Riffick Posted February 3, 2014 Posted February 3, 2014 I general, how easily do people become dependent on nortriptyline? I really don't want to become dependent on nortriptyline and later have to taper it over months with similar withdrawal symptoms to my benzos. So I would welcome any views on the risks involved in my use of nortriptyline. BACKGROUND: I am taking 10mg nortriptyline to help reduce the terrible head aches and head pressure I have been getting during my taper off benzos. (After 10 years of taking different benzos, I have tapered from 18mg diazepam to 2mg over 20 months.) I may even have to increase the nortriptyline to 15mg or 20mg if my headaches return. I hope to take the 10-15mg nortriptyline for a total time of 6 to 8 months. I have never taken nortriptyline before and the last antidepressant I took was Parnate about 15 years ago. I know from my benzo experience and from hanging out on another benzo board that everyone responds differently but any generalizations would still be useful in helping me decide how to use nortriptyline. Thank you for any advice or information. Difficult two year benzo taper. Subsequently took amitriptyline and Lyrica for pain and had to taper off them too. Both tapers were brutal possibly because of an underlying mitochondrial disorder which caused nerves to have insufficient energy to function.
Meimeiquest Posted February 3, 2014 Posted February 3, 2014 Alto wrote to someone once that part of the reason SSRI's were developed was the difficulty with WD from the tricyclics. Apart from that I know nothing. As I proceed through tapering, I just become more sensitive. On the other hand, I don't regret the drugs that I added in during tapers. At the points I added them, I didn't understand the symptoms I was having well enough to manage them without freaking out. 1st round Prozac 1989/90, clear depression symptoms. 2nd round Prozac started 1999 when admitted to dr. I was tired. Prozac pooped out, switch to Cymbalta 3/2006. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to mania 6/2006--then I was taken abruptly off Cymbalta and didn't know I had SSRI withdrawal. Lots of meds for my intractable "bipolar" symptoms. Zyprexa started about 9/06, mostly 5mg. Tapered 4/12 through12/29/12 Wellbutrin. XL 300 mg started 1/07, tapered 1/18/13 through 7/8/13 Oxazepam mostly continuously since 6/06, 30mg since 12/12, tapered 1.17.14 through 8.26.15 11/06 Lithium 600mg twice daily, 2.2.14 400mg TID DIY liquid, 2.12.14 1150mg, 3.2.14 1100mg, 3.18.14 1075mg, 4/14 updose to 1100mg, 6.1.14 900 mg capsules 7.8.14 810mg, 8.17.14 725mg, 8.24.24 700mg...10.22.14 487.5mg, 3.9.15 475mg, 4.1.15 462.5mg 4.21.15 450mg 8.11.15 375mg, 11.28.15 362.5mg, back to 375mg four days later, 3.4.16 updose to 475 (too much going on to risk trouble) 9/4/13 Toprol-XL 25mg daily for sudden hypertension, tapered 11.12.13 through 5.3.14, last 10 days or so switched to atenolol 7.4.14 Started Walsh Protocol 56 years old
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 3, 2014 Administrator Posted February 3, 2014 Nortriptyline is as difficult to go off as any other psychiatric drug. When you are ready to go off, plan on tapering. 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.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 3, 2014 Administrator Posted February 3, 2014 US official information http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682620.html Do not stop taking nortriptyline without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking nortriptyline, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea, and weakness. Your doctor will probably want to decrease your dose gradually. 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.
Riffick Posted February 4, 2014 Author Posted February 4, 2014 <text removed> Difficult two year benzo taper. Subsequently took amitriptyline and Lyrica for pain and had to taper off them too. Both tapers were brutal possibly because of an underlying mitochondrial disorder which caused nerves to have insufficient energy to function.
Riffick Posted February 4, 2014 Author Posted February 4, 2014 Nortriptyline is as difficult to go off as any other psychiatric drug. When you are ready to go off, plan on tapering. Oh no ... it's probably going to have to be a taper. Sigh! If I was the sort of person who would go at no more than half the speed of Ashton's benzo schedules, then what sort of time scale could I be looking at to get off 15mg nortriptyline? Difficult two year benzo taper. Subsequently took amitriptyline and Lyrica for pain and had to taper off them too. Both tapers were brutal possibly because of an underlying mitochondrial disorder which caused nerves to have insufficient energy to function.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 5, 2014 Administrator Posted February 5, 2014 http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4011-tips-for-tapering-off-nortriptyline/ 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.
Riffick Posted February 6, 2014 Author Posted February 6, 2014 http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4011-tips-for-tapering-off-nortriptyline/ Hiya Alto. Thank you for the link. Crug pharmacokinetics are not the real issue. Just as with benzos, it's the neuro-adaptations and disrupted homeostasis that I am more concerned about. I've had a very tough ride with benzos. It wasn't until I read Bliss John's second book (where she pointed out that callers to her helpline were just as likely to be withdrawing from AD's as from benzos) that I realized that ADs had a withdrawal syndrome whose symptoms are similar to benzo withdrawal. I've seen several people who were in benzo withdrawal try other benzos, phenibut, or alcohol because those things genuinely do help ... but they ended up with an even worse tangle of dependencies than they started with. So I want to be safe rather than sorry. If someone asked me if 1mg diazepam for 6 months was a big problem I would say it is unlikely; but if they said 10mg for 3 months then I would say be careful; and if they said 20mg for 8 months I would say the chances are greater than even of getting dependent (even allowing for the fact that the majority of benzo users can stop without significant difficulty). I'm hoping someone can say something similar about my nortriptyline: 10-15mg nortriptyline for a total time of 6 to 8 months. Thank you for any advice. Difficult two year benzo taper. Subsequently took amitriptyline and Lyrica for pain and had to taper off them too. Both tapers were brutal possibly because of an underlying mitochondrial disorder which caused nerves to have insufficient energy to function.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 6, 2014 Administrator Posted February 6, 2014 Yes, you run the risk of withdrawal syndrome. You can experience neuro-adaptations and disrupted homeostasis on low doses of psychiatric drugs also. Withdrawal symptoms are NOT dosage-dependent. You're trying to rationalize taking 10-15mg nortriptyline for a total time of 6 to 8 months. Especially since you've experienced benzo withdrawal, you need to factor in the possibility of withdrawal difficulties, as your nervous system may be more susceptible to them. 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.
Riffick Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 Hello Alto. I've decided to come off the nortriptyline and recently finished it. Sorry if I sounded confused and anxious but that's because I was. Thank you for your help and patience. It is appreciated. Now all I have left to taper is my benzo! Difficult two year benzo taper. Subsequently took amitriptyline and Lyrica for pain and had to taper off them too. Both tapers were brutal possibly because of an underlying mitochondrial disorder which caused nerves to have insufficient energy to function.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 28, 2014 Administrator Posted February 28, 2014 Good to hear, Riffick. How much were you taking and how did you come off? Please start an Introductions topic for yourself so we can follow what's going on with you. 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.
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