Tulip52: tapering off imipramine

[Tulip52]

Ok, so I had to add my boron back bc it was keeping my hormones balanced.

 

Recap!  Not only did I have to deal with withdrawals when tapering down to 50mg but I then became extremely sensitive to caffeine.  Quit caffeine and while dealing with its withdrawals, days into it I realize that the supplements I had been taking for years were making my anxiety go through the roof.  I quit all of the supplements except for the DE.

 

THEN, I started feeling hormonal.  😞 So, I added the boron back.

 

Since adding the boron back I am able to get atleast 6 hours of broken sleep a night.  But, hey. It’s better then waking every hour and a half like I had been.
 

My poor husband!!

[Tulip52]

I had been wondering if it could be possible that imipramine is what is causing my restless legs.  Now I’m almost convinced that it is.  Every night, about 20-30 minutes after I take it is when the restless legs start.

[Tulip52]

Ok, so like I mentioned, I started back on boron and today I finally felt some relief.  Now, I’m so sad that this “ok” feeling will take a nose dive once I take my imipramine in a few minutes.  Damn this medicine!!

[Tulip52]

Actually felt joy late in the afternoon yesterday!

 

 

[littlebird]

4 minutes ago, Tulip52 said:

Actually felt joy late in the afternoon yesterday!

 

YES!!!! Love to hear it. So happy for you! 🌟

[Tulip52]

8 hours ago, littlebird said:

 

YES!!!! Love to hear it. So happy for you! 🌟

Thank you! It’s been a rough road bc not only did I taper my imipramine but I had to battle being suddenly too sensitive to caffeine and vitamins/supplements that I had taken for years.  A miserable time to say the least.

 

I can say that I’ve learned a lot about myself.  That being homozygous for the MTHFR C677t really needs attention.  The diatomaceous earth helps me to detox and that I need to stay on it for life.  Had I known that I had this gene mutation and knew that I really needed help detoxing my body I may have never needed to be on this crappy medicine to begin with.

[Moonpie]

How are you doing? 

[Tulip52]

Anyone try the coffee enema’s for detox?  I did one 5 days ago and another one two days ago.  With both, the next day I was depressed and tired.  The day after I felt better than usual.  
 

I want to remind everyone that I am homozygous for MTHFR c677t and with this gene variant, especially bc I have two genes my body’s detox capability is only 30 percent compared to a healthy person.

 

what do you guys think?

[Gridley]

5 hours ago, Tulip52 said:

Anyone try the coffee enema’s for detox?

We don't recommend detox procedures for people in withdrawal.  The nervous system in withdrawal is very sensitive, and detox is stressful on that system.  

 

Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs isn't a matter of detoxification. The drugs have changed the brain and a slow taper is needed to let the brain go back to its normal settings.  

 

We always recommend a consistent dose of the drug during tapering.  A detox can eliminate or lessen the amount of Imipramine in your system at the time of the detox, causing an inconsistent dose and making withdrawal worse.  This would explain why you felt worse the days after your two detoxes.  

[Tulip52]

That makes sense.  Thank you, Gridley.

[Tulip52]

Years ago when I was first put on 10 mg of lexapro it gave me extreme anxiety and restlessness.  My doc had me up it to 20 and then things smoothed out.

 

I am really fine during the day now since I tapered to 50 mg of imipramine a few weeks ago.  BUT, when I take the 50 mg I have horrible anxiety and I get very restless but sleepy at the same time for about thirty minutes and then it levels off and I go to sleep.  It’s miserable and this happens nightly.

 

Is it bc I’ve gotten to a non therapeutic level?

 

[Tulip52]

The last few weeks I’ve lowered imipramine down from 60 mg to 50mg, quit caffeine cold turkey  and I figured if I could live doing both of those at the same time and get to a place where I feel pretty stable I may as well tackle my sugar issues.  I’m insulin resistant so I started tapering my carbohydrates about a month ago.  Two weeks ago I started fasting and to my amazement I was able to easily fast 24 hours the first day!!  I know that cutting the imipramine and caffeine has a lot to do with it.  The last two weeks I’ve been averaging 19-21 hour fasts a day.

 

I’ve struggled and neglected myself most of my life.. putting bandaids (medication) on everything just to be able to chug along and take care of everyone else.

 

I want more!!  I will have it!

[Tulip52]

Anyone newbies here tapering Imipramine (Tofranil)?  It is an older drug and obviously not used as much anymore.  It’s lonely to be one of the few.

 

I’m still at 50 mg of the imipramine, 9 weeks off of caffeine which by the way was a much worse of a time withdrawing from it then tapering imipramine.

 

I’m also a little over three weeks low carbing because I’m insulin resistant and really needed to get my blood sugar right. (The first two weeks were hell)

 

I never dreamed I would be putting in all of this work when I decided to taper the impimpramine.  Who knew that it would make me so sensitive to caffeine and supplements and make my insulin resistance worse?

 

But damn, I should be feeling great pretty soon, right?

 

If the insomnia would ease up and I could sleep more then the broken and total of 5-6 hours a night I’m sure things would really improve.  

I know no one really reads my post but it helps me to write it all out and to look back.  And who knows, it may help a new one coming in on this med.

 

 

 

[Tulip52]

Made the mistake and tried topical magnesium again bc I’m so desperate for some relief with restless legs.  Bad, bad move.  Total depression for two days.  Memo to self: Stay away from supplements!!

 

Also, I’m still struggling with insomnia.  Started with low carb flu on March 8th.  How long can it possibly last?  
 

In reality, I’ve gone through tapering imipramine, cold turkied caffeine and started low carbing nearly three weeks ago.  I guess my nervous system is stressed ti the max.  It’s obviously why I’m still not sleeping and waking at 3 am, then every hour after… rambling notes 

[Tulip52]

Ok, after doing some research it looks like what I am experiencing may be akithisia.

 

This started when I got to 50 mg two or three months ago.

 

I am basically fine until I take the damn 50 mg at bedtime.  About thirty minutes later I have severe restless legs, inner restlessness and anxiety.  Then I do fall asleep but I wake up at 3 a.m. and then cat nap, waking every hour and a half until I finally get up.

 

This did not start until I reduced down to 50mg.  I almost went to my doc today but decided against it bc I sure don’t want more meds.

 

**What do I do at this point?  It’s def the imipramine.  I’m at too high of a dose to just jump off but I’m miserable.

 

Somebody, please respond 

[Tulip52]

Why does no one respond to me? 

[Altostrata]

So sorry, @Tulip52 Gridley was away for a bit.

 

It sounds like you are getting an adverse reaction from taking 50mg imipramine at bedtime -- those are symptoms of paradoxical activation. It appears that it is affecting you differently now than in the past.

 

Why are you taking it at night instead of earlier in the day? If you moved it earlier, you night still have those symptoms, but you may not notice then as much and it may not interfere so much with your sleep. 

 

You might move it earlier by an hour each day until you're taking it at noon, see if that helps. 

 

Alternatively, a 10% reduction would be 5mg, bringing your dose to 45mg. That might help, too.

 

Either way, please keep daily notes of times o’clock you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. We need to know how you feel before and after taking each drug, and your symptoms in between. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time o’clock on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right.

[Tulip52]

 

Thanks so much for responding.  I’m really struggling with this mess at night.

 

I take it at night and after the miserable thirty minutes I get really sleepy.

 

I’ll start moving it back an hour a day.

 

I’ve considered another taper but I’m scared it will make things worse.  But, I’m dissolving a pill now and will start on 45or 47 at next dose.

 

I am babysitting grandchildren now but will start on the 24 hour times as soon as they leave.

 

Please stay with me 🙏 and thank you 

[Tulip52]

I’m so nervous and scared.    I have decided to wean down from 50 to 47 mg of imipramine.  (6% reduction)

i have the 10 mg tablets.  Will take four of those and an hour later will take the 7 mg of liquid.  ( because the liquid hits me so fast)
 

7:30 pm 30 mg (3 of the 10 mg)

7:50 realized I should have taken 10 more mg, took it (total of 40 mg from 7:30 to 7:50)

 

 8 pm starting to feel drowsy

 

8:25 pm no restless legs yet.  Starting to feel a little sad like usual at this time.

** I usually take my ropinirol med (restless legs med) at the same time as imipramine .  I was so focused on the imipramine I forgot to and still haven’t.

 

8:41 pm took 7 mg liquid imipramine

 

9:05 pm drowsy but still no restless legs. I know I’m posting every few minutes but this is usually a pretty rough time.

9:23 pm still no restless legs but my calves are feeling funny/weak so I took ropinirol.. scared restless legs will start ( usually it’s pretty bad by now.

 

drowsy, about to try to watch tv and distract from thinking about all of this.

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Tulip52
Updating

[Altostrata]

6 hours ago, Tulip52 said:

I take it at night and after the miserable thirty minutes I get really sleepy.

 

 

The dose is still too high and is hitting your system too hard at first.

 

How are you taking your dose? Are you taking part in liquid form already? You could simply reduce the liquid part by 5mg.

 

53 minutes ago, Tulip52 said:

** I usually take my ropinirol med (restless legs med) at the same time as imipramine .

 

This is news. Please add Ropinirol to your signature. When did you start it, how much are you taking, how often?

 

Please keep daily notes of times o’clock you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. We need to know how you feel before and after taking each drug, and your symptoms in between. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time o’clock on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right.

[Tulip52]

16 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

The dose is still too high and is hitting your system too hard at first.

 

How are you taking your dose? Are you taking part in liquid form already? You could simply reduce the liquid part by 5mg.

 

 

This is news. Please add Ropinirol to your signature. When did you start it, how much are you taking, how often?

 

Please keep daily notes of times o’clock you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. We need to know how you feel before and after taking each drug, and your symptoms in between. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time o’clock on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right.

I will cut it back to 45 mg tonight.

 

Im taking 4 10 mg tablets and will do the liquid 5 mg

 

im keeping up with the hourly log, med and symptom.

 

Will give 24 hour log at 7:30 pm 

 

I’ve been taking 2 mg of Ropinirole fir two years and I take it at the same time I take imipramine which is at night before bed.

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, Tulip52 said:

I’ve been taking 2 mg of Ropinirole fir two years and I take it at the same time I take imipramine which is at night before bed.

 

Ropinirole is a neuroactive drug that may be causing some of your problems. 

 

How did your symptom pattern change after you increased ropinirole to 2mg in March 2021?

 

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interactions Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

[Tulip52]

34 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

Ropinirole is a neuroactive drug that may be causing some of your problems. 

 

How did your symptom pattern change after you increased ropinirole to 2mg in March 2021?

 

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interactions Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

It terrifies me to think that ropinirol may be part of the problem.  I can’t imagine having to taper both meds.

 

I honestly can’t remember the pattern change from that time.  I only know for sure that since I’ve lowered to 50 mg the restless legs are worse.

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1323-0,2027-0

 

[Tulip52]

24 hour log April 5-6

 

7:30 pm 30 mg imipramine(tablet)

7:55 pm 10 mg imipramine (tablet)

8:00 pm drowsy, sad,  *no restless legs

8:41 pm liquid imipramine, 7 mg

9:23 pm took ropinirole

10pm - 12:35 am slept (never went back to sleep)

3:50 am ate ham and cheese 

7:30am restless legs started

8 am up for the day

9 am breakfast

10 am sleepy but functional

11:00 am shopping, felt self conscience

12:45 pm laid down for nap, restless legs, got up

2:00 pm restless legs, tics, sad

5:00 pm tics, sadness

7:05 pm 40 mg imipramine, (tablet) tics

7:35 pm sad, tics

 

** I didn’t take the ropinirole with the imipramine like usual last night and had no restless legs in that 30 minute window like usual.  Only took it a little later bc I was afraid the rls would start up.  Up most of the night but had no restless legs.

 

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by Tulip52
Update

[Tulip52]

Oh My God 😊😊😊❤️ 
 

Even though I still woke up a couple of times, I actually slept last night!!!

 

And, I am able to have some much needed longe around time and just lay around in bed watching tv today. 
 

Altostrata, thank you so much for the help.

[Altostrata]

Good to hear you're doing better with a little less imipramine.

 

I don't understand your split dosing of imipramine. What is your imipramine and ropinirol dosing now, at what times o'clock? Are you taking any other drugs?

 

Please continue your daily notes, include your ropinirole dosage and sleep pattern. Thank you.

[Tulip52]

24 hour log April 6-7

 

7:05 pm 40 mg tablets imipramine

8 pm 5 mg liquid imipramine

8:15 pm drowsy and nauseated

9 pm ropinirole 

9:30 in bed, restless legs and sleepy

11pm-1:20 am slept, woke up, bathroom, back to sleep

7 am woke up

9 am  breakfast, took boron and lounging

12:15 pm still lounging, a little dizzy

1:00pm housework

2:15 tics, felt happy and content

4:30 pm tics

5:30 pm sleepy

6:50 pm dinner, feeling flush/hot flash

7pm 40 mg imipramine

 

 

 

[Tulip52]

33 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Good to hear you're doing better with a little less imipramine.

 

I don't understand your split dosing of imipramine. What is your imipramine and ropinirol dosing now, at what times o'clock? Are you taking any other drugs?

 

Please continue your daily notes, include your ropinirole dosage and sleep pattern. Thank you.

Thank you 

 

The liquid hits me really quickly so I wait until the first 40 has had time to kick in than take the liquid.

 

Total imioramine 45 mg.  Total ropinirol 2 mg

** the first night of taper, I accidentally took only 3 of the 10 mg tablets of imioramine, when I noticed I took another 10 mg to make a total of 40 mg.  I waited for  those to kick in then took the 7mg of liquid.  As you suggested, I went down to 45 mg the second night.

[Altostrata]

We need to see the effect of this change over a week. Please continue to keep notes.

[Tulip52]

Ok, thank you for keeping up with me

[Tulip52]

Didn’t log  bc I had a house full of family for the Easter holiday and was super busy.  Started logging again this evening and will report tomorrow.

[Tulip52]

April 9-10 24 hour log

 

4:30 pm slight tics

5:50 pm bath, dinner, slight tics

6:30 pm restless legs, sleepy, tics, hot flashes

7:30 pm 40 mg tablets imipramine.  sad, restless legs, sleepy, tics

7:50 pm 5 mg liquid imipramine and 2 mg ropinirole.  Sad, anxious

8:50 pm super sad, went to bed.

11:30 pm - 1:50 am slept

2:45 am - 5:30 am slept

6 am -7 am slept, awake for day

9 am lounging, watched tv

9:30 boron and breakfast

10 am salt and potassium in bottled water

12 noon lunch

1:20 pm sleepy, slight headache

2:30 pm salt and potassium in bottled water

3:50 diatomaceous earth in water, tics, a little anxious, tics

4:20 pm tics, productive, emotionally ok, sleepy

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Please describe "slight tics".

 

Please continue to post daily notes.

 

 

[Tulip52]

Slight tics means they aren’t as bad as later in the afternoon/evening.  Same for restless legs.

[Altostrata]

Where are these tics, how often do they occur, how long do they last, are they painful?

[Tulip52]

Tightening of stomach and right arm muscles.  A few times an hour and it’s just annoying,not  painful,  nothing that I can’t push through.

 

I am seeing my doc in a few to refill my imipramine and to update that I am still tapering.