Catapres User Reviews & Ratings

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "I went to a detox facility for heroin addiction. I never heard of clonidine being used to assist with withdrawal symptoms. It was a lifesaver. I was actually able to tolerate the suboxone taper with the clonidine. I am no longer dependent on ANYTHING! I never thought it was possible."

• HG4...
• June 6, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've been on Norco every day for 10 years. I was on 10-12 pills per day for chronic pain. Without clonidine, I would be hurting like hell. I went to detox at the hospital and left after 14 hours. They wanted me on Suboxone, which is good, but it's just another high to kick after. Been there, done that. I don't need a migraine headache as well. Suboxone causes headaches and is hell to get off. The best bet is to stick with clonidine pills. First day 0.1mg x 5, second day x4, third x3, fourth x2, fifth x1. Your sixth day can be 1 or none, you decide. The only withdrawal symptoms I have from Norco are minor diarrhea, minor pain in the stomach, no eating for days, hard to get to sleep but it's possible...and on day 1, I had depression, but I'm over it now. Life saver."

• cam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2014

For Opiate Withdrawal "After having Catapres given to me at a detox, I cannot imagine detoxing without it. Whether detoxing cold turkey or through tapering, I would recommend Catapres for anyone who's going through opiate withdrawal."

• Kic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2013

For Opiate Withdrawal "Clonidine made all the difference in the world in my recovery. It helped with my restless leg, cravings, sweating. I took it with Valium. It makes you feel like you're walking through mud but it beats the alternative!! It's very inexpensive. It was a lifesaver for me."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2014

For Opiate Withdrawal "I'm tapering down from 100-200 mg of hydrocodone per day to 20 mg per day. Also, quit 20 mg of Dilaudid per day. The first couple of days were hell. I finally called my doctor and told him what was going on. He prescribed me the Clonidine patch. It has helped me tremendously! The only side effect I have had is a little dizziness when I get up too fast. But I feel great and am on day 4 and down to 20 mg of hydros and still feel good! Like I never started them. By the way, I have been on them for 4 years through pain management for severe diabetic neuropathy. I highly recommend this product."

• kbk...
• October 11, 2014

For Anxiety "I have severe anxiety and had horrible side effects from benzodiazepines. This medication has been very helpful. I am taking 0.2 mg twice daily. Started with 0.1 mg. I recommend slowly increasing your dosage because it tends to make you drowsy until you get used to it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "Clonidine is wonderful for me. I've been using heroin, 1.5 g's a day for several years. The clonidine combined with my lorazepam made the withdrawal sickness almost non-existent. Best part is: you can actually get some sleep. Stay strong."

• Gre...
• October 22, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "I was recently diagnosed with endocarditis, a deadly heart and blood infection due to being an IV heroin user. I needed to be on IV antibiotics for 4 weeks, but the fear of WDs kept me from staying in the hospital since the docs wanted me to go cold turkey. Finally, thanks to the dedication of my PCP, she was able to coordinate with a medical hospital to detox me and give me the IV therapy that I needed. Then, put me on suboxone to continue treating my addiction. But, in order to take the sub, I had to be heroin-free for at least 2 days. I was panicked about how bad the WDs would be. But, the addictionologist I worked with prescribed the clonidine (a patch and up to 3 doses orally a day), and I have to say it was a godsend. It got me through it."

• Fly...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 25, 2014

For Anxiety "Was prescribed this in conjunction with stimulant meds for ADHD but have found this really works well to relieve NAUSEA caused by ANXIETY. However, as this is primarily a Blood Pressure Medication, it can make you dizzy if you take too much. I have found it the best of any medication to treat the nausea and upset stomach Generalised Anxiety produces. Highly Recommended With Caution!"

• NoM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2012

For Opiate Withdrawal "Works very well, it will make me very sleepy and takes away restless legs syndrome, sweats, and nausea. After stopping any opiate and before taking Suboxone, you need to go through withdrawal before the Suboxone will work and taking clonidine will ease the withdrawal symptoms. It will not take them away completely but it will make it a million times easier than without anything. When trying to get off Suboxone, taking clonidine in between doses of Suboxone will really really help. Tapering off Suboxone takes a long time and needs to be taken very slowly or withdrawals will last for weeks. There are several other medications that will help in conjunction with clonidine, just ask your doctor."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've found clonidine does help very much with physical symptoms of opiate w/d. But many Dr's don't want to give more than a few pills at the lowest dose. Which wasn't any help at all. It's unfortunate that I ended up failing because I couldn't find a Dr. to 'trust' & understand I could handle a short-term prescription - which regrettably led me to a methadone program. Now I know better, I know what I'll need once I finish tapering off the meth. Only thing is I don't hear anyone speak about side effects of stopping the clonidine though. I gave it a 7 because I always get an uptick in my BP & heart rate. Best to be very careful & use for shortest time possible."

• No ...
• December 1, 2011

For Opiate Withdrawal "Clonidine is definitely a wonder for opiate withdrawal. I asked to be detoxed in the hospital after over a year of pain management got the best of me...they aren't kidding when they say opiates are addictive. After 2 days of sleeping through cold turkey (for the most part), I was able to eat and act normal, with no physical cravings. They administered a combination of clonidine, Serax, Soma, Ativan, and gabapentin, so I can't say which worked better initially. The clonidine seems to lessen the worst physical effects. It lowered my blood pressure a lot, so only a 0.5mg dose was allowed at a time, maybe more would work better for someone else with higher pressure. Detox with a doctor's help, they've got lots of options."

• Neu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2013

For Hypertensive Emergency "All I can say is THANK GOD for clonidine (Catapres). I'm just taking the pill form 0.2 mg, and within 20-30 minutes my blood pressure goes from about 172/105 to around 115-125/75-80. Only side effects I get are a little bit of dry mouth and some drowsiness. That beats the heck out of a stroke or MI, in my opinion. By the way, I'm 6'2'' and about 190 pounds. First med the doctors have found that actually WORKS without nasty side effects. I hope your results with it are as positive as mine. Ciao."

• Anonymous
• December 25, 2011

For Opiate Withdrawal "This patch helped me so much with opiate withdrawal. I used the patch for 8 weeks and discontinued my Ultram. I experienced zero withdrawal. I highly recommend using this patch to get yourself off the opiates."

• Pai...
• April 11, 2011

For Opiate Withdrawal "Catapres does help with physical withdrawal. I am weaning myself down on Duragesic from 50mcg to 25mcg due to the medicine's withdrawal from the market. (FDA investigation stopped production around Feb 2011 and Johnson & Johnson has no okay to produce still.). After allowing the Catapres to work for a week, I dropped to 25mcg with little withdrawal symptoms compared to the unbearable effects without it. You must try it and remember that it's not a miracle medicine but a crutch to help you through what could have been a temporary absolutely unbearable experience. Some feel fortunate, blessed, rescued, and saved."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2014

For Perimenopausal Symptoms "I take 0.1 mg transdermal patch. I found the patch was/is much more effective than oral route (side effects less noticeable - dry mouth, inability to focus well). I prepped my skin for the patch by showering, then cleaning the site with alcohol. Once dry, I applied the patch. There is a temporary (1 week) 'lightening of color' at the site when the patch is removed. I've found that leaving the old patch on for 24 hours, after placing the new one, seems to give better medicinal coverage. ALL hot flashes GONE!"

• tic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2012

For Tourette's Syndrome "My son was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at an early age. He was put on clonidine. It made him sleepy, so we gave one-fourth of his dose, and it suppressed his tics. Very beneficial to his quality of life in my eyes. Did cause mild dry mouth."

• Bul...
• December 13, 2013

For Alcohol Withdrawal "Clonidine (Catapres) works great for hypertension, cold and hot sweats/flashes, headaches, and overall agitation when undergoing ethanol/alcohol withdrawals. 0.1 mg 3 times daily in conjunction with a benzodiazepine like chlordiazepoxide (Librium) or diazepam (Valium) may be needed depending on alcohol intake or the degree of withdrawal symptoms. Remember to always be honest with your M.D., put pride aside because most likely it isn't anything he/she hasn't heard before."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2016

For Anxiety "Was diagnosed with bipolar 1 (mixed episodes w/ psychotic features) as well as unspecified anxiety disorder. My anxiety gets so bad to the point it makes me vomit. I took 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg at night. It made me extremely sleepy and fatigued to the point I couldn't function. I work and am in college full-time, so I couldn't handle that at all. Would not recommend this medication."

• RED...
• August 14, 2009

For ADHD "My son has been on this for about 2 years, as well as Vyvanse. It really calms him down so he can go to bed and get a good night's sleep! He used to have nightmares, but since he's been on this medication, he hasn't had one! Again, I thank the makers of these wonder drugs, and I know my son thanks you all as well!"

• bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2015

For Hypertensive Emergency "I was given 0.2 mg of clonidine after having a hypertensive crisis due to an interaction between a MAOI and another antidepressant. The first dose of clonidine (0.2) brought my blood pressure from 208/163 to around 140/110, at which point I was ready to head to the ER, where I got other meds. A few days later, I had another crisis, but this one was not as bad as the first: 173/140. The scary thing about the second crisis was that it took a total of 0.3 mg of clonidine to get my blood pressure to go down even a little. But overall, thank God for the clonidine! Maybe I would have had a stroke or something without it. My skin was all purple and the whites of my eyes were completely bright red, so I think the blood was trying to get out somehow."

• SSR...
• October 4, 2015

For Hypertensive Emergency "Clonidine has saved me more times than I care to remember from opiate to benzo withdrawal. I'll never understand why it isn't prescribed more often and why, on earth, benzodiazepines are given out so carelessly, given they are nearly impossible to get off of after years of use, and seizures and death are possible if quitting too suddenly. You can also experience withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines for up to three years. Rant over...."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2013

For Insomnia, Stimulant-Associated "The first few days, 0.3 mg did put me to sleep, but I had to wake up and take another dose four hours later. The orthostatic hypotension was so bad, the next morning I felt like I was dragging and fatigued much easier. Working out was impossible!"

• SUB...
• June 28, 2010

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have been on Suboxone (since January 10) for opiate withdrawals, and I am having panic attacks. I was prescribed Catapres this month (the end of June, 10) with my Suboxone, and day 4 on it, so far so good! It makes me sleepy and very mellow, calm-like. I assume it's doing its job, I only have taken it at night. I haven't had to take it for a panic attack yet."

• Jul...
• April 13, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "Clonidine will prevent a migraine for me if I take it as soon as the headache is starting, and sometimes even helps after it's underway. Of course, the drug does cause wooziness, so I have to be careful about standing up or making other sudden moves. It's very effective and cheap. Give it a 10."