"Doctors Often Prescribe Antidepressants for Pain, But Do They Really Work?" -- from drugs.com

Posted February 3, 2023

This summarizes findings from an article published in the British Medical Journal.

Amitriptyline: prescribed 10 mg/day in mid-August 2022

Began fairly quick taper 18 October 2022 to 3 mg by 9 November (no withdrawal symptoms)
Reinstated at 10 mg on 9 November leading to some serious sleep disturbance
- 10–17 November, tried 8 or 9 mg
- 18 November, 10 mg
- 19–22 November, 3.5 mg after advice to drop back to taper level
- 23 November – 14 Dec., 3 mg
- 15–22 Dec., 2.7 mg
- 23 Dec. 2022 to 3/15/2023, ranged from 2.5 mg up to 3 mg w/partial reinstatement after bad crash provoked by CBD/THC gummy, then slowly back down to 2.5 with long hold in March
- from 15 March 2023, continued slow taper (Brassmonkey slide, 2.5% week + 2 week hold every 4 weeks) to 1.2 mg as of 1/1/24. Increased tapering speed to 20% in 6 weeks, probably bad idea.

Other medications: albuterol inhaler as needed, acetaminophen as needed

Supplements: daily multivitamin, magnesium glycinate 400 mg/day PRN, probiotics
Caffeine: Max 1 cup coffee/day or 2 cups of tea

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