Ilias: Amitriptilyne: Bad tinnitus and Awful headaches following withdrawal and reinstating

[Ilias]

Hi dear members,

Earlier in february 2020 i was prescribed amitriptilyne for some slight sleeo desorder, nothing serious too, but start feeling lik it gives me head pressure.

I took 15mg at night during 3 months then i quite off suddenly. After 17 days of being off i start having bad insomnia, so i was advised to resinstate at 10mg, there where my life just become unmanageable, cause i start developping all kind of withdrawal symptoms you can possibly imagine.

I suffered, ans still suffer from multiple withdrawal symptom, such as awful headaches/bad Tinnitus, urine retention, ever since a quite Cold Turkey following my neurologist recommondation. I was only on 15mg. Perhaps the word "only" isn't appropriate when we talk about amitriptilyne. There is no such thing called small dose.

I would like to know if your Tinnitus healed or at least get improved? Cause Tinnitus is one of the most painful withdrawal symptom that i still struggle with almost a year now.

MANY THANKS for your answer!

 

Amitriptilyne 15mg from february 5th 2020 to April 25 2020, then cold turkey.

Reinstate Amitriptilyne 10mg from March 11 2020 to march 30, then taper off 2mg every week.

0.00mg by the end of june 2020.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm sorry to hear that you are having to deal with this.  Overall, are you feeling better now than you were last summer after you got off?  Were or are you on any other drugs?  If so, please add them to your drug signature.  

 

Tinnitus is a common withdrawal symptom.  Many people here have had it.  Yes, I believe it will gradually go away.  

 

Tinnitus

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here is a list of common psych med WD symptoms: 

 

Glenmullen WIthdrawal Symptom List

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

 

Magnesium 

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

[Ilias]

@getofflex thanks a lot for responding and the time you took to read my message. It's prety nice from you.

Actually since i quite off amitriptilyne i decided to not take any drug as i lost trust in all doctors and pharmaceuticals products.

My condition just get worst every day...i'm afraid to lose control on my self...headaches just get awful, and the tinnitus is just unpleasant and cant mask it anymore.

It's been a year now, and honnestly i dont cant see any light at the end of the tunnel.

I wish i found this group before i start that medication, otherwise i wouldn't touch it.

[getofflex]

@Iliasyou could try a small reinstatement, just to help lessen your withdrawal symptoms.  Oftentimes this helps.  Going back on a small dose of your drug  is best done very carefully.  This is temporary, and after stabilizing you would then taper gradually off of this.  There is some risk involved.

 

 Here is some information about reinstatement.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

On 5/5/2021 at 8:32 PM, Ilias said:

Amitriptilyne 15mg from february 5th 2020 to April 25 2020, then cold turkey.

Reinstate Amitriptilyne 10mg from March 11 2020 to march 30, then taper off 2mg every week.

0.00mg by the end of june 2020.

 

Your drug sig above says you took the drug from Feb 5 to April 25 2020, but then you say you reinstatement from march 11 to march 30 2020.  Did you mean to say 2021 here? we need to know this, so we can properly advise you.  

 

2 hours ago, Ilias said:

It's been a year now, and honnestly i dont cant see any light at the end of the tunnel.

I know it must be very discouraging to still feel so bad after a year.  However, there is hope!  It takes a very long time for the nervous system to heal itself.  Try reading some of the success stories for hope:  

 

Success Stories

[Ilias]

@getofflex i dont think i could touch again that drug. Amitriptilyne for me  now is a poison, and would rather die than to take it again.

 

About your question concerning the reinstatement, it's 2020. I mean i reinstate at march 11 2020 taking 10mg, keep that way until march 30 2020 (wich is less than a month), but start deveolping bad symptoms (like constipation, urinary retention, tinnitus), so decided to taper off by 2mg every week. By the end of june 2020 i was completly off. 

No one could tell me cearly if those symptoms are due to the witdrawal or to the reinstatement..i was completly confused, that's why i decided to stop it.

[getofflex]

37 minutes ago, Ilias said:

@getofflex i dont think i could touch again that drug. Amitriptilyne for me  now is a poison, and would rather die than to take it again.

I respect your decision, and applaud your strength and resolve in doing this.  

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Reading success stories can really help: 

 

Success Stories 

[Ilias]

@getofflex thanks a lot for your messages!

Actually i dont take drugs too much...so far my drug history can be summerized to : 

2020 05 February Amitriptilyne 15mg

2020 24 April Cold turkey of Amitriptilyne from 15mg to 0.00mg

2020 11 March Reinstate Amitriptilyne 10mg

2020 31 March 8mg, 6 March 8mg, 13 March 6mg, 20 March 4mg, 27 March 2mg, 30 June 0.00mg

 

I'm not so sure if i did confom to the drug history sigbature rules...if it's not clear please let me know.

[getofflex]

@Iliasthank you, this looks perfect.