Clonidine

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I am being prescribed Clonidine for my inability to focus and for anxiety. But I also think they have decided that it was a good choice because it was originally used to lower blood pressure and I have problems with high blood pressure as well. I know Clonidine has already been discussed on here for autistic tendencies, anxiety, and sleep:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt116782.html
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt111798.html

However I have not heard it used for attention problems. It may be because they think it would help reduce my worries and hence keep me from getting distracted by them. But anyways thought I would ask everyone's opinion on Clonidine and let you know how it goes for me (once I try it for a long enough time I will try and remember to post a response to this thread) Thanks.

I've never been on it but it sounds like a good idea.

I've been taking it for about a week and it works great for blood pressure and anxiety but I still have some problems with focusing. I just started strattera for that. (haven't been on strattera long enough to see the effects)

Is this drug addictive or cause any withdrawal like symptoms? Is it an SSRI?

I wish there was a drug for anxiety that worked like .5mg+ xannax without the foggy feeling and not physically addicting.

Anyway, I'll look it up.

I wish there was too I have severe anxiety and panic attacks and I need an anxiety med but I'm terrified of taking something with addictive qualities to it. Right now I'm on an SSRI but I don't think it works well.

i took it briefly on an as needed basis, kind of like a benzo

i didn't like that I was fluxuating my blood pressure on a regular basis and kind of randomely so I quit. Also it would make me angry the next few days, like my body re-adjusting to not having it. it helped me sleep, didn't improve my anxiety or attention. I don't have problems with blood pressure, I am sure taking it more regularily would have a much different effect then my experience but I am for the most part against taking these types of things consistently because I fear dependance. (Regardless of the belief that there is no risk here)

I don't think Clonidine is addictive but it does need to be tapered off because there are symptoms like spikes in blood pressure if you go off of it too quickly. As far as being afraid of dependence... there are always going to be certain levels of chemicals in your brain that you are dependent on, in a sense, because if those chemicals change you become depressed or have other problems... simple chemistry (well not simple but you know what I mean). So I don't have a problem with using medications to modify the levels in my brain. I know it is preferable to just be able to use the power of your thoughts (it is cheaper and there aren't as many side effects) but in the end it isn't qualitatively different from medication, we are all dependent on certain things in our brain in almost the same sense we are dependent on being able to breath.

Clonidine is completely safe. I have been taking it for many years. Large doses can cause dry mouth, constipation and drowsiness, but the medication itself cannot do any harm. The only major caution is to not stop taking it abruptly or else hypertensive rebound (higher blood pressure) will occur.

ya sorry went off into a tangent, sounds like if taken regularly instead of sporadiclly it works a lot better.

Interesting topic, the psychiatrist who diagnosed me suggested I should take clonidine to tackle the attention deficit stuff and the tics. Anyone diagnosed with Asperger/ADD and Tourette who has experience with clonidine?

I have AS, ADD, anxiety, tics, AND torretts, so yes

Clonidine works for the anxiety tics and torretts best and because it acts on those I think it improves my ability to pay attention.
However, it may also act directly on attention, I don't know. It works well.

Strattera is currently upping my blood pressure, not back to previous levels but still not liking it. Hopefully it will stop that as my body gets used to the medication.