MelissaF2022: Desperate to find answers

[MelissaF2022]

Back in the summer around July I thought it would be a great idea to stop a decade worth of Amitriptlian cold Turkey. I was/am suffering memory issues and a Dr thought it was due to the length of time on drug. I have horrid anxiety! So I got anxiety and stopping the med so I started again, stopped again bc I was anxious about being on it so I stopped again, then started again ect. Here I am maybe 6 months later and I’ve recently started having internal tremors. At first they stated when I went to bed and would wake, now I’m feeling them during the day. My PCP and neurologist say it’s just anxiety. They want me to stop Ami and start Zoloft. I’m anxious about doing that also! I have a few left over Xanax from a trip to Hawaii to calm my flying anxiety so when I take one my internal tremors fade. I can’t stay on Xanax long term so I’m anxious on correcting the internal vibrations so I can function without Xanax. My thoughts: 

Did I mess up my brain stopping and starting Amitriptlian? Do we think the internal tremors are from withdraw or reinstating the Ami? Or, can the Xanax be adding to the tremors when it’s leaving my system? I’m a dumpster fire anymore .. just want to function normally 

Thanks everyone! 

[Erell]

Hello @MelissaF2022, 

 

And welcome on SA.
 

I am sorry you are having such a rough time : know this is not permanent and our nervous systems have great healing abilities.

Could you complete your drug signature by clicking on this link : Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.
Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements. Also include supplements.

I understand that you have given the info in you posts above but this will appear below every post you make, and allow the Mods to see your history at a glance and give you the most accurate sugegstion we can.

Questions : 
 

-> How have your symptoms changed since you reinstated amitriptyline?
-> How much xanax do you take, at what dose and how often? (please also include these details in your signature)

-> How have your symptoms changed since you take xanax ?

 

 You're not the only one in this situation, the symptoms you describe are common and are the result of a destabilization of the nervous system.

If you feel able to read, I invite you to take a look at these links which will allow you to better understand what is happening to you: 

 

1. how-psychiatric-drugs-remodel-your-brain

 

2. why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage

 

3. -tips-for-tapering-off-amitriptyline

For the moment, I invite you not to change anything and to share with us your signature and the answers to the questions: this will allow us to better understand where you are and to see with you which paths can be relevant.

 

 

 

 

I send you my support, and the assurance that these feelings are not permanent, 
 Take care.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @MelissaF2022

 

On 1/26/2022 at 9:04 PM, MelissaF2022 said:

Did I mess up my brain stopping and starting Amitriptlian?

 

You developed severe withdrawal syndrome from amitriptyline cold turkey. All your treatment since then has been for symptoms of withdrawal.

 

What exactly are you taking now and when did you start taking it this time around?

 

What are your current symptoms? How's your sleep?

[MelissaF2022]

Thank you for responding to me as I’m a nervous mess! 
what do you mean when you say “ all your treatment since then has been for symptoms of withdraw”? 
I’m taking 10mg of Ami at bedtime. I took Zoloft for 2 nights but I’ve decided today I’m not going to mix anything else in to this already disaster. My Dr called in Xanax when I become anxious and right before bed to try and stop the nighttime vibration.  Those typically come on 330-430am most nights this past week. The vibrations I have been feeling last 3 weeks most nights. I have been back on Ami consistently for about a month maybe. 
my symptoms during the day are feeling anxious inside but controllable. The nighttime vibrations/tremors petrify me and I can’t sleep after they start. I generally take a Xanax and can fall back to sleep within reason. 
tonight I took 10mg Ami and 2.5mg melatonin to try and sleep. 
my head has been hurting 5/6 out of 10 the last few days but I also had started Zoloft so maybe that was the cause there. I took Zoloft for 3 days but not today. 
I hope I haven’t done much damage to myself. How long will I prob have side effects ( mainly these vibrations) 

thank you!! 

[Altostrata]

What effect does this 10mg amitriptyline have on you?

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[MelissaF2022]

It has worked great all this time for migraines. I stopped cold Turkey for few weeks, went back on and stopped again just a few days at a time. I’ve been back on them every night for a few weeks now. I just don’t know what the nighttime vibrations are from. I’m thinking a post covid symptom or from the inconsistency taking Ami. Hoping nothing serious 

[Altostrata]

I cannot follow your recent history. What are you taking now? In the last month, what dates did you take it? Does taking it make you feel better or worse?

 

When did you have covid?

[MelissaF2022]

I don’t have exact dates that I stopped cold Turkey but it was likely July 2021. I started back maybe Sept 2021. But was not consistent every night. Had covid first week Nov 2021. Fully vaccinated prior to covid and a very mild case. I have been consistently taking Ami 10mg for the last 2 months maybe. In Jan 2022 my daughter tested positive and I believe I had it for the 2nd time but test was negative but had congestion symptoms with her. About 3 weeks ago I started having vibrations in my chest, head and arms during the night, almost always around 330-430am. These at first were not nightly but the last week they have become every night between 330-430am. I do take .5 mg of Xanax to help calm me down and get back to sleep, helps for the most part. I’m worried though this could be more and I’m masking it with Xanax. I can take a nap during the day and not have those vibrations though which is strange to me. I do have horrible anxiety ( health anxiety) and have been labeled so by all Dr’s which scare me they will overlook me. The last 4 days I’ve had headaches. My PCP wanted me to take Zoloft. I took 12.5 for 2 nights and then 25mg 2 nights ago but I believe that’s where my headaches came from so I decided to not continue taking them, I did not take Zoloft last night. Should I up the Ami and try to even myself out again, add the Zoloft in, take nothing? Idk what to do at all. And as we have all seen, the Dr’s  just don’t understand this. I’ve been on Ami 11-12 years at 10mg, tried to stop last summer bc I’m having memory issues and Dr thinks I’ve been on Ami to long 

[Altostrata]

If I were you, I'd stop Zoloft and take 10mg amitriptyline again, see if you feel better.

 

Sorry, cannot answer additional questions until you summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 

[MelissaF2022]

I didn’t take Zoloft last night and don’t plan to take anymore. My last question please if I may, I’m still on Ami 10mg and having these internal vibrations every night between 330-430, do you think this is just anxiety related? It feels like a vibration inside my body. Can a brain wake me at the same time every night in anxiety mode? How long until the Ami settles me out since I’m consistently back on them? Have you heard of Ami doing this to others? 
mom going to fill out the rest of my profile but I can’t figure it out, going to see if my daughter can help me 

thank you again! 

[Altostrata]

Sorry, cannot answer additional questions until you summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 

[SonSetFree]

Hi Melissa, I'm reading that vibrations are being reported as a long covid symptom.  Maybe that explains your situation?  I don't know when you got covid and when you started experiencing the vibrations, but that could be it.

 

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-safety-outcomes/vibrations-tremors-an-emerging-long-covid-19-symptom-for-some-patients.html#:~:text=Some physicians who work with,Street Journal reported Dec.