clonidine patch for methadone withdrawal

[spackle]

I have a question about the patch for anyone out there who has used it. Is it possible to OD with the patch on while taking methadone? Let me re-phrase. With the depressive qualities of methadone combined with clonidine is it possible that your respiration and blood pressure could get dangerously low? I am starting to taper down but dont want to use the patch until I am feeling withdrawal symptoms. I am on 50mg a day and going down by 2.5mgs every two weeks. I am on day 3 and feel fine, so I dont feel it is necessary especially since I am still getting a pretty good buzz even at 47.5 mgs.

[helen78185]

I have been on 50 mg of methadone for a month. Am I going to withdraw from them if I stop taking them. I have a clonodine patch should I use that and when.

[Karen1024]

Witness the doctor's way, not yours.  You are going to really need to be on that patch once you are in withdrawals, so at least keep it on until opiates are out of your body.  Go to NA too.  Then enjoy your freedom from that bondage.

[Penelope14]

        I,d talk with my doctor or someone in the medical-field regarding this, but personally, if it were me, I would,nt take use clonidine untill I was in withdrawals, this is what this drug is meant for & at 47.5mgs of methadone, you really should,nt need it, I did,nt notice any withdrawls untill I got down to 4mgs, which went away after a few days, then was back once I dropped to 2 then 1, & of course at zero I knew I was in withdrawls & that,s when I started clonidine, I used it for 12 days, & it was very helpful & my blood pressure did get low while I used it, so you got to use caution. I still have my clonidine but I stopped using it many days ago & I can happily say, I dont need it anymore, as I am methadone free!  Having no more withdrawls is such a blessing, I will never forget how people on this forum & addiction specialists & counselors kept telling me, it will get better! & while I was in withdrawls, I did,nt believe it, but it did! So keep that in mind as you are tapering, it does get better & better & better! Penelope

[lucyred68]

I would hold off on the patch until you are really feeling the wd's.  at your pace of taper, you should be able to get down pretty far before you need the patch.  just keep on taking it slowly, and your wd's shouldn't be as bad as mine were.  i tapered off of 40 mg's of 'done in two weeks time.  that was a killer.  i'll be praying for you cause even with a slow taper, you can't totally escape wd's, they will just be a lot milder.

Lucy