Amitriptyline are my symptoms linked to withdrawal
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi there
I have been on Amitriptyline for approximately 5 years for migraine prevention just 5-10mg per night. As it seemed to have stopped working I was told to just stop by my doctor about 7-8 weeks ago. Doc said I didn't need to taper as it was small dose...
After first few days of not taking it I felt nauseous (very rare for me) then after 3 weeks I had three bedridden days of vomiting and general illness. Since then I have been suffering from debilitating fatigue, headaches, low appetite, low mood - just so not myself. Regularly taking paracetemol and OTC sleep aids to fight off lack of ability to sleep properly.
Can anyone else relate to this or is it just a weird coincidence? I had bloods taken yesterday - would withdrawal be identified by a blood test? Any help, comments, advice gladly received - thank you.
0 likes, 3 replies
faith53617 catherine45822
Posted
Hi Catherine
No I dont think its a coincidence. I have been on 50mg for 20 years and have spent the last 2 years trying to come off them as I was not sleeping and basically they werent helping me any more. I am now down to 20 mg but it has been a nightmare . I Went down to 10mg at one point but I felt as though I had flu with diahorrea and sickness so I went back to 20. MY Sleep has improved a lot but I still get bouts of stomach problems and headaches every now and again. Duringthis time my doctor never mentioned anything about how bad withdrawal symptoms would be. I am trying to cut down to 15mg very slowly but its a process of one step forward and two steps back at the moment. I would try and cut down e xtremely slowly just one mg at a time. But dont worry those are classic symptoms of drug withdrawal symptoms and they will get better over time.
Faith
Weeny faith53617
Posted
Hi Faith, I am new to this site but I was just reading your reply to Catherine regarding amitriptyline withdrawal. i am glad I have found someone who has been taking it for as long as I have as a lot of posts I read are people who havent been on amitriptyline as long as myself. I have been on it for 25 years but was on a relatively low dose (25mg) up until 2011 when the dr took me off it abruptly & tried me with all sorts of the newer SSRI's which made me spiral rapidly & ended up with very bad anxiety for 3 months. i was told the amitriptyline was no longer working but after having tried new meds I decided myself to go back to amitriptyline but I gradually had to increase to 110mg. For the last 2 years I have been trying to taper off them. Ive managed to get down to 35mg but although my anxiety seems fine, I have different symptoms, very bad headaches on waking & now have an acid stomach which the doc has given me Omeprazole for. Some days I feel like I am going down with flu & my sleep pattern is not good. I cant help wondering whether it is to do with withdrawal of amitriptyline as I see you also get stomach problems & headaches. I am at my wits end as cant make appointment with the doc because if covid but can ask a doctor to call but to me doctors always seem to dismiss anything to do with withdrawal. I just wondered how you were getting on with your tapering & didnt know whether I should stick with tapering as I feel a bit anxious about increasing the dose again especially as I have git down quite low. Would be grateful for any help/advice.
kirsty72101 catherine45822
Posted
Hi, Did you find out if it was the amitriptyline??