Browneyes: Withdrawal from amitriptyline

[Browneyes]

Hi

 

I withdrew from amitriptyline a couple of months ago and still getting severe side effects. Inbalance , lightedness every time I  move my head, pulsating feeling in brain. I have spoken to neurologists, doctors (tell me it's not the drug that cause side effects). The doctors can only predictably dizziness tablets. I have symptoms all day, they severe and effecting my quality of life. Please can someone advise who I can get help from next?

 

 

Edited January 7 by Emonda
Name to title

[Jane318]

Greetings @Browneyes and welcome to SA.   We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. 

 

So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. This link should go directly to your own signature: Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.  

 

Specifically, we need more information about your history with amitriptyline.  How long were you on it?  What doses?  How long ago and how did you get off it - cold turkey or taper?  If a taper, please provide dates / dosages.  Please list any other drugs you are taking.

 

From what you have told us already, however, it is possible that you are suffering acute withdrawal from, I suspect, a too-fast discontinuation of the AD.  Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience.  You will note that this list includes the symptoms you are experiencing.  It is not unusual for symptoms to appear or significantly worsen after several months off the drug.

 

 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  It isn’t a guarantee of diminished symptoms but it’s the best tactic available. The only alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

Reinstatement predictably works up to 3 months after last dose.  It is best to reinstate as soon as possible after withdrawal symptoms occur. We usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose.  These drugs are strong, and when reinstating it is better to start with a small amount and increase if symptoms remain unbearable. Your system has become sensitized and if you take too much it may be too much for your brain and can cause you become unstable.  Sometimes it can be hard to regain stability after this happens.  Then, once you've stabilized on that dosage, which can take several months, you can begin a 10% per month taper down to zero.   Please read:

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

How long does it take to stabilize after reinstating or updosing?

Hypersensitivity and kindling

 

Once you complete your drug signature, we can advise further.

 

This is your introduction topic.  Each member gets one intro topic- please post updates and questions here, in this thread.

 

I look forward to hearing from you - Best wishes.