Hi Vintagewine,
I am sorry you have been suffering.
I've had mixed experiences with oral clonidine. While clonidine has helped pain in a major way, including allodynia, I have to keep the dose very low. At a very low dose, I find it causes significant mood changes and depression.
I'd prefer to try it topically; however, my doctors argue topical clonidine will have the same effect upon me as the low-dose clonidine. Likely true. I don't want to try it in an expensive topical if I cannot tolerate the topical.
I have tried clonidine, have sworn it off, and have had to go back to it.
I hope to find something to take its place, something with fewer side-effects for me.
I also suspect capsaicin. I have tried it several times. I don't do well with it.
Just this week, a neurologist told me allodynia should be controlled with anti-epileptic drugs. I have not had that happen, possibly because I no longer tolerate many in that drug class.
I hope you have found relief prior to my writing this post.
DejaVu