****Clonidine Question******

[NautyOne]

Long story short.  My doctor switched my Ativan to Clonidine 0.01 for my PMDD night sweats.  Has anyone ever taken it for this reason?  Did it work, and is 0.01 a low dose.  I am afraid to take it because I don't have high BP.  Just curious and nervous about taking it.  

thanks,
Nauty......................

[NautyOne]

PS  she says it all she can give me because I cant take birth control because I smoke, and that they can't test my hormone levels unless I stop having periods....sorry guys..lol.  Is this true.....?

[JonDavid]

My doctor prescibed me Clonidine for when I start my withdrawl process beginning Thursday. I have not tried it yet. My doctor prescribed 0.01mgs take x1 every 6 hours as needed

[GoingToMakeIt]

Please do research for this. I like drugs.com. Are you sure it wasn't 0.1mg or 100mcg?
that is the lowest dose I could find there. It interacts with alcohol and some allergy meds.
Usually given 2x/day. It sounds like it is just for the nights for you, though. If I am in doubt, I ask the pharmacist to check or print up a data sheet on it. They can also tell you if your other meds react with it.

[NautyOne]

Mine is not for withdrawal, but horrible night sweats about 10 days out of the month.  I no longer wanted to take the ativan because it made me hyper....go figgure?  maybe the mixture of that a 2 liters of diet coke a day......now that i think about it.....it was worse when I was taking the ativan.......anyway, it did nothing for the sweats and I hope I can handle the mood swings......but anyway, your a guy and getting the same dose??...I only weight 125 lbs. @ 57"  can you break them in half?  Are they timed released?   I guess I should be asking my doctor these questions but strangely i feel better asking you all......lol.  

Mine is take 1 at bedtime ......not every day, only when needed.  

its either that or nothing at this point.  Any of the ladies ever try the OTC Estroven>>>that scares me too?  I JUST NEED RELIEF FROM THESE NIGHT SWEATS AND THE DOC'S DON'T GIVE A ****.......LIKE IT'S ALL IN YOUR FRIGGIN HEAD OR SOMETHING........FRUSTRATED !!!

[NautyOne]

GTMI yes i was wrong.......sent you a pm.......0.1  is that high?

[allaboutmary]

Hey !  I just realized something !  My night sweats came back when I stopped taking the Clonodine.  I'm getting the hot flashes from menopause real bad at times. They came back a few weeks ago and I never put 2 and 2 together.  I stopped taking the Clonodine about 2 weeks ago.   I never heard of it being taken for this reason, but your post made me think.  I would start with just a half of a pill. I've never taken a whole. They really help me sleep.

[GoingToMakeIt]

As i mentioned, it was the lowest dose of it I could find.

[NautyOne]

google it .......just did and yes, lots of info.  seems like the only thing used for meno and the sweats........that is interesting.  I guess it does work.  I pray it works for me.

Nauty..........

[worried878]

I take the natural estorgen supps when i have the sweats but mine happen during the day as well....i also have the prescribed estogen as well and both work for me....there is also prenpro available....have u ever tried a hormone replacement verses clonidine for menopause?  i have just never heard of it as a first option

[GoingToMakeIt]

Hasn't helped me pms one bit. Oh maybe I should be giving it to my wife.

[confused456]

GTMI.....LMAO

[allaboutmary]

Worried,    Most doctors won't give you the hormone replacement if you smoke and I do. :(

Nauty,   Thanks for your post.  Now I have something to treat the hot flashes and I didn't even know it. lol  This is great !   Hope it works for you !   Hugs,  Mary

[allaboutmary]

Now what am I going to do about this irritability ????????  Every thing makes me mad.  I hate being this way !   See ....I'm even mad about being irritable. lol

[NautyOne]

I am afraid to take the OTC things because not only do I smoke but my mother had breast cancer, so replacement is out.  I am really frustrated because she says If you still have aunt flo then your not in menopause, but she says they can't check my hormone levels unless aunt flo left town for good.  I don't know if I believe that.  something is wrong and I'd like to know where I am pre-pause whatever......she says.....we cant do that????grrrrrrrrrr.  I do get hot flashes.....i think?  it happens maybe once in a blue moon so I'm just not sure......thats why i am getting so frustrated !!!!!!!!!!!

Nauty.............

[GoingToMakeIt]

Have you girls tried yam cream? It really does help. Boosts the estrogen by giving you progesterone. Increasing soy intakes help too.

[allaboutmary]

You can be in peri-menapause for years before you stop having your period. Thats really not making sence to me that she can't check your hormone levels.  They checked my sister's. She had a hysterectomy but had her ovaries left. So they didn't know if she was still ovulating and they tested her.

[NautyOne]

I did see something about that .......but, i try to stay away from soy, because again the breast cancer that runs in the family..........soy i hear now promotes breast cancer......we can't win.........

Nauty............

[NautyOne]

I know ......that really bugged me.  My mother said something about Maturation levels?  if i spelled that right.....they can see whats going on.......cheap *** HMO's......I'm gonna fight this issue with them, cause If my symptoms are affecting my everyday well being...I deserve to know........I pay those ***** enough out of my own pocket !!

thanks........

[allaboutmary]

I was just drinking my glass of chocolate soy milk. :(

[bladerunnerb]

I have just got done taking Clonidine.  The .1 is the starting dose, two or three times per day.  The pill is scored, so you CAN break it in half and take .05 or 1/2 a dose if you need to.  I was given it to help with withdrawal.  It lowers your heart rated and opens your blood vessels so blood flows easier.  The thing I don't like about it is that the dry mouth is terrible with it, and you'll need to suck on candy.  I would recommend a dose first thing when you get up, and then a dose before bed.  If you need one during the day, try 1/2 a pill or a pill if you have to.

Just so you know, there will be some withdrawal if you take it for a long time, but it's not a pill that is abused.  It is used for menopause and night sweats and to sleep (insomnia) off label.

I read up a bunch on it when I started it.  I took it for a few days before I started withdrawal, and then through Day 5 (today).  I took my last one this morning.  They also make it in .2 and .3mg.  But, start small and work your way up.

Later!

[allaboutmary]

Yeah, I would definately demand the test.
I used to have horrible night sweats starting 3 days before my period.  Thats how I knew it was coming. I had fibroids and endometreosis.  Have you been checked for things like that ????

[confused456]

Soy....ewwwwww!!! They can test you! Geez, my real Mom had a hysterectomy and then she was put on estrogen but then she found out she still has one ovary!! WTH!!!!

She has her hysterectomy long ago though! Things are really screwy for us woman and you can have symptoms as early as your 30's!! It is NOT FAIR!! LOL

[worried878]

Didnt think about the smoking thing and i do the nicotine lozenges....they never asked...but i am also on depo preovera which is a big hormone gush every 3 months and need to get off of it as i have no idea whether i still have periods or not since it stops ur cycle...i have not had one in 15 years cept once when i got off a few years ago and i thought i was gonna pull my hair out...i thought "screw feeling like this" as memories of severe pms resurfaced...got back on the shot/for endometriosis...it is only progesterone tho and so i buy those natural estrogen tabs to help the hot flashes...and it does...i have a scrip for premarin but take it rarely...but i used to smoke and took birth control pills for years so i guess i should be happy nothing happened to me so far!  I dont have to take it every day...kinda go thru times when i need to and times when i dont need them.....be glad when menopause is over for me

[meg52080]

I take a natural supp for the night sweats. . .I am only 28 but going through perimenopause.  You CAN have your estrogen, progesterone and testosterone tested regardless of whether your cycles have stopped.  All they have to do is put (lol) abnormal menses under the diagnosis - I worked as a doctor's assistant for several years.  

Turned out, that even at my peak follicular cycle (when you should have the most hormones) all three hormone levels were at absolute zero.  I am on a mono-cyclic (consistent hormone levels all 3 weeks) birth control and use the natural supps and also the pro-G-yam cream.  Oh, and I also get bi-monthly testosterone inj. from my doc.  Studies show that adjunctive therapy with these treatments work the best.  I haven't had night sweats for about 2 months now.  This is a record for me - used to have to change the clothes 3 or 4 times a night.  So, I hope this is helpful for you. . .I should've sent you a PM about this (lol-a little personal but whatever).  Let me know if you need anymore info.

P.S.  I was on the clonidine at one time, the first time I tried to detox and it didn't lower my BP at all (mine is already low) and I took 0.1mg 3 times daily. . .

Send me a PM any time if you want!

Meg