In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use Catapres for opiate withdrawal. Catapres is the “go-to” medication prescribed by the majority of physicians for the treatment of opiate withdrawal. Why?
Catapres is an extremely powerful medication for easing opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Countless opiate abusers have greatly ameliorated their withdrawal symptoms by using Catapres for opiate withdrawal. It’s a wonderful medication, and I even used it once in the past for heroin withdrawal. It worked incredibly well at reducing my anxiety, insomnia, chills, goosebumps, and racing heartbeat. Here’s how Catapres can help you…
How Catapres Works in the Body
Catapres is a brand name for the drug known as clonidine, which is a blood pressure (hypertension) medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as central alpha agonists.
According to the American Heart Association:
“Central alpha agonists are drugs that lower heart rate and reduce blood pressure. They work by preventing the brain from sending signals from the nervous system to speed up the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels. As a result, the heart doesn’t pump as hard and blood flows more easily through blood vessels.”
Catapres is also classified as a sympatholytic drug, which is a medication that inhibits the postganglionic functioning of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS is part of the nervous system that is responsible for the fight or flight response.
Sympatholytic drugs are commonly used as antihypertensives and for the following disorders:
- Anxiety
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- PTSD
Using Catapres for Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
Catapres is the most prescribed opiate withdrawal medication for a reason…it works! Catapres is by no means a “magic bullet” because it doesn’t eliminate all of your opiate withdrawal symptoms.
However, when used correctly Catapres can ease the following opiate withdrawal symptoms:
- Reduces anxiety
- Helps you fall and stay asleep
- Slows down a racing heartbeat which helps to calm you down
- Prevents Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) from opiate withdrawal
- Gets rid of the chills and goosebumps
Using Catapres for opiate withdrawal can sometimes lead to the following side effects:
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Dry mouth (drink water or chew on sugarless gum)
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Constipation
Some rare side effects from using Catapres for opiate withdrawal include:
- Breathing problems
- Cold hands/feet
- Rashes and/or swelling on your body
- Depression
- Irregular heartbeat
- An allergic reaction to Catapres
Catapres For Opiate Withdrawal Study
Many studies have confirmed the benefits of using Catapres for opiate withdrawal. The following passage is taken directly from a 1980 study, titled Efficacy of Clonidine in Opiate Withdrawal: A Study of Thirty Patients:
“In a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial, Catapres caused a marked and significant reduction of objective signs and subjective symptoms of opiate withdrawal in thirty hospitalized opiate addicts. In an open trial of Catapres in opiate withdrawal, Catapres was found to suppress opiate withdrawal signs and symptoms, allowing all of the patients to detoxify successfully from chronic opiate addiction. Catapres was demonstrated to reverse and suppress the signs, symptoms, and effects associated with opiate withdrawal.”
Wow…that’s a pretty powerful statement. Simply put, Catapres for opiate withdrawal is a very effective and simple way to reduce symptoms. However, for Catapres to be effective you need to use the correct Catapres dosage for opiate withdrawal.
Catapres Dosage for Opiate Withdrawal:
When I was researching the optimum Catapres dosage for opiate withdrawal, I came across a perfect protocol on the website for the Federation of Texas Psychiatry. In my opinion, it’s the best plan for using Catapres for opiate withdrawal. The following passage is taken directly from the article:
Office-Based Outpatient Withdrawal Techniques: A Guide – Opiates
Clonidine-Aided Detoxification
1. Oral
Day 1: 0.1-0.2 mg orally every 4 hours up to 1 mg
Day 2-4: 0.1-0.2 mg orally every 4 hours up to 1.2 mg
Day 5 to completion: Reduce 0.2 mg/day; given in divided doses; the night-time dose
should be reduced last; or reduce total dosage by one-half each day not to exceed 0.4 mg/day
2. Patch
The clonidine patch comes in three strengths (#1, #2, #3) and delivers over one week the equivalent of a daily dose of oral clonidine (e.g., #2 patch = 0.2 mg oral clonidine, daily, etc.).
One technique is to apply one #2 patch for patients under 100 lbs, two #2 patches if they weigh 100-200 lbs and three #2 patches for those over 200 lbs. Also, on day one (the day the patch is applied) oral clonidine may be necessary- 0.2 mg q 6hours for 24 hours, then 0.1 mg q 6 hours for the second 24 hours.
The patches should be removed if systolic pressure falls below 80 mm hg or diastolic below 50 mg hg.
Advantages of patch:
• Patients don’t have to take pills several times a day
• Even blood levels of medication
• Buildup of withdrawal symptoms during night is prevented
Blood pressure monitoring is important as hypotension can occur especially in thin patients. Advise patient to take blood pressure before and 20 minutes after a dose of clonidine. If “lightheaded” or dizzy, patient should lie down. Adequate fluid intake is important. Contact physician if dizziness continues.
Catapres Patch For Opiate Withdrawal
The Catapres patch is a 0.2 mm square that is applied in the same manner as a self-adhesive bandage. As stated above, the Catapres patch comes in three strengths.
In a 24-hour period, these Catapres patches deliver an amount of Catapres equivalent to twice-daily dosing with 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mg of oral Catapres, respectively. The Catapres patch for opiate withdrawal supplies Catapres for up to 7 days.
How to Have an Easy Opiate Withdrawal
Using Catapres for opiate withdrawal can help to relieve some of the most severe symptoms. However, using Catapres for opiate withdrawal will not eliminate all of your symptoms. Using Catapres for opiate withdrawal does nothing for fatigue, nor does have the ability to rebalance brain chemistry that has been disrupted by opiate abuse.
Finally, it does absolutely nothing for the post-acute withdrawal symptoms that arise after the acute withdrawal phase has ended. It’s for these reasons that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using a powerful and natural opiate withdrawal supplement.
Opiate Withdrawal Supplements can be used in combination with Catapres to further reduce symptoms. This will help to ensure that you have a mild opiate withdrawal. Furthermore, an Opiate Withdrawal Supplement will help to reduce the post-acute withdrawal symptoms in a major way.
The natural herbs, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in these supplements can benefit you in the following ways:
- Reverses anxiety
- Helps you fall and stay asleep
- Fights fatigue and increases natural energy production
- Soothes aching muscles and limbs
- Eases Restless Leg Syndrome
- Helpful for nausea
- Stops sweating, chills, and hot/cold flashes
- Reverses depression
- Powerful mood-enhancer
- Treats both acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms
If you can afford it, I also highly recommend taking this awesome supplement, because the benefits are just too good to pass up.
Click here now to view my best home detox program. If you have any questions on using Catapres for opiate withdrawal, please post them in the comment box below.
Leave a Reply