Clonidine and pheochromocytoma
Common Questions and Answers about Clonidine and pheochromocytoma
catapres
I to have all the symptoms for a Pheochromocytoma and I have a mass on my adrenal gland but my 24hr urine tests were normal. I am now suspected as having POTS. These two conditions have similar symptoms.
I am also sure (although I may be wrong) that POTS can cause raised Catecholemine levels. It would be worth while requesting a tilt table test to look for this form of dysautonomia.
While the urine metanephrine test is a high sensitivity test for the diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma, the CT scan is used find the presence or absence of a mass and its size. The Clonidine suppression test is a method to find out the source of the metanephrines and to establish correlation between the size and the tumor characters. The CAT scan is also used in case surgery may be required.
I hope this helped you a bit. you may also find more information at :http://www.pheochromocytoma.
Tests for this tumor can be plasma free metanephrines (one of the more sensitive tests), catecholamines (blood and urine), clonidine test (I had this one recently), and glucagon test (I'm still working on getting this one). I don't probably have this type of tumor myself, but I recently had a quite high blood level of norepinephrine, one of the hormones excreted by the adrenals that helps to maintain blood pressure and can speed up heartrate, so I have begun getting tested.
There are blood tests that can test your norepinephrin and dopamine and other levels to check if you are high or normal but it has too be done the right way its the way they test you for a pheochromocytoma.
Pheochromocytoma and Cushings have both been ruled out and fasting glucose testing showed that I am 'normal'.
I do have unexplained nueropathy in both arms and hands, I woke up one morning in 2003 unable to use either arm and with the left side of my face paralized, the facial troubles was ruled to be Bells Palsey but no reason for the neuropathy in my arms was ever found. I have regained most function in my arms and hands, but only about 65% strength and 40% sensation...
Currently am on Procardia 60 mg XL Bid, Triamterene 100 mg daily, Clonidine 0.2 mg tid, Valturna 300/320 mg daily. I am 5, 6 and weigh 126. And yes for the last 6 months I have taken the medication, done what lab has been ordered, x-rays etc. But my blood pressure swings up and down. I can go from 150/110 to 220/134. My distolic never goes down lower then 110. I still (best way to describe it) is I get waken up by headaches about 1-3 in the morning.
of his head? spine(chest/abdominal)? Pheochromocytoma is extremely rare, and if the test is negative, then I doubt that would be it. I'm not really sure what it can be, there are so many possibilities, though not all the symptoms fit. Don't give up and if need be go to another hospital to have other doctors take a look at him. It might be better to get a fresh pair of eyes on whats going on. Good luck!
my heart rate also rises when i eat, especially when i ingest sugar. what are the possibilities of it being a pheochromocytoma? and if not, what else could be wrong?
I had a lot of endocrine hormone tests after a prolactin level came back high and a dynamically done pituitary MRI with and without contrast revealed a pituitary tumor. Since she has hyperthyroidism, did they rule out a pituitary tumor as the cause? Did they look for nodules on the thyroid gland? Wow, that is a big swing in blood pressure!
I think a neurologist should look her over with tremors and face tingling.
I am unable to take any other blood pressure medicine because at times my blood pressure is normal and bp meds will make it go too low. I have been tested for a pheochromocytoma, sometimes the tests are positive and sometimes they are negative. I also am hypokalemic and take quite a bit of potassium daily.
In addition I have extreme fatigue, shaking from time to time, muscle pain/weakness.
Finally they put me on Clonidine 0.1 mg 3 times a day and carvadilol at 12.5 mg 2 times a day. They were so puzzled by my positional tachycardia(fast heart rate) of 120-150 and my blood pressure getting as high at 222/138. All I was doing is getting up to walk around. Finally with this combination of meds everything is under control for now. I feel dizzy and tired from the meds but anything is better then being on a constant adrenaline rush!
I was having the same type of symptoms and was hospitalized in October. I was taking up to .5mg of clonidine a day. I cut way back and feel much better. I believe clonidine messes up tests for catecholamines and Pheochromocytoma so you can't be on it when having these tests done. Recently, a friend told be her daughter had thyroid swings(up and down) for more than a year before it finally was diagnosed. She had mood swings, panic attacks, etc.
I figured I'd ask here b/c I'd get a quicker answer than from our doc.
Our cardiologist has prescribed atenolol (25mg) for Nick and has also requested a 24-hour urine test for pheochromocytoma. I was reading over the warnings with the atenolol and it says that it works by "blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in your body such as ephinephrine on the heart and blood vessels."
It also says to consult your doctor before using if you have "..........
I too experience sweats, stomach pains, nausea, and have flushes,I suffer from Panick attack, and anxiety, real bad, I have ectopic heart beats, and am on medication, I try and take deep breaths and calm myself the best I can, I see pychiatrists and pychologists they help me heaps. Maybe try these experts.
My question concerns the symptoms and diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Several years ago, I developed several symptoms such as flushing, fast heart rate, exercise intolerance, and other symptoms suggestive of possible pheo. We did a blood test offered by NIH and it showed normetanephrine over 3,800 pg/dl and norepinephrine over 450 pg/dl. Because plasma free metanephrine was normal, the researcher noted on the blood test that it wasn't likely a pheo.
my son takes clonidine, he has adhd and the drugs he takes to treat the adhd stop him sleeping so he takes the clonidine for that.
didnt know it could be used to help with w/d's, apparently clonidine started life as a treatment for high blood pressure but now has many uses. dont know if there are w/d's from clonidine but my sons doc told us never to take him straight of it because it would cause his blood pressure to rocket.
Hello, yes I have been taking this combination of Vyvanse (70mg per day in the am) and Clonidine (0.2mg in the afternoon and 0.2mg at night). I highly prefer Vyvanse over adderall because I do not suffer from side effects w/Vyvanse as with the adderall. The Vyvanse is much smoother than most all other adhd drugs. I have never experienced shortness of breath while taking Vyvanse, however, I am 25 years old and 180lbs. I am also a Registered Nurse.
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