Clonidine for sleep.....having issues, looking for experiences

BlackSheep79 · Jun 20, 2015, 03:00 PM

So I've been coming off Seroquel for months and couldn't get off the last dosage of 50 mg because I couldn't sleep. I saw my pdoc yesterday and he took me off the Seroquel and upped my Trazadone from 50 to 100 (he won't go higher because I tend to go manic, and then he added 0.2 mg of Clonidine. All of this is taken at bedtime. I only slept 3 hours and it was crappy sleep. It's been 16 hours since I took this and I've been so drowsy and dizzy. Work was not fun. I have such a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep, racing mind. I practice all of the healthy sleep practices.

Has anyone been on this and these problems? Does it have to build up to help with sleep? If so does it get better, because I'm scared of going manic and the side effects I'm having.

wiretwister · Jun 20, 2015, 04:54 PM

well don't take doxapin, did not work for six hours and then took almost 24 to get over the effects when it did finally kick in ....

BlackSheep79 · Jun 20, 2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiretwister

well don't take doxapin, did not work for six hours and then took almost 24 to get over the effects when it did finally kick in ....

Doxapin sounds familiar. I think I was on that last year when I came off of Seroquel and it didn't work because nothing did except Seroquel.

BeyondtheRainbow · Jun 20, 2015, 05:41 PM

If you are dizzy be careful when standing up and be sure to wait a second before walking. I have a $50,000 ankle because I didn't do this with a med that was lowering my blood pressure and I fell and tore a bunch of things. If that continues you need to check your blood pressure and make sure the clonidine isn't making it too low.

I've heard this can help. I've never tried it myself; I have low blood pressure so can't take anything that lowers it further.

StressCadet · Jun 21, 2015, 01:50 AM

I take Clonidine for my high blood pressure. I am currently on 3.0 (yes, 3.0)mg per day, although I usually don't take the mid-day dose most days. I've been on clonidine for decades and it still makes me sleepy shortly after I take one. I've never heard it being used as a sleep aid, because it does have pretty strong effects on lowering your BP. I don't think clonidine has a long "build up" period. It kicks in on me after about 15 to 30 minutes. I have terrible problems with sleep, but I don't think it's related to that med. For me, it is the most important med I take each day, including psych meds. I would have probably had a heart attack or stroke without it. Monitor your pressure carefully at several points throughout the day. You can get a BP monitor for not too much these days, and it may come in handy. Please be careful driving or anything, because it can definitely dull your senses.

Crazy Hitch · Jun 21, 2015, 02:48 AM

I'm sorry your sleep is disrupted (((BlackSheep))).

I've only ever used Seroquel, I'm not familiar with Clonidine, but I just wanted to say, I hope that you are able to get rest soon

Clonidine for sleep.....having issues, looking for experiences

Jun 21, 2015, 02:54 AM

I had to forsake sweet Seroquel in favor of an interacting cardiac medication, and it was a tearful goodbye. Have you tried diphenhydramine (Benadryl)? Ask your doctor.

BlackSheep79 · Jun 21, 2015, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty the Salesman

I had to forsake sweet Seroquel in favor of an interacting cardiac medication, and it was a tearful goodbye. Have you tried diphenhydramine (Benadryl)? Ask your doctor.

I've tried the Benadryl route and it works for awhile and then has the opposite affect when taken every night. I need something to take every night. The first night I same off Seroquel I couldn't sleep and took 3 Benadryl and I felt nothing. Thanks though.

BlackSheep79 · Jun 21, 2015, 08:45 AM

Well I took my Clonidine and Trazadone last night and finally fell asleep a little over 2 hours later. However, I slept a solid 7-8 hours. I hope it was the meds and not the fact that I had only slept 3 hours the night before. I feel a little groggy, but not even close to yesterday and so far no dizziness. I slowly got out of bed this morning. I pray this works, I don't want to have to go back on Seroquel and be on it, plus the diabetes medication caused from the Seroquel, for the rest of my life. Thanks everybody

RisuNeko · Jun 21, 2015, 11:53 AM

Glad you got a better night's sleep. Sorry that meds gave you diabetes. Meds made me gain 116 lbs in two years and I'm sure I would have developed diabetes and other things if I didn't go from 12 meds to 4 meds. Geodon helps me sleep sometimes (if I eat enough with it, which I usually don't) and it's weight neutral, which is nice.

Have you tried metformin for the diabetes? I take it for metabolic syndrome and it's helped me lose 64 lbs so far. Kind of stuck now, and not able to lose any more, but I'm going to keep trying anyway.

~Christina · Jun 21, 2015, 12:18 PM

Clonidine has a half life of 12-16 hours ( up to 41 hours if a person has severe kidney impairment)

So its possible that the medication is dropping your blood pressure to low and your body/mind it keeping you awake so that your safe. The lingering dizzy and sleepy symptoms are probably due to the long half life.

I was given Minipress (also a blood pressure med )while IP. It has shown promise in reducing PTSD nightmares. I wasn't able to tolerate it due to my blood pressure dropping too low and I always feel nausea if that drops to low.

Just something to consider. Hope your feeling better really soon

BlackSheep79 · Jun 21, 2015, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RisuNeko

Glad you got a better night's sleep. Sorry that meds gave you diabetes. Meds made me gain 116 lbs in two years and I'm sure I would have developed diabetes and other things if I didn't go from 12 meds to 4 meds. Geodon helps me sleep sometimes (if I eat enough with it, which I usually don't) and it's weight neutral, which is nice.

Have you tried metformin for the diabetes? I take it for metabolic syndrome and it's helped me lose 64 lbs so far. Kind of stuck now, and not able to lose any more, but I'm going to keep trying anyway.

I also gained a ton of weight from meds. I'm on metformin, but I don't think my weight loss is from the metformin though. I lost 30 when I was put on meds for hypothyroidism and then another 30 a year ago when I came off of Seroquel. As soon as I went back on Seroquel I stopped losing weight. All this time I have ate healthy. The last 3 months I was weaning off of the Seroquel and have lost 9 pounds. So almost 70 pounds. I'm technically not overweight anymore but I am for me, but very happy though. I don't think it's the metformin, every time I'm off that stupid Seroquel the weight falls right off. If I do need a AP, and being only on Lamictal, I'm thinking Geodon because of it being weight neutral. Thanks so much, and I hope you can keep losing the weight, it's really hurt my self-esteem since I never had problems until these dang meds. I actually had the opposite problem. Good luck

RisuNeko · Jun 22, 2015, 11:00 PM

Yeah I hope i can keep losing weight. I'm struggling right now. I just can't seem to stay on track and every med that's "weight neutral" still makes me gain weight. I have to eat less than 500 calories a day to not gain weight. It's ridiculous and I know it's not healthy. I've gained 10 lbs in the last two weeks because I've been eating 1000 calories a day. I hate it. They've already checked my thyroid so it's not that. I think it's the geodon. And my horrible metabolism. I think meds have irreparably ruined my metabolism. I can't eat a normal meal without gaining at least 2 lbs.

Menu

My Support Forums - Mental Health Support Groups

Get emotional support and friendship from others like you!

Our community offers: No spam. No trolls. No social media connections.

Clonidine for sleep.....having issues, looking for experiences

My Support Forums