Misc Amitriptyline withdrawal

[nomy]

I've been on Amitriptyline for the last 3 years on a very low 10mg dose per day. This was for neuropathic pain reduction for a long standing condition I have.

I went away on holiday couple of months back and like an idiot, I forgot to pack the Amitriptyline! So anyway, as I was never really convinced they were doing any good and surviving with no ill effects for the two weeks away, I decided never to take any more. After about 3 weeks I started to get random brain zaps and dizziness etc. This increased in intensity for a while but has since subsided to a constant dull kind of 'electric itch' down my back and arms which makes me want to constantly stretch. but I still get the occasional zaps.

But I also feel generally depressed and just plain not right. I realise that 10mg is an incredibly small daily dose, but after three years, could my foolish cold turkey action be to blame for these symptoms?

I've done some research as you do, and it would seem that suddenly stopping even low dose TCA's can produce these extreme effects, but I consider BL a far better repository for unbiased and educated opinion

 

[Starshowers]

10mg isn't too low for amitriptyline. It's WD.

 

[morphonorconic]

10mg isn't a lot, but it's enough, and having taken it for three years, it's enough that it would likely produce some form of withdrawl symptoms.

I'm not super-versed in the pharmacology/pharmacodynamics of Tricyclic's, so I can't really offer any definitive information. You should speak to the prescribing doctor and figure out what the next step would be; to either go back on the Amitriptyline, stay off it, or perhaps try something else, etc.

 

[slowpoke1967]

was on it for about 2 years at a higher dose and just quit cause it didnt seem to be doing anything for me.
didnt have any WD at all.
But then again i was put on sumthing else soon after so i may not have had the time to WD..