Started a half dose yesterday per my docs orders, upping to full dose after a week.
Damn i feel like it knocks me out of commission. I slammed 2 energy drinks this morning and have brain fog like a mother fucker. It’s like im high, got that wet blanket feeling in my brain, but without the fun stuff.
I started on 18mg daily, currently on 60mg, and even that is apparently not a “full dose”
The ED (and urinary hesitancy) sucks. I’ve stopped taking it a few times over the past couple years but always eventually went back on it of my own accord.
On those occasions I had just reflected on my general mood during the periods of being on it vs off it and found that I was always generally happier & prepared to deal with life’s adversity while on it.
It definitely takes some consistency to get there I think, so I’d recommend sticking with it to just see how it goes after a full course of full doses.
I take clonidine at night too which has been essential for me.
I can’t really relate to the brain fog thing tbh, that’s how I felt before going on it.
Also I lost about 70lb excess weight while on it without trying.
What does clonidine do? Aside from the brain fog, i noticed i haven’t been eating much since yesterday, but also not feeling very hungry.
Grats on the weight loss! I think? Seems like you speak positively about that?
Clonidine is good for insomnia, PTSD, anxiety (to a certain extent), and it’s useful for impulsivity and emotional reactivity.
Anecdotally, on a personal level, I find that clonidine works really well for my rejection sensitive dysphoria which leads me to believe that RSD is closely associated with emotional reactivity and maybe even just the internalised expression of it.
I 100% feel this too, my supposition is that it’s causally related to blood pressure, as atomoxetine can increase it. I would get emotional whenever I drank alcohol, which also raises it. Not so after going on clonidine. Initially I thought it was like an optional extra to take as needed (it’s common and cheap) but now i consider it my primary medication
Will ask about it next appointment!
Thanks! Appetite suppression is a side-effect, desired in my case of comorbid binge-eating disorder.
Clonidine is a common anti-hypertension med also used off label for ADHD. It mildly sedates me and makes me go to bed on time, which is difficult for me while on atomoxetine without it. The slight calming effect lasts with me through the following day.