Catapres addictive?

[Mattyice]

I'm a recovering opiate addict and have been clean over a year. When I stopped using opiates I was prescribed catapres for my blood pressure and anxiety. I have been on it for about a year and recently started abusing it taking 5 or 6 times my normal dose (.2mg) a about three times a day for the last 6 weeks. I was abusing it b/c at the high doses it gave me a "high". I've ran out of pills of course and my question is is catapres addictive, will I go through withdraw not having this medication. It's only been 12 hours and I already anxiety . Will this get worse? Is it dangerous to stop taking cold turkey. I have to b/c I'm out of pills. Any suggestions.....thanx

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

It is not addictive but I do encourage you not to stop it cold turkey because of the rebound hypertension you can get upon sudden termination of this medication.  Hypertensive crisis can lead to a stroke or a heart attack that I am sure would not be welcome.
Please talk to your doctor, since you obviously are having some anxiety issues that must be addressed.

[Mattyice]

Thanx for the advice, I went and got a prescription for more catapres today and am going to take it a decreasing dose until I get back to my prescribed dose. Unfortunately I made a huge mistake today, I gave up my sobriety ( because I was so worried about having bad side effects from not having catapres, at least that's where my stupid addict logic lead me). Anyway this is where it get complicated, I'm on suboxone (8mg 2x daily). I did take my normal dose of suboxone about 2 hrs before I shot the heroin, so I didn't really get any effects or feel "high" from the heroin b/c the suboxone blocked it. The problem is I'm scarred to take my next dose of suboxone this evening b/c I know the suboxone can put you in instant withdraw if you take it to soon after using opiates. It's happened to me before that's why I'm scarred. But do you think that would be the case this time? B/c I only used once right after I took morning dose , I didn't get high it blocked it. I would like to take my next dose but am worried about getting sick. Si I dunno what I should do, stick it out till tomorrow or take it now?