Clonidine - anyone there taking it?

[karinosa]

I've been taking Clonidine now for 15 days, I'm taking .05mg 4 times a day, my blood pressure seems to be more in the normal range, with movement it does still go high but not as high.  My heart rate on the other hand is still quite high, it only slows down to a normal range if I lay down, and even then it is at about 87, just sitting I'm at 101, is clonidine suppossed to help with the heart rate too?  do I have to wait longer for this medication to work on my heart rate?  my family doctors said that I should wait for another month and then she'll decide what to do next but I'm tired of waiting, I want to do more around the house and start exercising again but with the heart rate so high I can hardly do anything, just putting my boots on it goes to 135, I'm glad my blood pressure is lowering but I thought I would check and see if any of you take clonidine and what your experience with it is.
Thanks!
Karin

[karinosa]

Hi Laura!

Too bad to hear that your kids had been sick, that's not fun!

I can't remember if your BP was too high or too low with your pots, in my case it would go to high but during rest it would go too low and then with movement my BP fluctuated from the two extremes which made me feel very sick.

Now on the Clonidine, I'm taking 0.2mg a day, in 0.05 mg doses 4 times a day, the BP doesn't go as high, but it is still going low, but I don't feel as sick as the changes are not as dramatic.

The fast heart rate continued, but as of this last week I have now started a SSRI, Celexa, 10mg a day, 1 day I was really sick, horrible headache and very groggy, the next 3 days, no headache but still very sleepy, now I've been taking it at night instead of noon as the doctor had suggested, I'm sleeping for 6 hours in a row instead of waking every 2 hours or so, but then I'm awake for about an hour before I can fall asleep again, I'm hoping that will change, but yesterday and so far today I feel really good, my head feels so clear.

Another positive thing to note, my heart rate has decreased dramatically, I know that I may be jumping too fast to conclusions but yesterday and today my heart rate at rest was 62! I went up the stairs and it only went to 83!!!  Sleeping last night on my left side which before I couldn't do at all, I couldn't feel my heart beat, so I sure hope that this will help the heart rate.   The doctor didn't want to give me anything else for the actual heart rate as I have asthma and apparently a lot of the medications can triger asthma attacks, so for now we are trying the Celexa and see how it goes.

I hope that they can find the 'magic' combination for you.  Let' keep in touch : )

Karin

[laurab2818]

Sorry for the delayed response. My kids have been sick with this and that so I have gotten behind on stuff....

My heart rate is about the same as yours.  Before I was on the Clonidine, it was usually high 80's lying down, 90-100  sitting, then jumped way up with standing or even light activity.  Now it is still jumping up too high with activity and I am really just as exhausted as before I started it.  It's almost 140 with activity such as climbing one flight of stairs or walking very short distance in dr's hallway.  Dr. recommended going back on Midodrine (proamatine) and staying on Clonidine .1 mg/day.  He doesn't want to raise the Clonidine dose b/c my BP is too low and can't afford to get lower.  If the Midodrine can raise my BP, I may be able to go a little higher on the Clonodine.  It's a juggling act!

How are you doing?

:)
Laura

[karinosa]

Hi Laura!

The way my doctor started me on the Clonidine was to take 0.05mg for 4 days, and then increase 0.05mg to twice a day and so on, until I would get to 0.05mg 4 times a day, the days that I felt more tired were the days that I would add another dosage, but on the 3rd and 4th day I was ok.

I have had periods during the day when I feel totally fine, but it only lasts for a couple of hours, and then the brain fog, fatigue, other - comes back, but to a lesser degree compared to prior to starting Clonidine.

Lately I've been experiencing my heart fluttering which never happened until the last couple of days.

the Clonidine has definitely lowered my blood pressure while sitting, 107/67, but with little movement it goes back to 140/98, for example, before it would go higher so I guess this is good.

I too have asthma and my doctors have said the same thing to me that I cannot take any other blood pressure medication as it would trigger asthma attacks.

I am to continue on the Clonidine for another month and hope that my body will adjut to it better, perhaps the same will be for you.

I hadn't had headaches for the last 15 days so I thought the Clonidine was helping that, but today I have had one all day that it's quite debilitating.

I seem to be retaining water also, my legs are a bit swollen, I'll give it until Monday and if it doesn't change I guess I'll have to go back to see the Dr.

What is your heart rate at? if you don't mind me asking, at rest - movement - sitting, etc, just would like to compare to mine.  Right now, mine at rest 76, sitting 82, standing 101, slow walking 113, going up stairs 135.   Before all of these would be much higher so I guess it is sort of working but I can feel that it should be lower when standing and doing other things so that I don't feel so short of breath.

Hope the Clonidine starts working for you and please keep me posted on any changes and I'll do the same.

Take care!

Karin

[laurab2818]

I've been on Clonidine just a week taking .1 mg once a day. My heart rate has gone down and that is the main reason I am taking Clonidine. My blood pressure is low anyway, unlike yours.  So far BP has not gone down too much on the Clonidine. I am not feeling any better though even with a lower heart rate.  Am wondering if I will feel less tired after I've been on it longer.  Did you have problems with being more tired?  I am like that anyway so it's hard to sort out what is my usual fatigue vs. possible side effects.

Thanks.
Laura