The main use for this medication is used to treat high blood pressure. It works by stimulating certain brain receptors (alpha adrenergic type) which results in the relaxing of blood vessels in other parts of your body, causing them to widen.
Clonidine is typically available as tablets (Catapres, Dixarit), as a transdermal patch (Catapres-TTS), or as an injectable form to be given epidurally, directly to the central nervous system.
[edit] Non-FDA approved uses
This medication may also be used to ease withdrawal symptoms associated with the long-term use of narcotics, alcohol and nicotine (smoking). In addition, clonidine has also be used for migraine headaches, hot flashes associated with menopause, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[3][4]
Clonidine is regularly prescribed to opiate addicts to help alleviate their withdrawal symptomology. It is mainly used to combat the sympathetic nervous system response to opiate withdrawal, namely tachycardia and hypertension, in the first couple days of withdrawals.[citation needed] It helps take away the sweating, hot/cold flashes, and general restlessness.[citation needed] The sedation effect is also useful.
[edit] Adverse effects
This drug may cause drowsiness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, dizziness, or constipation. Sucking on sugarless hard candy or ice chips, chewing sugarless gum, drinking water, and using a saliva substitute may help relieve dry mouth.
Signs of depression or fast/slow/irregular heartbeat are rare, but as serious side effects should be reported immediately.
[edit] Pharmacodynamics
Clonidine is a centrally-acting alpha-2 agonist. It selectively stimulates receptors in the brain that monitor catecholamine levels in the blood. These receptors close a negative feedback loop that begins with descending sympathetic nerves from the brain that control the production of catecholamines (epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, and norepinephrine) in the adrenal medulla. By fooling the brain into believing that catecholamine levels are higher than they really are, clonidine causes the brain to reduce its signals to the adrenal medulla, which in turn lowers catecholamine production and blood levels. The result is a lowered heart rate and blood pressure, with side effects of dry mouth and fatigue. If clonidine is suddenly withdrawn the sympathetic nervous system will revert to producing high levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, higher even than before treatment, causing rebound hypertension. Rebound hypertension can be avoided by slowly withdrawing treatment.
[edit] Clonidine suppression test
Clonidine's effect on reducing circulating epinephrine by a central mechanism was used in the past as an investigatory test for pheochromocytomae, which are catecholamine-synthesizing tumors, usually of the adrenal medulla. In a Clonidine suppression test plasma catecholamines levels are measured before and 3 hours after a 0.3 mg/kg oral test dose has been given to a patient. A positive test occurs if there is no decrease in plasma levels.
Thank you! Well i'll find out I feel like i'm gonna crawl out of my skin and just wanna scream! So I took that and a clonzapam which i'm prescribed, hope it helps I have to finnally do laundry,LOL my room looks like a giant laundry basket. Ugh when will I ever get this modivation back w/out pills?!?!
Yes it will make you tired.. It lowers your BP so if your BP isn't high it can lower it too much... clonidine should not be played with...
Great well hopefully not tired enough so I get extremly sleepy...I can't be lazy today even though if I had nothing to do I wouldn't leave my bed.
IF you feel jumpy and edgy... you can take it... My doc told me to take mine half a pill 3 times a day.. If I don't need it don't take it.. If you take it keep an eye out for dizziness.. means your BP is too low... maybe even pick up a blood pressure cuff..
WIth the energy thing... go to GNC and get some B12...
Thanks unlike most people on here (I won't lie) I'm self medicating my g/f was going to a methadone clinic 3 yrs ago and has been clean since and is trying to help me the best she can when she can and they still give her the clonidine so she gave it to me..thank you so much for your advice I did take one and am a bit dizzy, but i'm not driving anywhere just walking next door to do my laundry.
Maybe try half next time.. thats what I am gonna do when I need em.. He told me since I am a small person I wouldn't need much..
That I will definatly do! But i think it helped pretty good...100lbs...YOUR LUCKY,lol i'm 124 and I think these pills actually made me gian weight well that and my thyroid was off.