Clonidine and Methadone?

[jessejames31]

i have a question. i'm gonna try to make this short, sorry if it doesn't end up that way. i was taken to the ER friday because of methadone withdrawal which lead to me wishing i was dead. they gave me an IV with vitamins and saleen, brought in mental health people who spent 5 hours asking if i was suicidal. finally discharged me, not helping one bit.. i then went to my primary doctor, who wrote me a script for methadone 40mgs a day (having my sister give me my daily dose), and clonidine .1mg (1 in morning, 1 in the evening). here's the question: i'm two days in and i feel like dog doodoo. the doctor didn't really know how to handle this, she was more worried about losing her license for prescribing the methadone in the first place. should i be taking these drugs together, having the clonidine be for the withdrawals from methadone? reason i'm asking is because i dont feel like the methadone is affecting me like is has.. the only feelings i'm having is wicked dry mouth, drowsy and no energy (similar to withdrawal).. that wasn't short at all ....

[jessejames31]

i think i'm gonna just stop taking the clonidine for a few days and see if that helps. i just wanted to see if anyone knew about this.

[GoingToMakeIt]

I don't know about these 2. Clonidine may well be causing the drowsiness, though. Maybe try just at night or stop a few days like you said you would. Good luck. Also, is the methadone dose what you were at? I assume so but if not, it could make you feel weird too.

[allaboutmary]

Sorry don't know much about the Methadone, but I do take Clonodine with my Suboxone. The doctor gave it to me to help with withdrawal when I taper down. I take .5mg at night and it really helps me sleep.  I take it now even when I'm not tapering because how well it works for sleep.  The doctor said this was fine.  Try lowering the dose of Clonodine, it might help.

[jessejames31]

40mgs is my normal dose of methadone. although i was taking 80mgs a day for a week, then crashing the second week until i refilled..

[GoingToMakeIt]

Well god luck. I think it is wise to not take clonidine, at least in the daytime. Let us know how it goes.

[Penelope14]

Forgive me if I misread something, but are you saying you are withdrawling off of 40mgs? or did you run out & go cold turkey for two days? I just kinda got a little lost? Ive been taking clonidine & it works well for me, yes it does make you sleepy, that is why I typically take it during the evenings. Penlope

[mr.lucky66]

It sounds like you are back taking the methadone at you regular dose and not in need of the clonidine, right? In which case you are in a holding pattern not detoxing, is that correct? No to say anything is wrong with that, I think the doc was compasionate enough to try to relieve your suffering until you 2 can figure something else out. Can you give more background? I have kicked meth many times and have some ideas but need more info like how was it prescribed and how long you were on it. 'Methadone, there's no future in it. all the best

[Beargizmo]

clonidine will make you drowsy and sluggish, and very dry mouthed..when I was taking it I kept a supply of hard candies around which helped great deal..the clonidine had me so drowsy when I first started using it, I fell asleep while on a conference call at work..forunately my headset was on mute and I didn't have to do any talking

Jim

[jessejames31]

i've been prescribed 40mgs a day every 2 weeks for the last 6 months, but i take 80mgs a day for the first week, then suffer the second week. sometimes lucky enough to find some on the street. after this ordeal, doctor wrote this script for 2 weeks (40mgs), but the next one will be 30mgs for 2 weeks, then 20 for 2 weeks..ect.  i was just wondering if i should be taking the clonidine as well, or if i should wait till i start to feel the withdrawals when i decrease down? sorry it was confusing..

[Penelope14]

Ok, now it makes sence to me, I myself would ride it out a little before taking the clonidine, I started taking it 5 days after getting off methadone & it has been a life saver!  Im now on day 15 from coming down from a one year taper from 90 mgs to 1mg & finally feeling some life in me coming back around, but Im not gonna get to excited, as I never know what tomarow will bring? Just gotta hope for the best & try to be as positve as I can. Your doing the right thing by getting off this junk!! Penelope

[jessejames31]

okay, well i'll stop the clonidine till i really need it. on a side note, i've been following your progress and your an inspiration. may i lean on you down the road, i know i'll need to.

[mr.lucky66]

Ok, now I got it. Table the clonidine untill when you are low or off the meth. Can you take benzos without problems? A combo of clonidine and valium or attivan is good for coming off the done but you need to be near a bed for several days. It workre for me. all the best

[louise65]

i found valium more useful although took clonidine at night it wiped me out, which is a bit of a blessing if your withdrawing,after going through all that i bloody relapsed.my advice would be make sure your in a good spot before you try i didnt and thats why im back to square 1. bummer, louise

[jessejames31]

i just got news that i cant go back to work until i "straighten up", not really sure what that means.. but if i got fired, i'm gonna need to file for unemployment.. wish me luck, i'm freakin out...

[louise65]

nothing like getting kicked when ur down eh! its always the way. maybe this means you might be able to concentrate on getting drug free if thats were ur at. good luck

[hopsing94]

ok i'm gonna ask a question since i'm not up on all of this. Jesse could you switch to suboxone instead of the methadone?

[jessejames31]

being in the middle of butt_ _ _ _ NH, there aren't any doctors who can prescribe it, and i dont have insurance. i hear it's pretty expensive. at this point i'm supposed to be tapering, i take 40mgs a day for the next two weeks, then i'll drop to 30mgs for two weeks, then 20 for two weeks, 10, 5, 2.5, then stop. i have clonidine also to help with the withdrawals..

i wish i could switch to suboxone..

[gg222]

I feel your pain...I am also from east bum **** NH and there are no programs that are close enough to where I work and where I live, so I had to go to the hospital yesterday for my withdrawals and sit there for 4 hours before even being seen. Then he prescribed me Clonidine, Librium, and Bentyl...he said he was too old school and didn't beleive in Suboxone because there's not enough medical proof and testing to be sure if it's a good idea or not. I just hope that I will be able to make it through this next week. But I will tell you that I took two 1mg clonidines last night and it knocked me right out! I slept like a baby after finally giving in to taking them at 3:30am. I wish you the best of luck and in the world and I know you can do it!!!

[lifesaride]

dude you been dealing withe this meth mess a while now, i been seeing ya post here and there. have you looked into suboxone? it's worked well for me. i have read you can switch from meth to sub when you get down to 30mg of meth. just a thought, again i've seen your struggle and feel your pain bro, just a suggestion. Teddy

[Beargizmo]

Be careful on the dosage of Clonidine. I would not go over what the doctor has prescribed for you..it lowers your bp and you don't want to lower it too much or you'll find yourself passed out on the floor..yes, it will make you drowsy, dry mouthed and feel like you're zombie walking around in a world of quicksand.

I suspect what you took was 2 *.1" mgs.  1mg would probably find you pushing up daisies.   Either way..take exactly as directed.

Jim