Clonidine for autism?

I just started my 4 year old son on clonidine.  0.1 mg didn't seem to do much good.  0.2 mg works better but makes him weepy and lethargic.  Anyone have any experience with these side effects?  Do they go away or should I adjust his med?

My 5 year old just started the clonidine 0.2 mg tonight. He has been taking melatonin for about two years, but we just started a med trial for ADHD and it was recommended by his neurologist. I knew that it was a bp med (I'm a RN) but RESEARCHED the use on my own, asked questions of the physician, and also the pharmacist. Learning all that you can is an absolute necessity when advocating for your child. You're not an advocate if you are uneducated and uninformed! My son was asleep in about 20 minutes tonight. We will see how it works! Good luck to all of you!

i suppose this medication clonidine, will work for children in all different ways , some it may work for and others it wont. but i know im gunna give it a try for my son, if my gp is willing to give it to him. ive done my research as always, and im happy from the positive comments about this drug on here. thanks for the info all. this has helped.

Thank you so much for the positive post my son just started on clonidine today and I was worried about him and after reading your post it gave me a breath of fresh air to let me know it's going to be ok. Thank u again.

sheena

My son age 11 has been on clonidine now for over a year. What a blessing it has been. In 30 minutes he is out and he sleeps through for 10 hours---wakes up refreshed and ready for school. (He has autism)

What have you used that has helped? A doctor just prescribed Clonidine for our daughter, & I really don't want to put her on it.

My son has ben on it for almost a year and it has really helped him sleep /and compose himself through out the day He has ADHD-Aspergers many medications you get treats many disorders.

A relative works at a school where she helps with austic children.  A child who was loving last year, and was also a runner, was put on a blood pressure med over the summer.  Now  he kicks, hits, spits and lashes out constantly.  The teacher is ordering a face mask and arm guards for my daughter to wear.  THere is another child in the classroom who was also put on that medication over the summer and reacts the same way, after being loving and much calmer last year.  Unfortunately due to privacy laws, the teacher is not able to say much to the parents other than that the children were not behaving this way last year and now are.  There is no way any kind of learning can be done in that situation.  Also, due to privacy laws and laws regarding how to treat austic children, they cannot restrain the child in any way but CAN remove the other children from the classroom for their own protection.  Somehow that seems backwards to me and I question how any seriouis learning can take place in such a situation.  The teachers and aides should definitely be paid hazardous duty pay.   I suppose if the med causes the children to sleep better and possibly behave better at home, the parents think it is helping.  But they should be required to observe the classroom behavior several times before making such a decision.  

     My son has been on Clonidine for the last 3 months and I've been seeing his communication, attention and overall attitude increase.  Sporadic conversation is amazing to witness as a parent.  This is something that I've rarely seen before and never with such clarity.  The stimming and sleeping problems are the same so I was becoming discouraged but I came to realize that at a higher dosage (still small), I was seeing these positive signs.  I've spoken with his doctor and we've increased it to where we thought it was helping and I'm now praying for the best.  For the last couple of weeks on a lower dosage, he was reverting back.  If given in smaller doses throughout the day (by breaking the tablet in halves or quarter pieces), I'm not sure of it's effectiveness but that would solve the problem on drowsines.  Good luck to those parents trying to help their children.  I believe that dosage and consistency will eventually yield good results. 

When is the last time you tried to force an autistic child to take medication? Ha! I'm guessing you're autistic child is quite small and you are quite domineering. Wait until you have a young man that towers over you and then let's talk about how we can force our autistic children to take their medications. Force is not the way to deal with anyone in society, esp. a special needs child. Love and coercion, intense structure (yes), but intense discipline sounds like you're going to try to beat autism out of your child.

My ex daughter inlaw has finally gotten someone to misdiagnsosis my 3yr old grandson. My son picked him up tonight and showed me the medicine the dr. put him on Clonidine..that's what I take for my high blood pressure and I'm 52.. it makes me so sleepy. I am so fearful for this child. I just don't know where to turn. I have raised 2 sons and to me there is nothing abnormal about my grandson, the only problem that I see or that could be a problem is the mother.I am truly fearful for this child. If there is anything wrong with him that I can see is where the only person that showed him love was taken away and he was dropped off with strangers like a dog, which I'm sure she hasn't told the dr. that part. I'm so worried about him that I don't know what to do. He is with her again and she is one of the most cold hearted human beings that I have ever seen in my life. How can these little children be diagnosis so severly without knowing all that they have been through

I cannot believe how uneducated people can be. Last time I checked Drs are the ones with the degree, the failure on both sides was as the parent you didn't ask enough questions and he didn't ensure you understood. My 6 year old high functioning Autistc son has been on Clonidine for over 2 years and it our life saver. He falls to sleep within the hour. Next time I would educate yourself before you "put your doctor in his place" because you know what they say about people assume they know what they're talking about.

Please for your autisticas childs sake at least try the medicine.  My wif and I have a great 9 year old son, does not talk much, sleep; but does like to kick hit bang his head on cement.......

We planned on never using drugs on him, but it came to the point they were fo his safty and well being.  You will find out that some drugs work and some do not and can make things worse, you have to stay engaged with the child.  My son's favoriyte toys, a string and a IPAD that he can use like a pro, he can use it betterthan me and I have been it IT for over 14 years plu I am mostly a Microsoft eng.

But plese if you are going to see any success you have to try, my Christmas present was my son finally said his name,best present there is.

And 1 other thing ther are Doctors out there that will drug your child till they are zombies and just sit or wqander about, I do not know if this is what the parents want but are to afaraid to confront the Dr, but you have to be carefull with Doctors too

 

I hope the best for all of you

My son is 5 with autism. Initially, I was on the fence about starting him on meds. I took about six months to make an informed decision.We tried diet changes and therapies first. We started clonidine 2 weeks ago, and what a miracle! My son is starting at a low dose and building a tolerance for the sedation effects. He has been able to focus at school, and even sit through a movie with me at home. He is not all dopey and high, as I had initially feared. His aggression has been so much better. He has been listening better and able to participate at school appropriately. We have a followup with the prescribing dr next week, and I plan to discuss the effects of using this drug longterm. As a parent to an autistic child, it is my responsibility to make his life as comfortable as possible, as I would with any other disorder. If medicating him opens the doors for him to succeed at school and minimize self-injurious behaviors, I feel like that is the choice for us. And remember, if you have met one autistic child, you have met one autistic child. They are all very different, and thus, can be expected to respond to medications differently. Not every child who takes a medication experiences all of the side effects. That is why doctors do the whole trial and error process. Dont be ignorant and say that your child will have no medication, when it is the child that suffers as a result of your ignorance.

My son just started this medication. He has Autism also...........here's to hoping!