From: "Hazel Roots"
Date: Sat Jul 15, 2000 8:26 pm
The amount of Clonodine you would be taking for the flushing of rosacea is
tiny compared to the amount taken for the control of high blood pressure
and I would imagine it is in these higher doses that you would find the
side effects occurring. The amount rosaceans take is similar to the amount
taken for prophylaxis of migraine.
The only side effect I experienced, apart from a slightly dry mouth, was
sleepiness when I started taking it, but this goes with time. The dry
mouth also disappeared after the first few weeks. There is a
contraindication for taking Clonodine which is depression. If a person is
suffering from clinical depression, it could exacerbate the condition.
For me, this drug has been a godsend. I, too, had real reservations about
taking it, in no small measure to do with the fact that, up until six
months ago, my work and life philosophy was centred very much in
alternative medicine. However, even when treating patients I always took
a common sense approach. One has to weigh the benefits and disadvantages
of orthodox -v- natural therapies and make informed decisions. Personally,
my flushing affected me and my lifestyle to such an extent that I overcame
my resistance and tried Clonodine. I gave up at first because it didn't
seem to work but, after seeing my present dermatologist, who increased the
dose, I now find I am virtually flush-free and when I do flush it is mild
and doesn't last very long.
It is not a drug I want to take in the long-term but I look upon it as
buying time or limiting damage, if you like. From what I have read, it is
the flushing that causes a lot of the damage. Each time we flush the
capillary walls are being stretched and therefore become weaker leading to
more easy flushing. In the longer term, I am considering photoderm
treatment and, of course, I do have a healthy diet and I take supplements.
As regards the occasional glass of wine, I had the same question. I asked
my dermatologist (who is one of, if not the, authority/authorities on
rosacea in Britain) and he said the occasional glass of wine is fine
alongside Clonodine. However, I would wait until you have been taking it
for some time and you feel it no longer affects you as regards sleepiness.
Personally, I was a great red wine drinker before my diagnosis; after all
red wine contains all those lovely antioxidants, bioflavonoids, etc, so
one enjoys it with an easy conscience. Since my diagnosis I drink white
wine occasionally because I think it would be less likely than red to
dilate the capillaries. So, cheers, here's to a nice glass of Vouvray!
Hope all this is of some help.
Hazel