Future: Weaning Off Deanxit and Amitriptyline

[Future]

Hello

I am new here, though I have read your stories. Thank’s for all the information I’ve got.

Dure to hormone problems, I started antidepressants about 4 years ago. First Cipralex and xenax, because I didn’t work I stopped half a year after after tapering 2 months. Then I was worser and was put on Duloxetine 30 mg, Diazepam and beta-blocker. I came of half a year after with 2 months tapering. Then I became worser than ever, and was put on Deanxit 2/day, Amitriptyline 50 mg and Kratium 10 -15 mg/ day.

Nothing helped and the side effects were horrible, so I called my doctor in UK and was told to go of cold turkey and start with Duloxetine 60 mg instead, but at that time I didn’t want more antidepressants and I realized that I was so sick because I had stopped the contraceptive hormone pill cold turkey.

So I Started the pill again and stopped Kratium direct, and tapered  Deanxit and amitriptyline 25 mg on 2 months.

It is almost 10 months ago and I have been very very sick. I was on Deanxit and Amitriptyline 50 mg 5 months before starting tapering.

 I have been stronger since and the anxiety has gone down a little bit, but not any windows.

Instead I have been more emotional cold and not any emphatic, I actually cannot feel any love. That is worrying me so much. I had it from the beginning as well, but I feel more and more like I don’t care about anything.

 I know that those symptoms that I hate most can actually come from the amitriptyline plus that the other side effects are not nice, so I decided to start tapering the 25 mg that I have left.

It was 9 days ago. I started with 0,5 mg. First week was fine, I even felt a little better at one time during 5th day and I was hoping for being better, but when I dropped the next 0,5 mg day 6, I felt within half a hour after I took it, that my anxiety started to raise.

And it has just been worse.

My question is if I can get such a reaction? It’s not even 5%.

I have decided to wait to do more tapering before I calm down again.

As I have only have been tapering 1 mg, I don’t want to go up again. I was wondering if I got some bad reaction to the medication or if it’s “just” withdrawal. I also read your topic about amitriptyline being metabolized to another drug, but don’t know if I can be so sick of that?

Thanks again for your website, and that I can ask my questions.

Future

 

 

 

 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  It sounds as if you have been on and off various psych meds.  It also sounds as if you have had adverse reactions to some of them, because you said "Nothing helped and the side effects were horrible".  The more we go on and off psych meds, the more our nervous system becomes destabilized and we experience uncomfortable symptoms.  

 

You said " I have been stronger since and the anxiety has gone down a little bit, but not any windows." This is good to hear!  It means you are recovering, and moving in the right direction.  

 

The last few sentences where you are talking about tapering, you didn't mention which drug you are referring to.  Can you please give us specific information about your drug history?  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  Please list specific dates, drugs, and dosages according to this link: 

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we taper by 10% of the current dose, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Also, as we are tapering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 3 that many of us find helpful are magnesium, omega-3, and melatonin. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

Melatonin

 

You said "I have decided to wait to do more tapering before I calm down again."  I think this is an excellent idea.  It will allow your system to stabilize, and make tapering easier in the future. 

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

 

[Future]

Thanks for answering getofflex and for all the information. I have filled in my drug history. 

The drugs I have started to tapering is Amitriptyline 25 mg. I have only been able to go down to 24 mg the last 10 days, but at least I have started.

 I found your website about 9 months ago, and I have been reading a lot since and I am very grateful to get to understand what actually is the effect of antidepressants and it has helped me tremendously to keep on going. But  now I feel stuck, I am stronger in my endurance in one way, but don’t see any real improvement in my feelings, and that is worrying me. If my anxiety goes down a little bit, I only feel cold, never love or security.

Future

 

[getofflex]

Future, I'm glad that you have done a small taper.  This is the safest and best way to get off these psych meds.  I'm sorry that you are feeling stuck.  However, realize that recovery from these drugs is a very gradual process.  Healing is going on in your nervous system, even if you don't see immediate progress.  Let me share this link with you about how long withdrawal can take:  

 

How Long is Withdrawal Going to Take

 

This link goes into how we worry about our symptoms.  It makes withdrawal easier if you can possibly accept the situation, and try not to worry about it.  

 

Health Anxiety, Obsession with Symptoms

 

Hopefully you have read the information in the links I provided in my previous post. Hang in there, it gets better even if the improvements are slow and gradual. 

 

On your drug signature, can you please change Started tapering 10 days ago to say which specific date you tapered, and that you are now on 24mg?  That way it is easier for the other mods to have your accurate drug history and help you in the future.  

Edited March 27, 2021 by getofflex

[Future]

Hi, just wanted to do an update:

I have been tapering from 25 mg Amitriptyline down to 4.2 mg over the last 10 months.

It has been very difficult, but for every drop I have done I have felt a little bit better, at least after the withdrawal eased off.

In October I made a decision to taper from 8.3 mg to 4.2 mg.

The reason I did it was because I have bad side effects from the medication. I want my natural feelings back!

 I also have hypothyroidism and can’t tolerate any medication or supplements to help that out, while tapering. And I was 100 % constipated, not even the medication from the doctor helped. And also, I was soooo impatient to get of this awful poison. 

So I dropped down 4 mg and thought if the withdrawal get worser than normal it would anyway be worth it if It would last 8 weeks or less.

so was it worth it?

NO!!!!

 I am on week 14 and worser than ever! I think I have had all the symptoms in extremely high level since the drop, and with no window at all, and without any hope that it will be better in near future.

Don’t do what I have done!

Don't drop that much in a go!

Follow the direction on the website, they are right when saying to go very slowly!

I have learned my lesson😣

 

 I did a test for celiac disease and it came back negative, but I anyway stopped eating gluten and within the next day I got movement and I have no more constipation.......just a tip for those with that problem.

Future

[Future]

Another update:

I am planning to do my next drop tomorrow. It was 6 months since last time, I have had a very difficult time with the whole scale of withdrawal symptoms in a large level, and no windows. The last few weeks have been better and I have been stabilizing emotionally, so now it’s time for the next drop.

It will be 14.2 % and the lowest drop I am able to do.  I am crushing the tablet, dissolve it in milk, and divide it into potions with a dropper. Now I have a 25 mg tablets and it is divided into 6 potions = 4.2 mg. So tomorrow I will divide it into 7 potions = 3.6 mg.

 I bought a scale, but couldn’t use it due to the inaccuracy of it, so I went back to this way of doing it as it works and is reliable. I know that 14.2 % is a big drop, and I am afraid of doing it, but I feel like I have no other choice and I hope for the best.

The withdrawal symptoms I’ve had and still have, are many, but I am fortunate that I can sleep ( even though I struggle with extreme fatigue and are frustrated because I find it difficult to stay awake and have to rest/sleep a few hours every day) Also I only have had a few brain zaps. ( Instead, I have like a iron hand holding and squeeze my brain)

But besides all the struggle and suffering getting of this poison, I can start to feel the benefits of doing it; feeling a little bit more like a human emotionally and being able to think more logically and clear.

 I look forward to getting more of that, so I will continue the fight, supported by knowing that, that’s what all of you on this site are doing right now........

 

 

 

[Future]

Update: 

One week since I stopped amitriptyline. I had to, because my constipation got worse again. Nothing helped, not even the medication from the doctor.

The week has been good; emotionally, better than ever. 

Today I started to feel strange, guess it’s time for the withdrawal symptoms to start. 

Just hope it won’t be so long and brutal.......

Future