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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To panic about Amitriptyline?

38 replies

Rainmaker1 · 02/12/2016 09:10

Long time lurker here, just joined to ask for anyone's experiences. I've been taking Amitriptyline now for 5 years originally for pelvic pain. At one stage I was taking 50mg/day but for the last year it has been 35mg/day. The drop had no side effects whatsoever. I can no longer take it due to another medical reason and will be dropping to 25mg for a week then 20mg for another week then 10mg for a week before stopping. I also suffer from anxiety and am terrified about this process from what I've read online. Has anyone come off this without major withdrawal symptoms? Just looking for some reassurance!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 02/12/2016 09:12

If you drop it slowly it should be ok. Are you doing it with supervision?

Original poster
Rainmaker1 · 02/12/2016 09:17

This regime is what my GP suggested. Also concerned what effect it will have long term on my anxiety - I worry that it has been helping (although only a low dose) and things will get worse.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 02/12/2016 09:21

Have you told your GP your concerns? There are other things that can be used for anxiety. I know where you're coming from, I would be very nervous losing the beta blockers and would prefer there was a plan b just in case.

happychristmasbum · 02/12/2016 09:21

No advice but have just started taking amitriptyline for pelvic pain so am following thread out of interest. My main concern is that it might cause weight gain.

I was told that such a low dose wouldn't have much impact on anxiety OP - I think in the past, when it was prescribed as an AD, it was in much larger doses?

Seqkat · 02/12/2016 09:23

I dropped it that slowly and had no problems at all. I was similarly on a low dose for pain, and was told at the time that the doses for anxiety are normally much higher, so I'd continue to keep in touch with your gp, but try not to worry on that side - I'd be surprised if it's been doing much if anything for your anxiety.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 02/12/2016 09:28

50mg/a day is well below the clinical dosage for anxiety so I shouldn't think it'll make any difference at all there - I'd be amazed if it did!

I came off 450mg a day and it was okay. I worried about side effects far more than I actually experienced any. Your withdrawal plan seems sensible and is a bit longer than mine; so I'd expect that you'll be absolutely fine. Good luck Xmas Smile

Original poster
Rainmaker1 · 02/12/2016 09:29

Thanks guys that's really reassuring! Obviously you only read bad experiences online - no one randomly posts about it not being too bad as with most things! Dr had given me a prescription for Lyrica in case the pelvic pain flares back up but he also said that will probably help any anxiety I get as well.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainmaker1 · 02/12/2016 09:44

Wow Anchor 450mg is a lot!

OP posts:
gaelicgirl100 · 02/12/2016 10:01

I was on it years ago for depression/anxiety. Can't remember dosage but it was the highest therapeutic dose which is much higher than when prescribed for pain (I think) honestly, tapering off it properly according to docs instructions was no harder than being on it, I just had to make sure I was near a toilet for when my bowels decided to start working properly again Blush if constipation isn't a problem at your dose, you'll be fine Wink

Hope the new drug works better for you.

Original poster
Rainmaker1 · 02/12/2016 10:56

Feeling much better after reading your experiences!

OP posts:
youvegottobekidding · 02/12/2016 12:48

I've been on Amitriptyline for 8 years, 125mg a night, for migraine prevention, only for the last 6 years or so, it hasn't really been working so I've taken the decision to come off it. I am now down to 100mg. I was prepared for the onset of horrendous headaches, but so far i haven't been too bad actually. I've been dropping 10-12mg a week. I feel much better in myself just by dropping 25mg, already feeling like I've made the right decision. Good Luck.

Anchor - 450mg? I thought I was on a high dose! How did you get up in the mornings?!

MatildaTheCat · 02/12/2016 13:06

Lyrica, or pregablin ( the generic name) is actually prescribed for anxiety as well as nerve pain so I would imagine you would be getting more anti anxiety medication than on your low dose amitriptyine TBH.

I take both and am, in the main, very chilled these days. Smile

Farmmummy · 02/12/2016 13:13

I came off 400 much quicker (medically supervised as it began to react badly) and the only problem was the recurrence of the migraines I was taking it to treat

kali110 · 02/12/2016 13:14

I was fine i came off 25mg straight away.
Only side effect was i found it hard yo sleep straight away.

kali110 · 02/12/2016 13:16

you've did your gp put you on that dose for migraine prevention?

Timeforteaplease · 02/12/2016 13:18

I just stopped taking them instead of reducing the dose; didn't want the faff of doing it slowly. I was on a low dose for bladder pain for about 18 months.
I did not sleep for a few nights, which was rough, but other than that no headaches or other side effects.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 02/12/2016 13:25

Anchor - 450mg? I thought I was on a high dose! How did you get up in the mornings?!

I have a really high tolerance of meds, so tend to have to take LOADS. It's especially fun for things like IV antibiotics, when the standard dose does nothing at all...
Bizarrely, I don't have the same tolerance of alcohol, either Hmm

UnbornMortificado · 02/12/2016 13:36

Oh god op be careful with pregablin. I was on gabepentin (think it's the old version of pregablin) and it sent my anxiety through the roof.

6 months I persevered and it was only when I came off it that I realised it had been causing the anxiety.

My GP didn't seem overly surprised when I told her so I think it can be a common side affect.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/12/2016 13:44

Unborn yes it's a cimmkn side effect. Im on pregablin for neurological problems but my neurologist very sensibly told me to keep taking my ADs to balance each other out. (I had a breakdown a couple of years ago) so I'm less likely to have another flareup.

Only problem is now, I really suffer with my asthma and it is now pot luck between a hospital doctor who checks my notes and sees neurologists recommendations or one that doesn't look properly and puts an asthma attack down to anxiety Sad

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/12/2016 14:02

*common sorry.

kali110 · 02/12/2016 16:41

Pregablin and Gabapentin
although similar aren't the same though?
I didn't have any anxiety problems ( and suffer very badly from it) on either of these.
Unfortunately neither of these worked for my pain Sad
Different people will react differently to things.
Amitriptyline isn't working for me at all and didn't work as a migraine preventative yet seems to have worked well for others ( though wondering if i needed to take it at a higher dose to get some sort of an effect).

Lorelei76 · 02/12/2016 16:47

I had a low dose for nerve pain after an accident
I have anxiety generally but the dose they give for pain is so,low I doubt you'll notice anything.

I didn't even taper off. It was all fine.

Feefeefs · 02/12/2016 17:11

I stopped fairly quickly also (was on for jaw pain) as became pregnant. Tapered down over a week. Like others have said the lower pain doses are easier to tale off. I had some issues sleeping like a couple of others have said but that settled with time.

UnbornMortificado · 02/12/2016 17:16

Away I was on duloxetine and trazadone at the same time. Something in that combination obviously didn't agree with me but it was hellish.

I think pregablin is an updated version (I could be wrong)

It's just worth keeping an eye on everyone reacts different but if any unexplained anxiety starts it's worth keeping in mind.

I wasn't trying too terrify you op honest. I just wouldn't like anyone else to go through it.

Mughalswife · 02/12/2016 17:53

I used to take amitriptyline for back pain. I took 20 mg, then dropped it to 10mg. One day I ran out, couldn't get any more because it was a weekend, and just decided to keep going without it. I had no ill effects and I think I actually had worse anxiety symptoms while I was taking it.

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