David has been taking 50mgs at night for years as a muscle relaxant. A painful hip recently and GP increased to 75 mgs. David has been trying to reduce back to 50 but gets horrible nightmares so back up to 75 again.
Is there anything to substitute that extra dose to prevent withdrawal symptons until he can get back to usual dose?
Pat x
amitriptyline comes in 25mg. 50MG AND 10mg get some 10mg tablets so you can 75 to 70mg then 60mg.. Why reduce anyway GP must feel 75mg is neccessary. it may not be the amitryptyline causing nightmares?? can at higher doses ans in some people but tramadol and steroids and some morphines can cause night mares too??!!
thanks Summer. Should know the smaller doses by now!
Nothing else has changed in his drug regime apart from the Amitriptilyne. He wants o try reducing some meds as there is nothing more he can have an has no fall back.
Like so many he would love to be drug free with nothing more than the odd headache pill. If only.
Pat x
I did try Amitriptyline, for me I was intolerant to it (that's what my Rheumy described it as). So can't offer any help. Recommend seeing the GP or Pain Clinic?
Have a look at april.org.uk. They have useful connections in this area of reducing medication.
Thanks for link johnsmith. It doesn't like me and come up as error.
Pat x
Sorry about the link. There is an extra fullstop in it. The link picked up the full stop atthe end of the sentence. Try april.org.uk
That should work.
Hi there,
I used to be the same measures but fortunately was without the side effects mentioned.
I did feel exactly the same way about having nowhere else to go if I was max'd on my medications already so decided to look at possibilities to administer reductions myself.
I did various things. Firstly, as said above, I got smaller denominations of them medication so I could step it down more gradually. Secondly I used a TENS machine regularly on the areas of pain. This worked really well for me and it can be used as often as you like for as long as you want.
Lastly, and with the greastest of impacts, I meditate without fail. When in flare up, every morning and last thing at night. This has absolutely transformed my lifestyle. Look at the possibility of doing a Mindfulness course, they are run generally but also specifically targetted at pain relief.
I can give you more info if required but it really is best explored with your own angle to focus on. It takes a leap of faith for some but in the groups I've attended it is usually the most skeptical who have the greatest benefit from it.
Hello Pat
Amytryptalene is one of those antidepressants that are given in larger doses for depression so the dose given for our complaints is much lower. That does not get away from the dependence that we suffer from this, even if you miss this medication before you go too bed you can have problems next day. I take a 75mg dose nightly so I know how rotten it is to reduce them. I heard of one person splitting tablets in two to reduce the dose I do not know how they got on. Good luck that is all I can suggest
All the best
BOB
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