LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Clonidine: Blood Pressure
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Clonidine is an alpha-adrenergic blocker. It blocks sympathetic discharge. This sympathetic discharge may be responsible for elevated blood pressure and some of the symptoms, such as chills and sweats (diaphoresis), of opiate withdrawal. By blocking this sympathetic discharge, clonidine can relieve or decrease these symptoms of opiate withdrawal. It is probably the most widely used medication in treating the signs and symptoms of the opiate abstinence syndrome and precipitated opiate withdrawal. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/243/4/343
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Here is the problem; Clonidine is a tremendously powerful antihypertensive. It is extremely serious medicine. Clonidine stimulates alpha receptors in the brain and causes a decrease in sympathetic outflow from the brain to the periphery. This decreases peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate, so it hugely decreases your blood pressure. Like the ETS procedure, it knocks out the sympathetic nervous system. Nearly everybody who uses it is very fatigued because their blood pressure is so low, they're in mild shock.
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DRUG INTERACTIONS: Clonidine can increase the sedating effects of other medications that cause sedation. Such drugs include narcotic pain relievers, barbiturates, sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin), and ethanol. Tricyclic antidepressants [e.g., amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin), clomipramine (Anafranil)] can block the blood pressure lowering effects of clonidine. This may cause blood pressure to rise.
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Clonidine is administered orally, by transdemal patch or by epidirial injection. It works by stimulating the alpha-adrenergeric receptors in the brain stem. This reduces the sympathetic outflows from the central nervous system leading to a decrease in peripheral resistance, renal vascular resistance and blood pressure (after 30 to 60mins) .
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Clonidine should not be abruptly withdrawn but rather, slowly decreased over several days to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include increases in blood pressure, irritability, nervousness, insomnia, and headache. Because of the possibility of withdrawal, clonidine should not be used in patients who are unwilling or unable to follow the prescribing information.
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An excessive rise in blood pressure following Clonidine discontinuance can be reversed by administration of oral clonidine or by intravenous phentolamine. If therapy is to be discontinued in patients receiving beta-blockers and clonidine concurrently, beta-blockers should be discontinued several days before the gradual withdrawal of Clonidine.
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