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Clonidine And (Maybe) Later Huperzine A


issie

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I've just recently gone back to trying to take clondine. My blood pressure and heart rate had both gotten so high that I couldn't take the almost hourly surges that I was having. They would also wake me up at night. But, what I'm finding is it is making me really lethargic and feeling sort of blue - almost dizzy in the head feeling too and my standing time has gotten worse because of the dizziness. But, the heart rate and bp are really down to near normal when I sit - but, when I stand everything goes up again. It hasn't helped the anxious type feelings either that you would think it would help from lowering the NE levels.

Just wondering what others experience with this drug has done to or for them. Doctor wants me to try it for another week and then give him a call to see if we should increase it or add something else to it. You guys know I don't like to take meds and try to do everything as natural as possible - but, it had gotten so bad - I didn't think emotionally and mentally I could handle it any more. So, having to resort to RX's that I don't like to have to take. Comes a point in life - where we just need better quality in life and if taking a med will help - then we just might have to do it. Not convinced it's the all drug - thinking I need something else with it.

I'm also waiting to hear back from Mayo on some auto antibodies testing I want done. I had been taking Huperzine A and stopped because I don't want it to mess up the test for AChR - which is what it works on. that made me feel more mellow - but, it crosses the blood brain barrier and I think it might have made me a little more fuzzy headed - which is the opposite of what it's supposed to do. I feel more with it in the head without it - but, it upped my exercise endurance and also my vision got more sharp. I know Rama says that's one thing he's noticed with mestinon. Huperzine A is like mestinon light. It is much more subtle an effect - but, can build up in the body and you can't take it every day - warnings on it like mestinon about chlonigenic storms. (Huperzine A can be obtained from the health food store.) Any one know very much about this supplement? It's being used to help slow down Alzhemiers and is supposed to help with brain function. I need all the help I can get with brain function - this last spell of mine has really made me have horrible brain fog.

Issie

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Hi Issie, I think we are similar in that we both have very high norepi levels and high bp. I use a clonidine patch 0.3 plus 0.1 and also take 0.1 mg tabs up to twice a day when my bp goes up despite the patch, which is often. This of course is a high dose and I started low and gradually increased it. I don't have any side effects, if anything it has helped me...i assume because of the high catecholamine levels. if you are taking the pills, consider trying the patch. Keep me posted, I am interested!

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Well, the bad side effects are starting to level out and I'm feeling better on clonidine now. I had considered a patch - but, I'm allergic to adhesive and that isn't an option for me. I know someone else who suggested that and they can't do adhesive either so are starting on clonidine in about a week.

Today, was a pretty good day for me. My bp and hr are staying more level and I'm not having as many surges. Still having them - but, not every hour. I also notice though, that when I need to sit down - I have to sit down then. I don't know if it's because it is a vasodilator and making my vessels more lax could be hindering the blood flow to my brain more. Not sure - if that is creating a little more dizziness for me. But, it sure is nice to not have the horrible surges and panic feelings. Nothing makes me want to stop this one. So far, so good. Hope it keeps up - cause the next week will tell whether or not my liver is going to cooperate or start building the drug up on me.

Issie

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Issie, since the clonidine patch is so much better in terms of giving you an even drug level, you could try pretreating the skin with a high potency topical steroid, let it dry, and then place the patch. There was a brief study, this approach worked well for most if not all pts.

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Issie, since the clonidine patch is so much better in terms of giving you an even drug level, you could try pretreating the skin with a high potency topical steroid, let it dry, and then place the patch. There was a brief study, this approach worked well for most if not all pts.

I did check into the patch. Since I have to be on such small doses - there isn't a patch with low enough doses. Things build up on me and I don't throw them off right. So, what he did was tell me to take it 3 times a day and call in about a week and see how it does. It really makes me feel lethartic and drugged. But, thinking that's better than the terrible tacky I was having. It's not holding real level for me though. My bp is having wild swings. From stroke level highs to really low with lying down. Nurse said, that they are hoping this drug will level that out some. I hope that the dizziness that this is creating and the tirdness get better with time. Has it for anyone? Nurse, said I have to decide which is worse the high bp and hr or the lethartic more even heart rate. Right now - not having those terrible adrenal surges is pretty nice - but, if I HAD to accomplish very much - I wouldn't be able to.

Issie

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