Generic Name: Clonidine for Anxiety (clonidine)
"I am pretty sure this drug is going to save my life. I have tried everything for anxiety: Benzos, buspirone, SSRI's, SNRIs, beta blockers. I almost gave up, then I thought I would try one more. I get horrible med side effects, so I started with 1/4 of 0.1 mg and within 20 minutes, I was more normal than I have felt in years. I tried a higher dose the next day, but was too tired, so for now, I will stick to the small dose. Three days in and I feel like my life has already changed. I can focus at work, I'm happy, I have more energy, no anxiety. Beautiful!"
"A word of advice: do not take the full 0.1 mg clonidine pill. Most of the people here complaining about the medication making them drowsy and fatigued are likely sensitive to clonidine and are taking a much higher dose than they should. Chances are, your doctor will prescribe 0.1 mg since there is no lower dose for this med. If after taking the full 0.1 mg pill it makes you tired, cut it in half, if it still makes you tired, cut it into a quarter, and if it still does, cut it into an eighth. I recommend buying a pill cutter. When I first took it, I felt terrible at the full dose, but then I cut it like I just instructed and at an eighth of a 0.1 mg pill I felt way better. Anxiety almost completely gone and it worked even better than benzos. Plus, this med, unlike benzos, is not associated with any kind of brain damage or addiction."
"I have been dealing with anxiety for about 10 years now with the occasional panic attack. In the last 9 months, my anxiety has been so severe that I’m anxious every second of the day and panic when I have to leave the house. It’s made it hard to function and hold down a job. I recently got a new job, and I was having extreme anxiety to the point of feeling suicidal because I felt like I could not continue living with the severity of my anxiety. I was on 6 different medications and not getting any relief. Finally, my doctor prescribed me clonidine 0.1 three times a day. For the first time in 9 months, I finally felt better. My doctor upped my dose to 4 times a day, and now I’m feeling better than ever! I’m able to function and work again. This is a miracle drug to me. I’m finally living my life again. I would highly recommend trying this drug if you have severe anxiety like me."
"I have been suffering with severe depression and extreme anxiety for years. Doctors tried me on everything, including Xanax, but nothing seemed to work. It had gotten so bad that my blood pressure shot up sky high. So, to control my blood pressure, they put me on clonidine. Lo and behold, the clonidine not only lowered my blood pressure but also controlled my depression and anxiety. My anxiety was so bad that I was afraid to leave my house, I suffer from social anxiety as well. When I am taking my clonidine as prescribed, I feel absolutely normal. If you have tried everything and nothing seems to be working, then you need to speak to your doctor about clonidine. To me, it is a miracle drug, it has helped me become human again."
"I was on clonidine from the age of 8-14. I didn’t want to take pills for the rest of my life, so I stopped taking all my meds, half of which I didn’t even know what I was taking them for. About a month ago, I started having really bad anxiety attacks. I felt like I was living completely out of my body, I felt awful, and wanted to die if I’m being completely honest. After dealing with having them 1-2 times a week, I called and got into counseling and requested to be put on medication. The psychiatrist called me a week after and recommended I take clonidine again. I recommend anybody with anxiety to try this medicine. I was on it for 6 years, and it really made a difference even the first day I started taking it again."
"I get very down and depressed in the dark winter months. About a month ago, I went into manic panic. Depression and anxiety were off the charts for the last month. I'm scared of benzos and refuse to take them because of how addictive they can be. I was prescribed Paxil 20 mg. They gave me hydroxyzine 50 mg until Paxil kicks in. Paxil has not worked, so I went back to see about something stronger than hydroxyzine. They gave me clonidine, and it worked within an hour at 0.10 mg. I was eating and even smiled after 3 weeks of nightmarish living. I think this will be the one!"
"I have severe panic attacks. My blood pressure goes up to 203 over 101, my heart pounds so hard it makes me cough. It is extremely irregular and my chest gets tight and painful. I am scared of everything around me, loud noises cause me to jump and scream. I am so uncomfortable I sit and cry. I have tried medications for over 30 years and over the last 10 years things have become worse. I was started on clonidine and am now able to tolerate the above. There was one time in particular I ended up having to take 0.3 mg to bring down my blood pressure, it was so high. I highly recommend this drug, use it all the time. I take it with me in my purse. I enjoy my life again."
"This drug clonidine was a game changer for my anxiety. I love this drug - it helps me sleep, it calms me down from full-blown panic attacks (it takes about 20-30 minutes to do this). It helps with my ADHD because it calms down my body and lets me focus. I can't take benzos, so it has been really helpful. It takes a while before it stops making you drowsy. I only take half a tab if I'm super anxious during the day. I only take full tabs if I'm having a panic attack or going to bed. WARNING: DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS DRUG COLD TURKEY. I had horrendous withdrawals. I stopped cold after 3 years and was shaking and tremoring, did not sleep for a week, and had severe panic attacks all day every day."
"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."
Catapres (clonidine) "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."
"Complex PTSD, extreme anxiety, borderline personality disorder, insomnia, social phobia, and fear over nothing! Valium once a day for 4 years. Last 2 months have been extreme anxiety, Valium not working as good. Just had Clonidine, I feel great. My neck and shoulders feel like new. No straining. My eye tension is gone so my headache is gone too. So far, so good. Very happy."
"My doctor prescribed 0.1 mg (smallest dose) for anxiety, irritability, and anger. It was just what I needed, although I had to cut in half as the full dose was a bit too sedating. It really mellowed me out and helped me relax. Way better than the benzo I have been resorting to. I wish I had discovered this medication sooner as I have been suffering for a long time. I recommend starting with 1/2 and even 1/4 to see how you feel. You'll need a pill cutter. Best of luck!"
"Hits fast and clean, noticeably lower blood pressure and can be quite relaxing. The 0.02s work better than the 0.01mgs. Too much can be dangerous with it leading to low blood pressure. There have been times I exercised or took stimulants because I was worried blood pressure was too low, but if you can ride the tide, it is an amazing medicine for it not being in the Xanax class."
"Started taking clonidine BID for severe anxiety (GAD, PTSD, PD), in conjunction with my benzos (PRN). I have tried almost everything else on the market and this was the first time I was really impressed with the effects. The first week and a half, I appreciated the intense drowsiness, but I powered through because I physically felt relief from my racing heart. Surely, this medicine isn't for everyone, but it sure helps me."
"I have hypertension, ADD, and anxiety, the majority of the things that clonidine is used for. I was so happy when I was finally put on it. I take 0.1 mg 3 times a day, and soon they are going to raise my dosage. It is a miracle drug, it does great for my blood pressure and my anxiety. I will say, though, it does not help my ADD, so I am still on Adderall for that. I do want to address something with those that are on it strictly for anxiety and who are having issues: this medication will lower your blood pressure, so if your anxiety is getting worse or you are extremely tired and possibly feeling faint, you are taking too much, and your blood pressure is more than likely too low. Try taking a smaller dosage, taking more would make it worse. For those that are saying it works but wears off and are taking the 0.1 mg, talk to your doctor because that is the smallest dosage and it can be raised."
"My psychiatrist prescribed me .1mg 3 times a day for my anxiety and panic attack disorder. I literally have between 8 to 12 attacks daily and anxiety from the moment I wake up until I hopefully get some sleep using zzzquil or benadryl. My condition has only gotten worse and this psychiatrist I see is very rude, judgmental, and speaks down to me like I am dirt. I really hope no one else has a Dr like this. She's very unprofessional and says things to belittle me for the last 4 visits, I literally cried in my car for 10 mins after seeing her last time. She made me feel horrible about myself. Also, she left me without medication for 2 weeks. I need to find a new Dr immediately "
"I have used clonidine for panic attacks (episodic, severe facial sweating due to stressful situations). This medication has been extremely helpful, resolved the sweating immediately. I have tried lorazepam, which was also extremely effective, but my clinician informed me clonidine has lower risks. Beta blockers did not work at all."
"I have a prescription for clonidine 0.1 mg as needed for anxiety. It is SO helpful! I rarely take it, but when I do, it drastically reduces my anxiety, and it’s not a benzo, so it’s much easier to get a prescription for. I’d highly recommend it for anxiety. It does make me sleepy, but I like that. When I’m feeling anxious, I need that sedated feeling. It doesn’t make me feel zombie-level sedated, but I feel it enough to be able to get some sleep. Also, if you already have low blood pressure, I would not recommend it because it’s a blood pressure medication and could put you into dangerously low blood pressure if you’re not careful."
"I absolutely definitely do not like this medicine, clonidine. I’m tired throughout the whole entire day once I have taken it. I feel so drowsy, sleepy, my anxiety has been going crazy. I can’t get anything done throughout my day because I’m sleeping all day. I feel like my mind is out of space. I am not myself when taking this med. I WANT OFF OF IT NOW."
"It does not even touch my anxiety. I was on Xanax for 23 years. When my psychiatrist retired, the new psychiatrist I got informed me that Xanax was habit-forming. She placed me on clonidine, and it did nothing. I suffer from severe anxiety constantly. Xanax helped me with my occasional episodes of panic attacks and my severe anxiety. I also have ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder."
Catapres (clonidine) "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!"
"I've found clonidine to be unparalleled at preventing anxiety of the restless and impatient type. i.e. the kind of anxiety that keeps me from sitting in one place. I take clonidine before any engagement where I must sit for a while, e.g., waiting rooms, courtrooms, and so on. Places where some patience is in order. Clonidine is the best for this. The only side effect is a very slight dry mouth, and that only happens sometimes."
"Clonidine is excellent for performance and social anxiety. But I think it's crucial to get the dosage just right for your body weight & metabolism, so that one doesn't get unnecessarily sedated or have dry mouth. I only use clonidine every now & a blue moon (i.e., rarely), often before a situation or event where I'll need extraordinary patience. I take just 0.1 mg. for this purpose. It prevents nervous tremors of the hand, restlessness and sweating."
"I have been on clonidine for a year. At first, it made me sleepy, but after about 6 weeks, my only side effect was dry mouth, and I have to eat when I take clonidine. It has helped lower my blood pressure and my anxiety. Very happy with it."
"I have PTSD and have suffered from depression and anxiety my entire life. I was prescribed Xanax, clonazepam, and Ambien and took that for 30 years. Just 4 months ago, I got sober off the benzos, and along with duloxetine 120 mg daily, clonidine has worked great. It helps me sleep and reduces my anxiety 100%. Oh, and by the way, it works great with methadone."
Catapres, Kapvay, Onyda XR, Catapres-TTS, ... +2 more
Catapres, Kapvay, Catapres-TTS, Duraclon, Nexiclon XR
