Sunday, October 26, 2008 John asks

Q: HOW DO I WEAN OFF OF CLONIDINE?

Everytime I try to get off clonidine my heart rate and bp go way up. In addition, anxiety is a componet that one experiences when trying to get off this stuff. It's a nightmare! What do I do? Because it makes me feel so lethargic I take .1 mg x 3 and divide the dosage over a 24 hr period into six pills so I'm not so tired (.05 every 4 hrs). Sometimes I feel like checking into a hospital in order to get off this stuff. Is it really possible to get off of clonidine totally and my adrenals return to normal? Can I do it alone? Please advise........

P. S. Although I realize this is to be done gradually, I'm not having much success.......

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Answers (3)

Martin Cane, M.D., Health Pro

10/26/08 9:41pm

John,

Clonidine is a powerful blood pressure medication that requires monitoring and regulation by your doctor. This medication can cause a dangerously high blood pressure in some people when the medication is discontinued, which is known as rebound. For this reason, your doctor should be the person who is lowering your medication and monitoring your pressure during this process. Other medication might be necessary to keep your blood pressure controlled.

To answer one of your questions: No, you cannot do this alone. You need your doctor's help and guidance.

Best wishes.

Martin Cane, M.D.

John

1/11/10 1:07am

Other than being under a doctor's supervision and the use of other medication for bp control, what is the formula (e.g., half the dose every few days or week, or reduce by .05 every few days or week)? I am taking .1 x 3. Surely, there has to be formula for weaning off this drug. Thanks........

Hermit

6/25/11 10:34am

Worse damn HPB medicine ever!!! Was taking 0.2 three times a day for over three years. Withrew over period of eight days. Been completely off it for past 12 days and feel terrible. Blood pressure is running 190's over 110's. Was started on bycolic 10 mg once a day (beta blocker)and teckturna 150mg (renin inhibitor) once a day but hasn't lowered my blood pressure. Wish my doctor had never started me on this horrible drug.

Ms.Monroe

8/25/11 11:42am

Wow!I'm relieved to see other people having the exact same problem with Clonidine. I was put on .2mg 3x a day after being diagnosed with Post traumatic stress disorder after almost dying after being hit by a drunk driver(on a Sunday morning!).Anyway,Clonidine is one of the biggest nightmares I have ever encountered. If I don't take a full dose every few hours I literally start going into an almost immidiate withdrawl that has landed me in the ER 3 times because of the rebound Hyper tension.I also have gained 30 pounds because I'm so lethargic,I can't even begin to think about jogging around the block.I am also on 2 other blood pressure medications,and found this forum out of desperation to wean myself off of Clonidine and still be a functioning person.Has anyone else been successful with doing so and if so,how did you take down your dosage? At my last Doctors appointment I pleaded with my doctor to take me off of Clonidine and was immidiatly shut down with a "This is the best Medication for PTSD,no."Nice.I would love to hear back from anyone with advice regarding this topic. Now I'm off to take my Clonidine for the morning since I'm startng to shake-yay!

Q: HOW DO I WEAN OFF OF CLONIDINE?

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