I'm stopping Amitripyline. TCA class anti-depressants are, IMO, poison. Look at the side-effects.
The TCA was acting as a strong reuptake-inhibitor of serotonin, essentially "tricking" your brain into (theoretically) acting your serotonin levels are higher when in fact, reuptake-inhibitors (Google it) work by inhibiting (slowing/stopping/blocking parts... I'm not a doctor I don't understand exactly how they work chemically) the reuptake (absorption) of serotonin. So no extra serotonin, but because it's not being absorbed entirely or quickly it supposedly means your brain "thinks" your serotonin levels are higher.
On the "will you ever roll again"? In time your brain will return to normal but there's much, much better option. An amino acid you can order online or locally if it's legal which just so happens to be a pre-cursor to serotonin. It's magic.
5-HTP
I cannot advise you on dosing, but when I was taking 5-HTP, one capsule per day was enough. I don't remember how long I used it for but I took it for a different purpose, to keep my levels high because I rolled most weekends. VERY IMPORTANT WARNING: Do not take 5-HTP while you are rolling or coming down. If you plan to roll, take it in the morning. After sleeping, back on schedule.
5-HTP plays a role in the production of Melatonin (regulates sleep) so I think night is better to take it. If it were me in your position I would take every day, one capsule at night for a month. No rolling during that time. Then stop taking it daily and instead I would use it for another purpose: to speed up my recovery by taking one capsule AFTER partying and sleeping. I might take one or two the following day, morning and night.
Some of us also used it to boost the effects of the pills. In theory. We would take one capsule the night before the party, telling our brain to produce some extra because we're about to release a bucket load. I reckon it was mostly a placebo effect, it didn't make the high any "better" or "stronger" but I think the good effects lasted a bit longer and the come-down was not as rough.
I suggest you also look at Serotonin Syndrome in case you're unfamiliar with the term. In short, very bad. It's overdosing on serotonin. If I were to ever use MDMA again, taking a dose of 5-HTP and dropping a pill simultaneously would be at the top of my list of things to NOT at all, ever, at any point in my life, that I have mentally stored.
