An important note for our subscribers just tuning in: although tizanidine/Zanaflex (and Deemgd, watch the translocation in the name) has the same MOA as clonidine, they are prescribed for different reasons and have different pharmacology. People on clonidine should never stop or alter their doses, without doing the doctor talk thing. Mainly because of rebound hypertension.
So if you stopped your clonidine to have an Adderall long weekend, it's a double-high BP blast that could blow all those brain veins. I worry that some of our ADHD members have been switched to clonidine without realizing its original blood pressure intentions, but still hang out with the bad, unfocused hyperactive kids who are at prone to swap Ritalins and stims and shiny things.
EDIT: I checked and prazosin is like
the most selective of the alpha blockers, so it's probably OK to use with the tizanidine. But you wouldn't want to mix an alpha2-agonist with an alpha blocker, mainly cause you'd pass out when you stood up (dangerously low blood pressure).
deemgd said:
I thought i knew my pharmaceuticals (I do in conjunction with the use of opiates and downers. I didn't realize there could be such a different interaction when used with uppers).
Blame marketing. After all, it's a drug for muscle spasms, right? It's a muscle relaxer, so you imagine it would work like a benzo or something. Likewise, clonidine does the same thing and was marketed for high blood pressure. But lately its gained new life as a treatment for ADHD, depression, and its especially good (among available options, not necessarily "good") at treating nightmares from PTSD.
The whole "alpha-blocker-like drug is actually an alpha activator" throws people off too.