Clonidine for High Blood Pressure User Reviews

• Bli...
• January 17, 2020

"I have used clonidine for 1+ years. It's my last resort med. I've had HBP for 40 years and have tried most other HBP meds with bad results/side effects. Clonidine at first made me very tired and my eyes sensitive to light. These both wore off after a few weeks, and the only side effects that remain are dry mouth & eyes and sometimes heel pain. But these are tolerable to me compared to ER trips for 230/130 blood pressure. I take it 3 times a day exactly every 8 hours. Over 8 hours, I get withdrawal symptoms. Then my pharmacy changed me from Unichem brand of clonidine to another brand. My blood pressure went through the roof! I couldn't figure out why my blood pressure was spiking & my face was beet red. Then I realized that it only happened since they changed brands. So I found an original Unichem clonidine pill and took it, and lo and behold normal blood pressure and no red face! These companies need to be held accountable for substandard pills!"

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 29, 2020

"I started taking clonidine for high blood pressure approximately 4 years ago, and it never reacted with me in any negative way until recently, a few months ago did they change the medicine. I've always taken a generic, but with the orange (or more pink pills), I was getting sick, not feeling well, tired, weak, and really feeling horrible. I didn't know what it was. Then when I changed my pharmacy, I went back to the white oval ones I had before (I don't know the company's name), I'm feeling good again. Anyway, I think it should be known that some of the generics really are not up to the quality that they should be."

• Agg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2020

"I have been on Clonidine for a month now. I have had uncontrolled high blood pressure for 5 years secondary to Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). The doctor I was under the care of wasn’t inclined to treat my PH because I am a woman. I switched physicians and was immediately referred to a specialist at Baylor Heart & Lung Clinic. He changed my medications and tossed in Clonidine at night and PRN use as needed. My blood pressure is well controlled and I can breathe!"

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2019

"My pharmacy always gave me Clonidine from the company Unichem. For some reason they changed to another company. When I took the first dose, instead of bringing down the BP like the Unichem pill for Clonidine did always, it elevated. I never saw under 170/99. This pill is not working as needed for what Unichem gave me in the same dose of 0.2. I hunted and came across an old Unichem BP pill and took it, and my BP came down like it should have done. So the next time I am due for a pill, I take the new brand and again it elevated. I am filing with the state medical board to investigate. This company is not making the pill at the mg it is supposed to be. They have the dose incorrect is what the urgent care doctor stated, and he has referred me to my family doctor to file a report and get another medicine not with this company."

• Dan...
• February 3, 2020

"Clonidine was my third group of blood pressure meds due to side effects from others. Started out with 0.1mg at night. 6 months ago I started at 196/101, so I ended up at 0.3mg morning and night. Yes, it lowers blood pressure. I couldn't function as a human being, but it lowers blood pressure. I am in the construction industry so this was not going to cut it. I was tired, nauseous, couldn't think straight, couldn't remember anything, my balance was way off. The list goes on. I don't drink alcohol, but I would relate it to drinking mescal tequila all day long. It was by far the worst med I have ever taken. I am now off of it. I never realized how bad it was until I got off clonidine. My life was put on hold for 3 months while on the higher dose. I am now trying to catch up. I know all meds affect different people differently, but in my opinion, this is one to stay away from. Watch for side effects. Giving this a 2 rating. It works for BP, but the side effects blow this one out of the park."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

"The clonidine is horrible for me. I take Clonidine 0.2mg for BP, and I am dizzy, have headache, chest pains, and palpitations. After taking it once a day at night for 2 weeks, I stopped and felt so much better, and all those symptoms went away! About a few weeks later, I experienced rebound hypertension with heart pain and palpitations, and my BP was 187/116! My BP has never been that high! So I took clonidine, and that lowered my BP to 128/77 the next day, but those nasty symptoms returned. I had no idea of the effects on the body when you discontinue it on your own. All I know is I want off, and I want off now!"

• cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2013

"I have had high blood pressure since I was 29 (now 57). I started having uncontrollable blood pressure and my primary doctor tried different medicines to no avail. Ended up at the ER with 174/120. They couldn't explain why it would go up and down. The ER doc put me on 0.1 Clonidine and I've been pretty good since then. There is an issue of 'cotton mouth', and it does help me relax at bedtime...But I'm doing better pressure wise and am grateful for this medicine."

• Mer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 25, 2019

"Works reasonably well in combination with Lisinopril and Metoprolol to keep my BP in the normal range. But recently experiencing constipation and not sure I am comfortable being on clonidine for the long term. I believe much of my BP problem is related to anxiety but my cardiologist isn't interested in hearing that."

• Ron...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 29, 2018

"Clonidine will lower your blood pressure when nothing else works, but once you've been on it a few years (I've been on 0.3mg twice a day for almost 12 years since I was 27), you will be stuck with it. If I miss a dose, my blood pressure can easily rise to 240/130, so use it only as a last resort after trying other meds. I have had a blood pressure problem since my early 20s and tried many other meds first, two of which I'm still on in conjunction with clonidine. The main side effects are dry mouth, sedation, and also postural hypotension (feeling faint when you stand up). These effects will mostly go away after a few weeks. It's extremely powerful, so try all the others first. Like I said, it does the job, but the rebound hypertensive effect of missing a dose will make you feel like garbage and is deadly."

• Mis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 5, 2016

"Sharing my experience with clonidine for one reason, I had uncontrollable high blood pressure that no other blood pressure medicines could bring down. The doctor then tried me on Clonidine. It took about 20-30 minutes to start working but it saved my life. The bad effects from clonidine that I've found, it makes me sleepy often and sometimes gives me cotton mouth. Either way, I'm still alive! Also, clonidine is very affordable."

• fox...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2015

"After several years, my BP had continued a slow increase until I got to the point of 200/100 and ended up in the ER. Had several tests run to rule out any other issues. So they started me on a nightmare ride of this drug and that drug all of which made me very ill and all with major side effects. My doctor finally tried clonidine 7-day patch and OMG what a change. Sure the first week I did spike once but not badly, only 150/84, but after that I have been holding steady at 110/65 and NO side effects at all. I am thrilled."

• luc...
• March 21, 2012

"Within two weeks my blood pressure came down from well over 200, 190s and 180s down to averages of 140s and below. Incredible because for several years, it was extremely high, and I had a stroke in my eye because of it. I'm thrilled with the results because no other medicine worked."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2019

"I have been taking the drug clonidine for my blood pressure for going on three months now. It does mostly keep my blood pressure normal. I did have one spike one night. But if I sit up for a few minutes, my blood pressure goes back to normal. I decided to look at people’s reviews because I am having some 'side effects' and am concerned. My side effects are upper pain across my back, sometimes just behind my heart in my back. Also, anxiousness before my next dose is due. Also, some humming sound in my ears, or my heartbeat in my ears. Other minor things but mostly these are the major concerns. Any advice from anyone?"

• Vel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

"I struggle to find anything to help my BP as well, and have tried everything. Always so sensitive and have side effects that drastically affect my life. I tried this, and it helped at first. If you only took it once at bedtime, it might be okay, but I took it 2X like they said and fell asleep in meetings and at my desk. I could not function and took the first one right away since it was really high. I could barely drive back to work, then had to rest my head. It was awful. I have a job calling on customers and was not functional at all. Praying for a better option."

• Aud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2013

Catapres-TTS (clonidine) "This is a very effective medication but with extreme side effects. It is very short-lived and requires dividing the prescribed dosage into 3 times a day to avoid blood pressure spikes. It leaves you feeling 'high' and sedated. Absolutely do not discontinue it abruptly. Stopping it abruptly causes your blood pressure to rebound even higher than it was before for several days. A better choice in this class is Guanfacine, which for me is even more effective and does not have the radical side effects."

• R H...
• August 30, 2015

"Had high blood pressure and felt really scattered, hard to focus, couldn't meditate, anxiety, when trying to go to sleep at night, heart would beat really fast then skip a beat or two a few times, then would slow down, but heart rate was higher than it is now that I'm on clonidine. It has helped me to focus, to calm down, to meditate, just altogether my energy is much more positive and upbeat and happy. Everyone is different and responds differently to medication, but 0.1 mg of clonidine has for me made such a huge difference in my physiological and mental health, it seems like a miracle drug to me. Thank God my doctor put me on it."

• Lcs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2019

"Clonidine works very well in controlling blood pressure, but if you already suffer from slow-moving bowels, this medication makes it infinitely worse if you are taking more than 0.1mg. I finally had to switch medications due to chronic constipation on the drug. Side effects list that as an issue - my doctor said no, it doesn’t cause that. Well, it does."

• SMS...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2014

Catapres-TTS (clonidine) "I have been taking Clonidine 0.3 mg twice a day for 4 years along with my anxiety medication, and it has helped tremendously. If I were not to take it, I wouldn't be able to function properly. So yes, I definitely rely on this medication to help keep me functional for taking care of my children and keeping our home in order."

• Rod...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2019

"I'm on three other BP meds, and couldn't get the BP down to normal. The Dr. put me on clonidine, and my BP finally went to normal levels. Unfortunately, the med only lasts for about five or six hours, and my BP goes back up to around 150/90. So far, the only side effect is the dry mouth. I can't say that this is the solution, but it is the first time in about four years that I have had a handle on my BP."

• Syb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2019

"I switched to clonidine from amlodipine for various complicated reasons. It has been horrible. I've been on it for about 10 days -- I can barely stay awake during the day, I'm constipated, and it doesn't even lower my blood pressure (I'm taking 0.1 mg, twice a day). I'm stopping it as of today and going back to amlodipine, which kept my blood pressure under control. This is a horrible drug."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2017

"Have been on Clonidine 0.1 mg three times daily for a year. As long as I space my pills eight hours apart throughout the day, I am okay with them. They do not have the side effects that other blood pressure medications have. I hope I never have to go off this medication. I am 78 years old."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2014

"After three trips to the ER with hypertensive crisis and unbelievable side effects from other medicines, my doctor found Clonidine 0.1mg controlled nighttime spiking. I take Losartan 100mg in the morning and Clonidine at night. In between, I am good. However, headaches where the skull itches and throbs are interrupting my life, and I never get headaches! Not even with the hypertensive crisis."

• Cla...
• December 25, 2015

"I have been taking clonidine for over ten years. I was diagnosed with hypertension at a young age and also struggle with PTSD, nightmares, anxiety, and insomnia. This medicine is so helpful to me in many ways. It helps me sleep, it eases anxiety, and controls my blood pressure very well. I still have to take my full dose (0.04 mg) at night, or else I get too sleepy taking half in the morning. The only complaint I have is withdrawal is very unpleasant if I miss even one dose. Always have it with you in case you can't get home because it can make your blood pressure spike and make you very jumpy and anxious."

• Rae...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2020

"I have been taking clonidine for about 8 years straight. I was given the drug for extreme hypertension! I've never had any of the above mentioned side effects unless I took extra. Which, over the course of the years, I have had to do because of a high tolerance to the drug. But I have had a rapid decline in tooth health with decay/loss, which I'm sure can be attributed to the dry mouth I experience! I have started using Biotene and hard candies to combat this issue. Clonidine has never made me feel groggy, I never have 'nightmares.' I've only gotten dizzy/faint when having overtaken the drug. What it does is drop your blood pressure-hence the fact it's prescribed also for high blood pressure."

• Anonymous
• January 21, 2012

"This med is effective at reducing high blood pressure quickly, however, the side effects are extremely bad. This is not the type of medicine you would want to use on a regular basis to manage high blood pressure. I became so lightheaded and dizzy that it was difficult to function normally at work, not to mention the dry mouth and constipation. Use this for a spike then maintain blood pressure levels with another medication with fewer side effects."