Sergey Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Hi all, I am new on this forum, but I have been reading people's testimonials and struggles for a few weeks now. My ongoing struggle with gut issues has prompted me to do test after test over the years, which luckily have all come back negative. Earlier this year, my GI doctor finally diagnosed me with Functional Dyspepsia. He wanted me to start on the usual medications for GI issues and, to my surprise, an antidepressant - Amitriptyline. I am sensitive to medications in general, so the idea of having to take an antidepressant did not sit well with me. So I was reluctant to take it until October this year, when by that time I had seemingly exhausted all other medical possibilities to help with my issues. And October 2nd was the first day I started tot take Amitriptyline. As I mentioned above, due to sensitivity to medications, I decided to start off by cutting 10mg tablet into four pieces, and take 2.5mg for a few days to see how I would react to it. I took 2.5mg for 4 days. Then I upped the dosage to 5mg for the next two days and... stopped it. After 6 days in total. The fear of taking this drug was - and is - crippling. I had another appointment with my GI doc a few days after I had stopped taking Ami, and he insisted that I need to give this medication another try. So I did. I reinstated on October 13th at 5mg and increased the dose to 7.5mg on October 15th. I've been taking 7.5 ever since. The problem, though, is that after reinstating on October 13th, approximately on the 14th to be exact, the UTI like symptoms crept in (burning, frequency, feeling of not completely void) which I had never had before in my life. I went to see a doctor who ruled out UTI but said I need to see an urologist for further evaluation. I think Amitriptyline may be the culprit with the new health issue. Maybe not. But having this terror whether I should or shouldn't continue, especially after reading the horror stories of people fighting to stay sane while they getting off this drug, is not welcome in my life. I've got more than enough issues as is. This is basically my whole story. My question is this: Should I stop it cold turkey after 17 days (4 days - 2.5mg, 4 days - 5mg, 9 days - 7.5 mg for the total of 107.5mg) or would I'd be better off by gradually tapering off? Thank you all in advance. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted October 25, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 25, 2021 Hi, Sergey. Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. Have you ever been on a psychiatric drug before? The reason I'm asking is because if this is your one and only psychiatric drug, you may be able to simply rapid taper off it by reducing down to 5 mg, where you were on October 14. If you do okay for a couple of days, reduce down to 2.5 mg and see how you feel. And then you could go to 1.25 for a couple of days. Please post your thoughts. Also, is amitriptyline the only drug you're taking? Have you had to take any other drugs for the GI symptoms? I don't know if the amitriptyline is responsible for the UTI type symptoms or not. Best to follow up with the doctor. Please let us know what you find out. Link to comment
Sergey Posted October 26, 2021 Author Share Posted October 26, 2021 2 hours ago, Shep said: Hi, Sergey. Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. Have you ever been on a psychiatric drug before? The reason I'm asking is because if this is your one and only psychiatric drug, you may be able to simply rapid taper off it by reducing down to 5 mg, where you were on October 14. If you do okay for a couple of days, reduce down to 2.5 mg and see how you feel. And then you could go to 1.25 for a couple of days. Please post your thoughts. Also, is amitriptyline the only drug you're taking? Have you had to take any other drugs for the GI symptoms? I don't know if the amitriptyline is responsible for the UTI type symptoms or not. Best to follow up with the doctor. Please let us know what you find out. I have not been on a psychiatric drug before. I will try to take 5mg for a few days, then decrease down to 2.5mg for a couple of days, and then to 1.25mg. I also take Prilosec as needed. I've also been prescribed Dexilant 60mg but I wanted to start off with Amitriptyline first and see what happens. To take these two potent medications at the same time would confuse me as to which one is causing side effects. And all medications do. This, unfortunately, is the story of my life. Thank you for your suggestion, I truly appreciate it. I hope I'll do well with rapid taper. But if there is anything wrong with me after I stop 1.25mg, what dosage would be the most appropriate to reinstate with? Thanks again. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 27, 2021 Administrator Share Posted October 27, 2021 Hello, @Sergey Amitriptyline is anti-cholinergic and can cause urinary issues. Please review drug adverse effects on drugs.com. 23 hours ago, Sergey said: I will try to take 5mg for a few days, then decrease down to 2.5mg for a couple of days, and then to 1.25mg. This is reasonable. Have you seen any benefit from amitriptyline? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Sergey Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 14 hours ago, Altostrata said: Hello, @Sergey Amitriptyline is anti-cholinergic and can cause urinary issues. Please review drug adverse effects on drugs.com. This is reasonable. Have you seen any benefit from amitriptyline? Hello, @Altostrata I have not seen the full benefit of Amitriptyline simply because I haven't been on it for long. It sort of dulled my pain a little, but otherwise nothing exceptional. If it had not been for urinary issues, which my urologist said are most likely due to the drug, I might have continued taking it. But, to be honest, I was and I am terrified at the prospect of taking antidepressants. Even short-term. Yesterday was the third day of taking 5mg. I was suggested to take it for a couple of days and then decrease down to 2.5. I decided to take it for three days instead of a couple and then decrease. But last night was a little bizarre. After taking 5mg at my usual time, I felt lightheadedness and slight dizziness. Couldn't fall asleep until 3AM. Slept until 7.30AM and that was it. Are these withdrawal symptoms? Should I keep on taking 5mg for a few more days before trying to decrease the dosage? I'd hoped before last night that after taking Ami for such a short period of time and at pretty low doses, I'd get away with doing as fast a taper as possible. Maybe I was wrong. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted October 28, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 28, 2021 9 hours ago, Sergey said: After taking 5mg at my usual time, I felt lightheadedness and slight dizziness. Couldn't fall asleep until 3AM. Slept until 7.30AM and that was it. Are these withdrawal symptoms? Should I keep on taking 5mg for a few more days before trying to decrease the dosage? Yes, please stick with the 5 mg for another night. Did you have insomnia or dizziness before taking amitriptyline or is this something new? When you stopped this drug on October 8 - October 12, did you have any of these symptoms? Link to comment
Sergey Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Shep said: Yes, please stick with the 5 mg for another night. Did you have insomnia or dizziness before taking amitriptyline or is this something new? When you stopped this drug on October 8 - October 12, did you have any of these symptoms? Hello, @Shep Well, I've had occasional (rare) sleepless nights like most people have, but never dizziness. Except, of course, for some days when I was only starting or upping the dosage. I wouldn't say I was wobbly last night, but still felt like I'd had a few beers. Please pardon my comparison, but I cannot come up with a better description right now. And it started not long after taking 5mg at 9PM. It's my usual time. Today, however, I was functional, without any signs of symptoms for the most part. Of course, I felt a little bit tired, but that is to be expected with only a few ours of sleep last night. When I quit on October 12, none of these symptoms were present. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted October 28, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 28, 2021 9 hours ago, Sergey said: I wouldn't say I was wobbly last night, but still felt like I'd had a few beers. Please pardon my comparison, but I cannot come up with a better description right now. And it started not long after taking 5mg at 9PM. It's my usual time. Since it happened after you took the drug, that may have been a side effect more than a withdrawal effect. Even though you reduced the dose, amitriptyline has a very unpredictable half-life, so there may be some drug build-up in your system (for more on amitriptyline, see Tips for tapering off amitriptyline). Even though you took it at the same time, did anything else change? Any changes in supplements or diet? Do you usually take amitriptyline with food and if so, did you do so last night? Please let us know how you slept last night and how you're feeling today. Link to comment
Sergey Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 7 hours ago, Shep said: Since it happened after you took the drug, that may have been a side effect more than a withdrawal effect. Even though you reduced the dose, amitriptyline has a very unpredictable half-life, so there may be some drug build-up in your system (for more on amitriptyline, see Tips for tapering off amitriptyline). Even though you took it at the same time, did anything else change? Any changes in supplements or diet? Do you usually take amitriptyline with food and if so, did you do so last night? Please let us know how you slept last night and how you're feeling today. Hello, @Shep No, nothing else changed. My diet has been the same for almost a year: low carbohydrate, no coffee, no chocolate, no alcohol. I don't use any supplements. And I don't take amitriptyline with food because my last meal is around 5 o'clock. I take Ami at 9pm. I was feeling better last night. I slept without waking up once. Since I started Ami, I usually feel sleepy in the morning but that changes back to normal quite quickly. Sometimes I feel a little bit tired during the day, but this has been the case since I started Ami. So the question now is whether I should try 2.5 tonight or stay on 5mg. Thanks for being so helpful and patient with me. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted October 28, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 28, 2021 @SergeyThat's a great update, Sergey. Very glad you slept last night. Yes, I would go ahead and decrease down to 2.5 mg. Please let us know how you do. Link to comment
Sergey Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 20 hours ago, Shep said: @SergeyThat's a great update, Sergey. Very glad you slept last night. Yes, I would go ahead and decrease down to 2.5 mg. Please let us know how you do. Hello, @Shep So far so good. However, I am aware that withdrawal symptoms could punch one in the gut in a few days or even weeks. That being sad, I hope it's not going to happen to me. Fingers crossed! I'll be updating how I do. Thanks again for guiding me through this. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted October 30, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 30, 2021 On 10/29/2021 at 3:22 PM, Sergey said: So far so good. However, I am aware that withdrawal symptoms could punch one in the gut in a few days or even weeks. That being sad, I hope it's not going to happen to me. Fingers crossed! True, this is a very unpredictable journey. But getting hit with delayed withdrawal generally happens with people who've been on the drug long enough to become dependent. You're at the very edge of dependency right now and any dependency that may develop is going to be at the very low end of the dose. So let's hope for a smooth exit. How are you feeling? How is your sleep? Link to comment
Sergey Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 13 hours ago, Shep said: How are you feeling? How is your sleep? Hello, @Shep So far, I haven't been able to detect much of a difference between the last couple of days, when I started taking 2.5, and earlier when I was on a relatively higher dose. One thing in common, however, is that I feel a little bit tired at around 3-4pm. It feels like a need a nap, but can't take one because of work. I go to bed at 11.30 and sleep pretty good until 6.30 or 7.00 o'clock in the morning. It's now been three days since I decreased the dosage down to 2.5. How long, in your opinion, should I stay on 2.5 before decreasing to 1.25? Thank you. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted October 31, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 31, 2021 6 hours ago, Sergey said: How long, in your opinion, should I stay on 2.5 before decreasing to 1.25? You're doing great, Sergey. I would go ahead and decrease. The goal is to get off the drug as close to the one month mark as you possibly can. Since you're sleeping well and feeling okay, aside from some late afternoon fatigue, I think you'll be okay to continue your rapid taper. Perhaps fix a healthy protein snack to eat before 3 PM to give you a nice boost of energy to help with the afternoon fatigue. Please let us know how you do. Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 3, 2021 Author Share Posted November 3, 2021 On 10/31/2021 at 4:17 PM, Shep said: Please let us know how you do. Hello, @Shep Update. Started 1.25mg on October 31st. It's now been three days since then. The first two nights I didn't sleep well. The third night was a lot better. It's worth mentioning that in my estimation the first two bad nights were due to severe stress from a doctor's visit (nowadays doctors make me feel lost, devastated and there is a sense that I am on my own confronting health issues), as well as my pain - so-called functional dyspepsia - is coming back. Amitriptyline did dull my pain to a degree, as I mentioned earlier, but still didn't make me feel like my old self. Originally my doc wanted me to gradually up the dosage to 30mg, even 50mg or some such. Having said that, I could only manage to work my way up to 7.5mg when urinary issues appeared. Other than that, there are no symptoms of withdrawal. At least as of today. Do I need to continue taking 1.25 for a few more days, or is it OK to quit it once and for all? Thank you. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted November 4, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 4, 2021 16 hours ago, Sergey said: It's worth mentioning that in my estimation the first two bad nights were due to severe stress from a doctor's visit (nowadays doctors make me feel lost, devastated and there is a sense that I am on my own confronting health issues), as well as my pain - so-called functional dyspepsia - is coming back. I'm not familiar with functional dyspepsia and it's not something we can help you with on this forum, but you may want to research holistic doctors in your area and see if there are any natural, non-drug ways of healing from this. Taking drugs to mask pain can prevent you from finding out what your body is trying to tell you. I wish there were more options for holistic care, especially holistic care that's covered by insurance, but definitely worth researching what's available in your area. 16 hours ago, Sergey said: Other than that, there are no symptoms of withdrawal. At least as of today. Do I need to continue taking 1.25 for a few more days, or is it OK to quit it once and for all? I think you'd be safe to go ahead and stop it. Very glad to read that outside of external stressors hurting your sleep, you're doing well. If you're uncomfortable stopping it too soon, you could half the 1.25 mg and half tonight and half tomorrow and then stop. Please let us know how you do. Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 7 hours ago, Shep said: I'm not familiar with functional dyspepsia and it's not something we can help you with on this forum, but you may want to research holistic doctors in your area I was venting. Prone to do that once in a while. Sorry for that. 7 hours ago, Shep said: I think you'd be safe to go ahead and stop it. That's what I did yesterday. I stopped it. The first day off this drug. Hopefully, there won't be any problems down the road. 7 hours ago, Shep said: Please let us know how you do I will. Thank you for your replies. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted November 7, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 7, 2021 On 11/4/2021 at 12:56 PM, Sergey said: I was venting. Prone to do that once in a while. Sorry for that. Nothing wrong with what you wrote, Sergey. No apologies needed! I only mentioned checking out holistic doctors because you seem to be medication sensitive, which in the long run, may lead you to seek healthier options. A lot of pharmaceuticals do come with a lot of risks and doctors aren't educated in the risks of these drugs. How are you doing this weekend? How is your sleep? Link to comment
DinaDina Posted November 7, 2021 Share Posted November 7, 2021 Hi Sergey. I have the almost same story. I was diagnosed with Functional Dyspepsia and a doctor prescribed me Zoloft. And after that I have bladder/pelvic issues. I think people like us shouldn't take any AD. I hope you will be better soon. 25 November 2020 - 22 December 2020 - Zoloft (3 weeks - 12.5 mg, 1 week - 25 mg); 1 January 2021 - Zoloft (12.5 mg) 18-24 December 2020 - Teraligen 2.5 mg-3.75 mg (Russian antipsychotic) 18-28 December 2020 - Eglonil 100 mg (Sulpiride) Supplements: magnesium Symptoms since stopping Zoloft: overactive/painful bladder, pelvic pressure, PGAD, severe anxiety Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 On 11/7/2021 at 11:16 AM, Shep said: I only mentioned checking out holistic doctors Hello @Shep, Last week, I set out to find one, and I did. I have an appointment next week. She said, that we'd make some sort of a plan to try to help me with my issues. I have no other choice so I guess it's worth a try. On 11/7/2021 at 11:16 AM, Shep said: How are you doing this weekend? How is your sleep? Well, I am doing pretty decent, considering that I just recently stopped Amitriptyline (it's now been 5 days off the drug) and am also tapering Prilosec, which has done absolutely nothing for me. There is some low grade nausea that comes and goes during the day, a bit of fatigue, but all this could be due either to my original problem (it did roar back, unfortunately), Prilosec, or withdrawal from Ami. I sleep well, no headaches or mood swings so far. I am hoping for the best, but at the same time closely monitoring every symptom or change every single day. I wish I'd gotten scot-free from this Amitriptyline debacle, but nobody can guarantee that. That's how I am right now. Again, thank you for asking. I appreciate it. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 21 hours ago, DinaDina said: Hi Sergey. I have the almost same story. I was diagnosed with Functional Dyspepsia and a doctor prescribed me Zoloft. And after that I have bladder/pelvic issues. I think people like us shouldn't take any AD. I hope you will be better soon. Functional Dyspepsia is no picnic, that's for sure. I've tried so many things to help myself but nothing has worked out so far. So now I am off to try holistic approach. Maybe that will eventually sort this nagging issue out. I also hope that you will be able to find what's best for you in terms of getting rid of this issue. Good luck! 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted November 9, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 9, 2021 On 10/25/2021 at 8:58 PM, Sergey said: I also take Prilosec as needed. 19 hours ago, Sergey said: Well, I am doing pretty decent, considering that I just recently stopped Amitriptyline (it's now been 5 days off the drug) and am also tapering Prilosec, which has done absolutely nothing for me. There is some low grade nausea that comes and goes during the day, a bit of fatigue, but all this could be due either to my original problem (it did roar back, unfortunately), Prilosec, or withdrawal from Ami. I'm glad you're doing okay so far. How often were you taking Prilosec? You mentioned "as needed," but since you're tapering, do you think you developed a dependency? You may have already seen this thread, but just in case, I'll leave a link: Tips for tapering off stomach acid blockers or PPIs... We recommend people hold for awhile after coming off one drug before tapering the next. You may want to stop tapering the Prilosec to see if the nausea and fatigue resolve. Just a thought, especially if these symptoms are particularly troublesome. It could be a sign that your nervous system is asking for a rest. Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 10, 2021 Author Share Posted November 10, 2021 On 11/9/2021 at 7:43 AM, Shep said: How often were you taking Prilosec? You mentioned "as needed," but since you're tapering, do you think you developed a dependency? Well, I started taking Prilosec on as needed basis for a few weeks in the beginning of October and everyday at the end of October (about two weeks) when I started tapering. I am just playing it safe, tbh, not quitting it cold turkey even after taking it for such a short period of time. As I wrote before, my doc wanted me on a much more potent PPI, which, I am happy to report, I refused to take. The last few days nausea is all but gone. It is really common with Functional Dyspepsia to have all kinds of symptoms including, much to my chagrin, nausea. But I am monitoring any changes that might occur in the future. On 11/9/2021 at 7:43 AM, Shep said: You may have already seen this thread, but just in case, I'll leave a link: Tips for tapering off stomach acid blockers or PPIs... Yes, it's a very important thread for me. On 11/9/2021 at 7:43 AM, Shep said: We recommend people hold for awhile after coming off one drug before tapering the next. You may want to stop tapering the Prilosec to see if the nausea and fatigue resolve. Just a thought, especially if these symptoms are particularly troublesome. It could be a sign that your nervous system is asking for a rest. Thank you for this advice. I'll try to update in a few days. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted November 13, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 13, 2021 How are you feeling, Sergey? Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 7 hours ago, Shep said: How are you feeling, Sergey? Hello, @Shep I've been feeling all right lately. I do not detect any withdrawal type of symptoms at this time. No headaches, no body aches, no dizziness, and no insomnia. Also, I noticed that the brain fog (or rather lightheadedness) that I had while taking the drug seems to have lifted. Despite all of this, there's a lingering feeling that I can still get hit later. Therefore, I am very interested in how I should proceed from here on out. I am going to see a holistic doctor next week. When I spoke to her on the phone, she said that we'd work out a supplements plan to address my issues . From what I've gathered on this forum, it is advised not to take supplements at the time of withdrawal from ADs, with the exception of Magnesium and Omega-3. Hence a few questions: would it be prudent for me to start with her plan right away, meaning sometime next week, or should I wait a bit longer without taking anything? If I need to wait more, how long should it be? I've been off the drug for eleven days now. Thank you for continually helping me. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted November 13, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 13, 2021 2 hours ago, Sergey said: Despite all of this, there's a lingering feeling that I can still get hit later. Therefore, I am very interested in how I should proceed from here on out. I wouldn't worry too much about getting hit later. It's possible, but with the sedating antidepressants, many people stop sleeping. The fact that your sleep is good is a great sign that you likely will do okay. I would hold onto those kinds of thoughts, while at the same time, treating your nervous system like fine crystal and doing as much self care as possible. You did a great job of carefully coming off with a rapid taper after short term use. But with Covid circulating as endemic, it's important that we all take very good care of ourselves, whether we're dealing with withdrawal or not. So living healthy as a lifestyle will serve us all well, even after we heal from withdrawal. 2 hours ago, Sergey said: I am going to see a holistic doctor next week. When I spoke to her on the phone, she said that we'd work out a supplements plan to address my issues . From what I've gathered on this forum, it is advised not to take supplements at the time of withdrawal from ADs, with the exception of Magnesium and Omega-3. Hence a few questions: would it be prudent for me to start with her plan right away, meaning sometime next week, or should I wait a bit longer without taking anything? If I need to wait more, how long should it be? I've been off the drug for eleven days now. Be careful the holistic doctor isn't using supplements the way a lot of allopathic doctors use prescription drugs. For example, using St. John's Wort to raise serotonin for depression. Hopefully you won't run into that since your medical condition is physical. Perhaps let her know you have medication sensitivities and try to target certain foods and exercises as your medicine before adding in supplements. If you do add in a supplement, we advise only adding in one supplement at a time and at a low dose. You may want to keep a symptoms journal to track your progress as you bring in a supplement or holistic treatment. And definitely research anything and everything. Hopefully what you've learned here about psych drugs will translate into other areas of medicine and you'll get some much needed and much deserved healing without getting harmed in the process. Link to comment
Sergey Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 22 hours ago, Shep said: I wouldn't worry too much about getting hit later. It's possible, but with the sedating antidepressants, many people stop sleeping. The fact that your sleep is good is a great sign that you likely will do okay. I would hold onto those kinds of thoughts, while at the same time, treating your nervous system like fine crystal and doing as much self care as possible. You did a great job of carefully coming off with a rapid taper after short term use. Thanks. Your words have calming effect on me. 22 hours ago, Shep said: Be careful the holistic doctor isn't using supplements the way a lot of allopathic doctors use prescription drugs. For example, using St. John's Wort to raise serotonin for depression. Hopefully you won't run into that since your medical condition is physical. Perhaps let her know you have medication sensitivities and try to target certain foods and exercises as your medicine before adding in supplements. If you do add in a supplement, we advise only adding in one supplement at a time and at a low dose. The first thing I said to this doctor was that I am very sensitive to everything these days. I will definitely make sure to tell her that I need to start off with one thing at a time and at a low dose. Thanks for the heads up! 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Sergey Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 Hi. I used to write here for a while when I was taking Amitriptyline three years ago for just seventeen days. One of the people on here helped me a great deal to properly taper off. Now it's a little bit different. I have been struggling with gut problems for a long time, so my doc wanted me once again to try Amitriptyline, but this time longer and higher dosage. Back in 2021 the highest dose was just 7.5mg. Since I have been on this medication for a longer period this time around, I need help to taper off as painlessly as possible. Hence I am asking for help one more time. If my old information is of any significance, I can post it right here. And I updated my signature to show what my current situation is as of right now. Thank you for your help in advance. Here's my old signature: 10/02/2021 -10/05/2021 Amitriptyline 2.5mg 10/06/2021 - 10/07/2021 Amitriptyline 5mg 10/08/2021 - 10/12/2021 No Amitriptyline 10/13/2021 - 10/14/2021 Amitriptyline 5mg 10/15/2021 - 10/23/2021 Amitriptyline 7.5 mg 10/24/2021 - 10/27/2021 Amitriptyline 5mg 10/28/2021 - 10/30/2021 Amitriptyline 2.5mg 10/31/2021 - 11/02/2021 Amitriptyline 1.25mg 11/03/2021 - stopped Amitriptyline 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Sergey Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 23 hours ago, Sergey said: Hi. I used to write here for a while when I was taking Amitriptyline three years ago for just seventeen days. One of the people on here helped me a great deal to properly taper off. Now it's a little bit different. I have been struggling with gut problems for a long time, so my doc wanted me once again to try Amitriptyline, but this time longer and higher dosage. Back in 2021 the highest dose was just 7.5mg. Since I have been on this medication for a longer period this time around, I need help to taper off as painlessly as possible. Hence I am asking for help one more time. If my old information is of any significance, I can post it right here. And I updated my signature to show what my current situation is as of right now. Thank you for your help in advance. Here's my old signature: 10/02/2021 -10/05/2021 Amitriptyline 2.5mg 10/06/2021 - 10/07/2021 Amitriptyline 5mg 10/08/2021 - 10/12/2021 No Amitriptyline 10/13/2021 - 10/14/2021 Amitriptyline 5mg 10/15/2021 - 10/23/2021 Amitriptyline 7.5 mg 10/24/2021 - 10/27/2021 Amitriptyline 5mg 10/28/2021 - 10/30/2021 Amitriptyline 2.5mg 10/31/2021 - 11/02/2021 Amitriptyline 1.25mg 11/03/2021 - stopped Amitriptyline Anyone? Basically I need help with starting the taper. I am aware that one needs to cut 10% of the current dose, but I've been taking 25 for only 10 days now. Should I taper down to 20mg right away, or should I be more conservative and cut it down to, say, 22.5mg? Thank you. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Sergey Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 Also, I would like to change the name of this topic because it's misleading. I have no clue how to do it. This time around I have been on Ami for 5 months. 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
Moderator Catwoman73 Posted July 25 Moderator Share Posted July 25 Hi @Sergey, and welcome back! I'm so sorry no one has responded- it's generally best to tag a moderator when you need advice. There are very few of us mods here, and we are all volunteers with busy lives, so sometimes things slip through the cracks. I can edit your title- just let me know what you would like it to be! Five months on Amitriptyline is plenty of time for your body to have make biochemical adaptations to the presence of the drug, and you will need to do a slow taper in order to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, which is among the highest risk psychiatric medications for withdrawal. Coupled with the fact that this is your second exposure to the drug, and second time tapering, I think you are going to have to move slower than you would hope. In your case, I would recommend following a hyperbolic tapering schedule, like we recommend to most of our site visitors. This means tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose, no more often than every four weeks. So your first few dose changes would be: 22.5mg, 20.3mg, 18.3mg, 16.5mg. Just multiply your current dose by 0.9 to get your next dose. Read more on hyperbolic tapering here: Why taper by 10% of my dosage? In order to do this, you will need to cut tablets, and create your own liquid suspension as you proceed. We can help you with that, but I'll link you to our amitriptyline tapering thread to get you started: Tips for tapering off Amitriptyline Be aware- some people cannot even tolerate tapering at this rate, and need to slow down, or make smaller cuts. That's totally ok- I'm in it for the long haul, tapering at a maximum rate of 5% every six weeks right now. And it does get harder as your dose gets lower and lower, as these drugs have a VERY large effect on the brain at low doses. I would strongly recommend you keep a symptom journal as you proceed with your taper- this will help you identify periods where you may be moving too quickly, or help identify things that might be triggering withdrawal symptoms. It is common to become highly sensitive to medications, supplements and even foods while tapering, so that journal becomes a very good source of information to help you figure out what's causing problems as you move along. Here is a list of typical antidepressant withdrawal symptoms for your reference. You can use this as a template for a journal, if you wish: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) As you proceed, you will likely experience good days/weeks and bad days/weeks. This is normal, and is known as the windows and waves pattern of stabilization. Keeping that journal can help you identify your patterns- for example, when I make a drop, I tend to notice peak effects at around 15 days after the change. This can help me with planning my life- I don't want to have peak symptoms around the time I am travelling or something. So this is another plug for keeping that journal lol! Here's more info on windows and waves: The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization It's nice that you were able to come here and ask for advice prior to initiating a taper. My suspicion is that you won't have too many difficulties at first. I would recommend you use this time to learn about some non-drug methods of coping with emotional symptoms, should they pop up. These things are much easier to learn when you are feeling stable, so now is a great time. Here are links to some methods that work for many here. It takes some practice to get the most out of many of these techniques, but I can assure you, it's worth pursuing. Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep Ways to cope with daily anxiety "Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms Dealing With Emotional Spirals After saying all this, I will say that not everyone experiences withdrawal. You may get lucky! But I'd rather see you be safe than sorry. Go slow, keep a symptom journal, and investigate some coping mechanisms as you begin your taper. The key to success is preparation, right? And we are here to help you along the way- please don't hesitate to post, and tag a few of the currently active moderators if you need advice or encouragement. We're here to help! ❤️ 1995- 2007- On and off multiple antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, escitalopram). Memory poor- can’t remember dates. Always tapered fast or CT. 2007- tapered Wellbutrin, zopiclone and escitalopram over one month to get pregnant. Withdrawal hell for many years. 2009- Daughter born 🥰 Post partum depression/psychosis- no meds taken. 2016- Back on escitalopram due to job change/anxiety 2022- Severe covid infection- Diagnosed with long covid 08/22. 2023- 01/23- Long term disability approved for long covid. Started taper under MD advice from 20mg: 11/23- 15mg. 2024- March-10mg. Started low dose naltrexone for long covid-5mg- terrible reaction, reduced to 0.5mg. April- 10mg escitalopram, 1.0mg LDN. May 1- 9.0mg escitalopram, 1.0mg LDN. May 15- 9.0mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN. June 12- 8.5mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN. July 8- Brassmonkey micro taper started. 8.4mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN. July 15- 8.3mg esc, 1.5mg LDN. July 18 8.3mg esc, 2.0mg LDN, July 22 8.2mg esc. 2.0mg LDN. July 29 8.1mg esc. 2.0mg LDN. Aug. 24- 8.0mg Esc. 2.0mg LDN. Aug. 30 7.9mg esc. Sept. 6 7.8mg esc. Sept. 13 7.7mg esc. Sept 21 2.5mg LDN. Oct. 4 7.6mg esc. Oct. 11 7.5mg esc. Oct. 18 7.4mg esc. Oct. 25- 7.3mg esc. Nov. 1- 3.0mg LDN. Supplements/other meds: Vitamin D, B12, Claritin, HRT PLEASE DO NOT PM ME! PLEASE ONLY TAG ME FOR URGENT QUESTIONS! Thank you! I am not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV. This is not medical advice, but based on personal experience. Please consult a medical professional. Link to comment
Sergey Posted July 26 Author Share Posted July 26 8 hours ago, Catwoman73 said: Hi @Sergey, and welcome back! I'm so sorry no one has responded- it's generally best to tag a moderator when you need advice. There are very few of us mods here, and we are all volunteers with busy lives, so sometimes things slip through the cracks. I can edit your title- just let me know what you would like it to be! Five months on Amitriptyline is plenty of time for your body to have make biochemical adaptations to the presence of the drug, and you will need to do a slow taper in order to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, which is among the highest risk psychiatric medications for withdrawal. Coupled with the fact that this is your second exposure to the drug, and second time tapering, I think you are going to have to move slower than you would hope. In your case, I would recommend following a hyperbolic tapering schedule, like we recommend to most of our site visitors. This means tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose, no more often than every four weeks. So your first few dose changes would be: 22.5mg, 20.3mg, 18.3mg, 16.5mg. Just multiply your current dose by 0.9 to get your next dose. Read more on hyperbolic tapering here: Why taper by 10% of my dosage? In order to do this, you will need to cut tablets, and create your own liquid suspension as you proceed. We can help you with that, but I'll link you to our amitriptyline tapering thread to get you started: Tips for tapering off Amitriptyline Be aware- some people cannot even tolerate tapering at this rate, and need to slow down, or make smaller cuts. That's totally ok- I'm in it for the long haul, tapering at a maximum rate of 5% every six weeks right now. And it does get harder as your dose gets lower and lower, as these drugs have a VERY large effect on the brain at low doses. I would strongly recommend you keep a symptom journal as you proceed with your taper- this will help you identify periods where you may be moving too quickly, or help identify things that might be triggering withdrawal symptoms. It is common to become highly sensitive to medications, supplements and even foods while tapering, so that journal becomes a very good source of information to help you figure out what's causing problems as you move along. Here is a list of typical antidepressant withdrawal symptoms for your reference. You can use this as a template for a journal, if you wish: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) As you proceed, you will likely experience good days/weeks and bad days/weeks. This is normal, and is known as the windows and waves pattern of stabilization. Keeping that journal can help you identify your patterns- for example, when I make a drop, I tend to notice peak effects at around 15 days after the change. This can help me with planning my life- I don't want to have peak symptoms around the time I am travelling or something. So this is another plug for keeping that journal lol! Here's more info on windows and waves: The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization It's nice that you were able to come here and ask for advice prior to initiating a taper. My suspicion is that you won't have too many difficulties at first. I would recommend you use this time to learn about some non-drug methods of coping with emotional symptoms, should they pop up. These things are much easier to learn when you are feeling stable, so now is a great time. Here are links to some methods that work for many here. It takes some practice to get the most out of many of these techniques, but I can assure you, it's worth pursuing. Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep Ways to cope with daily anxiety "Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms Dealing With Emotional Spirals After saying all this, I will say that not everyone experiences withdrawal. You may get lucky! But I'd rather see you be safe than sorry. Go slow, keep a symptom journal, and investigate some coping mechanisms as you begin your taper. The key to success is preparation, right? And we are here to help you along the way- please don't hesitate to post, and tag a few of the currently active moderators if you need advice or encouragement. We're here to help! ❤️ Thank you so much! I really appreciate you providing all this information right here in this topic. I will be posting once in a while to update my tapering results. 1 02/19/24 - 02/24/24 Amitriptyline 5mg 02/25/24 - 03/02/24 Amitriptyline 7.5mg 03/03/24 - 05/30/24 Amitriptyline 10mg 05/31/24 - 06/08/24 Amitriptyline 15mg 06/09/24 - 07/13/24 Amitriptyline 20mg 07/14/24 - Present Amitriptyline 25mg Link to comment
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