Has anyone ever taken Clonidine?

[rdmc]

It's a BP drug. I've been having very labile BP...up, down and all around

they've run tests to check for what's causing it, and other than elevated metanephrines ( not elevated enough to suggest adrenal tumor) we've come up with nothing. Tried several different bp meds...nothing stabilizes it.

So my GP is a smart guy, and says let's assume it's autonomic and prescribes Clonidine which is issued for autonomic dysreflexia (which isn't my problem, but is an autonomic issue.)

Well it's working great so far. Interesting thing is, when googling the drug, I found out it was tried in the 90's for MS spasticity. Nowadays they prescribe is for all sort of off label reasons...ADHD, Tourettes, Panic disorder.

Just wondering if anyone else has ever taken this med for bp issues?

[queen]

I have clonidine in my baclofen pump mixed with the baclofen to aid in my spasticity. I haven't noticed any difference in my blood pressure since it has always been normal.

[rdmc]

I have clonidine in my baclofen pump mixed with the baclofen to aid in my spasticity. I haven't noticed any difference in my blood pressure since it has always been normal.

Wow, that's interesting.

I have a pump too. Until I googled, I had no idea it was used for spasticity, and upon further reading it's used for spasticity and pain. ( I wouldn't imagine a med in the pump would have any impact on your bp since it's only being delivered to the spine. )

Thanks for the info.

[sunshine008]

my daughter takes half of the lowest dosage to assist in sleep, because otherwise she just doesn't lol.

glad it's working for you. you are on low dosage right? my mother recently had bp problems, and they corrected it with water pills.

believe it or not within 7 days it regulated with no major meds. you may wanna run that by your doctor see what his thoughts are......

good luck

[rdmc]

Yeah Sunshine, it's a low dose. I've tried several types of bp meds...we're looking for one to control catecholamines, as mine are high, and clonidine seems to be the one that does that...I also think it has some diuretic properties.

[jumpinjiminy]

My GP prescribed clonidine for tremors, insomnia, and palpitations. It worked well. But when the neuroimmuno put me on calcium channel blockers for migraines, my bp bottomed out and I had to go off the clonidine. I normally run a low bp, so two bp meds were a definite no go. Now I don't take either one. It worked very well for the tremors. I was having them through my torso, head, hands, and legs at the time.

[maitrimama]

Tons of Uses

It is also used to help quiet the shakes assosiated with opiate, alcohol and benzo withdrawal.

[Anne]

Yes, I've taken it for BP. Like you, I have very labile BP readings ranging from very low to very high. I was prescribed Clonodine as an "Emergency Only" drug - I take it only when my BP exceeds 185/110 and it usually works very quickly to drop that down into a less dangerous realm...which is exactly why the doctors don't want me taking it for less serious situations. The drug usually drops BP very rapidly and it's possible to get into trouble on the low side after taking it, especially with my normal doses of Toprol XL and Lisinopril on board.

I'm curious about how your doctor has you taking it, but if you're seeing good results, that's all that matters. Just to be thorough, though, you might want to inquire about the 'roller-coaster' effects the drug can cause since you already have problems controlling the low side as well.

Don't get me wrong - it's a life-saver for me when my BP goes sky-high. I'm just always amused when my doctors caution me about it....I'm like, "Uh, did you notice my BP was in the stratosphere? While you worry about it, I'll just go ahead and take the pill - thank you very much!"

[rdmc]

Hey Anne,

Well I'm having better luck with the clonidine keeping things even than with all the other meds I tried. I was on Lisinopril, Norvasc, and Propanolol... not at one time .and they'd drop my bp so low like in the 80/55 range, but barely control the spikes. From my readings the clonidine is keeping my bp in the 110/70 range. I'm going to wear a 24 hour bp cuff one day this week, so docs will know more about what's happening.

Have they tested your metanephrines/catecholamines?
My BP soars under certain circumstances and so my GP started running test for the levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, metanephrines. At first it was just blood work, then when those test came in high it was 24 hour urine levels they tested, which also came in high. so now we're looking for the cause..and that's why I'm seeing a hypertension specialist.

clonidine's action is to suppress catecholamine's, so that's why I think it's working much better for me the rest. Evidently there bare a couple conditions what can cause excessive spikes in BP...one is pheochromocytoma..and another is a autonomic problem which evidently has to do with lesions on the spine. I take .1 mg of clonidine, 2x a day.

Seems like we're in the same boat...so keep posting if you get anymore info about labile bp.