Clonidine Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment

What you will learn

• Clonidine is a drug used with other drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and withdrawal from substances.
• Clonidine has a risk of physical dependence with regular use, which can lead to potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
• Clonidine withdrawal carries serious risks, including hypertensive crisis or life-threatening blood pressure levels.
• Stopping the use of clonidine should be done with a taper schedule or in a medical detox environment.

Clonidine is a drug that’s often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, pain with menstruation, hypertension, and withdrawal from some drugs. While it’s helpful in addiction treatment, clonidine also has an addictive potential of its own and may be abused with opioids like heroin or oxycodone.

Regular use of clonidine can cause physical dependence and withdrawal. Learn more about clonidine withdrawal symptoms, the withdrawal timeline, and treatment options for clonidine dependence.

What Is Clonidine?

Clonidine is a medication that’s used to treat ADHD and other anxiety conditions, hypertension, and as a withdrawal treatment in addiction medicine. It’s available in multiple forms, such as a brand name or generic drug. Typically, clonidine is used with other drugs as part of a treatment protocol.

Clonidine is part of the centrally acting alpha-agonist class of drugs. Researchers don’t know exactly how clonidine works, but they do know that it acts on the part of the brain responsible for regulating behavior, attention, and emotion.[1]

Effects of Clonidine

Clonidine has several effects on the body that make it a helpful medication. It can lower the heart rate, which can be effective for treating anxiety and as an antihypertensive drug. Clonidine relaxes the blood vessels and allows blood to flow easily. Some short-term effects of clonidine include dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, and dry mouth.[2]

With initial use, clonidine can have a soothing effect that may limit your ability to drive safely. Clonidine should be used with caution when combined with other depressants like alcohol or opioids, as it can depress the central nervous system and lead to dangerously low heart rate and breathing.[3]

With long-term use, clonidine can cause adverse effects like weakness, fatigue, fever, and headaches. Some serious heart effects can occur, such as heart palpitations, congestive heart failure, and atrioventricular blockage.[4]

Clonidine can affect the central nervous system.[5] Sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and hallucinations are also possible, which can be severe and life-threatening. Clonidine has a potential for addiction, even though it’s commonly used in addiction treatment.

Risk of Overdose with Clonidine

It’s possible to overdose on clonidine if you take more than your body can metabolize. Overdoses on clonidine can cause extremely high blood pressure followed by extremely low blood pressure. Clonidine also depresses the central nervous system to life-threatening levels.

Some of the signs of clonidine overdose include:[6]

• Fainting
• Slow heart rate
• Slurred speech
• Shivering
• Cold, pale skin
• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Constricted pupils
• Confusion
• Tiredness

Clonidine overdose is a medical emergency. If you suspect someone is overdosing, call 911 immediately. If possible, wait until help arrives.

Clonidine Withdrawal

Regular clonidine use can lead to tolerance and physical dependence. Your body becomes accustomed to the presence of clonidine and needs it to function properly. If you stop taking it, withdrawal may occur. Clonidine withdrawal can be extremely dangerous because of the risk of hypertensive crisis.[7] Regular clonidine use reduces your blood pressure over time, so if you stop abruptly, it can cause a dangerous spike.

Other withdrawal symptoms can occur with clonidine, including hallucinations, vomiting, and nausea.[8] Clonidine doses should always be tapered to reduce the risk of serious withdrawal symptoms.

Can I Stop Taking Clonidine on My Own?

You should never stop taking clonidine on your own because of the risk of withdrawal. A tapering schedule is recommended to reduce the risk of serious clonidine withdrawal symptoms and rebound symptoms that can cause a hypertensive crisis. Your doctor can recommend an appropriate taper schedule.

Clonidine Addiction and Detox

Clonidine is often used in addiction treatment to manage the symptoms of withdrawal from opioids, alcohol, or nicotine. It can relieve symptoms like agitation and anxiety. Clonidine is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan with other medications and therapies.

There is a risk of dependence on clonidine. Some people may abuse clonidine because it’s widely available and inexpensive, but dependence can occur with long-term use of the drug. As part of a treatment plan for addiction, clonidine use is carefully monitored to reduce the risk of dependence.

Clonidine withdrawal can be serious, so medical detox is often preferred as the first step in addiction treatment. Going through medical detox with a medical team can reduce the risk of relapse and provide supervision to prevent dangerous complications.

One of the most dangerous symptoms of clonidine withdrawal is rebound symptoms, which can cause a hypertensive crisis. A medical team with detox can respond to the crisis and get you stabilized, reducing the risk of complications.

Tapering also occurs in medical detox, reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms and preventing complications. The initial dosing and tapering schedule are determined by a doctor based on your history.

The withdrawal timeline from clonidine can take weeks. If withdrawal symptoms appear, it may be necessary to increase your dosage again to relieve the symptoms, then continue with the taper schedule.

Treatment for Clonidine Withdrawal and Addiction

If you have developed dependence on clonidine, whether from a treatment program for substance use disorder or from clonidine abuse, detox is only one part of the process. You have to address the underlying causes.

Addiction treatment plans are personalized, but they often include a combination of talk therapy and behavioral therapies to learn valuable skills like stress management, relapse prevention, and coping strategies. This may take place in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Take the First Step with Clonidine Addiction Treatment

Clonidine is a valuable tool in treating addiction, but it’s addictive on its own. Prolonged clonidine use can cause severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, so it’s important to discuss a taper schedule with your doctor, medical detox, and an addiction treatment plan.

Amanda is a prolific medical content writer specializing in eating disorders and addiction treatment. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. in Social Work. Read more