Clonidine

Vistaril is reportedly helpful for some people. It didn't work for me, but I have heard anecdotal evidence that it works better than Beneadryl or other antihistamines. I take zolpidem and alternate it with melatonin.

I just want to say that you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I am glad you are seeing someone who is able to help with your situation. Keep in mind everyone goes through tough times. You are not alone, you may feel that way because people don't always openly discuss these things. The fact that you took it upon yourself to see someone is a great indicator that you are fine and will be O.K.
Please don't feel embarrassed, lots of people are going through hard times. The person next to you who looks like they have it altogether may be going through similiar or worse times. Give yourself some slack!

Clonidine was designed as a blood pressure medication but wasn't so great at that; however, it made people sleepy, so it was marketed that way. Now, it's sometimes used for ADHD, just for the calming effect (although it didn't help our son's ADHD one bit).

I've never heard it being used for anxiety. I do know you have to work up on the dosage, so you're likely at a low dosage at this point. I would give it some time as you work up on it and see if it then helps. However, if you really start feeling funky on it, don't hesitate to tell the doctor. It's a long process to taper off of this medication, so better to get started on getting off of it sooner rather than later.

Good luck!

OK, so I've got nothing to add about the Clonidine. Sorry! I just wanted to say good for you for getting the help you need. Call your psychiatrist if you have questions or concerns about your medication. Hang in there -- sometimes it takes time to find the right medication and the right dose. You're worth the work!

That is odd, my kids are given Clonidine to sleep, nothing more. They take it at 6 and in general are asleep by 8:30. Sans that it does nothing for anxiety it is given to children because adult sleep aids don't work on kids. You are clearly not a child so why not the good stuff?

Have you considered a psychologist that is partnered with a psychiatrist? Psychologists are much better than psychiatrists with talking, understanding, and getting to what you need. Psychiatrists tend to be doctors with a psych background.
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Um the good stuff would be a prescribed sleep medication, not a narcotic! Lord!

Do you have high blood pressure?
My husband has been on several anxiety drugs but never on Clonidine... it sounds kind of extreme. Usually Xanax is a better alternative to help calm nerves.
Currently my hub is on xanax as needed and ambien as needed.
Clonidine is kind of scary. I know a lot of my tenants are on it, I'm not sure why tho...
Maybe you couldnt sleep last night, but like with most drugs you have to wait until a certain amount is in your blood stream before you see the effects.... wait a week and see what happens.

I've never heard of Clonidine as a help for anxiety -- my son takes it in order to fall asleep. He's 12 and takes .3mg and is asleep within 2 hours.

I haven't taken it, but I took another type of blood pressure med for migraines. I couldn't take it anymore because my BP tends to run low to begin with -- on the BP med I always felt dizzy.

Good for you for getting help! I have beeen seeing a psychologist and a "prescriber" for over a year now. My endocrinologist said that if she ever met anyone that needed help, it was me! yikes! I guess an abusive, drug addicted husband, a full time job that I almost lost and twin babies was a bit much for me to handle on my own.
I actually love my councilor. He has helped me to see patterns in my choices and to examine why I choose the men I do. (manipulators all, including my Dad-yep, that explains it!)
Also, praise for your outstanding strength in being honest about drugs, addiction, and addictive personality!
The only thing I know about the med is that my ex MIL took it for anxiety and sleeplessness because she is afraid of getting dependent on a med. I also know that she gave some to my ex (her son) and he said "they don't work". Of course not! He was trying to get high!
I am on prozac for all of my depression and feelings of guilt (unfounded guilt, but I are working on learning not to take on other peoples problems because I cant fix "the world")
I also use melatonin to help my kids get to sleep. It works in about 30 min. I don't know that it would help with anxiety, but a lack of quality sleep can affect many, many things, both physical and mental.

Also- I was prescribed a med for my bllod sugar (glimiperide) and it made me extremely lethargic, and weak. Twice at work, I had to see the school nurse because I could hardly move and I was supposed to be teaching! I couldn't even hold my head up! I thought is was my BP meds, but they weren't the culprit.
Good luck!

My son takes clonidine and has for a couple years. It took about 2 weeks to get a good sleep pattern going. But in his case it was also used to treat ADHD so he took it continually through out the day and a larger dose at night. I'm not sure what dose your taking but maybe it's to low?

I totally agree with what Liv B. has said ... well done for seeking help and you have NOTHING to feel embarrassed about!

I actually live in South Africa and the names of meds don't always correspond to the names of the ones you have access to. I've been diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Fibromyalgia. It seems as if I've spent most of my life trying out different med combos to find what worked for me!

Unfortunately, even though doctors like to think that we're all alike, this couldn't be further from the truth! What works brilliantly for one person doesn't work for the next and can actually have bad side-effects for the third! I guess what I'm trying to say is that you must trust YOUR instincts. YOU are the EXPERT in your body!! I want to encourage you to not give up trying to find what works for you.

I'm sending you love and a warm hug from sunny Cape Town!