Clonidine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• OHS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2023

For Anxiety "Started 4 days ago. 0.1 mg at bedtime. Female, 37, diagnosed with ADHD, PTSD, trauma, in chaos mode aka crisis mode by highly trained professionals/psychologist and psychiatrist. Conditions: irregular sleeping pattern, insomnia, heart beating out of chest feeling, fatigue, lack of interest in everything, fearful, anxious, mind spinning, loop patterns within thoughts, inability to concentrate. My psychologist is an angel. Since starting the medication: full night's sleep, no running thoughts, heart rate is perfect, can feel fingers and toes again, relaxed, happy, active in life, smiling. Highly recommend."

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

For High Blood Pressure "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?"

• Kie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

For Perimenopausal Symptoms "I have been on Clonidine for 2 months at 25mcg morning and night. I tend to have low blood pressure and low heart rate, so my GP wanted to be conservative. For me, it has revolutionized my life. I have suffered flushes for over 10 years and due to having had hormone-positive breast cancer, could not take any HRT. I have occasional flushes but nothing like I used to, and my anxiety associated with the flushing has also reduced. This was immediate. So grateful to have found this drug."

• R H...
• August 30, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "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."

• Mr ...
• August 18, 2017

For Opiate Withdrawal "Wanted to add a post to help convince those who do not know clonidine yet that it's the best thing ever. I'd been using heroin for years before switching to methadone. It was fairly easy to taper 5mg at a time until 20mg, where it became more and more painful/stressful - I'm now at 4mg. I didn't have a clue about clonidine until two months ago. I looked it up on the internet and talked about it with my physician, and he prescribed it to me. Then, the miracle happens: I switch from 5mg to 4mg, and 48h later at withdrawal symptoms onset, I only had to take 0.5mg of clonidine to avoid ALL withdrawal symptoms. I had no sweats, no anxiety, no chills, no pins and needles, no trashy feeling... TRY IT, no side effects noticed."

• wen...
• June 14, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "This is my second attempt at withdrawing. My first attempt was back in February of 2016 from hydromorphone tabs 1mg x 16 a day. I went cold turkey and had no help except I used a bit of information from the Thomas recipe. It was a bit helpful, but my experience was horrific for a solid week. I started taking OxyContin 5/325mg a couple of months later because I couldn't take the pain, and now I'm up to 10 a day and in a mess again. I went to the ER and asked for help with detoxing. They gave me clonidine and lorazepam, and I have to say I'm starting day two of the withdrawal, and I'm not feeling totally myself, but there are less sweats and chills. The anxiety is almost nil. It's really helped me. I am even able to talk to people without any anxiety."

• Cla...
• December 25, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "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."

• bra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 17, 2024

For ADHD "This medication was wonderful. For me personally, I take this med with Vyvanse and this medication made me feel the most stable I have ever felt. I'm way less impulsive and less anxious. My mind feels connected. I take both clonidine ER (in the morning with the stimulant) and clonidine IR at night. I don't have many side effects, the only thing when I first started it is it made me feel very physically relaxed, like my muscles were relaxed and no longer tensed up. It was something I wasn't used to, so it increased my anxiety slightly when I first started it. From my perspective, feeling relaxed can feel like a loss of control when it's not. Giving it some time and learning or teaching your body to be okay with the feeling of relaxation helped me and definitely was well worth it. This medication was prescribed to me for a wide range of conditions, including ADHD, insomnia, and restless legs. I take 0.1 mg ER and 0.1 mg IR, 0.2 mg total."

• Wal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2019

For ADHD "Love clonidine! Works well if you have ADHD. Take it if you can’t stand the come down of stimulants. I have an overactive brain and have to stay away from all stimulants, even Strattera, which has a stimulant-type effect to it. Clonidine IR helps with ADHD too, not just the ER. It also helps with anxiety, racing thoughts, and sleep."

• Che...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 4, 2015

For Insomnia, Stimulant-Associated "I began taking clonidine a few years back for hypertension and ADHD. For roughly 2 and a half years, it worked well with one 0.1 mg a night. I have had insomnia since I was 6, and I still do at 17. Although this medicine helped to decrease my heart rate, the body will begin to develop immunity towards a medicine after extended use. After 2 and a half years, my dosage had to increase to one 0.2 mg a night. Be careful when increasing dosage, ever since I increased to 0.2, I began to feel extremely anxious, moody, indifferent after sleep, and fatigued. Also, I have had awful vivid nightmares almost every night now. Good medicine overall, but extended use could pose problems."

• Sav...
• February 2, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "I was addicted to 30 mg Roxicodone, taking about 8 a day. I would also take whatever I could get my hands on with it (Xanax, Ambien, whatever to mess me up). I tapered down significantly on methadone and am on day 4 of detoxing from the methadone. Clonidine was very helpful for me because I had severe anxiety and withdrawals from the methadone (not as bad as withdrawals straight from opiates, but lasting much longer). I had a lot of trouble with panic attacks, extreme anxiety, and absolutely nothing to give me any sort of comfort, which mainly came from severe back pain that would affect my entire body. Clonidine helped me so much with being able to calm myself down and taking away some of the symptoms. I am still not completely better, but I'm so happy for my freedom!"

• Jon...
• September 4, 2017

For Opiate Withdrawal "I had been on morphine sulfate called MSContin for 12 years along with fentanyl patch. MS is slow release, as is the patch. I decided to end this nightmare of addiction and clean out. Three months ago, I tapered off the patch with no symptoms, probably because of the MST. I'm three days into detox after reducing the dosage from 60 mg a day to 10 mg. The doctor gave me clonidine 0.1 and lorazepam 1 mg. Both make me sleepy, but I can't sleep more than 1 hour. Anxiety is always there, and stomach upset, diarrhea, and leg cramps. I wish I could say clonidine kept withdrawals away like others stated, but that's not the case. I'm hanging in, hoping tomorrow is better."

• Fem...
• June 12, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I took this medicine for one week. It caused extremely blurry vision, tired all the time, jittery feeling, and extremely dry mouth problem. I called my doctor and was taken off the medicine immediately. The only good thing I have to say is that it did lower my blood pressure."

• CLS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I started taking clonidine after my last alcohol binge. I was in the hospital for 5 days after having suffered from 2 gran mal seizures from withdrawal. I normally suffer from severe anxiety and insomnia, and alcohol, unfortunately, became my coping mechanism. To the point of near death in excess of 50 times. My doctor wouldn't prescribe me anything that worked for my anxiety, and out of desperation to not be tempted to drink again I did some research and found a new, better doctor. He didn't want to prescribe a benzo, so he recommended this. At first, it didn't seem to be doing anything. My heart was still beating fast and anxiety high, but after a couple of weeks, it started to work and has helped me tremendously. It keeps me calm and my heart is not 'beating out of my chest.' My blood pressure and heart rate are perfect! I am able to sleep most nights and I don't feel so restless and anxious at all. And I don't feel the need to drink!"

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2021

For Perimenopausal Symptoms "Taken out of work for what Dr. called fatigue, but spent a lot of time feeling down and crying. Ended up going through surgery for female issues, which brought on very bothersome menopausal symptoms and worsened what appeared to be turning into depression and anxiety. Dr. had given me clonidine to treat hot flashes, but I began to notice that I didn’t feel as anxious or moody anymore. I even was able to get good sleep at night. My thoughts no longer seem to run away with me!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I see clonidine can be very helpful to some people, but my experience has been different. I was originally on labetalol, which helped my blood pressure somewhat, but it gave me heartburn and subsequent erosive esophagitis. I was then put on lisinopril 20 mg twice a day, a.m. and p.m., and clonidine 0.01 three times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening. This caused severe constipation and worsening of my esophagitis. For myself, this has been a very scary situation because my gastrointestinal symptoms got much worse, and this is a very difficult medication to come off. I am now in the process of weaning off this medication after being on it for a year. It has caused my blood pressure to go too high and then too low. It has caused me severe anxiety and made me unable to function, along with muscle and back pain. I am trying very hard to come off this medication by cutting each dose by half, such as the 0.01 pill I cut in half. For myself, the side effects got worse the longer I was on the medication."

• Gab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2020

For Anxiety "I hate taking this medication, it makes me extremely sick. I also get extremely groggy, weak feelings, fatigue, mood swings, and anxiety. I do not recommend it for anyone unless you're having trouble sleeping."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2022

For Anxiety "About 16% of people react negatively to this medication and actually experience the opposite effects, like a big increase in anxiety. I was taking it for the last week and a half and missed a dose and suddenly feel so much better, sticking with my lorazepam that actually works."

• MsZ...
• October 2, 2019

For Hyperhidrosis "I have had fibroid issues from age 25-29. With that came anemia, low iron, night sweats, and anxiety. The night sweats were constant, so my doctor tried me on clonidine, unsure if it would help. And it did, a miracle the first night. My night sweats stopped completely on a very low dose. Since I started, my anxiety has improved as well. Wish I had taken this sooner. I had taken SSRIs for anxiety, and my night sweats got worse. So happy to have found a solution so I can get a good night's sleep."

• tsb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 4, 2024

For Pain "Long-time back pain sufferer. It's absolutely incredible how good this medication I am taking for hypertension is, that not only reduces pain and hypertension, but anxiety too! Highly, highly recommend! If you have trouble going to sleep because of anxiety or pain, try it even at a reduced dosage."

• swo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've been on and off Tramadol for 12 years now. An ongoing battle. A year ago, roughly, I was prescribed clonidine for the withdrawals when I went to the ER because I couldn't handle it anymore. It does help wonderfully. However, if you take it for long periods like I have, you can't just stop it cold turkey! There was an insurance issue to where I couldn't get my refill in time, and the effects were horrible! Heart palpitations were beyond scary, shakiness, shortness of breath. Almost like withdrawing from opioids. Also, intense anxiety. The reason now I still take them: panic attacks. Horrible experience. I hope to be able to wean myself from this as well. Still struggling with staying off Tramadol too."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I am being weaned off Valium, but I am still on morphine. I have been going through withdrawal symptoms. Sweating, insomnia, anxiety, panic, stomach pain, BP going up to stroke zone, glucose levels, just as bad. All of September and October have been some of the worst days of my life. Dr. put me on Clonidine for high blood pressure, it made it go higher, and I am sleeping my life away... not good."

• Mik...
• November 25, 2020

For Anxiety "I am going through withdrawals to get off methadone for back pain, and I was experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. I had to get off it because it caused severe constipation like I’ve never experienced in my life and was very painful. I sent my doctor a text on Saturday after 3 days of mental disorders from the withdrawals and asked him for a prescription of clonidine, which he called in to CVS immediately. I’ve never experienced anxiety and panic attacks like that before, and I have been through several withdrawals while detoxing off opiates in the past, which I started taking after two invasive back surgeries in January 1998 and October 2000. Today is Day #4 on clonidine, and I have not had the anxiety or panic attacks. I’m not going to take it tomorrow because I don’t want to become addicted to another drug with additive qualities. If the anxiety returns tomorrow, I’ll take half the 0.01 dose that was prescribed that’s suggested in these comments."

• Anonymous
• April 1, 2008

For Tourette's Syndrome "I was using Risperdal before, experiencing very bad anxiety attacks and a great loss of impulse control. I then started Catapres, and it helps ticks moderately but mostly with the anxiety and impulse control."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2023

For Opiate Withdrawal "Clonidine is a must for opioid withdrawals. My journey started with my pain management doctor putting me on buprenorphine transdermal patches starting at 5 mcg, then I got increased to 7.5 mcg, tried 15 mcg, but my body was intolerant. So I capped at 7.5 mcg and was on this dose for 11 months to treat my chronic low back pain that will need a lumbar fusion. I told my orthopedic surgeon I wanted off buprenorphine because it blocks other pain medications from working, which makes it a nightmare to manage pain post-operatively. My PA put me on clonidine up to 4 times a day, as I was told to leave on my Butrans patch for two weeks total to help wean down. Clonidine reduced my anxiety and made it possible to keep going without Butrans. I took clonidine to get off Baclofen, and it was a lifesaver."