Two cases of clonidine abuse/dependence in methadone-maintained patients.

Clonidine has been used to assist opiate detoxification in the past 10 years. This substance is known to have multiple effects on the central nervous system and to cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly. The combination of these two effects could result in clonidine having a potential for abuse. Two cases of clonidine abuse/dependence in methadone-maintained patients are presented. Nonmedical use of clonidine in opioid-dependent persons has never been evaluated.