Can clonidine cause GI distress resulting in mid to upper back pain and epigastric pain?

P. S. I am on the tablets; thinking about the patch. If one is to wean from the patch, how do you taper the dosage, or does it naturally taper when the patch is removed (want to avoid rebound hypertension?

Clonidine can cause GI discomfort, as well as muscle or joint pain, and so can the patch. If it is bothersome, you should contact your doctor and they might be able to switch you to a different medication without as many side effects, assuming you are taking clonidine for hypertension. If you do switch to the patch, the doctor will taper the dose as needed; it wouldn't just be removed because it is very likely that it can cause rebound hypertension.