Catapres for Methadone Detox

Catapres, also known by its generic name clonidine, is hypotensive medication that stimulates alpha-adrenoreceptors in the brain, "tricking" the body into not experiencing severe opiate withdrawal symptoms. It is fast-acting and peaks in three to five hours. Catapres has side effects and contraindications, and overdose may be deadly.

Dosage

• For methadone withdrawal, Catapres is available by prescription in patches that last for seven days and deliver .1 mg, .2 mg or .3 mg per day. Pills can also be used in divided doses of .2 or .4 mg. Wearing a Catapres patch longer than a week will lower dosage gradually over a three or four days, which may be helpful as opiate detox winds down. Methadone detox generally takes two weeks from last ingested dose; possibly longer if the starting dose was very high. Correct Catapres dose depends upon the person's height and weight and their baseline blood pressure. It is not correlated with the amount of methadone the person was using.

Action

• Catapres was originally developed as a nasal decongestant but was found to lower blood pressure, which is its FDA approved use. Although commonly used for alcohol and opiate withdrawal and to stop smoking, these and other uses are off-label.

  While Catapres can alleviate detox symptoms such as runny nose, diarrhea and feelings of anxiousness, it is not a cure for methadone withdrawal. Because methadone has a long half-life, users should be weaned gradually. A drop of 10 percent in methadone dose every three days will accomplish a more comfortable withdrawal. Catapres allows additional sleep and better bowel habits as well as less irritability during methadone detox.

Side Effects

• Because Catapres lowers blood pressure, it may cause dizziness, especially when going from a reclining position to standing up quickly. When using Catapres, move more slowly when getting up and take precautions against falling. Catapres patches may cause skin rash, burning and hair loss at the site of application. Dry mouth, nausea, weakness, drowsiness, constipation, dry eyes, decreased libido and temporary weight gain may also be side effects of Catapres.

  Because of its potentiating effect, Catapres should not be used with alcohol or sedative drugs. Overdose of Catapres can cause difficulty breathing, coma, convulsions and death.

Warnings

• Use Catapres only under the close supervision of a physician if pre-existing cardiovascular or kidney disease is present. Tricyclic antidepressants can interfere with the action of Catapres, and people with a history of depression should be cautioned that Catapres may trigger symptoms.

  Catapres is a pregnancy risk Category C and a lactation risk Category 3 drug, meaning animal studies have not shown adverse effects but there are no studies done on humans. Catapres is considered moderately safe at low doses for breastfeeding full term and older infants. Mothers and doctors should weigh the benefits and risks of using Catapres for short-term methadone withdrawal.