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Post by MistyMorningPA on Aug 5, 2004 19:58:48 GMT -5
My daughter is has been med free for a month ;D now & everything is pretty manageable EXCEPT she CANNOT sleep at night!!  She goes to a therapist once/week & sees the psychiatrist there every other month. The Psych gave me an RX for Clonidine, stating that it will help her mind settle down for sleeping without any side effects. I looked it up on a web search, but was unable to find any sites that really describe its use in ADD kids. Have any of you used it?? If so, what are your feelings about it?? I would like to know about the safety of it's use & whether it should be used long-term or just as a temporary measure. I'm VERY reluctant to put anything into my childs body without knowing as much as I can first!! I have tried other measures to help her sleep, such as warm milk, reading in bed before sleeping, even benadryl on occasion. Nothing works!! :(She'll lay there thinking, singing or talking until 2 am at times!! I'm sure that lack of sleep makes her ADD symptoms worse. If any one has ANY info, PLEASE, I'll be VERY grateful!!  |
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Post by catseye on Aug 11, 2004 10:52:13 GMT -5
I am so sorry I am just now getting to this one!
Yes my sd was on clonidine, it worked great for getting to sleep... However I am concerned because you said they gave you a prescription? Did they do an EKG (?heart monitor test) BEFORE giving you a prescription? They did for my sd, and boy did that make us uneasy... We did do the clonidine though, even though we were concerned about why the heart test was important...
Sd 7 (then) was only on .05 mg in the AM, and PM (the am dose was to help with aggression and it helped with that also!)... She is now off it, at this point...
I posted a bunch of information on it, I will edit it in this post here, in just a sec!
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Post by catseye on Aug 11, 2004 10:57:33 GMT -5
common brand name -catapres
uses This medication is used to treat high blood pressure. It works by stimulating certain brain receptros (alpha adrenergic type) which results in the relaxing of blood vessels in other parst of your body, causing them to widen. Lowering high blood pressure helps preven strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
other uses
This medication may also be used to ease withdrawal symptoms associated with the long term use of narcotics, alcohol and nicotine (smoking). In addition, clonidine may also be used for migraine headaches, hot flashes associated with menopause, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other conditions as determined by your doctor.
How to use
Take this medication by mouth, usually twice daily (in the morning and at bedtime) or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therabpy. Use this medication regularaly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same times each day as directed. It is important to continue takeing this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sik. Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor because you condition may become worse. A serious rapid increase in your blood pressure (rebound hypertension) may occure when this drug is suddenly stopped or if you miss 2 or more dosses in a row, especially if you have been taking it for a long time, at higher doses, or with a beta-blocker medication. Therefore it is important that you do not run out of clonidine. There have been reports of rare, but severe (possibly fatal) results, including stroke, from stopping this drug too quickly. If you must stop taking this drug, your dose should be gradually decreased over several days as directed by your doctor. When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase)
Side effects
Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dry mouth, or constipation may occur as you body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effect persist or worsen notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, dink water or use a saliva substitute. Tell your doctor immedicately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occure: fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, depression. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention ifit occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notic other effects not listed above, contact you doctor or phamacist.
Precautions
Before taking clonidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you developed a rash during treatment with clonidine in the patch form: or if you have any other allergies. Before using this medication, tell you doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of :kidney disease, heart disease (e.g., sever coronary insufficiency, conduction disorders, recent heart attack), depression, blood circulation disorders (e.g., raynaud's disease). Before having surgery tell you doctor or dentist that you are takin this medication. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy: use caution engaging in activities requireing alertness such as driving or using machinery. limit alcoholic beverages. To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness. Cuation is advised when using this drug in children> If they cannot take doses of this medication due to vomiting from stomach/abdominal illnesses, they may be at increased risk for developing rebound hypertention. Consult your doctor immedicately about what to do in case your child becomes to ill to take this medication. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Me again resting my hands, then I will finish with drug interactions in the next post...
64.68.237.59
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catseye
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Re: Clonidine
« Reply #11 on: May 5th, 2004, 11:26pm »
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drug interations
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or phamacist of all prescription and nonprescreiption/herbal product you may use, especially of beta-blocker drugs (e.g. metroprolol, propranolol), cyclobenzaprine, other drugs which can slow the heart rate (e.g., digoxin, calcium channel blockers, guanethidine), MAO inhibitors (e.g. furazolidone, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine procarbazine, selegiline,isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline, desipramine). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g. cough and cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increas your blood pressure. Many cough and cold products may also contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cuase drowsiness such as: antihistamines (e.b. diphenhydramine), anti anxiety drugs (e.g. diazepam), anti seizure drugs (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital), medicine for sleep (e.g. sedatives), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g. codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g. phenothizines such as clorpromazine), tranquilizers. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or phamacist approval...
WHEW!!! I sure hope that all helps... BTW I didnt take alot of time checking it, so there may be some gramatical errors to ignore
cat
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Post by MistyMorningPA on Aug 12, 2004 12:58:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! I was beginning to think no one here had any info on clonidine!! I did post at another forum & got some info. Added to what you just gave me, I think I've got a pretty good understanding now. I did decide to try it because none of us can stand the sleepless nights. I just can't sleep until I know my child is asleep! So far, so good. It doesn't PUT her to sleep, but it helps her clear her mind to FALL asleep. She seems more alert during the day now that shes getting a full nights sleep. ;D I still worry though about giving ANY med! I mean, we finally got her med free & her old self again & now I have her on something else! I never know if I'm doing the right thing or not!  To answer your query, no, her Psych. did NOT give her a heart test! Never even mentioned it!  Just gave me the RX & told me there were no side effects! He did not even tell me that you had to wean them off when you quit & could not skip doses! I learned those things here & on the other forum! I'm so glad I did my homework before blindly giving the med! Thank you for such in depth info! |
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Post by StrugglingAgain on Aug 27, 2004 14:30:19 GMT -5
Misty, how are you and your child doing with Clonidine? I'm also sorry I'm just now reading this post, so excuse such a delay. My son has been on small doses of Clonidine thoughout the day along with a night dose for several years. It helps him immensely! We only had side effects for a very short time...it made him sleepy. BUT he got over that part and now it seems as if it actually helps him have a good night's sleep. In adults the Clonidine is, in fact, a high blood pressure medication. Children react very differently with it's use. My son also takes other medications, and after years of trying to come up with the right combination of them to work for him, it's now working great. I found out since I'm not a doctor, I have to trust them. I DO educate myself as much as possible, though. Knowledge is power, as they say!
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