer produces it. This is not a temporary shortage.
The practical solution: patients should obtain two separate prescriptions from their prescriber for generic clonidine and generic chlorthalidone. Both individual generics are widely available at virtually all US pharmacies in 2026, produced by multiple manufacturers, and very affordable at Tier 1 copay levels with most insurance plans.
If you're having trouble locating a specific strength of the individual generics at your local pharmacy, medfinder can contact pharmacies near you to check which ones have your medication in stock, then text you the results — saving hours of phone calls.
Neither clonidine (oral antihypertensive tablets) nor chlorthalidone is a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. Any licensed prescriber with prescribing authority can write both prescriptions without special DEA registration or restrictions. These are standard medications prescribed in primary care, cardiology, nephrology, and internal medicine practices across the US.
Primary care physicians (family medicine, general internal medicine) — most common prescribers of antihypertensives
Cardiologists — for hypertension with concurrent heart disease or resistant hypertension
Nephrologists — for hypertension with chronic kidney disease
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — can prescribe both medications in all US states
Telehealth providers can also prescribe generic clonidine and chlorthalidone without any additional restrictions, making it convenient for patients to manage ongoing hypertension therapy remotely. Platforms like Teladoc Health and MDLive offer hypertension management services where these medications can be prescribed via video visit.
No. Neither clonidine (oral tablets for hypertension) nor chlorthalidone is classified as a controlled substance by the DEA. There are no scheduling restrictions, refill limits, or special prescribing requirements for either medication. Any licensed prescriber — including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — can prescribe them via standard prescriptions without special DEA authorization.
Note: clonidine is also used off-label for ADHD in children and adolescents, and in extended-release formulations (Kapvay, Onyda XR) specifically for that indication. In some clinical contexts involving ADHD management, state-specific prescribing guidelines may vary slightly, but for hypertension treatment, there are no controlled substance restrictions on clonidine.
The most common side effects are primarily from the clonidine component and are dose-related:
Dry mouth (up to 40% of patients) — most common complaint
Drowsiness and sedation (about 33%) — often improves over time
Dizziness (~16%) — especially when standing up quickly (orthostatic hypotension)
Constipation (~10%)
Increased urination (chlorthalidone) — take in the morning to minimize nighttime trips
Low potassium (hypokalemia) — chlorthalidone causes potassium loss; monitor electrolytes
Elevated blood sugar (chlorthalidone) — monitor in patients with diabetes
Rebound hypertension from abrupt clonidine discontinuation — BLACK BOX WARNING. Never stop suddenly.
Bradycardia (very slow heart rate) or AV block
Severe hypotension (very low blood pressure)
Angioedema (rare — swelling of face, tongue, throat)
Severe electrolyte imbalance (hyponatremia, hypokalemia)
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Clonidine + Chlorthalidone (separate generics)
The direct equivalent — taking both components as individual generic prescriptions provides the same therapeutic effect as Clorpres.
Lisinopril/Hydrochlorothiazide
ACE inhibitor + diuretic combination; first-line per current guidelines, widely available as a generic.
Amlodipine/Valsartan
Calcium channel blocker + ARB combination; excellent tolerability and proven cardiovascular outcomes.
Guanfacine
A centrally acting alpha-2 agonist similar to clonidine with a longer half-life and lower rebound risk; available as a generic.
Prefer Chlorthalidone/Clonidine? We can find it.
Beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol)
majorSerious risk of rebound hypertension if clonidine is stopped while on a beta-blocker. Taper beta-blocker first, then clonidine.
MAO Inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
majorContraindicated with chlorthalidone — severe additive hypotension risk.
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline)
majorTCAs block the antihypertensive effect of clonidine, leading to loss of blood pressure control.
Lithium
majorChlorthalidone reduces renal lithium clearance, increasing risk of lithium toxicity. Monitor lithium levels closely.
Digoxin
moderateChlorthalidone-induced hypokalemia increases digoxin toxicity risk. Monitor potassium and digoxin levels.
CNS depressants (alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines)
moderateAdditive sedation with clonidine. Avoid alcohol; use caution with other CNS depressants.
Diabetes medications (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas)
moderateChlorthalidone may raise blood glucose; clonidine may mask hypoglycemia symptoms. Monitor blood sugar more frequently.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
moderateRegular NSAID use can reduce the antihypertensive effect of both clonidine and chlorthalidone.
The permanent discontinuation of Clorpres (chlorthalidone/clonidine) in the United States marks the end of this convenient single-pill combination — but not the end of effective antihypertensive therapy with these two drugs. Both generic clonidine and generic chlorthalidone remain available, affordable, and effective as individual medications prescribed together. The transition from one pill to two is medically straightforward.
The most critical message for patients: do not stop taking clonidine abruptly under any circumstances. The black box warning on clonidine about rebound hypertension is one of the most serious medication safety warnings in outpatient cardiology. If you are having trouble finding or filling your clonidine prescription, contact your prescriber immediately. Do not wait until you run out.
If you need help finding generic clonidine or chlorthalidone at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can call pharmacies in your area and text you the results — quickly identifying which ones have your medication in stock without you needing to make a single call.
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