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amitriptyline withdrawal

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Posted 4/13/2015 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello , all x
I wonder if any one else has experienced this and can give me some hope.... I have been off amitriptyline now for five weeks ,and I'm still experiencing very strong head sensations. I took the drug for pain for 6 months , i was on 30mg for a while then down to 25mg then to 20mg then to 15 mg . i came off at 15mg ( i know i should have tapered more but i was really not well on the drug , my head sensation symptoms started happening whilst tapering and never went .) So in the end i decide to just come off. To begin with i had terrible insomnia and feeling very sick , the sickness has stopped ,and i can now sleep more hours . However my head all this time later still feels so awful.!!!! Im suffering from anxiety and depression also now as its been a bumpy ride !!. The head sensations i have are ... a strong feeling of unreality , not really being here, not connected,disorientated as well as strange pressures ,juddering and burning sensation inside my head . Im finding it very stressful and just wondered if any one else had this experience when coming off this drug, and they can tell me there head's did come good again ????. Also any helpful information on supporting your brain while its adjusting would be helpful. I don't actual understand what is happening in the brain to produce such a response.Please don't respond with any scare stories , or stories of it took years to get better , i really can only handle hopeful help right now. Thank you , in advance for your help . Ellen xx shocked
Posted 4/13/2015 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Ellen, you are feeling afraid right now understandably but I do want to reassure you that people do come off of amitriptyline successfully and do return to feeling like themselves. Those feelings can be part of withdrawal from amitriptyline and while it is used for pain, it is classified as an anti depressant.

I don't think you said, but it might be helpful to speak with the prescribing doctor who might be able to give you something temporarily to help with anxiety and other side effects or maybe slow the withdrawal down a bit but I have truly known people to get off of this drug and return to feeling like themselves so I would not expect the head feelings to be permanent but I know that can feel scary.

I am not a Dr. and so am not giving medical advice but again, if it were me, I would talk to your Dr. as no need to suffer. Rufous
Posted 4/13/2015 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rufous
Posted 4/13/2015 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Ellen & welcome to the forum. So sorry to read what you are dealing with right now. I think too you need to go back to the prescribing dr. There is a very good chance he can help you with what you have going on. What most people do not realize is Amitriptiline is one of those medications that has to build up in the system. Although I understand your need to get off of it, it may have gone much easier for you had you tapered done even more.

Let us know what your dr can do for you. Take care.
Posted 4/13/2015 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Ellen...Good advice so far.  I have little, if anything to add.  I've had what I call "brain zaps" when I've failed to take my Zoloft.  I've just weaned off Fentanyl that I tried for 6 weeks.  My mind has become so much clearer in just the past week and half.

As Susie said, a more gradual step down may have been helpful.  Consult your doctor, though I doubt you'd want to start a low dose again.  I do not give medical advice.  I can only share my personal experience in hopes that others may be helped.  Do you drink lots of water?  Flushing your system of the drug, literally, will take some time.

You're gonna be fine.  You're amongst friends.  Welcome=)

Dixie

Posted 4/14/2015 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
yes thanks i really don't want to go back on the drug as its been five weeks off.
I was also really unwell on lower doses any way !!!!, ponding racing heart all the time very sever anxiety and head sensations in the tapers that just wouldn't clear up . i couldn't face a longer taper , i really thought id go through a rough patch coming off but i didn't think over five weeks later my head would be the worst its been.

The doctor has offered beta blockers for anxiety or antdepresants . Feeling the effect of the withdrawal of the drug makes me never ever want to take drugs again . i was on seroxat for 10 years along time ago and that was another withdrawal that nearly killed me .

thank you for your responses xxx
Posted 4/15/2015 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Ive been advised by my doctor to take beta blockers to try and bring down my anxiety around the head sensations as some of the sensations maybe stress related also . Any one got any advice ? experiance of beta blockers ?. x
Posted 4/15/2015 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I have not taken them but have not heard bad things about them. I believe they might help with the physical aspects of anxiety. They are not psych drugs and I do not think they would make your "head" issues worse. Rufous
Posted 4/15/2015 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rufous for the reply ,i appretiate it .
Im sorry to hear of your suffering . x
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