I am about to start weaning off of my Amitryptiline 25mg tablets. My dr said to cut them in half and take that every day for a week, then stop.
Is it okay to cut these pills if they are not scored? I assume it’s okay because that’s what my dr said to do but i just wanted to get others opinions.
They are also tiny so they are kind of hard to cut exactly in half.
I had been on 25mg of Amy for nearly 25 years. Taken at night to help muscle pain and increased dose during day when needed, to aid a quick sleep to help cut the onset of a migraine.
I stopped taking 2 weeks ago. I went one day on and nd off and can say had no withdrawal symptoms apart from a few sleepless nights as my body adjusted to not having the synthetic sleep inducer.
Amy is given for many things but you don't say what yours was for. I believe anxiety is a common one.
You have to do what is right for you and follow your gp who knows you. However, I do think two important factors play a part in coming off any drug:
Determination and fear. Your gp is covering himself by saying cut tablet in half. He makes it seem as if the withdrawal will be bad and scary. It hasn't been for me and 25mg is not a high dose for the body to withdraw from and live without. Maybe some people have high anxiety and so panic thinking they will never cope with the withdrawal. I hope you are not one of them who thinks that way. 😏
Determination is what cuts across the fear factor. I had to increase walking exercise to ensure I could be tired enough for sleep and I manage the migraine in a more holistic way. I took my life back in to my own hands and am very glad I did. I had a few days when I lost my appetite and felt a little nauseous but I decided that my body was just adjusting and it would pass, and it did.
So I congratulate you that you have decided to come off Ami. It has limited staying power as an effective drug and long term can make anxiety worse and certainly weight increase
... Good reasons to stop taking it. 🌹
So my pearls of wisdom are.... Don't be fearful and stay determined. Withdrawal symptoms may well be mild and they will certainly pass.
Stay strong. 💐
You didn't answer her question--- Can one cut them in half???😣
Yes!
They are not time release so halving is just halving dosage 🌹
I was on 10mg and cut them in half and took 5mg for a month then stopped. Some people even go down to 2.5mg before they stop. Take your time to get off them or you will get side effects. I agree they are hard to cut in half. I used nail scissors because my pill cutter did not cut them in half very successfully and I ended up with a big half and a little half! You should take longer to come off your amitriptyline as you are on 25mg and you need to cut down gradually. I would suggest you ask your doctor to prescribe you 10mg packs so you can ween down to 20mg and then 15mg and then 10mg and then 5mg but most importantly take your time.
I use a pill cutter bought from Boots which cuts all pills in half very exactly. I also found weaning off amitriptyline fairly easy with few side effects but bodies have different reactions so best to follow your drs advice.
How long did you wean off for and from what dose?
It was a while ago now but I think I was taking 25mg at night and I started by going to 20mg (using the 10mg tablets) and then after a few days halved a tablet, taking it in 5 mg stages. The GP advised taking the last 5mg every other day for a few days and then stopping entirely. I think the timing depends on any withdrawal effects, I was lucky and only had some occasional hot sweats but best to talk to doctor or pharmacist if unsure as we all react differently.
The reason i ask if i can cut them is because i know some pills have a special coating on them that affects their absorption and i wasn’t sure if cutting them would affect that or not
Not sensible to do that. Speak to a pharmacist. If you have been on them for a long time you need to taper off for longer. Withdrawal effects can be variable. You do not want the stresses of withdrawal to up your pain.
A common Amitriptylin withdrawal symptom is:
Headaches – This can be a particularly frustrating symptom for people who started taking Amitriptylin to treat their migraines; however, it is a common withdrawal effect.
May be worth while to have a look at.
therecoveryvillage.com/elav...
You can get 10mg tablets.
Hi
I would ask a pharmacist if you can cut them in half or ask gp to prescribe 10mg tablets, so you can take cut from 25mg to 20mg & then go down from there. I am always altering mine, depending upon how much pain I am in or how I have been sleeping, but it's up to you to decide how you want to do it, remember it's not the doctor going through it, it's you. Good luck
Thank you. So it is okay to take them as needed?
What dose do you take?
I take 35mg most nights, however I take 45mg if in a lot of pain, though if going on a long journey & driving I sometimes only take 25mg. The doctors leave it to me to decide how much I need to take as I have now taken them for over 20 years. I hope that is of some help to you
They are quite easy to bite in half
Yes I bite my pills in half too. I swivel between doses, sometimes upping and sometimes downing, but I always do it in halves, as I tried dropping/increasing by going up a whole pill and that lead to side effects. I have been on them for 4 yrs and not put on weight. I realise that is a side effect for some, but it’s not universal
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