Puglet: amitriptyline withdrawal

[Puglet]

Can people please share with me how there journey was when discontinued amitriptyline ? 
 

I am currently 11 months of & feeling so ill & desperate right now ... the symptoms did ease but this las 4 weeks have been horrendous .... please is there still hope it will all go away .... I want my life back I was put on this drug for nerve pain .

 

i

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Puglet.

 

A wave (bad spell) is very common at the 10-to-12 month point.  Recovery is not linear--there are going to be ups and downs (windows and waves).

But you will heal.  It's just going to take some time.  

 

So that you have a better idea of what you're experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal and healing.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain the healing process really well:

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

If anxiety is one of your symptoms, I found this restorative yoga pose to be helpful with withdrawal anxiety.

 

10 minute Restorative Yoga for Relaxation | Up the wall

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you fond your way here.

 

 

[Puglet]

Thank you so much for your reply ... I feel so very desperate right now .

I thought I’d Turned a corner as I had a run of about 8weeks of feeling relatively well but then 4 weeks ago it’s like I’ve been hit by a truck & feel so ill & it’s starting to make me feel so sad .

 

i will read the information you’ve provided & thank you so much .... I just find it so frustrating when doctors fail to see this as problem & try to diagnose something else .

[Puglet]

Protracted withdrawal

 

12 months off amitriptyline .... the symptoms right now feel so bad & im struggling to have hope that I’m going to heal ... can anybody share any info on protracted withdrawals ... I was doing so well but the last 7 weeks have been so debilitating with lots of symptoms 

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[ChessieCat]

We ask all members to create a drug signature so that the moderators can see your history at a glance.  Please create your drug signature.  Please include any other drugs you have previously or are currently taking.  Instructions for what is needed:  please-summarize-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature

 

This link goes to your signature.  Remember to Save after creating/editing it.  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

Thank you.

 

I will ask the other mods for their assistance.  The site has been extremely busy since the beginning of this year and support from the moderators is currently very limited.  Somebody will assist you as they are able to.

 

We encourage members to connect with other members so they can support each other.  Please understand that a member's introduction topic is about them and their topic is a record of their journey so please limit talking about your own issues.  They can always check your introduction topic to find out more about you.  If you make a connection with another member and you wish to support each other, this could be done via PM, or you could start a topic in the Off Topic Forum which would allow other members to join in.

 

Also:

 

i-started-a-private-facebook-group-for-sa-members-only  (please note:  this group is NOT affiliated with SA)

 

would-you-be-open-to-being-my-phone-friend

 

[Puglet]

Protracted withdrawal

 

12 months since I discontinued June 2019amitriptyline ... I was so poorly for the first 5 months so I then reinstated on 25 mg  November 2019 that then just heightened the withdrawals I discontinued again after 2 weeks .

 

In March 2020 I started to feel

quite well & had 8 weeks of doing so well .

Then literally like a flick of a switch I’ve been so ill again with most awful

symptoms .... is this normal after 12 months off & having a run of feeling well

for  8 weeks ?

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[Altostrata]

Hello, puglet. Was your last dosage of amitriptyline 10mg, then you went off? Did you consider reinstatement at that time?

 

Even at this remove, often reinstating a tiny amount, such as 1mg, can help. See About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

This topic has instructions for taking a small amount Tips for tapering off amitriptyline

 

If it helps, you'd stay on a small amount for some time, then go off by miniscule amounts later. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Puglet]

On 7/2/2020 at 10:05 PM, Puglet said:

Protracted withdrawal

 

12 months off amitriptyline .... the symptoms right now feel so bad & im struggling to have hope that I’m going to heal ... can anybody share any info on protracted withdrawals ... I was doing so well but the last 7 weeks have been so debilitating with lots of symptoms 

 

I did resinstate after suffering 5 months off however it just heightened the withdrawals so after 2 weeks I CT 

this is horrendous & literally so frightend I won’t ever be well again . 

 

 

[Gridley]

46 minutes ago, Puglet said:

can anybody share any info on protracted withdrawals .

 

In our experience, the vast majority, if not all, of the people who suffer from protracted withdrawal do heal.  Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how long it will take.  Here is a link on protracted withdrawal (PAWS).

Protracted Withdrawal or PAWS (post-acute withdrawal ...

For more links Google "SurvivingAntidepressants.org PAWS"

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

 

[Puglet]

Thank you 😓

[Puglet]

Omega 3 fish oil

 

Currently 15 months off amitriptyline 

still suffering withdrawals .... started taking omega 3 about 12 weeks ago 

not noticed any change in the way I feel .

 

just wondering if people take this to help with withdrawals I’m questioning if I’m doing the right thing ... I did hope it would help with healing the brain but I’m still experiencing awful symptoms . 

 

Edited October 27, 2020 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[ChessieCat]

The only supplements which SA recommends are magnesium and omega 3 fish oil.  Please see these topics especially Posts #1 in both topics which give a lot of information:

 

Magnesium

Omega-3 Fish Oil