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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch
        
(Message started by: taraann on Jan 3^rd, 2004, 7:59pm)

Title: Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch
Post by taraann on Jan 3^rd, 2004, 7:59pm

Ok finnally ditched the Stadol (nasty stuff IMHO) and the doc put me on the clonipin patch so I wouldnt' have withdrawals, I pick up the prescription and on the instructions it says it is sometimes used for migraines and cluster headaches (it lowers your blood pressure and blocks certain nerve receptors according to my doc) Well this is week #2 on it and no withdrawals whatsoever and seems like the severity and frequency these past few days of my CH's has lessened. I'll keep anyone interested updated. Just wanted to share this.

P.s not sure if its coincidence or cycle coming to end or what so I'll know for sure as teh days and weeks go on....

Title: Re: Clonipin Patch
Post by Unsolved on Jan 4^th, 2004, 1:54pm

hmmm...i'm wearing one of those patches now

Unsolved

Title: Re: Clonipin Patch
Post by forgetfulnot on Jan 4^th, 2004, 3:58pm

I did a search for clonipin and came up with this?

http://www.the-lineonline.com/dumbass.htm

Lee... ;;D

Title: Re: Clonipin Patch
Post by Jimmy_B on Jan 6^th, 2004, 7:38am

I'm assuming you mean the Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch, which is a anti-hypertensive drug that has been used (with great success) for preventing acute withdrawal in opioid dependent patients, as well as it's stated use for High Blood Pressure. There is another drug that's called Klonipin...but that is an anti-anxiety drug, much like valium...& Klonipin does not come in a patch.

Since Stadol NS is an mixed agonist-antagonist narcotic, usually the withdrawal syndrome is usually mild. But if not...Clonidine Patch can be used with buprenorphine to minimize the syndrome.

Because of it's anti-hypertensive effects...it can be used for clusters much the same way verapamil is used.

Good luck

Jimmy

Title: Re: Clonipin Patch
Post by taraann on Jan 6^th, 2004, 11:34am

thanks for the info Jimmy. And yea I did have the name wrong it IS Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch. BUt that's all I'm on now (except phenergan as needed). And last time they had me on Stadol I had NASTY withdrawals for days after I was off it. So I was very afraid of that this time (the very reason I didn't even want to be on it again, but when your doc don't give you much choice u tend to get desperate since I've been in cycle since June and getting hit 8 sometimes more times a day) It didnt help much anyways (stadol) but did make it easier to sleep after a hit.

Hey Unsolved u said u are on this patch too......does it make you tired? I have been draggin a** this past week hard! ANd I'm on the lowest dose possible.

Title: Re: Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch
Post by taraann on Jan 7^th, 2004, 5:57pm

Another question for ya Unsolved and anyone else with experience with this medication...............

Since about noon today I got up from the couch (and I know it says u have to rise slowly while on this med or u will get dizzy) and I got extremely dizzy, my chest got tight (still is) and I almost passed out (couldn't see at all, the room slowly got dark) and with what seemed like each heartbeat the dark "on" my eyes flashed bright lights. Also sparked a low kip headache that is still hanging in there (bout a 5 or so going up a few notches than back down a few notches) Hubby made me lay down, which I did so for bout an hour. Then I took a shower and I still feel pretty dizzy, with that tight chest feeling, and the med HA. It's been almost 6 hrs since the onset of this.........Read bout it at Webmd.com but really doesn't explain why I still feel this way. Anyone have this happen?

Title: Re: Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch
Post by Unsolved on Jan 7^th, 2004, 8:21pm

I've been wearing the patch for a week now. I have NO side effects what so ever. No dizziness, no fatigue, nothing. It is keeping my blood pressure in check (that's why it was given to me). If you're experiencing dizziness and fatigue, you may want to keep an eye on your BP...maybe it's dipping too low ??
The docs did tell me to rise slowly ... but I don't listen and still ... no dizziness. Just a patch to me !

PS...if your symptoms/side effects are bothersome, you should tell your doc right away !!

Unsolved

Title: Re: Clonidine (Catapres TTS) patch
Post by taraann on Jan 8^th, 2004, 9:54am

THanks Unsolved, Yeah called my doc last night and he had me go to the ER ::) They checked my BP laying flat, sitting up, and standing up and it dropped pretty good when I was standing up. I had been working on a migraine the last few days (plus clusters here and there, but not as many as usual) and usually my BP spikes when I have a HA. I had taken the patch off but the ER doc told me its dangerous to discontinue it quickly so I put it back on till I can see my doc and see what he wants to do. I am still a bit dizzy and my chest still feels tight, the ER doc doesnt think it has anything to do with the patch and maybe its part of the migraine? I dunno, never had any this happen b4 and I've had migraines since bout age 16 or so and CH for about 5 yrs or so......

Also the ER gave me O2 through a nonrebreather mask, first time they ever did that! (the nurse even said New Hampshire medical community has always been behind when it comes to new treatments) Well they amost killed the CH and lowered the pain of the migraine too with meds and the O2. Gave me IV Reglan and something else.... I can't wait to go see the HA specialist next week so I can ask him if I can try the O2 therapy......