Clonidine helps to reduce some symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including: Agitation; Anxiety; Cramping; Muscle aches; Sweating ; However, clonidine doesn't
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Suboxone treatment decreased premature termination of opioid detoxification completion when compared with clonidine
Prior to Suboxone, the standard drug used for opioid detox and withdrawal symptoms was clonidine
Drugs such as methadone, buprenorphine, naloxone, and clonidine have been used in the last three decades for treating opioid withdrawal [ 13 ]
If a second agent is needed for severe opioid withdrawal, the use of clonidine should be considered over phenobarbital
Suboxone is comprised of two
• Clonidine is not FDA-approved for the treatment of opioid withdrawal but it has been extensively used off-label for this purpose
precipitate withdrawal symptoms in those actively using other opioids
A previous study on four groups (outpatients and inpatients receiving either buprenorphine or clonidine for 13 days) showed that patients in the clonidine group had milder withdrawal signs, stayed in treatment longer, and obtained better results
Authors' conclusions
4mg a day
Clonidine is an antihypertensive drug that lowers blood pressure and heart rate by relaxing the arteries and increasing the blood supply to the heart; it has other FDA-approved indications such as treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity
Abrupt cessation or reversal of opioids produce a withdrawal syndrome
Symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal are hot and cold flashes, fatigue, cravings, muscle pain, sweating, nausea, appetite loss, sleeping trouble and diarrhea
Day 1 — 4 mg at onset of withdrawal and additional 2 to 4 mg 4 to 6 hours later prn if severe withdrawal
3 mg every six to eight hours with a maximum dose of 1
The first phase of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) treatment is the induction and stabilization phase
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, Kent, U
It has been used in many controlled trials and a substantial body of research evidence is
Make purchases, register for meetings, access CME certificates and more
Suboxone withdrawal typically follows this general timeline: 1–3 days after the last dose: Physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms set in