Comparing Clonidine vs Phentolamine

For Opiate Withdrawal: I want to share my Fentanyl experience to help anyone that is going through opiate withdrawal symptoms. I was on the Fentanyl Patch 100mcs for 8 years. My doctor no longer was prescribing pain meds. Weaning off, the 1st 3 days were unbearable. I lost fluids, shook so bad I couldn't hold a teacup, legs and stomach developed charley horse knots, severe diarrhea, muscles taut and burning, accelerated heartbeat, flu symptoms, and legs would not stop moving and cramping. And 3 days with insomnia. My doctor prescribed Clondine 0.1 mg 3X daily. After the 1st dose at 20 minutes my legs stopped cramping and moving. Muscles relaxed, stomach settled...Still felt bad, but nothing like I had been. I finally slept. It did save me. I had rapid heartbeat, my pressure elevated some, I was very dizzy and had dry mouth. But, that was nothing in comparison to the hell of WD. Clondine will not stop WD, but it made it a A LOT more bearable. I hope this helps someone.

For Opiate Withdrawal: I quit tramadol cold turkey after taking the maximum dose 400mg/day for too long. I took my last tramadol dose of 100mg at 1pm Tuesday. That night I didn't sleep a wink. I was crawling the walls. My legs & arms twitching & feeling like ants were gnawing my bones. I spent the next day feeling dreadful then took 0.1mg of clonidine at 5pm. I felt a slight improvement & managed to eat something. I took another 0.1mg at 9pm. This didn't seem to do anything. I tossed & turned in bed, the twitches were dreadful. I took a phenergan 25 mg. No effect. My brain fought it but I could feel the twitches subsiding & eventually I slept at around 3.a.m. Awoke the next morning feeling so much better for having slept & happier that I now have some way of managing the withdrawal symptoms. I think I probably need 0.2mg clonidine (as I'm overweight & have high BP) but would recommend starting at 0.1mg.