Clonodine for painkiller withdrawal

[kerri]

I recently discovered that my husband is addicted to prescription pain killers. I actually wrote in to this forum once before about the trust issue and how to cope with this major problem and Brian was kind enough to respond to me - thank you Brian, your comments were very helpful.  I have been reading this almost everyday and have found it so comforting to know that there are others out there going through the same thing.  I've also learned alot about the drug, addiction, and recovery.  However, I am still having a hard time dealing with it, especially trusting him again. He's lied to me since I've known him (3 years), and we only got married about 6 months ago.

Anyway, my question today has to do with clonodine. When I confronted him about his problem, he decided that he could quit on his own and weaned himself off. He was clean for about 7 weeks but had a relapse when he took 4 pills at a weak moment. Thankfully he was honest with me and told me that he did it. Of course I was furious, but got over it rather quickly when he finally realized that he needed professional help. So, he called counsellors and went to his family doctor who prescribed a clonodine patch. My questions are this:

1. I know that clonodine is used to ease the withdrawal symptoms, but by only taking four at one time, would he even go through withdrawal again?

2. What is clonodine and how does it help the symptoms? I read that it lowers blood pressure but he said that in the first few days it actually made him feel hyper. He's been on it a week and hasn't felt much different.

At this point, I think it is mostly mental for him now. I am very happy that he has sought professional help, because there is only so much I can do to support him... in between my occasional fits of anger, mistrust, suspicion, etc. I am trying to be as supportive as I can but I'm still having a hard time forgiving him for lying to me for so long.

So, if anyone knows anything about clonodine or has any insights into coping with a loved one who is addicted, please write back.

Thank you.

[Dip420]

I have been an addict since the age of 14. I am now 41, and I'm still struggling with addiction. I went from shooting heroin, to eating any & all pain pills I can find.I found a doctor this morning that is giving me clonodine tomorrow and suboxone starting Wednesday. I have a husband that I have betrayed and 2 children that I have disappointed through all this.But I haven't given up hope on myself and they haven't given up on me either! If you are an addict.....just keep trying!! If you are the loved one.......it's not about you. Or it's nothing personal....it's an illness that needs help.Lying is part of addiction....so is relapse!! We truly don't wake up & say I think I'll lie to my family today......we just have to get high and don't even consider the consequences that will come with it!!  Any way....I've got a rough couple of weeks ahead....I just wanted to share!!

[angel44240]

Clonidine safely reduces the blood pressure/keeps it from rising; Withdrawals are mostly experiencing elevated blood pressure rates and that's where the Clonidine comes in; so you're not feeling the withdrawal symptoms because your blood pressure isn't sky high; with high blood pressure comes the anxiety attacks, and so forth; with no high/elevated blood pressure, no anxiety attacks..
The Catapres patch made me sooo tired and weak.. but didn't experience the withdrawals from stopping the Ultram/Tramadol either.. (My blood pressure, from the withdrawals, raised about twice the rate it usually is, and my heart couldn't handle it and not only that- I have two smaller children at home and there's NO WAY I was letting them see me WIG OUT)
If he's only taking .1mg of Clonidine, there's no need to taper from it.. if he was taking a higher dose, than yes- he would..
Hope that helps.. lol

[mthor]

I have been on 400mg of oxycontin per day for a year. Before that I was taking Norco 10/325 and vicodin 5/500 for over 7 years. The difference between addiction and dependency is whether or not there is chronic pain. My problem "Complex Regional Pain Syndrome" was diagnosed only 3 months ago. It stems from my left foot being torn off my body and put back on. It is a nerve damage problem and extremely painful to the point where walking was impossible at times.
To all of you please understand that a lot of the time the doctors do this to people for lack of knowing what else to do. If you have chronic pain keep looking for a doctor that can help determine the cause not just mask it and create another problem. The best thing for a relationship is to take the time and help your SO get the help they need if possible. Then you as the person not on narcotics dispense them to your SO.
I have lost everything because of my problem and the woman I loved left me and the business we created. I just started taking Clonodine and it helps, what we all need is support and love. In many cases this problem gets out of hand because it is not managed by someone who can. The worst thing in the world is to be abandoned and left to deal with this when your mind is not in tune.
I cannot speak for everyone but I know how it feels and what would have helped me. I just did not know to ask and was afraid to ask the woman I loved. This problem is so serious and I am working on a website for all of us. I have been on prescription narcotics for 8 of the last 13 years and it becomes normal, but you are not normal. People do not know what is wrong and we think no one notices.
Get away from it if you can. Ask the people that love you for help, if they love you they will stop and help. Do not stop asking for help this is not a way of life, keep asking and keep trying. Do not let your life slip by and lose the ones you love.

[jworm26]

wheree do i start. well im addicted to pain medication i used to get mad at my girlfriend  because she used fibermyalsia as en exuse to get more medication she wioll not admit she has a prob. about 2 years ago i gave up and started taking her mreds with her i quit cold turkey twice. it was horrible but i sucked it up i am now using again since aug of 2007.  i just recently left her and im trying to get clonodine i only use now to stop withdrawls pain medication has ruined my life. i now my ex will end up dead from it and it hurts but i want to get better.but there is no way i can do it cold turkey again .  i chew on parts of fetynal patches to stop withdrawl symptoms my ex gets 60 10mg loratabs and 375mg oof fetynal a week that to me is too much i just hope clolnodine will help .  once i get threw this i willl do whatever it takes never to use again

[ConfusedbyThis]

My fiance started taking Clonidine last Monday.  He doesn't take as much as I think he should.  The doctor put him on .1 mg once a day.  I think he would need more at 230lbs. to keep the withdrawl under control.  Now what he says...he says that they kind of make him hyper.  I suspect that he's attempting to taper hisself off of them but not telling me.  I'm not sure their as miraclous as he says.  I havn't seen any withdrawl...I'm worried.

[terry631]

I am a opiate user vicodin is my drug of choice. I am going to start taking clonodine 2/10/2008. I am so tired of being high on this stuff. It is a horrible addiction. It gives me headaches, bad mood swings, anger, sick feeling, I just want to stop. My husband puts up with a lot. My sisters don't know, or at least have never said anything to me. I know how the people who have wrote in on this site. I just want to be able to go back to work and pay my bills and live normal again, I can relate to all the people on this site. I just wanted to share my feelings.
thank you,
Terry