Has Anyone Taken Clonidine For PTSD Before?

[Acquiescence]

I'm currently taking Clonidine at bedtime to stave off the nightmares and cold sweats from flashbacks I get and it seems to actually be working! I don't think I've had a single nightmare since starting to take it.

It's just an alpha blocker, which stops the hyperarousal and keeps my blood pressure from jumping up, and it's basically a mild sedative, but it does the job.

Has anyone else taken Clonidine to help with PTSD or what have you been on, and did it work?

 

[Acquiescence]

Really? Is it worth alienating your users for proper paragraph spacing and making sure every word in the title is capitalized? Am I in third grade? People don't talk like that online.

 

[Jade-]

am i in third grade?

You may not be in the third grade, but my mind is a good percentage of the time. Proper paragraph spacing, grammar and all the other rules make it a hell of alot easier for me to read and comprehend when I'm having a rough day.

 

[pandora]

I take a beta blocker...atenolol and it woks great for the hyperarousal and stops my shaking. My son takes clonidine to help with his tics and it works wonders. i have never heard of it being used for PTSD but sounds interesting. I know my son can have it in the day for anxiety as well and it works well for that too. It is also not habit forming and helps you sleep....sounds interesting..good luck!

 

[seedling]

Acquiescence, don't sweat the points/corrections. I don't care about the flags etc.. at the end of anyone else's posts, it's only my own that bother me :)

We're just glad you are here.

Take care.

 

[AdamAnt]

I met a fellow hiking the appalachian trail who was taking it and happy with it. I talked with him for a long time while our kids played by the river and though he didn't say what his trauma was, he did say that before the clonidine he'd never have been that close to the river!

 

[Acquiescence]

So it's not just my psychiatrist being creative!
It's a wonder drug.

It's definitely been helping me in terms of nighttime, but daytime I'm still having issues. My doctor upped my Prozac dosage to 40mg a day in addition to 1000mg of Depakote at night (I have Bipolar Disorder) but the Clonidine is still pretty minuscule. I'm hoping with my Prozac up it'll take the edge off the depression that comes with PTSD (and also in the downswing of my disorder) but I can't help being reminded constantly throughout the day of what happened and flashbacks and stupid memories. Gah.

 

[seedling]

Hope the meds adjustments helps the daytime too. Nice to get a break from the intensity of it. Good Luck!

 

[bluecat]

Hi Acquiescence,

I take clonidine at bedtime if I can't sleep. I like it a lot because its not addictive and wears off before the morning. I haven't noticed it doing anything for my PTSD, but it puts me to sleep, which then helps me to feel better and so on, its the opposite of the 'viscious cycle', whatever that would be called. Its nice when something just work for you and doesn't create more problems, isn't it? : )

Good luck with the struggles during the day too. I am either aware of my PTSD and feeling all self-conscious and crappy or focused on something else and then I have anxiety (like I am holding my breath in continuously). I haven't figured how to balance that yet.

Take care,
Bluecat

 

[Redtail]

My son (10 yoa) takes it for restless leg syndrome. He was diagnosed with it after a sleep study. I helps him sleep well and is usually "out" within 30 mins of taking it. He also takes Concerta during the day and it helps counteract the stimulant.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Anyone else on Clonidine?

My dr is going to start me on it later this week... assuming that my blood pressure isn't too low. My insomnia is horrible right now and could really use some sleep!

 

[njray]

My son (10 yoa) takes it for restless leg syndrome. He was diagnosed with it after a sleep study. I helps him sleep well and is usually "out" within 30 mins of taking it. He also takes Concerta during the day and it helps counteract the stimulant.

May I ask if he takes concerta for ADHD and if so what subtype of ADHD does he have and what dose is he taking of the concerta