Palpitations / Amitryptiline

[ss017]

Are heart palpitations normal when coming off Amitryptiline?? I am in the process of weaning off & feeling them

[johnsmith]

How fast are you coming off? If you come off too fast anything can happen.

People often have multiple conditions. Coming off is a body stressor. So it is possible. Speak to your doctor who can check whatever needs to be checked.

[ss017 in reply to johnsmith]

I was originally on 25mg. I took 20mg for 4 days and am now on 10mg, which i have taken for 3 days

[johnsmith in reply to ss017]

Your tapering is wrong. Tapering is done on a percentage.

25 to 20 is 25%.

25% of 20 is 5 so your next tapering dose should be 15mg

25% of 15 is about 4.

You end up with 10mg because nearest tablet is 10mg.

Amitryptiline is stored in the body for up to three weeks (memory may be faulty so ask pharmacist). If my understanding is right (check with pharmacist) Drugs stored in body type need longer at same dose.

Week would be a better length of time.

[ss017 in reply to johnsmith]

What should i do now that i have been on 10mg for a days? Should i go up to 15mg or would that be too hard on my body?

[johnsmith in reply to ss017]

This is not my area of expertise. Have found the following link which may be helpful.

mind.org.uk/media/4727659/c...

It appears MIND now offer advice on coming off psychiatric-drugs. However you need to bare in Mind the pain overload issue.

"Despite current guidelines recommending a taper of two to four weeks, “tapers over a period of months and down to doses much lower than minimum therapeutic doses have shown greater success in reducing withdrawal symptoms”.

from

aprilcharity.blogspot.com/2...

which is part of april.org.uk

a website Promoting awareness of medicines that can harm mental health

[smg60]

Nortriptyline (a cousin to the drug you're on) gave me heart palpitations, that's why I had to stop it. I was on 20 mg/day and per instructions from my pharmacist, weaned off it in a week and a half and had no problems (mind you the heart palpitations took a while to go away). It's too bad - these Tricyclic antidepressants are pretty good at relief for nerve pain.......

[ss017 in reply to smg60]

How did you wean off? Did you just take 10mg for a week and a half then stop?

Also how long were you on it and how long did it take the palpitations to go away??

[smg60 in reply to ss017]

I just went 10 for a week & a half, then stopped. I was on it for about 6 months. It took about 1 1/2 months for the palpitations to stop.

[ss017 in reply to smg60]

Did you have any other side effects after stopping?

[smg60]

I don't think so, no.