Reducing amitriptyline problems

[Cornwallgirl]

Hi everyone. I've had ibs d for 30 years. About a year ago I started taking 5mg of amitriptyline to try and help my symptoms. I don't get stomach cramps just a short uncomfortable feeling after I've eaten, usually lunchtime, then I have urgent runny poo. This was happening three or four times a week. Since taking the amitriptyline it was happening around once every four to five weeks. Yippee I said. Recently the amitriptyline has been making be very tired, more so than before. So I've reduced it to 2.5mg a day. About a week after doing this I felt quite ill. Diarrhea, nausea aches and pains and feverish and really tired. I've had another bad bout of the runs today and feel totally wiped out. Anyone else had any similar experience? My ibs discomfort is in my upper left side, of my bowel.

[BethanW2]

Hiya!

I’ve very recently managed to get of amitriptyline, it wasn’t pleasant. I had been on it for about 10years. My doctor said it was fine to just come off it like that, but after being on it for so long and at 20mg, I decided against that. I managed to get down to 10mg and then to 5mg but after that it wasn’t a smooth ride. I had constant migraines and was feverish.

I tried to reduce that by breaking my tablet even smaller, even resulting to buying special scales so I could measure out quantity’s of crushed tablet.

In the end I found out that you can get amitriptyline in liquid form so asked my doctor for this, it then resulted in buying a syringe where I could gradually reduce the amount (with the help of my husbands maths and measurement conversion skills and a sharpie pen). I spent about 3 weeks at each lowered dose until I eventually managed to stop it. So it is quite a long process and it was frustrating, but I’m finally off it. I still feel a bit sicky in the mornings but it’s nothing compared to what it was.

I’m not doing so well now with my IBS and other digestive issues but I’m defiantly glad to be off that medication.

I really do need to get back to the doctors but at the moment it’s just so difficult to get a proper doctors appointment.

Hope this can help you

[Cornwallgirl in reply to BethanW2]

Thanks for the reply. I'm hoping it will resolve itself but I'm so woozy and tired and constantly bloated, so I'm going to ring the docs after the Bank Holidays. Thanks again

[Zantecat in reply to BethanW2]

Hi, very interested to read your story about getting off ami, I just posted about my very similar experience. When I first started the ami, I was told it isn’t addictive, really could have fooled me ! I was really pleased I got off it , the withdrawal was hell but I have now given in and hoping to be able to function again soon.

None of the other meds help, just wish I didn’t have to put up with side effects.

[Whitesugar]

Have you been tested for Bile Acid Diarrhoea (BAD). Your symptoms sound like those I had for 40 years. You can look it up on bad-uk.org. I am treated for it successfully, but started Amitriptyline recently for hip pain (long wait for joint replacement). I have found that my bowel problems have been further improved with the drug, but no relief from hip pain! Do you not think something else is causing you to feel more tired and ill as your body should be used to the Amitriptyline by now? 5 or 2.5 mg is a very tiny dose. I take 30mg which is also considered by my GP to be a small dose. Perhaps a consultation with your GP with your recent symptoms would help? I wish you well.

[Cornwallgirl in reply to Whitesugar]

Thanks for the info. I think I definitely need to speak to my gp, I don't feel right at all. I will look up BAD though I've never heard of that. I know my amitriptyline doses are very small, but do am I!! 😁 5 ft and 7.5 stone. Thanks again.

[richv in reply to Whitesugar]

Ami for hip pain? No way! Try an Nsaid like Celebrex or Mobic and you can also supplement with Tylenol Celebrex is really good. Hope you have it in the UK?

[Zantecat]

Hi, yes getting off amitriptyline can be hard, I managed to get off it this year it took months . At first I did it too fast and realised ( thank god for google) that you need to taper slowly, the withdrawal symptoms were horrific, flu symptoms exhaustion , headaches, anxiety you name it!I was finally just Taking a little tablet dust , then just a lick.

Unfortunately my IBS came back worse than ever, and I am reluctantly back on the ami, my symptoms are always worse at night, keeps me awake ALL night or wakes me Every night. Doc changed me to nortriptyline , which is supposed to have less side effects than the ami, but it triggered tinnitus immediately, which is what the ami does to me Anyway ( among other things), so I switched straight back to ami( The devil I know ).

My guess is that you might be quite sensitive to the ami, and the reduction is giving you withdrawal, docs will say it’s fine to get off it, that it isn’t addictive etc but I know that it can be awful. I used to take 20mg but it gives me palpitations, 10mg is plenty, I don’t find any better relief taking more, and can get by with less.

[Cornwallgirl in reply to Zantecat]

Thanks for the reply that's very helpful. I've thought I was going quite mad even had a covid test!! 😁

[richv]

I am on 10 Mg. for a few years now and it seems to be really helpful. 2.5 is too little. Try and get to at least 5 Mg and then split a 5.

[Spencermm]

I tried it and in 3 days I was overtly depressed. I have had issues with depression since I was a teen, but nothing like this. Very, very dark.

I was afraid it would get worse so I stopped. It did continue to get worse for a few days still, then tapered back up to reasonably depressed.

Not for me. All antidepressants that effect serotonin have had adverse effects on me.

Low fodmap diet has been most helpful for me.