Addiction to clonidine

Hello,
A breif history - My brother was stabbed in the heart and went into cardiac arrest for an hour, The doctors and surgeons done a fantastic job in saving him. He was put under sedation for 2 weeks, they have now taken off the sedation but it appears that he is dependant on clonidine. So they gave him 4 mg an hour again after an episode of great frustration for him and a heart rate of 201 beats a min. But they reduced it to 2mg then 1 then a 1/2 then nothing in the space of 12 hours and a few hours later he was sedated again after a repeat episode. I'm not an expert by any means but this seemed a really quick withdrawal to me? I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this and how long on average it takes to withdraw from clonidine?
Thank you in advance for anyone who answers, this is a very stressful time for us all and the doctors although giving fantastic care seem to like keeping us wrapped in cotton wool and not very open with any questions we ask.
Thank you again.

[troubleinohio]

hmm, Im really confused on this one.. are you sure he isnt addicted to the pain medicine they gave him for his stab wound? and are using the clonodine to treat the WD from it? Clonodine is a blood pressure medicine, and is used sometimes to treat WD symptoms...
Im sure someone else will answer your post that takes clonodine though...keep reading here, its kinda early but people should start posting soon

[tryinhard78]

Hi there, First of I want to say I am very glad your brother made it through...I can't even imagine how horrible of a time that was for you and your family. I have been on clonidine for about 4 years now for my b/p and have tried a number of times to come off of it. Clonidine is the only b/p med out there that will cause rebound hypertension if you come off of it to fast. In my experince you have to taper off very slowly if you have been taking it for longer then a few days. Have the drs said why they are in such a rush to get him off of it? Any Dr should know that it takes days if not weeks to come off of clonidine...12 hours is to fast.

[peaceinknowing]

I wish I had something to tell you, but I just wantd to say that I am happy for your brother, you and your family for him pulling through.

[GA Guy]

Are you sure he's taking clonidine and not Klonopin? The reason I ask is twofold...first, Clonidine's normal dose is .1-.2 mg. Yes, that's a TENTH of a mg. 4mg would surely kill him. Secondly, clonidne does have some sedative effects, but Klonopin (a benzo) is much more likely to be given for those symptoms. Plus, the dosages are right on with normal dosages of Klonopin due to anxiety and panic attacks.

[Lexy25]

Hi all,
Thank you so much for your help and support.
It is definately clonidne he is on. He was off it last night from 7am until about 10pm (and was calm the whole day) then they gave him 2mg of clonidine all night to keep him calm. Not sure if he is off this morning yet. They were keeping him sedated with propofol, medazolan (sp) but then said the clonidine was more suited to him?? They were giving him 10ml shots off morphine prev. to calm him down then went to the clonidine. While he was sedated after cardiac arrest they alternated between morphine and fentanyl. Do you think its possible then that they are giving this to him to w/d from painkillers then? He is having regular doses of paracetamol now for pain relieve.  
Thank you again,
Lex

[TrayCee]

clonodine is not a narcotic

[Lexy25]

Hi everyone,
Just thought I would let you know my brother has been off clonidine for nearly 3 day now. Thank you for all your help. He is talking a bit now, although in a world of his own. We now just have to wait and see how much of a recovery he will make.
Thank you again.
Lex

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

The propofolol is a full general anesthesia - thats the one that Michael Jackson liked. And it killed him!  Hopefully he is off the morphine by now and continuing to make even more sense...to you. When speaking with him you might help nudge some brain nuerons if you speak of fond family activities in the not too distant past...........You might even play some music on an I-Pod or similar device with good songs that bring happy memories to mind for when there arent a lot of people around the bed........  Do your best to keep pleasant and recent memories at the top of his mind..........