Amitryptiline

[ss017]

Do you have to wean off of Amitryptiline or can you just stop it?

[Madlegs1]

As in any substance you want to stop. It depends on how much and how long.

The greater of each , the more difficult it is to taper off.

Golden rule is little and slow.

LITTLE and SLOW. 😜

[lupus_01]

Definately wean yourself off.

[kat898]

What ever your dosage is slowly, so I'm on 30mg a night, so will take 10mg away a week. So will be 3 weeks to wean off x

[johnsmith in reply to kat898]

Good idea. However, maths is wrong. One has to work on percentage reduction. If working on third reduction.

20mg first week. 20/3 = 6.6. 20-6.6 = 13.4. 10mg over 2 = 5 can get 5mg tablet

15mg second week 15/3 = 5; 15-5 = 10

10mg third week; 10/3 = 3.3 approx 5mg

5mg fourth week

At this point dosage is hopefully low enough to stop completely.

Calculations based on obtaining 5mg tablets and 10mg tablets.

The pharmacist is the best person to discuss concerning this. The GP is the person who can write the prescription.

Some Tablets have special coating to prevent attach by stomach. So often cannot divide tablets by half or crush them.

Other medications 10% reduction is suggested until dosage has got low enough. This is pharmacist territory.

Lastly remember to return unused tablets to pharmacy and not throw them away.

[kat898 in reply to johnsmith]

I can't halve them they're tiny 10mg tablets. Thank you for that though. Should I ring gp and ask for 5mg tablets to come off them safely from your suggestion? I only got them for nerve pain but am hoping that when I do come off them to do so properly.

Kat

[JennSp in reply to kat898]

Yes you can .....nibble them I did...but For me it took longer that 3 weeks

..ended up on them again at 20mg

[kat898 in reply to JennSp]

Sorry to hear that is that for pain or depression if you don't mind me asking.

Kat

[JennSp in reply to kat898]

For pain along with other tabs...still only dulls the pain never takes it away...I'm back up out of bed it's 2

30 am and too much pain to sleep..the weather affects me badly

[kat898 in reply to JennSp]

Aw sorry to hear that, sending a hug, same here, even though it's too hot I use an electrical blanket on a night too. Kat

[johnsmith in reply to kat898]

Thanks for the reply. I wish I could advise on this. I have found the following:

riveroakstreatment.com/pres...

it says: "The withdrawal syndrome associated with amitriptyline and other antidepressant medications is not referred to as antidepressant withdrawal as one may expect. Instead, it has been given the rather technical-sounding name antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS).

The risk of developing ADS as a result of using amitriptyline is increased for individuals who:

Have used amitriptyline on a continual basis for six weeks or longer, with the risk increasing the longer the drug is taken

Are prescribed higher doses of the drug

Suddenly stop using amitriptyline"

You are taking it I presume for a pain condition. How much pain you experience is dependant on the stress you experience. So if you experience withdrawal symptoms it is likely you will experience more pain and have reduced ability to control it.

My expertise is not on drugs but on feedback mechanisms. Contacting the GP and asking for 5mg tablets requires that you give a good reason for the request. The issue of the additive nature of anti depressants has only recently been recognised in the UK by the medical profession after years of denial. So there is a possibility that your GP may not know of the issue.

A suggested argument is that I wish to manage my pain without drugs or with reduced amount of drugs. I would like to come totally off amitriptyline without the possibility of having increased pain while doing so because of withdrawal effects. This is my tapering plan. It requires the use of 5mg tablets. Can I have a prescription for 5mg tablets so that i can carry out my tapering plan.

Hope I have been able to be helpful.

[kat898 in reply to johnsmith]

John you are always most helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to respond and helping me with what to say.

Kat

[Hidden]

The smallest tablets available for amitriptaline is 10mg. You are on a low dose anyway so I would just lower it every week by 10mg. It’s not a big deal to come of it. I have been on a lot of different dosages of this medication in the past, been off it for a while and now back on 20mg

[morphalot]

Definitely wean off. I did it by myself and just reduced to number I was taking slowly. Didn't have any problems. Good luck!