Clonidine and Nausea: What Users Say

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 29, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking clonidine for high blood pressure approximately 4 years ago, and it never reacted with me in any negative way until recently, a few months ago did they change the medicine. I've always taken a generic, but with the orange (or more pink pills), I was getting sick, not feeling well, tired, weak, and really feeling horrible. I didn't know what it was. Then when I changed my pharmacy, I went back to the white oval ones I had before (I don't know the company's name), I'm feeling good again. Anyway, I think it should be known that some of the generics really are not up to the quality that they should be."

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 29, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking clonidine for high blood pressure approximately 4 years ago, and it never reacted with me in any negative way until recently, a few months ago did they change the medicine. I've always taken a generic, but with the orange (or more pink pills), I was getting sick, not feeling well, tired, weak, and really feeling horrible. I didn't know what it was. Then when I changed my pharmacy, I went back to the white oval ones I had before (I don't know the company's name), I'm feeling good again. Anyway, I think it should be known that some of the generics really are not up to the quality that they should be."

• Dan...
• February 3, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Clonidine was my third group of blood pressure meds due to side effects from others. Started out with 0.1mg at night. 6 months ago I started at 196/101, so I ended up at 0.3mg morning and night. Yes, it lowers blood pressure. I couldn't function as a human being, but it lowers blood pressure. I am in the construction industry so this was not going to cut it. I was tired, nauseous, couldn't think straight, couldn't remember anything, my balance was way off. The list goes on. I don't drink alcohol, but I would relate it to drinking mescal tequila all day long. It was by far the worst med I have ever taken. I am now off of it. I never realized how bad it was until I got off clonidine. My life was put on hold for 3 months while on the higher dose. I am now trying to catch up. I know all meds affect different people differently, but in my opinion, this is one to stay away from. Watch for side effects. Giving this a 2 rating. It works for BP, but the side effects blow this one out of the park."

• Fly...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 25, 2014

Clonidine for Anxiety "Was prescribed this in conjunction with stimulant meds for ADHD but have found this really works well to relieve NAUSEA caused by ANXIETY. However, as this is primarily a Blood Pressure Medication, it can make you dizzy if you take too much. I have found it the best of any medication to treat the nausea and upset stomach Generalised Anxiety produces. Highly Recommended With Caution!"

• NoM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2012

Clonidine for Opiate Withdrawal "Works very well, it will make me very sleepy and takes away restless legs syndrome, sweats, and nausea. After stopping any opiate and before taking Suboxone, you need to go through withdrawal before the Suboxone will work and taking clonidine will ease the withdrawal symptoms. It will not take them away completely but it will make it a million times easier than without anything. When trying to get off Suboxone, taking clonidine in between doses of Suboxone will really really help. Tapering off Suboxone takes a long time and needs to be taken very slowly or withdrawals will last for weeks. There are several other medications that will help in conjunction with clonidine, just ask your doctor."

• wag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "I'm at the end of day 6 of my detox/withdrawal, and without the clonidine, I couldn't have done it. I have been on Opiates for a few years, and the 120 pills the doctor prescribed every month were usually gone in two weeks, so I had to go buy from a friend, but the ones from him were Morphine. I started getting sick at the beginning of this month, even when taking the prescribed pills, because I don't think the prescription was strong enough to catch up to the Morphine. The first 2 days I had no meds to help me and thought I was going to die, but now that I have the clonidine, I feel much better. Before you start detox, do yourself a favor and get the meds to help you get through it."

• ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2016

For Anxiety "Help with my anxiety by alleviating the nausea and lowered my blood pressure, which resulted in less flushing due to anxiety. May have to go a little higher on the dosage to find your sweet spot, but I started at .1 and went to .2 twice a day, and it has really helped."

• Shm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2017

For Opiate Withdrawal "I was shocked having been through awful withdrawals before how much of a difference it was. I was easily taking 100 mg/day of oxy. I tapered down too fast in 5 days to 15 mg then was out. Couldn't get subs because I was also taking Xanax. Clonidine is very underestimated. I took it after my last dose of oxy and at 24/48 hours, I was groggy and weak but no stomach cramping, muscle tension, or nausea. It took a few days, but today on day 3, I'm just fatigued. Still no withdrawal. Doesn't stop cravings and renders me lazy as hell but better than full withdrawal."

• Mid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been on a month and it helps with anxiety. The nausea and muscle tension have gone away. I would recommend it. Few side effects, and you will get used to the drug after about a 2-week period. It will make your hands and feet cold, but I can deal with that."

• San...
• August 6, 2017

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've had a lot of experience using clonidine for withdrawal symptoms. Though I'm working on staying clean, I've smoked heroin (tar) for a long time, on and off. The dope I was getting was very strong, and because I smoked it, the withdrawal would make me extremely sick to my stomach, so that I'd be throwing up for days, literally every few minutes. I'd end up in the ER. But with clonidine, I'm hardly nauseous (though I still add an anti-nausea med). With clonidine, my withdrawal symptoms are much more bearable, though still difficult. It might make you sleep the first day or two, but I'm generally still pretty sleepless. It must be dosed correctly and be careful. For example, I take 0.1 mg every 4 hours, then a bit less the next day, etc."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I went into the emergency room for a pulled side muscle and a blood pressure of 215/120. I was given clonidine while I was there in the waiting room. An hour later, I was nauseous and so dizzy. Ended up in the restroom throwing up with diarrhea and so weak and dizzy I couldn't stand or walk straight. Long story short, I had to get a change of clothes and stayed in the restroom for an hour before I could come out. It lowered my blood pressure to 120/60, but I don't ever want this medicine again."

• 604...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2012

For Opiate Withdrawal "I tried to quit opiates on my own, and I couldn't do it. I was so dependent on them I would vomit, sweat, light-headed, aching bones... just miserable if I didn't have opiates in my system. I went into a detox program and opted out of doing either a methadone or Suboxone quick taper program. I instead went on the 'opiate protocol,' which was clonidine and Seroquel. I was amazed how effective it was. I went through none of the nasty initial withdrawal symptoms. After 5 days, I started feeling secondary withdrawal symptoms (nausea, irritable, bad insomnia, sweating, night chills, shakes, aches)."

• Fin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

For Opiate Withdrawal "So at 14, I started using first pain pills, then heroin. Then at 17, I started using subs to stay off the other drugs. I wanted off the subs (had been on 12 years) and had tried just about everything and always failed. By the second or third day, the withdrawals were so bad I'd go back to subs, sometimes even other drugs if I couldn't get the subs. I finally talked to my doctor, and she prescribed clonidine. It's been a miracle drug. On day three of being off subs, and the only problems I've had are being tired and sweating a lot, but I'll take that over nausea, diarrhea, and restless arms and legs any day. At this rate, I know I will be clean from here on out, and it makes me so happy. I'm telling you, talk to your doctor about it, it works 100 percent. I get being skeptical, I was at first too since nothing ever helped, but just try it."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have been on Suboxone for 5 years. I tapered slowly down to 0.5 mg. I thought I'd be fine when I stopped. Nope. Had the usual symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal. Pretty bad. On day 3, I called my doctor and demanded something to ease the pain, restlessness, and nausea. He prescribed clonidine, gabapentin, and Seroquel. I took the clonidine and gabapentin and slept for a little while, then woke up kind of like a zombie. I have to work tomorrow, so I definitely will not be taking anything before work. It did what it was supposed to do, though. No muscle or joint pain. I'm relaxed and comfortable, and I can finally sleep. So overall, good deal. I may try just one or the other: clonidine or gabapentin. I don't want to be the walking dead."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Like many other reviewers here, I had a bad experience. It does lower blood pressure, but at the expense of numerous side effects. The active ingredient has a significant effect on adrenaline and cortisol. Cortisol is the feel-good hormone, so when it is deficient, you will have symptoms of fatigue, nausea, orthostatic intolerance, etc."

• chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "Clonidine IR has been a miracle. I'm in my 40s. I've had high BP since my late 20s and was taking hydrochlorothiazide. In my mid-30s, that didn't work anymore. Doc switched me to triamterene. It didn't help. Then I tried lisinopril which gave me extreme headaches and nausea, interfering with work. Doc switched me to amlodipine. I ended up in the ER with 182/101, so I went back to the thiazide. 145/94 became my average and sometimes 155/98. I also deal with anxiety, pain, PTSD, and ADHD. I stopped my pain meds. Stopped all my other meds and only take clonidine, and it helps with everything! I can actually watch a movie, get work done responsibly, and sleep. My BP is 117/64 after I take it and up to 138/84 as it approaches time for another dose. My only concern is that my body can feel when it is due for another dose, and I can feel it wearing off, and I need the next dose to prevent anxiety or spikes. Xanax was better in that regard. I never felt like I needed another dose of Xanax 0.5. Last resort."

• sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "No. No. No. Scary. I never had sleep problems, and when I went to the doc, my blood pressure was high because of some things going on in my life. She said, 'Here, take this.' I got home, took it, and woke up with dreams that scared me so bad, and then I felt drained all day. I've been on it 3 days, I don't like it. Last night, I took my normal med and slept better than I have all week."

• No...
• April 27, 2016

For Perimenopausal Symptoms "I was hopeful that clonidine would help for my hot flashes, mainly so I could sleep better at night. I took one .2 mg tablet at bedtime as directed and felt horrible the whole next day. I was extremely sleepy, spacey, and queasy. Would much rather suffer the hot flashes, as despite them I was able to drive, work, and work out just fine compared to that day."

• DPa...
• September 15, 2020

For Insomnia, Stimulant-Associated "My 7-year-old ADHD-diagnosed son was prescribed clonidine 0.1 mg to help with sleep issues. He doesn't sleep well or pretty much ever for a long enough period of time. This medication was a nightmare. The first night I gave him the prescribed 0.1 mg, he fell asleep within 30 minutes and then woke up and was very noticeably dizzy, drunk-like walking, head rolling, eyes kind of rolling around, nauseous, and crying because he felt weird. He could barely put a sentence together. He was in and out for hours that night, he would fall right asleep, then wake up scared of the way he was feeling until well into the morning. The next night, his pediatrician recommended taking 1/2 a pill. The side effects weren't as drastic, but it was still bad, he woke up maybe 5 times throughout the night, again dizzy and having a bad reaction. We called his pediatrician again, and she basically said he was having some kind of adverse reaction and to stop the meds."

• Gre...
• December 10, 2022

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "Outstanding medication for treating POTS, helped eliminate my hypertension associated with POTS and greatly reduced nausea, headaches, and chest pain. Can’t say enough good things about this medication."

• Ash...
• December 21, 2015

For Tourette's Syndrome "After 3 days of taking clonidine (50 mcg twice a day), I can't bear to continue. I've had little to no relief from my tics, and the side effects surely outweigh any minor benefit. Side effects have included: dry mouth, increased thirst, irritability, mood swings, extreme feelings of anger, constipation, nausea, drowsiness, nightmares, feeling like I'm in a constant, almost disassociated state, and dizziness. My vocal tics before starting this medication were generally only at a normal speaking level of voice, and I could usually tell when I was about to tic, but they have increased to loud yelling with little or no premonitory urge. I would like to have tried this drug for longer, but due to the side effects, I will not be continuing it."

• Clo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 22, 2021

For Insomnia, Stimulant-Associated "I was prescribed clonidine after 7 years of taking Seroquel 200 mg. This was because I had built a large tolerance to Seroquel and needed an extra kick to knock me out. I have always suffered from mania and insomnia, and could even go days without sleep. When I first started taking this, I finally started sleeping again. That never stopped, but what did start was every morning I was COMPLETELY hungover from both medications for about 6 hours a day. I would have to sleep for 11+ hours just to sleep off the hangover, and of course, life often doesn’t let you do that. I am considering getting off of clonidine simply because it feels like I’m in a video game, blurred vision, and nothing feels real. I have no clue how I’m allowed to drive on both drugs. I’m so impaired. Not to mention the morning sickness. Every single morning, I wake up with bouts of nausea and even sometimes vomiting. It is torturous, and I wish I could live normally again. Nothing feels real anymore."

• Clo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 22, 2021

For Insomnia, Stimulant-Associated "I was prescribed clonidine after 7 years of taking Seroquel 200 mg. This was because I had built a large tolerance to Seroquel and needed an extra kick to knock me out. I have always suffered from mania and insomnia, and could even go days without sleep. When I first started taking this, I finally started sleeping again. That never stopped, but what did start was every morning I was COMPLETELY hungover from both medications for about 6 hours a day. I would have to sleep for 11+ hours just to sleep off the hangover, and of course, life often doesn’t let you do that. I am considering getting off of clonidine simply because it feels like I’m in a video game, blurred vision, and nothing feels real. I have no clue how I’m allowed to drive on both drugs. I’m so impaired. Not to mention the morning sickness. Every single morning, I wake up with bouts of nausea and even sometimes vomiting. It is torturous, and I wish I could live normally again. Nothing feels real anymore."

• Ran...
• July 14, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Helps with blood pressure but not for very long. Also, it affects my diastolic pressure but not my systolic. And it will make you very dizzy and sometimes nauseous when first started or dosage is changed. Will also make you feel like you haven’t slept."

• Clo...
• May 28, 2021

For ADHD "At first, it was fantastic. I actually was able to sleep well, and nothing could wake me up. About a year ago, though, I began having one notable side effect that was so hard to shake, and it occurred daily: morning sickness, but I am not pregnant. Every morning when I wake up, I am greeted back to reality by bouts of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and exhaustion. It goes away in the afternoon, and then I’m fine at night, but it can get bad. I want to try to get off of clonidine as well, but I'm still in the final stages of discontinuing Seroquel, so it would be too hard on me. The withdrawals aren’t that bad if you miss a dose until you realize your blood pressure has spiked through the roof. My blood pressure on both Seroquel and clonidine was so low, and I have a feeling it’s not a great idea to prescribe neurodivergent and mentally ill patients with a medication. It’s not the worst med I’ve ever been on, but there are some side effects that have never gotten easier to shake."