Runnergirl: Amitriptyline

[Runnergirl]

Hi,  I am hope to get some help here.  I tapered off Amitriptyline 5 weeks ago.  ( Was on 7 years 25 mg.)  I did a fairly slow taper, I just wanted off the POISON.  I have extreme insomnia....I am taking supplements, but nothing seems to be working.  There is no way I am going back on any Poison again.    Will the brain heal? Thank You.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Runnergirl and welcome to SA,

 

The only known way to reduce withdrawal symptoms is to reinstate the drug which your brain has adapted to.  Depending on your taper regimen and the last dose you took, a very small amount may be all that is needed (sometimes as little as 0.5mg or 1mg).  We can suggest a dose for you to reinstate if you decide to do this.  Please do not take the last dose your took as your brain will already have made some adaptations since you have been off.

 

Psychiatric drugs change our brain.  It is a physiological dependence, not a physical dependence like caffeine or nicotine.  My own experience of trying to reduce my Pristiq:  I was taking 100mg and reduced to 50mg.  After 3 weeks of extreme cog fog I was unable to type.  I have been a typist for 40+ years so I knew that something was wrong.  I had joined SA a few days before this happened and they had suggested increasing my dose of Pristiq.  When I couldn't type I took extra Pristiq and about 4 hours later I was able to type again.  I knew it was because of the drug.  I have since been tapering following SA's recommendations and I am now down to 12mg and have only experienced mild withdrawal symptoms during the last 2.5 years.

 

Below I will give you some links to check out.  There is a symptom checklist.  You may be experiencing symptoms which you haven't realised are withdrawal symptoms, eg upset stomach.

 

We ask all members to create a drug signature.  Please use the preferred format:

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 

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Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Tips for tapering off amitriptyline

 

Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

I can understand that you do not want to take the drug again, but so that you can make an informed decision I will tell you that if you do not reinstate your symptoms might worsen and could possibly last for several years or longer.  We have members here who have had to leave their job, some have become bed bound, some have had to move in with relatives and some have had their relationship break down.

 

This is your own Introduction topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.  We encourage members to visit members' Intro topics and connect with other members of the community.

[Runnergirl]

I do not want to put that POISON back into my body........I have been off about 8 weeks now......I have had some some sleep.....I want my brain to heal naturally.   I am a healthy , 57 year old female.  I have been a runner for 37 years.....I still run/jog and do workouts.  I will never put something horrible in my body again.  My doctor should have known better.  I am on the benzo. buddies site....and they have been wonderful too!.    Do people recover?

 

Thank you for your help.

[Runnergirl]

Hello, I am new to this site, so I will try my best at this.  My doctor put me on Klonopin (7 years ago) and also Amitriptyline (7 years ago).  I have been off the Klonopin ( did a taper) for 9 months.  I tapered off the Amitriptyline and have been off for about 2 months.  I have horrible insomnia, cannot fall asleep or stay asleep and also feel nausea.   Are these symptoms of withdrawal?  I do not trust doctors anymore....he should not have had me on these for 7 years!!!  I was on for anxiety and sleep issues, but I believe these were menopause issues, buy my doctor never checked me for this. 

 

Will our brains heal from these POISONS?     I appreciate any help.  Thank you.

[ChessieCat]

I have merged the new Intro topic you created with your original Intro topic.  Each member has only 1 Intro topic where they can ask questions and journal their progress.  This keeps your history in one place and can help other members.  Please do not create any more Intro topics.  Thank you.

[Gridley]

Runnergirl,

 

Regarding the nausea, you might consider eliminating all your vitamins and see if that helps.  Also, B-vitamins can be overstimulating to those in withdrawal and can contribute to sleep problems.  And consider a small dose of melatonin (1/2mg to start) if you haven't already tried it.

 

Melatonin for sleep

[Altostrata]

Hello, runnergirl.

 

Sleeplessness is a very, very common withdrawal symptom. Going on and off drugs can make your nervous system hypersensitive, that's probably what happened when you went off Klonopin, it made your system more sensitive to going off amitriptyline. This can also make you hypersensitive to vitamins.

 

As ChessieCat said, a tiny amount of amitriptyline, such as 1mg, may help. You'd stabilize on that for some months, then taper off by minuscule amounts.

 

If you have been very gradually feeling better over the last 8 weeks, it's possible that in some months your sleep will be back to normal without reinstating amitriptyline.