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Temporary Change in PDL Status for Clonidine Transdermal Patches Effective September 26, 2022

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Effective September 26, 2022, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has temporarily removed the nonpreferred status on the preferred drug list (PDL) for the following generic product: clonidine transdermal patches.

The temporary status change is a response to the shortage of the preferred brand-name product: Catapres-TTS patches. The preferred status of the brand-name product will remain so that any existing available stock may be used.

Managed care organizations reported a shortage of the Catapres-TTS patches because the manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim is discontinuing the product. HHSC verified the shortage with the manufacturer.

The temporary status change allows providers to prescribe the generic clonidine transdermal patches without needing a PDL prior authorization and thus continue to provide necessary medication for clients.

The status change is temporary until the availability of any alternative brand-name products in the PDL class for antihypertensives-sympatholytics can be further assessed.

HHSC will provide announcements about future PDL status changes for these National Drug Codes (NDCs) when the information becomes available.

Email vdp-formulary@hhsc.state.tx.us with comments or any questions.