Clonadine for Opiate Withdrawal

Get help to overcome your clonidine addiction!

Various medications are used in the treatment of opiate withdrawal including Clonidine which has been proven effective at reducing blood pressure, easing stress and making the process of overcoming opiate withdrawal a bit easier to cope with for the recovering addict.  The exact dose of clonidine that will be provided will depend on various factors including:

• The severity of the addiction withdrawal symptoms
• The level of your blood pressure during the early days of opiate withdrawal
• Other medications that you may be taking

Clonidine does not reduce cravings so if the primary withdrawal symptom that a user is feeling is associated with a craving to use opiates than Clonidine is not the right medical choice.  However, if high blood pressure is a concern during the first few days of opiate withdrawal, Clonidine can bring the level down back to a normal systolic state which is safe for the recovering addict.

Clonidine may work to relieve some of the following symptoms of opiate withdrawal in some users:

• Hot flashes
• High blood pressure
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Restlessness

While this is not an anti-anxiety medication such as Xanax or Valium which are also sometimes prescribed in the treatment of opiate withdrawal, it is effective at reducing some of the stress and restlessness that many recovering addicts have during withdrawal.

Normal Clonidine Dose for Opiate Withdrawal

Your doctor will prescribe the proper dose of Clonidine if you are suffering from symptoms of withdrawal that may be well treated with this medication.  The normal dose is typically in the range of 1mg twice per day but this can differ based on your symptoms, your weight and any other medications that you may be taking in addition to the Clonidine.

It’s important to note that you should not take Clonidine for more than a couple of days for the treatment of opiate withdrawal as sustained use of the medication could lead to reverse hypertension.  This means that while the medication can work to reduce high blood pressure and hypertension in the short-run during early opiate withdrawals, it could have a reverse effect if it is taken for this purpose for too long.  Your doctor or treatment professional will have a better understanding of your individual needs and will be able to prescribe the proper dose for you.