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amitriptyline withdrawal

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amanda59745
amanda59745

Hi all, i have tried unsuccessfully to withdrawal from amitriptyline twice.  every time i get down to 5mg i start with awful symptoms, bad headaches, nausea, belching, abdominal cramps, back ache and  my bowels get so upset they feel like they are swollen i get bloated have wind and abdomen feels bruised. has anyone experienced this also?   

9 likes, 915 replies

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  • catali
    catali amanda59745

    Posted

    Oh dear! I rather thought I might get away without nausea etc until I was at a much lower dose. How long did it take to settle down? I'm feeling very down with it!

    • anita49406
      anita49406 catali

      Posted

      I m on 3 weeks tomorrow dropping from 25mg to 15 mg still feel nauseous but that could b part anxiety too
    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 catali

      Posted

      We are all different sometimes i dropped and was fine so dropped again  2 weeks later. I think the nausea lasted a week or so. I made the mistake of going back up to my previous dose on 2 occasions,  so dont do it, just wait xx 
  • anita49406
    anita49406 amanda59745

    Posted

    I m now on my 2nd week of reducing to 15mg and 3 weeks of citalopram I feel awful panic attacks anxiety and can't b bothered with anything I no I have to stick it out and another week or so my citalopram should kick in don't no how much more I can take

  • charline94768
    charline94768 amanda59745

    Posted

    I think it is your Citopram causing the anxiety/panic. I could not stay on it, felt the same way.
  • anita49406
    anita49406 amanda59745

    Posted

    I was on citalopram b 4 ami the stupid doc took me off it cos I wasn't sleeping and put me on ami worse tablet in eyes u cud ever take

    • catali
      catali anita49406

      Posted

      I know how u feel! I also think is prob citalo wd. It took several weeks for massive anxiety to kick in with me, tho seroxat not citalo. Hopefully will improve as you reinstate. I think I had too long a gap before reinstating which made things much worse. Hugs!!
    • anita49406
      anita49406 catali

      Posted

      Thank u it's awful isn't it I 've made myself go out today but feel like someone is sat on my chest have an hh so that doesn't help dreading reducing 5mg of ami but hopefully the citalopram will have kicked in by then x

    • nancy72466
      nancy72466 anita49406

      Posted

      My doctor just prescribed Clonidine 0.1 mg to help with my withdrawal from Ami. I just took my first one today and will see how it helps with the anxiety, dizziness and nausea. All my withdrawal symptoms started when I dropped to 5 mg.  I will have to stay here at this mg level until I feel good enough to reduce further.  My doc is also prescribing the Amitriptyline in liquid form so I can reduce easier than cutting the pills.
    • catali
      catali nancy72466

      Posted

      I think that might be like the propranolol I was given. Did help but I felt v weak. Getting upstairs or up a hill was hard. I was worried it was contributing to severe insomnia but it probably wasn't. I think that was all WD.

    • nancy72466
      nancy72466 catali

      Posted

      Propranolol CAN produce insomnia. I was on it and had to stop because of that side effect. I just started Clonidine and am having the same symptom.

      I really need help finding something that works for this horrid anxiety that keeps me up at night. Anyone have any suggestions as to what is working for them? Has anyone had to take Ativan-like meds to help with this process? Or will that make matters worse/

       

    • catali
      catali nancy72466

      Posted

      I tried a sleeping tab but got really scared when i woke up with suicidal thoughts. My anxiety is v bad at the moment too and it's ironic that the Ami helps me to get to sleep. Im very worried about what I'll do without it. Camomile tea is one thing I resort too, but will it be strong enough?

  • nancy72466
    nancy72466 amanda59745

    Posted

    This question is for anyone in the forum going through this withdrawal.  I have read that AMI decreases histamine in the body, meaning it is an antihistamine.  I have found that, as I decrease and taper down, the amount of itching on my face has increased terribly and my lips swell for no apparent reason.  I have not eaten anything new that would cause an allergic reaction.  My question is: has anyone had increased histamine release, increased itching of their face (or other body areas) along with lips swelling from excess histamine from reducing their AMI? Have you had to start taking a regular antihistamine? Is itching a common withdrawal symptom? I'm so discouraged from this whole process and I'm no where close to being done with it. Still at 5mg and can't go lower until I level off and the balance/dizziness issues resolve. It's been 4 weeks with the balance issues so far.  Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

    • anita49406
      anita49406 nancy72466

      Posted

      Hi Nancy I 've not had the itching I m down to 15mg I think this drug is capable of causing loads of probs my worse is nausea and dizziness tempted to stop altogether can't feel any worse x

    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 nancy72466

      Posted

      H nancy, i had increased itching on my legs during my withdrawal  i could scratch them off and it is all fine now so must have been ami.  Amitriptyline in an anticholinergic that blocks the neurotransmitteres that  effect all mucus membrains in the body thus drys them up. Over the counter antihistamine drugs do the same thing, so coming off ami you will have less blockage of the  targeted neurotransmitters so yes more histamine x   
    • Paula2019
      Paula2019 nancy72466

      Posted

      Hi Nancy, Yes I had itching when coming off it, its completely normal and does go away once you are off it.
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