Freedom15: reinstated amitriptyline after CT by doctor

[Freedom15]

Hi i am new here so let me introduce myself and give you the history of why i have become member.

 

I originally got tinnitus about 18 months ago from noise. I was a sound engineer when younger so my past had caught me up. I went and had all tests and was told nothing could be done. I started to get headaches and siatic pain down left side which seem to come on at same time thetinntus did.

 

The doctors prescrided me 20mg of amitriptyline to be taken at night to help prevent migraines and help with sleep. I took it for about 11months but for last couple months i started feeling anxious, paranoid and suicidal in waves. I attended to A&E department who said that only way to tell if the symptoms were side effects of drug was to come off them and that i would have see GP.

 

I went see the GP who didn' t believe the drugs were causing issues and that i had aggitated depression and needed to take different anti-depressent and stop the amitriptyline. I wasnt feeling well and did what GP had said and stoped the amitriptyline with no taper and started citrolpam. I took citrolpam for 4 days but just felt out of it so i stopped it. I didn't sleep for 14 days and had massive waves of syptoms.

 

Went back doctors and he said i was ill like he had said and looked anxious. Tryed get him understand it was withdrawl syptoms. Doctor told me i needed to go back on amitriptyline but 50mg this time. I questioned the dose increase but as i wasn't feeling mentally or physically well i got tablets. I reinstated back onto the amitriptyline but only took 25mg for first week. The withdrawl symtems were still there but slowing a little.

 

Decided to take the 50mg as doctor said as i really didnt know what i was doing by then. Made feel even worse than i was feeling. Friends told me to go back to GP but get second opinon from different doctor. Changed doctor and explained i was in withdrawl and i wanted to come off amitriptyline due side effects. She listened but still really didn't want say it was in withdrawl altho see did agree if i felt i wasnt depressed i should drop back to the 25mg as only been on 50mg for few days.

 

I have had to take 9 weeks off work and am taking 25mg amitriptyline hoping i will stabilise to some kinda human being. At first i was having the windows and waves were as last few weeks i feel like the windows are getting smaller and waves bigger. I saw the mental health team who again avoided the whole withdrawl thing and tryed blame me.

 

I advised her i want get off the drugs and after reading many forums realise i need to do a very slow taper as i am super sensative. I come here as many do in hope of some feeling like i will be able to come off the amitriptyline at some point and regain the person that i feel i have lost.

Edited July 19, 2016 by scallywag
tags added

[mammaP]

Hi welcome to SA. There is no wonder you are feeling so rotten, that is a lot of changes in a short space of time,

your nervous system is in chaos. You are not to blame though, you did what the doctors told you to do and they know what

they are doing don't they? After all they studied for years! WRONG, they are educated by the drug reps who are employed

by the drug companies and they want everyone on their drugs  .

 

25 mg is far too high a dose when you were getting side effect from 20mg.  How long is it since you stopped the 50mg after

reinstating?  I think I would reduce by 1mg per week until you get to a more tolerable level then hold for a few months to 

stabilise before resuming a slow taper. I would have suggested cutting by half right away but after a few weeks your brain

is getting used to the new dose  and that could make things even worse by plunging you back into withdrawal. 

 

Can you tell us dates if you can remember when you started the 25, increased to 50 and dropped to 25 again? It will give us

a better idea of how fast to go down and when to stop. 

 

Here is the topic for tapering amitryptiline http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1099-tips-for-tapering-off-amitriptyline/

 

In the meantime you need to take good care of yourself, eat good nutritious food without added chemicals, get gentle exercise 

and plenty of sleep if possible.  Many people find that omega3 fish oil and magnesium help. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

I hope that you will start to feel better soon. 

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[chicken]

Do a slow taper.

 

My mom was also cold turkeyed off of amitriptyline by a pain doctor and had horrible insomnia for months. They ended up putting her on trazadone. I don't like that she went to another drug but she is elderly and I believe the insomnia would have done her in.

 

I didn't know she had cold turkeyed it until too late. Tapering would have spared her the insomnia and going on another drug.

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[westcoast]

Hello. Welcome. I am glad you joined and posted. You are right, and the doctors are wrong, regarding your problems and their cause.

I hope your care team finally sees the light and gives you the respect you deserve. This is real. But if they do not, to heck with them. They drink the kool-aid, and must love the side effects

 

WC

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[Fresh]

Welcome,      you'll find this site is full of kind souls who have had similar experiences to yourself.    We've all "lost ourselves"   in the process.

It sounds like you have a good handle on the situation now - I agree you should let things stabilize first , and when you taper go really slow.

I believe our true selves aren't really lost in this process , they're just in hiding/masked.   Mine was , and is coming back now.    Huge relief !!

 

It's only been a month since you reinstated . . . be patient and kind with yourself.

 

Best wishes ,   Fresh

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[Freedom15]

First off thank you all for your replys. Its been such tuff experiance and i really dont know how i made it this far.

My original dose was 20mg at night. I think the side effects i was getting was because i wasn't taking the tablets

at the same time every night and i only found out through this experiance that if make changes to time i take tablets

i get a withdrawl type wave that comes the next day ish. So basicly i had unknowinly been putting myself into

a kinda withdrawl for last 2 months off taking drug prior to seeing the doctor i think which inc anxiousness, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.

I was reinstated back on the 8th dec the doctor wanted me to take 50mg but i took 25mg for 5 days then went to 50mg for 4 days.

I then changed my doctor cause i didn't think the first doctor was helping me after ct and then pushing more pills.

The next doctor told me to drop to 25mg as i had only been at 50mg for 4days and basicly gave me a 7 day 5mg reduction plan to come off which i know was to fast.

I was little nervous with such big drop plus i was thinking well so went 37.5mg for 3 days then dropped to 25mg.

I have stayed on 25mg since then with only one try to drop to 20mg but i really felt that next day with withdrawl and had walk for 10 hours to try and carm myslef so updosed that night to 25mg.

I have been off work for 9 weeks and today is my first day back and i have 3 weeks sick pay left for this year.

Even tho i feel not right at momment i am very worryed about doing anymore changes as i thought it would be better to try just hold bit and get some stabilty what ever that is..

My current symptoms are foggy head, mild anxiousness, tingerling in hands and feet , feeling cold ,pains in my head, and the mental type games after realising

that the drugs have changed me and prob few more.

Even tho i feel mess right now i am able to do stuff which i wasnt when i was in full blown withdrawl.

I am open to peoples suggestions but also feeling warry not to upset myself further which i am sure you all understand.

[Rhiannon]

I think what you're saying makes sense. I agree that your best bet at this point is probably to stay on that 25 mg until you are feeling pretty stable and solid. I'm encouraged to hear that you're already settling down and feeling better than when you were at your worst. There may be more ups and downs, but I agree, your best bet is to stay the course and not upset things further now.

 

Then when you're ready, you can do a slow taper down as far as you want to go, slowly enough that you can function and enjoy your life.

[WiggleIt]

Hi dear... First off, welcome here. You and I have some stuff in common. I, too, used to be in the music industry (loved it), and I am also in withdrawal hell from tricyclic antidepressants. Not ami specifically, but same drug class. My nervous system is too sensitive too reinstate, plus I was just a tad too late by the time I found out how to reinstate and slow taper.

 

Not many others here are dealing with TCAs, but if you see lionofJuda around, lion was also spiraled into this world by a tricyclic.

[Altostrata]

Welcome.

 

Your plan to stay at 25mg amitriptyline until you feel better makes sense. This can be for several months.

 

When you do want to go off, please read Tips for tapering off amitriptyline

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[Freedom15]

Yep i am on continual waves of diffence stuff mental and physical. It tends to peak to its highest then i will get a bit of a window. When i wasn't on the drugs for the 2 weeks the windows were more me with no issues and the waves where massive to point when they peaked i wanted to just jump off motor way bridges and end it all. Now i have reinstated its made some stuff better but other things different i some times question if it was right decission as i still feel so up and down. I am getting better sleep now as i didnt sleep for 4 weeks out 5 with the CT. i think like everyone says first thing is to try and just keep stable and not rush stuff my nervous system has taken a pure battering due to the doctors stupidaty. My ultimate goal is to come off the drugs as i was only on them for headaches from tinnitus but also i need to try live the best i can under the cards i have been dealt with now.

[Petunia]

Hi, welcome from me too.

 

If you are sleeping better and some of your symptoms have improved, then it sounds to me like reinstating was a good decision.  Its going to take a bit more time before all your symptoms settle down, as you have noticed, this happens in a windows and waves kind of pattern.

 

I'm sure that once you stabilize, you will be successful in coming off this drug if you taper slowly. 

 

On 1/29/2015 at 8:58 AM, Altostrata said:

When you do want to go off, please read Tips for tapering off amitriptyline

 

Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[Freedom15]

Thanks to all that post and reply it is most appriciated.

Last week was up and down.

I have had small windows for couple days with waves of standard physical and mental symptoms.

Shacks, pins needles in hands feet, anxious in mornings till about lunch time plus blurry eye site with funny focusing on close up things sometimes.

It does a real number on you and i dont wish this on anyone.

I didnt get any this type symptoms before so it must be linked to the CT and my body adjusting.

I am continuing on just taking the 25mg dose till i hopefully get stable with most sypmtoms carmed.

[Fresh]

Good on you.   You're going to continue to improve  now . . . everything you described is linked to the C/T.    Sounds like you had some symptoms

of akathisia , unable to be still , needing to walk for hours , feelings of dread , impulsive SI.   They'll settle down.

I'm happy for you that things are getting better.

Best ,   Fresh

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[Freedom15]

Went to see my doctor tonight. It didnt go well. She will not except that i have got withdrawl systoms still from the CT that happened even though i have reinsated. She thinks i have anxiaty and that we need to treat that. She also wanted to know when will i except that i am ill and its nothing to do with being taken off and back onto the amatriptaline.  Its so frustrating as i feel she thinks i am mad in the head or something. I got to go see her in 2 months time and she will be pushing for me to see a specalist who prob will still not believe whats happening and just want me to take more drugs.

[mammaP]

I'm glad that you are having some windows and feeling a little better, that is encouraging.  As you are settled on 25 now it does make sense to stay at that dose for a few months to let your nervous system stabilise. There will be waves but ride them out and they will pass, then the windows will open for you. Enjoy the windows and ride the waves! 

 

Your doctor is typical in not believing in withdrawal, most don't, and believe that it is a return of the 'illness'. I gave up talking to my doctor, just collected the scripts when I needed them because it was pointless, they just don't accept withdrawal and drug reactions and blame it all on 'mental illness'. 

I was waiting for the day when I could face my psychiatrist and tell him that I have tapered off the drug he said I would need for life, and much better for it. I moved to a new area so will not be seeing him again but think I will write him a letter once I am a success story. 

 

In the next 2 months you will be better than you are now and if she tries to get you to take anything else you can politely but firmly say no thank you. Keep things steady, take it at the same time every day, take care of yourself and you will get better. 

[Freedom15]

Hi I need some advice. The waves of withdrawl have slowed a little but what I am noticing is I am getting side effects from the higher dose of 25mg ver the original dose 20mg. I have blurry vision and the dose is defornatly seeming higher as I didn't feel like this before for most of day.

 

If I was to do a 1mg reduction would this cause me to go back into withdrawl ? And then hold to see if helps ??

 

I was going to weight the pills then devide by 25 to get weight to remove to reduce the pills by 1mg.

[Freedom15]

Hi I have already posted on the forum but I am seriously struggling moment and need help with what to do. I was on 20mg amatriptaline for headaches. To cut long story short I was ct to go onto citrolpram which didn't agree with me so they reinstated me back to amatriptyline and wanted me to go to 50mg I ended up agreeing on 25mg as I had started the reinstEment on that. The problem is now the up dose of 5mg is way to high for me I fell like waking up from anastetic everyday and I feel anxious and panicy and fearfull. As day goes on I feel less sedated but then it's time to take dose again. I feel I have lost my self and stuck. I am seeing the doctors tomorrow but I don't want swop drugs I want come off this drug with minimal hassle. I am going to try reduction sat night and see how I am sunday should I try 10% or do a 1mg drop as I am also aware I don't want to become unstable as well. Any help would be apoeicated.

[Pugknows]

Welcome to the forum. A moderator will be along shortly to help you with your reinstatement. In the meantime, just keep everything the same so your CNS can stabilize and soothe itself.

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

I have moved your post into your intro topic, it is one to a person in the Introductions forum. You may post updates and ask for help in it and when you do, it gets bumped to the top of the list so others can see and respond. We want all of your information in one place so we have the whole story and can assess how to advise you.

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[Freedom15]

Hi thanks and sorry I will repost in my original post in future.

 

I am struggling at moment I am as stable as I think I will be its just like say the physical sedation of the amateiptyline is hard deal with and is mentally torturing me everyday to point where I am forcing myself to take tablet at night. By 1-2 in afternoon I feel semi normal but I can constantly taste anastetic in my mouth. It's bern like this for 3 weeks and I tryed soldier on but I am just hitting Brock wall in my self now

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

It is ok, I am reading back through your thread to see if I can come up with something to help you figure out what to do. Bear with me, ok? I am the only mod reading the board at the moment, others will see your thread and add their comments I am sure.

[Freedom15]

Thank you I appricate your help.

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

Ok, I am reading about that particular drug and the source states it is rapidly absorbed, metabolized and rapidly excreted out of the body. For this reason, taking it at different times of the evening may cause you to feel a sort of 'withdrawal' of sorts or just plain 'off' the next day until your body gets used to the drug again. A great many of the 'user reports' here (you might have to click 'see user reports') state that it has a tendency to cause sleepiness so taking it at night as you have been might have been a good idea you stumbled upon. One said that it took awhile for the 'sleepiness' effect to subside. Yours has been going on for 3 weeks, perhaps it has not started to subside yet because it is too soon and you did rock (or your doc did) your body with the cold turkey.

 

You did say above that you felt you were starting to stabilize again?

 

Tricyclics were the first AD's I was given back in the 80's and they were very hard to get used to. I felt like a complete zombie while they were building up in my body and every medication I ever took caused me to have a funny taste in my mouth that I had to get used to. They don't really do anything to cure 'pain' although they are given 'off label' for this. What all of these drugs do is change your perceptions - both bodily and mentally. But if you are on them you can't just yank them away if you don't feel they are something you want to take anymore. They have to be tapered and your doc was completely clueless as usual. Now you are payng a high price for that. And he threw in another drug, compounding the problem.

 

Do you think, now that you have moved your dose to bedtime, that you can wait to see if this makes a change for the better until you feel stable enough to taper off? Do you feel you need to reduce the dose?

[Freedom15]

The sedation i m feeling is not a tired or sleepy type it is a physical anastectic type like when go to the dentist but all over.

i feel very confussed and wierd till about 1-2 pm. i take my tablets regular at 7.30 every night now since reinstatement and i took my tablets before the ct at night.

i didnt have this anastectic type weirdness on 20mg.

Its tortuing me mentally as i feel like i am waking up out of an operation every day and feel less anethatised by end day.

i am just getting to point where i feel like i am taking the tablets against my own will.

Stability wish i would say that everything happens to a regular time but i dont feel my normal self at all.

I felt better the first few weeks of the reinstaement where as now i feel like i am going backwards.

I just feel in hard place and dont know what to do.

I am seeing doctor in the morning but i dont want her to put me on different tablets.

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

Ok, this is what I remember being told when I first started the TCA's long ago. It takes a while for your system to get used to them and that is really why the symptoms are more pronounced in the beginning (and they made me start them at a low dose and work up). When I got higher (and was on them longer) the weird effect went away. But they say that about all AD's so that might be misleading.

 

I have a feeling that your body might not be tolerating the rise in the dose from 20 to 25 but I don't know for sure. Either not enough time has passed (for your body to acclimate and 'forget' about the citalopram that upset it) or else it really is too high for you right now.

 

Do you have any idea what might be going on here? I'd hate for the doc to try to talk you into a higher dose because that might make you feel worse and it will delay you getting to some sort of stability. What is your feeling about this? Remember, we can only advise based on others experiences and that is huge compared to what the docs do. They just repeat what the drug companies tell them.

[Freedom15]

Hi,

 

I only took the citrolpam for 4 days at start of the ct off the amatriptaline.

I am defornatly feelling the dose is to high and i also asked the pharmacist tonight about my symptoms and he also agreed the dosage sounded to high for me.

 

I am in no circumstances taking higher dose. That would push me over edge.

 

I feel i need to reduce and tyry get down to 20mg but i know thats big drop and not advisable.

I considered doing a 1mg drop and holding for 3-4 weeks and then doing that till i was nearer a better dose that wasnt zombiing me out.

It just scares me to do the drop as i just dont want to do withdrawl again but i cant also live my life how i feel everyday either if i am honest.

[Altostrata]

Hello.

 

I think if I were in your situation, I'd reduce to 20mg, as you took before.

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[WiggleIt]

Hi. I cannot give any advice any better than the mods have. Just wanted to drop by and wish you healing.

[Fresh]

Hi Freedom , the name change confused me.     You could go down by 1mg each time , but as you've only reinstated 6-8 weeks ago , your cns hasn't settled in on that dose yet.

 

I would try 20mg , and you'll notice if it makes a positive or negative difference within 24-48 hours.   Then you can reassess.   

[Freedom15]

Hi thanks for all your advice and help.

I went to see the doctors again today and she was totaly against the amatriptaline making me ill.

They took bloods and told me to go see a optician to deal with my blurry eyes that amatriptaline is causing.

I have been signed off for week so i am going to do a 10% reduction tonight and if its tuff tomorrow i will do my best to

get few days under my belt with 10% reduction.

 

I have got 3 weeks full pay then i got onto 12 weeks half pay so i will just have do my best.

I have decided its better fior my health now than the things around me.

I will update daily how i am so please be prepared.

 

Thank you everyone for your surport so far.

[Freedom15]

Right ok i am going to take the advice and go back to the 20mg tonight my friend is going to pick me up so if i am in mess

i can get support.

 

I will keep everyone updated with my progress and any questions.

 

thanks.

[westcoast]

Hi Freedom, I hate to say it but maybe you need yet another doctor. Is it possible to find out in advance if they believe in this syndrome? Perhaps direct them to this site, or to Mad In America, or RxIsk.org?

 

I hate that you are presently trapped in a system where the people doling out the neurotoxins refuse to believe that the drugs can do this to people.

 

I also have the tingling hands and feet, and went through an unpleasant period with cold flashes. Hot flashes are pleasant in comparison.

 

Things that seem to help me are "sleepy" teas containing the usual relaxing herbs like valerian and lavender. I am also trying various supplements. Something finally changed in me a few months ago, and I lost the morning terror once and for all.

 

I don't know if people here recommend supplements (fish oil, turmeric, taurine, etc) during the early phases of withdrawal, but it is worth looking into.

 

My heart goes out to you, I can say that with certainty. I hope you stick around and more importantly, start to feel better.

[Freedom15]

Tomorrow is going to be a tufff day i know as the drop from 25mg to 20mg is quite big and my history of withdrawl from the ct is

anxious, panic, fear, suicidle thoughts.

 

I cant live how i am on daily basis on 25mg so i will just have to tuff the drop out to best i can.

I have got valarian tablets in so if i am all over place i will give them a go.

 

part of me is so scared and part me is releved i dont have take as much drug thats making me ill.

 

I will update you all tomorrow but i know it wont be walk in the park.

 

I just feel like i have been lead wwrongly for months so i am so glad to have made it hear.

I know you cant take pain away but your experiances are far better than the doctors.

[Altostrata]

You do not have to go directly from 25mg to 20mg, you could reduce by 1mg at a time. There is no reason to put your nervous system through the stress of a big jump.

[Freedom15]

I have taken the 20mg now so i will see what happens tomorrow.

If i am a real mess i will updose and reduce by 1mg drops.

[Freedom15]

Update

 

I am awake. The 5mg drop was massive and i will not do that kinda drop again. I will stick to max of 10% in future.

 

I am feeling alot less sedated and actually woke up quite relaxed ver the anxiuosness and panic before.

 

I can tell my body will need time to heal from this drop so i going to hold at 20 now for good few months.

 

I think that now i am at this dose my body will be able to stabilise out again and i will be more relaxed and start feel like me again.

 

I have some symptoms of feeling like my head isnt my own and tingling and bit hot and cold and some random shacks but nothing that i would class as extreme at moment.

 

The last time i tryed this kinda drop the next day i was complete mess and had updose that night.

 

I will keep updating over next few days as i am sure that i will change over that time.