clonodine????

[flmagi]

My doctor finally called and is phoneing in a script for clonodine for me.  Other than lowering my blood presure, what is this drug going to do for me?     Guess I haven't been paying enough attention to my lesons here on the forum for the past few months. :(
thanks for any info.
Magi

[hopsing94]

OMG Magi dont take it. I hear it puts hair on your chest and chin. Really

[allaboutmary]

LMAO  are you serious ?  Does it really ?  So, Magi you better get some razors when you pick up the script. lol

[Jacqui805]

Clonidine comes under the brand names of Catapres, Catapers-TTS, Dixarit, and Duraclon.  Clonidine is the name of the drug itself (generic).  It is classified as a non-opiod analgesic (centrally-acting), Antihypertensive agent (centrally acting adrenergic).  It can be given by mouth, by patch, or even epidural.  It's actions are the following:  1)  Stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors in the CNS, result is inhibition of cardioacceleration and vasoconstriction center (let me know if you need help understanding this) 2)  Prevents pain signal transimission to the CNS by stimulating alpha-adrenergic receptors in the spinal cord.  ***It has the "unlabled" use of Management of opioid withdrawl.  You'll probably be put on 300 mcg at first.  I hope your doc checked your BP.  Some people cannot take this for this purpose as their BP is too low (like mine).  It can be decreased by 50%/day for 3 days, then d/c'd or decreased by 100-200 mcg/day.  Remember this is supposed to work because of the action in the CNS, in that it tends to shut things down so to speak.  DO NOT TAKE WITH ANYTHING THAT SEDATES OR ANY ANTIHISTAMINES, ALCOHOL, CNS DEPRESSANTS, TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS.

[Jacqui805]

As far as adverse s/s go, hair on chin and chest is not listed.  The more common s/s are:  drowsiness, dry mouth, and withrawl phenomenon.  I've heard this to be true myself.  Coming off of this med can cause this.  Don't sweat it, you're under doc's superv.  There are other adverse s/s, but they are not common and every drug has sh**loads more than you're ever told.  You could have nightmares, dizziness, depression, n/v, constipation, weight gain.  If you have any particular questions, please don't hesitate to ask me, I've got tons of real info.  I am a nurse.

[hopsing94]

tell me in ******* terms. Is it like xanax? anti anxiety? Sorry i'm still a littel sslloowww today

[flmagi]

huh?

[allaboutmary]

Jacqui     The doctor didn't take our blood pressure . She asked if we had high blood pressure.  I think we might have a quack on our hands.  Thank God for all the informative people here. I have a blood pressure thing here. I will check Magi's before she takes it.  Thanks for the info.    Mary

[flmagi]

will walgrens check my blood presure? never mind, I have to fall down now... going going gone

[allaboutmary]

Guess the erection thing isn't working ,  she is falling down. lol  

[hopsing94]

ROFLMAO no more drugs for me, lol

[hopsing94]

So you have a quack doctor. Hmmm u must have aflac insurance

[Jacqui805]

Very important stuff here.  Now, Clonidine will not cause an erection, in fact it can cause impotence.  All those ED drugs are for people taking BP meds.  Now, I'm extremely concerned and pissed off that your doc didn't take your BP.  That is the most basic thing that she should have done.  It was neglegent.  If you have a way of checking it, you should.  You should not take the med until it is checked.  PERIOD.  No matter how shi**y you feel and want to to relieve your w/d.  This is primarily a BP lowering med, but it also can have the effect of lowering pain and is commonly used to treat w/d too.  It is a seriously powerful not-to-be-f'd with drug.  It is not an anti-anxiety drug, but due to it's sedating effects, may relieve it anyway.  However, coming off the med can cause a w/d syndrome so you need to wean as suggested above and only with supervision of doc.  Don't put your *** behind the wheel of a car until you are sure you can handle it!  If you get up quickly, your BP may drop and you get light headed, so change positions slowly, even from laying to sitting.  If any untoward s/s occur, call your doc, or ask me.

[avisg]

magi can you take clonidine when on sub??????????????????????????????????

[allaboutmary]

Thank you so much.  I swear I get better information here than at the docors.  I will check Magi's BP before she takes any.  I think she is just going to take it for tonight and not on a regular basis.  Is that o.k. to do ?   Thanks again for all your help.   Mary


Hop, I swear you have got me peeing my pants.  You are too freaking funny.  Love you !

[allaboutmary]

I think Magi went back to bed.  It's the Sub doctor that is giving her the Clonidine.  I'm kinda losing faith in this sub doc pretty quick.  She rushed Magi off the phone , so she didn't get to answer all the questions she wanted to.

[PromisedLand]

It helped me immensely with w/d from vicodin.  I was taking .1mg 3x day.  yes, it did make me drowsy..combined with klonopin for anxiety (prescirbed) it turned me into a zombie and all I wanted to do was sleep.  And the dry mouth is a pain.  Keep a load of hard candies around or even articificial saliva available at a pharmacy.  I can't speak of the scientific stuff but I can say that after the first pill when I was in WD I immediately felt better and went to work the next day..how I stayed awake I don't know, but it did help quite a bit.  As others have said FOLLOW THE DOCTOR'S INSTRUCTIONS, don't get up out of a seating or lieing position quickly.

Jim

[Jacqui805]

Thanks so much for checking her BP, I'm really worried about that.  Normal BP is 120/80.  Make sure her BP she's not too much below that.  Pay attn to the top number.  I really wouldn't give it at all if she's like 110/anything.  The drug should peak (top out) at about 2-4 hours after she take it (if oral) and last 8-12 hours.  It's best to give exactly as prescribed, but hold a dose if she's got too low a BP.  The last dose of the day should be given at bedtime, esp. important here because the idea is to assist sleep too.

[hopsing94]

I'm sorry mary but after that story yesterday all I can see is this doctor walking around with a beek strapped to her head going   AFLAC AFLAC

[Jacqui805]

By the way, Magi needs to be careful even more because of the Suboxone.  Remember, that is a CNS depressant, and you are to be EXTREMELY cautious in taking the two together.  Hopefully, she'll not be alone during the course of this therapy?

[Jacqui805]

Hell, after the story, and hearing this, I'm HUGELY concerned.  It gives "funny" story a whole new meaning!

[road2recovery]

hopsing --you are killing me, i am LMAO

I have never heared of anyone taking clonodine and sub??
ANYONE???

i think this is a quack, but this is not a medicine to play with!!!!
And not taking your blood pressure is crazy...
Please talk to a pharmacist....
r2r

[hopsing94]

Magi I went to walgreens and checked my bp everyday after my initial stoppage because it was to high and it finally came down. However jaqui is right with the sub blood pressure should not be high and you need to ck it first. The pharmacist at walgreens can check it and advise you on wether or not to take it. Please be careful and ck it first.

[Jacqui805]

sorry, more info I should mention, I mentioned a little about it, but, Clonidine should be gradually discontinued over 2-4 days to prevent rebound hypertension.  Since you're not supposed to take another CNS depressant with this (and Magi is taking Suboxone), she's really gonna need to monitor for mental depression, too shallow of respirations or resps below 10-12/min, swelling in lower lege, palesness or cold feeling in fingertips or toes, or those damned nightmares.  The effects of this drug will be magnified due to the Suboxone.  But if you get nothing else from me, I cannot overstate the need to have taken her BP even before this med was prescribed.  Ask any health professional, and they'll respond, "Duh"!

[avisg]

i am not liking this at all .....colidine  when you stop taking it HAS to be tapered !!!!!!!