Clonidine Withdrawal
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My diabetic and hypertensive mother (age 88) was recently hospitalized for weakness and frequent falling. She has been on clonidine and a new doctor took her off it. She has been having horrible waves of nausea and diarrhea for about a week and a half now. She has to force herself to eat a couple of bites of each meal, and she weighed all of 92 pounds when she went in. Besides the hell she is going through, I am worried about her wasting away. How long does the clonidine withdrawal process last?

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Re: Nora (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

I can't remember what dose I was on. It was 10 years ago. I wanna say 0.03? I was never told or warned about withdrawals from this medication. I was prescribed it for migraines with high blood pressure. After taking it for 1 year, I ran out and on my second day of not taking it, I had the most horrrible horrible withdrawals. It was one of the worst experiences of my lie. I had uncontrollable Restless Legs. I was having violent kicking of my legs that I could not stop. I was moaning and groaning and, at times, screaming in agony. After at least 10 or 12 hours with no sign of it letting up, I had to go to the ER. I wish i had done more research before taking that. It is a strange option, actually, from what i was told by other Drs. I can't tell you how awful it was. Please ask your Dr for help and about taking something else. I would never wish that upon anyone. Those withdrawals were the most horrible thing I have ever experienced!!! Please take something else if you can!!!! Good luck!!! Get off of that horrible medicine!!!

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18

Re: rayray (# 16) Expand Referenced Message

Worried about my son as well. At 10 panic attacks were severe, he has taken .1mg -.2 mg clonidine ever since at night. Still has insomnia, he is now 14 and often does not want to take it now. He is (unusually) severely depressed and unusual for him-antisocial. Taking him to psychiatric walk in to his Dr. as my son hasn't gone to his last 2 appts. Had no idea this med could have such terrible side effects either. Was told it was the safest, as i didn't want him on SSRIs (i personally am allergic-wouldn't want to find out he is too)....thank you for posting as a parent. Makes me feel it's not just his age or a phase at 14.

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17

how do i taper off clonidine 0.1mg ive been takeing it for years more than 5 i dont like the side effects.

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16

Is there a legal suit pertaining to the side effects of Clonidine? I need help. My little 4 year old girl takes Clonidine 0.1mg to help her sleep, but hasn't been taking it lately and I think it's messing with her brain. She seems very spaced out. What do I need to do?

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15

I have been on Clonidine .1 mg patch for a little over a year. Because of the fatigue and other side effects, I am working with my Dr to come off of it. I have been switched from the .1mg patch to .1mg pills 3 times per day. Isn't this an increase in total Clonidine?

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14

Did it help your hot flashes? My dr wants me to use it for the same thing

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13

ive been on cloidine 0.1 and 80 mg indral for 15 yrs ive tried to ween off just wont work blook pressure goes 200/100 what can we do iam going crazy i ween off indral for a week but my blood pressure 220/105 and could get it down and they say it can kill you whent to this crazy dr told me to tak 20mg rampril 30mg hyzidineeeeeeeee and l clondine and one indral i woul beed if i took thi

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12

I have been on clonidine for 6 months! I have a high tolerance to everything and am at 0.7mg and barely making it without rebound effects! I do not have hypertension! It was prescribed for sleep. As time went by I needed more! Oddly my already low blood pressure never dropped but every 4-5 hrs if I do not take at least 0.4 mg I feel like I am being zapped or electrocuted! 10 minutes after taking the dose it's gone. Now I am short and am trying to get my NP to call in just a few until my appointment tomorrow! I want to wean as I lost 90lbs in 4 months, look like hell, am non functioning most of the time! I have read the high dose you are are the longer to ween! Anyone know what I can take ITC to stop the zapping! It's making me nuts!

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11

iam on 80mg indral and 0.1 colidine for 15 yrs clodine has quite working and b/p spik terrible and every thing ive read say you have to wean off beta blocker 1st is this true i need helh

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10

I take clonidine for hot flashes but the side affects of body aches are so bad that I need to get off them what is the recommended way to wean off?

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9

They should have never taken her off cold turkey. It's miserable and dangerous. Get a second opinion ASAP!!

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8

i was addicted to H they gave me clonidine for the withdrawls taking evrry 8 hours everyday for about 2 weeks and now i have stopped it right away without weaning off now im having withdrawls badly sweating very badly to wear i dont want to leave house how long will this last from taking clonidine i wana feel normal

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7

According to ALL of the information concerning Clonidine withdrawal, the drug should be withdrawn slowly in a weaning process to decrease the withdrawal side effects, one of which is rapid rise in blood pressure (extreme hypertension.)
Please ask the physician if it was tapered or not. Many physicians are not aware of all of the problems with this particular drug.

This medication does cause balance problems as well as sedation and weakness.
I have been on this medication for 4 months and have completed extensive research on it, as I have had almost every side effect that is listed except for rash and itching. It is being studied in ICUs for sedation and can cause rapid weight gain in some people. Study up on it on the internet and make a list of questions for the physician. Have all the info. to back up your questions and it may be necessary to get help from a friend who is in the medical field to review what you find on the internet before approaching the physician.

If she still in the hospital and how are they providing nutrition?
IV- hyperalimentation? additional supplements such as Assure or Boost?
Ask the doctor about this.

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6

Decrease the amount each day, but not too rapidly. I had a rebound effect, as described in all the literature, even when one of my transdermal patches fell off. the B/P can quickly rebound to the 200s (systolic ) for several days before dropping back down. Don't panic. Break the tabs in half and try to take that. I found that 1/2 tab works for me the same as a full tab., but the duration of the effect is about 4 hours for me for 1/2 tab. Obtain an inexpensive B/P machine at Walmart. There brand costs from $35 dollars to $69 but is well worth it if you have B/P problems.
In the beginning, when you are trying to taper your amount, take your B/P every 2 to 4 hours to trend the change in dosage. Journal this in a small notebook.
Has your physician replaced the drug with another or given you information on reducing the dosage. Many doctors are not that familiar with the need for dose reduction and the great problem with rebound hypertension.

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5

Nora: I don't know what you are taking Clonidine for
but whatever you do,do not stop this drug suddenly.
It is dangerous.Your blood pressure can go extremely
high.It is rebound effect.I can't explain all of it here,
but google Clonidine withdrawal.It is not addictive,but can have serious consequences if you stop or lower
the dose suddenly.You are taking a high dose.

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4

Hello, I been taking 0.1 mg of clonidine ever 6 hours around the clock. I missed my the one I take at 3 in the morning, but took the one I take at 9 am in the morning. I feel like crap today. Could I really feel this bad from missing that one 0.1 mg? Clonidine must really be addictive or something. Somebody let me know if this is normal. Thanks, Nora

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3

Dear Antonia,

I'm afraid I don't have further information that would help you to taper off. My mother was taken off cold-turkey, and her situation is complicated. I wish you good results.

Suzanne

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2

I have been taking clonidine, .05 mg AM and Pm. My Bp is now normal with Losartan potassium. How could I wean off of my clonidine when I started 6 months ago of taking .025 AM and PM.
Thanks

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1

Are you saying they just abruptly took her off of it?

Did they replace it with something else? Are they providing supportive therapy?

I doubt that the hospital will really let her waste away, if she starts to lose too much weight and isn't holding anything down, they will force nutrients into her, via IV, or feeding tube.

However, if she was on it for a long time, then the withdrawal and rebound effects could last a month or so, though they should taper off in severity.


https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Clonidine/­

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