Honingbij: tapering off Amitriptyline again

[ChessieCat]

6 hours ago, honingbij said:

Nothing on the list except that I did add one supplement to my long established regime about 3 weeks ago. I had noticed no problems with it.

 

What supplement?

 

Are you still taking it?

 

6 hours ago, honingbij said:

my husband was happily able to work from home.

 

This could also be an added stress.  Just a change in routine can do this.

 

With the Covid situation it might be/can be low level stress over a long period of time, and with an increase at different times, like having to think about mandates or when the delta strain happened.  That is what I experienced in a difficult marriage with a sick husband.  It eventually caught up with me.

 

6 hours ago, honingbij said:

I'm so close to the end, but so, so far! I worry because I'm not young. I'm 67 and I feel like I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life and I'm just getting tired.

 

I'm 64 and it took me 6 years to get off Pristiq.  We do get fed up with it and just want it to be over.  I think part of us wants to see what happens and how we feel when we are completely off the drug.  We can also become battle weary.  As a worst case scenario, even if you do happen to be on the drug for the rest of your life it is much better to be on a low dose of it.  When I arrived at SA my goal was to get my dose down from 100mg to 50mg.  I had no intention of getting off it.  But after learning a lot about the drugs I decided to keep going as low as I could and I just kept going.

 

6 hours ago, honingbij said:

My greatest fear surrounding this very, very slow process is that something will happen, like me having to go into the hospital or something, where I'm not able control or even do my taper.

 

This is understandable.  But it is something that you have no control over (unless it is elective surgery) and it might never happen.

 

6 hours ago, honingbij said:

Yes, I was planning on staying on the updose for at least 4 weeks. 

 

I think it would be a good idea to put tapering on the back burner at this time and to not think about tapering again until after the Christmas / New Year holiday period.  So perhaps set the date at mid-January that you assess your situation.  This can be helpful in that you take the pressure of yourself during that time thinking about should I or shouldn't I reduce.  Think of it as a holiday from tapering.

 

There is no need to tag me.  So please do not tag me for any reason.  I am an unrostered, unpaid peer and assist members when I can.  Thank you.

[honingbij]

8 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

What supplement?

 

Are you still taking it?

Black cumin seed oil 1/2 tsp once a day. I haven't taken it or any other of my supplements for the past 5 days.

 

 

 

8 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

This could also be an added stress.  Just a change in routine can do this.

 

With the Covid situation it might be/can be low level stress over a long period of time, and with an increase at different times, like having to think about mandates or when the delta strain happened.  That is what I experienced in a difficult marriage with a sick husband.  It eventually caught up with me.

 

This is true.

 

8 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

I'm 64 and it took me 6 years to get off Pristiq.  We do get fed up with it and just want it to be over.  I think part of us wants to see what happens and how we feel when we are completely off the drug.  We can also become battle weary.  As a worst case scenario, even if you do happen to be on the drug for the rest of your life it is much better to be on a low dose of it.  When I arrived at SA my goal was to get my dose down from 100mg to 50mg.  I had no intention of getting off it.  But after learning a lot about the drugs I decided to keep going as low as I could and I just kept going.

 

 

This is understandable.  But it is something that you have no control over (unless it is elective surgery) and it might never happen.

 

You're right about this and I need to remind myself of this more often.

 

8 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

I think it would be a good idea to put tapering on the back burner at this time and to not think about tapering again until after the Christmas / New Year holiday period.  So perhaps set the date at mid-January that you assess your situation.  This can be helpful in that you take the pressure of yourself during that time thinking about should I or shouldn't I reduce.  Think of it as a holiday from tapering.

 

That's a great suggestion and I will do it.

 

8 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

There is no need to tag me.  So please do not tag me for any reason.  I am an unrostered, unpaid peer and assist members when I can.  Thank you.

 

Oh dear, I am so sorry for disturbing you! I had no idea I was doing something inappropriate. I am not on any social media, and to tell you the truth, I don't even know or understand what the significance of tagging someone is. 

 

Thanks again for you help.

[PsychologicalSafe15]

@honingbij Did you notice burping and belching when you quit amitriptyline ??

[honingbij]

6 minutes ago, PsychologicalSafe15 said:

@honingbij Did you notice burping and belching when you quit amitriptyline ??

I'm not done with it yet, unfortunately!
I haven't had any gastric problems like the ones you describe while I've been doing my taper. I've been going at a glacial pace, though.

[PsychologicalSafe15]

After you eat food , you dont notice burping ? Might be you had earlier it subsided ??

[honingbij]

56 minutes ago, PsychologicalSafe15 said:

After you eat food , you dont notice burping ? Might be you had earlier it subsided ??

No. I eat a >95% carnivore diet.
It sounds like maybe your burping has something to do with what you're eating.
Or maybe you're eating too fast or not chewing enough, or swallowing air when you're eating?
Do you chew gum? Do you eat when you're not in a calm state of mind?
My two cents worth of advice would be to first examine what you're eating and how you're eating it.
You could also do an elimination diet, keep a food diary, and gradually introduce foods and see how you are tolerating them.

 

Edited December 19, 2021 by honingbij
misspelling

[honingbij]

51 minutes ago, PsychologicalSafe15 said:

After you eat food , you dont notice burping ? Might be you had earlier it subsided ??

 

You might also benefit from taking digestive enzymes or looking into herbs and tinctures that would help - dandelion, ginger, star anise, etc.

[PsychologicalSafe15]

1. 22 hours ago, honingbij said:

    

   You might also benefit from taking digestive enzymes or looking into herbs and tinctures that would help - dandelion, ginger, star anise, etc.

   Thank you for response. I believe it is related to muscle and upper gi tract. Some sorts of tightness in muscle after quitting amitriptyline.

[honingbij]

Question: Is my amitriptyline pooping out? If so, how do I manage this process?

 

After updosing to 4.18mg on December 3, 2021 because of a couple of anxiety attacks, I held my dose for almost 4 months [118 days]. I did reasonably well during that time, with some ups and downs with migraines and some nights of insomnia, but nothing that was out of the ordinary or caused me any concern.

 

Starting on March 15 [day 102 post taper], I noticed that I started waking up earlier on a regular basis and getting less sleep. I was still able to manage OK, so I adjusted the time I took my meds and my bedtime to later, but it didn’t make any difference, and was still waking up at 0300 or 0400.

 

On April 1, I tapered to 4.17 mg.

 

Since then, I can get only 3 hours of sleep every night, and my brain is getting more and more irritated. I take my meds at 2300/2330 and go to bed at midnight and it’s like an internal alarm clock wakes me at 0300/0330. For the past couple of nights, I am having big hot flashes with tachycardia on waking, and often a migraine.

 

I’m exhausted, but can only manage to nap 1 hour during the day.

 

My brain is very irritated and all kind of stimulation just heightens it. I’m feeling these days that I’m often on the edge of an anxiety attack, although, mercifully, I’ve been able to avoid that.

 

My long tapering jouney has, over the years, been relatively easy, but I seem to have run out of road. I feel stuck, and am disappointed that my long hold didn’t make my last cut any easier.

 

I’m feeling quite wrung out. There’s still is a long way to go before I’m off of this drug, and I’m starting to feel a bit concerned and apprehensive; Years ago, I had a bad experience coming off of Topamax and Valium that I haven’t forgotten.

 

Is my amitriptyline pooping out?

 

What is the best way to manage from here?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Sofie]

Hey! Thanks for sharing your story. Your perseverance is inspiring. I've been taking 20 mg amitriptyline for two years, and would like to taper off. How have you been able to go down with only 0,1 mg each time? Do you use a liquid or a pill splitter? 

[ChessieCat]

@Sofie Please create an Introduction topic for yourself so that we can provide you with information and support.

[honingbij]

8 hours ago, Sofie said:

Hey! Thanks for sharing your story. Your perseverance is inspiring. I've been taking 20 mg amitriptyline for two years, and would like to taper off. How have you been able to go down with only 0,1 mg each time? Do you use a liquid or a pill splitter? 

Hi Sofie: Congrats on your desire to taper off; you can definitey do it!

As for how I handle my miniscule taper: I tell my doctor what I need and she writes a prescription for the pharmacy to compound. I presently use 1 and 2 mg capsules for the larger part [the 4 mg] of the dose and make a water dilution from a 10 mg tablet to draw up the rest of the dose. 

 

[honingbij]

Need some help. Think my amitripyline is pooping out.

 

I tapered my dose on May 16 from 4.17 to 4.16 mg. I had a few migraines during the first two weeks post taper, but nothing serious. For the past 13 days, I have had no problems or symptoms.

 

Yesterday [day 27], I had some insomnia and started not to feel well in the evening.

 

Last night, I took my dose at 2300 and went to bed at midnight. I woke after 90 minutes, feeling ill.

Heart skipping beats, elevated heart rate [116] nauseated with stomach hurting, dry mouth, runny nose, constant need to yawn, having 4 crampy bowel movements in the space of an hour and a half. I haven’t been able to sleep for the rest of the night. I don’t feel anxious, just very sick. This doesn’t feel like a bug or a virus. This feels different.

 

I am wondering if my amitripyline may be pooping out. In April, I had almost 3 weeks straight of bad insomnia and migraines, which was unusual for me. And now, this, which is worse.

 

Is my amitripyline starting to poop out, and if so, how do I proceed? I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

Q:  Is there anything else that has been different?  Alcohol, antibiotics, a death, financial / relationship / job stress?  Covid or Covid vaccination or booster?  Something you ate?

 

Q:  What sort of pattern have you noticed with the worsening, has it been sudden and gradual?

 

Q:  Have you missed a dose or took a double dose?

 

Q:  Have you tried something new or stopped something that you have been taking?

[honingbij]

6 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Q:  Is there anything else that has been different?  Alcohol, antibiotics, a death, financial / relationship / job stress?  Covid or Covid vaccination or booster?  Something you ate?

Nothing, No alcohol, no meds, very stable personal life. No vax. Eating my usual food prepared at home.

6 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

6 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Q:  What sort of pattern have you noticed with the worsening, has it been sudden and gradual?

Sudden.

6 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Q:  Have you missed a dose or took a double dose?

Neither.

6 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Q:  Have you tried something new or stopped something that you have been taking?

 

[honingbij]

Missed a question: Have not started or stopped any new vitamins or supplements.
 

 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

Poop out has a different pattern.  It generally happens gradually, not gradually not suddenly (realised later that I had made an error when I wrote this.

 

You made a reduction in June but you don't have the date.  Actually it looks like the information in your signature is wrong.  Please correct it and always include the date that you made the reduction.

 

1 hour ago, honingbij said:

Last night, I took my dose at 2300 and went to bed at midnight.

 

Is this the normal time you take your dose?

 

1 hour ago, honingbij said:

Eating my usual food prepared at home.

 

Q:  Do you eat anything which contains MSG?  I have an MSG intolerance and 6 hours after consuming it I get very bad diarrhea, pounding heart, sweating and at its worst I would get a swollen throat (anaphylaxis).  It took me several years before I worked out what was causing it.  Now I try not to consume anything with flavour enhancers because they are neurotoxins.

 

Another neurotoxin is phenylalanine / aspartame artificial sweetener, quite often in diet drinks.

 

1 hour ago, honingbij said:

Heart skipping beats, elevated heart rate [116] nauseated with stomach hurting, dry mouth, runny nose, constant need to yawn, having 4 crampy bowel movements in the space of an hour and a half. I haven’t been able to sleep for the rest of the night. I don’t feel anxious, just very sick. This doesn’t feel like a bug or a virus. This feels different.

 

If you made a reduction back in May then it is unlikely to be due to the that.

 

To me it either sounds like something you ate, perhaps something that was going off/ a mild case of food poisoning, or you have a virus.

 

Please note that SA staff are not medical professionals, we are unpaid peers.  What I am writing are only possibilities and suggestions.

 

My suggestion would be to rest as much as you can and drink plenty of water.  It might be a good idea to get a Covid test.  If it gets worse I think it would be best to consult a doctor.

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by ChessieCat
made correction about poop out

[honingbij]

33 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

Poop out has a different pattern.  It generally happens gradually, not gradually.

 

You made a reduction in June but you don't have the date.  Actually it looks like the information in your signature is wrong.  Please correct it and always include the date that you made the reduction.

 

 

Is this the normal time you take your dose?

Yes, I take it the same time every night.

33 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

Q:  Do you eat anything which contains MSG?  I have an MSG intolerance and 6 hours after consuming it I get very bad diarrhea, pounding heart, sweating and at its worst I would get a swollen throat (anaphylaxis).  It took me several years before I worked out what was causing it.  Now I try not to consume anything with flavour enhancers because they are neurotoxins.

 

Another neurotoxin is phenylalanine / aspartame artificial sweetener, quite often in diet drinks.

Absolutely no MSG; it's a potent migraine trigger. Ditto artificial sweeteners. I never drink soft drinks.

33 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

If you made a reduction back in May then it is unlikely to be due to the that.

 

To me it either sounds like something you ate, perhaps something that was going off/ a mild case of food poisoning, or you have a virus.

 

Please note that SA staff are not medical professionals, we are unpaid peers.  What I am writing are only possibilities and suggestions.

Thanks. 

33 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

My suggestion would be to rest as much as you can and drink plenty of water.  It might be a good idea to get a Covid test.  If it gets worse I think it would be best to consult a doctor.

Thanks for the suggestion, Chessie Cat, I appreciate your help.
 

 

 

 

[honingbij]

 

38 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

Poop out has a different pattern.  It generally happens gradually, not gradually.

OK. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

 

[ChessieCat]

That should have been poop out happens gradually, it doesn't happen suddenly.