I developed severe anxiety last May and my docs said the amitriptyline wasn't working for me. I began taking it 7 years ago for migraines that wouldn't go away and it worked except for having to increase dosage after trying to come off and couldn't. I got myself down to 10 mg 6 days ago and feel so ill. Anxiety is sooo bad, insomnia, nausea, dizzy, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, flu like pain, chest pain, very little appetite etc. I can't go out nevertheless get out of bed for long. I've been slow tapering decreasing by 10 mg per month until 20, I went about 3 weeks and thought I took the pills before going to sleep and found them on the floor the next morning. So I had 0 in my system for 48 hours then went to 10. My doc said she wants me on generic zoloft and to start taking it now. What about serotonin syndrome! I know it's a possibility and feeling so ill I don't know what to look for if I was to get it. The anxiety has made it difficult to take any pills because of the side effects. I was given a drug in the hospital that was supposed to calm me and I shot to the roof. My question is should I go to the hospital for help getting off the rest of this god awful drug and they can observe and help me get onto zoloft? I can't take it anymore. Please help me
Tapering off amitriptyline, feel so sick, anxiety so bad, flu pain etc, should I go to hospital ?
Question posted by islgirl on 5 Aug 2012
Last updated on 10 November 2016
Hello all. I wound up going to the er after all and yes it's severe anxiety. I've been prescribed to take 10 mg amitriptyline, 25 mg zoloft, and 1.5 mg Xanax daily that can be increased a little. Amitriptyline will be eliminated shortly. Here's my question, does the combination above seem normal? I can't find anything or anyone on the internet stating the use of all three. Btw, still have the serotonin syndrome scare but trying to deal with it. Even though doc prescribed these meds I also have the option to stop the amitriptyline then start the zoloft. I know that gives me no coverage but it's also not doing anything to benefit me now and maybe the xanax will help amitryptline withdrawals until I start the zoloft. Elyssa
10 Answers
Elyssa, I'm right there with you. Sleepless but can't get up. No life. Haven't been out for weeks/months. Wanted to taper off bit couldn't my nerves were sky/high. Had been up to 75mg but tried going down to 10. Not working - caught between hating the evil effects/side-effects, and the impossibility of withdrawal. I'm clearly v sensitive to all such drugs. Inititial problem, insomnia. How ironic. Now can't sleep at all never mind rest. Hormones must be part if the story I'm 48, now actually look about 58, ie menopause. Any good news of you and your struggles would be welcome. At least we're not alone ? Gx
Dear Islgirl:
I see your post was in 2012; it is now 2014. How are you doing? Wish I could help. I have my own question to post: I started taking 50 mg of Amitriptyline in 2006 for severe insomnia. I had to be hospitalized for sleep deprivation. After several weeks getting into my system, it worked very well for me, and I enjoyed great sleep for 8 years. Then my liver enzyme counts went up, so my doctor weaned me off over about 2 months, and I was doing O.K. But now, when I lie down to sleep, I'm wide awake and hear every sound outside and in the house. I tried taking a 10 mg pill from my "weaning off" bottle and went down really quickly but felt so drowsy and sick to my stomach in the morning. Then I tried the OTC herbal sleep aid, and my heart seems like it's pounding all night. I seem to doze off because I have dreams, but during the day, I'm shaky and feel horrible. Does anyone know of an alternative for sleep? Will this deprivation of the Amitriptyline go away? Thanks for any help you can offer.
How did you wean yourself off. I tried to wean myself but after 6 months was having sever pain and tingling, I went back on. Now I wish I had not. What was your weaning schedule?
Hello Elyssa - Do you have a psychiatrist prescribing to you? If not, I wish you would go that route for prescribing things for the mental issues. You mentioned going to the ER but didn't say what type of doctor saw you. I think a psychiatrist would best help you with any dosing issues and also with tapering off medications of this nature as well.
I wish you peace and comfort on this journey toward better health. Keep posting so we can support you, okay? Let us know how you are doing along the way as well... we are here for you if you want help or any kind of support.
Mary
I had a psychiatrist prescribing Amitriptyline 75 mg. over 5 years who took me off cold turkey (along with Exelon, Namenda and reduced Zoloft from 300 to 100 mg. Within 5 days I developed flu like symptoms, called him 5 times and described symptoms to his nurse, AND he never called me back. I would up in the emergency room and almost died, put on a vent and a drug induced coma for 35 days. The diagnosis was serotonin syndrome. It was absolutely the sickest I've ever been in my life and was coded 4 times. Do not play around with medications NO MATTER who prescribes them.
Islgirl,
Pattishan sent me a message a few days ago and I just read it. First of all I want to tell you that you don't have to apologize for your anxiety(ies) here! No matter how strange or irrational they may seem to others, for you they are REAL and you don't owe anyone an apology for that! :)
Second, I think you should take your doctor's advice BUT I completely understand why you feel that you cannot. Now, that being said, I would like to encourage you to seek out a therapist to help you come to grips with some of these anxieties and help you work through them and overcome them. Medications are fine, but personally I think they work even better when coupled with therapy. (And no, as some have asked, I am NOT a therapist... or doctor... or nurse... or psychiatrist LOL).
Finally, I just want to throw this out there because we all have or know someone who has worried about the following: Drugs have warning labels because they are required to. Not everyone will experience side-effects listed on labels but they are there to cover manufacturers' butts. It is really hard not to obsess about them when you have issues; but people should try.
Islgirl, if you don't think you can cope with these feelings anymore, you always have the option of getting help in-patient until you feel that you are better to care for yourself and move forward. There is certainly no shame in doing so and some times, quite honestly, it's the best move. I hope this has helped somewhat and if it hasn't, I am sorry. Whatever you do, do not give up on yourself or those of us here. Someone is always here that can lend and ear and help the best we can.
Hello, I am on and off off of amitriptyline 10 mg. dosis. I known what your feelling,however this lowest dosis of this type of med. You can see your dc. and ask for any benzo dosis for no more than 3 weeks. That what I do when I get off from said med. I do not think your widraw simptons go longer than 3 weeks. The amitriptyline(elavil) is now been use by neourologists for treatment of migraine. So explained your doc. for the sort of comments you receice from the group. Take care.
Alcon1502
Thank you and will follow your advice. I really need something to get off these god awful drug. Elyssa
First of all, I currently take zoloft (ssri) as well as tramadol (snri) name brand being ultram. When taken under the care of a doctor, while I would without a doubt educate yourself in what the key symtoms are for seritonin syndrome, I would noetheless not worry to much about it. It is actualy a fairly common practice to combine snri's, snri's, and tca's in order to create a more customized solution to a given problem. If I had to make a guess, once you start takeing the zoloft your issues should go away, afterall, your body is currently starved of seritonin, and is simply out of balance.
Now, if you were to just discontinue seritonin type drugs, the situation would be handled very differently with an extremely slow taper. This of course is not the case, and likely would also be true for me. In many cases such as myself as well as you continuous medication is needed. When switching medications the quickest method is often the best method as going without can be potentialy be very problematic, not even takeing withdrawal into consideration.
I appologize for my poor spelling as my phone's spell check isn't working at the moment! Anyways, I sincerely hope that you fell better soon and that this is of some help!
Jeff K
Hi Jeff. Thank you for your comment and your spelling is just fine. Serotonin syndrome is scary for me mostly because I'm so sensitive to meds and my anxiety has put fear into me. I've taken drugs that cause anxiety and I dont want anymore.
You did ease my thoughts knowing you're on two drugs that can cause serotonin syndrome as well and you're fine. Now I just have to get the strength to do it. Elyssa
Did you get side effects from the drugs? Were you feeling sick when you started taking them? I'm scared of side effects from the zoloft because I'm already sick. My anxiety can get worse for instance which in return would make me think serotonin syndrome or something else. Do I make sense?
I'd also like to add that at one point I was on tramadol, pristique, and welbutrin! By keeping a close eye on each med, one added at a time in a methodical and careful sort of way, nothing close to seritonin syndrome ever occured.
Even if you do get seritonin poisining (which is highly unlikely), it is rarely fatal and easy to spot out the initial symptoms. I oddly enough at one time was on only zoloft and klonopin (unfortunetly no longer the case), and one cold night I decided to try out a new branj of bed time tea. It made me feel terrible and naucious. I checked the ingredients and sure enough, it contained saint johns wort in the tea, one of many ingredients. Surprisingly it did did have an unexpected effect on me. Even then, it was easy to identify, if it got worse I'd go to the er, but instead by morning the ill effects were gone. Not nearly as bad as what I would have imagined.
The situation that you currently are most likely in is the very opposite of to much seritonin, but not enough! The ill effects which you currently experience are very likely worse than what I went through with my mild serit yearsonin poisining, a condition that I put myself into without the help from a doctor. I've over the last six years have been on more than one seritonin type drug at a time. All of the med combos that I had gone through never caused me any harm... except for the one time that I accidentally played doctor without even realizing it!
And sorry about the writing!! I shouldn't be allowed to use my phone as a computer!!
Wow, you'v been through a lot. I feel for you. How were you able to take new drugs with your anxiety? I'm so scared I want to admit myself. If it causes more anxiety at first and we both know it can make me worse. Then what??? I do need more serotonin and that's probably the answer. I also take xanax and today only took .50 mg with another .25 shortly. I was told no more then 1 mg. I guess for addictive purposes. I should've taken more but it supresses my breathing which doesn't help me one bit.
These are my symptoms. Did you have these? Very anxious/excited and its bad, fast heartbeat lieing down, walking, walking up steps, getting out of bed, chest pain, feel like I can't breathe, something in my throat, very bad shakes, dizzy spells, nausea, fear, can't leave house. I feel generally ill. I lie down all day even showering is hard.
How do I get myself to take this drug and not cause myself more fear and in return anxiety? I'm so scared and driving my husband and everyone else nuts around me. I may admit myself.
I really need help. Btw, don't worry about your spelling its fine lol
As far as side effects go, if they didn't work for me, then we'd just try something else. I personally take klonopin cause it provides all day relief. Sure dependence will occur, but same is true with almost any med that effects the brain! Benzodiazepines really have an unfairly bad reputation when in fact they are the best thing for general anxiety, panic attacks with the heart attack like symptoms (finaly went to see a p doc when it brused the chest, or at least hurt for several days after the attack).
I may get an adverse reaction, but never one that made the anxiety get worse. If this is truly the case with you, it almost sounds like a couple things possibly going on. I'm no doctor, but from what I've read bipolar disorder can be extremely easy to miss, and does cause unusral reactions with the meds taken.
Whatever the case may be, I can tell you that if for nothing else, even if the med doesn't help, you'll be that much closer to finding one that will.
I really do hope that you give zoloft a try, and if it makes you panicky (for me it just made me a bit tiered and out of it for the first day) you can call your doc and just tell them the situation. I really do think that your seritonin is most likely way to low at the moment, and the zoloft will only make everything a bit more manageable.
Please feel free to private message me, or ask any additional questions here as I really do want to see you feeling better. I never had the same troubles with the meds (I was stabalized on klonopin from the start, at one point takeing 4mg, but now I'm down to 2mg per day).
Sincerely,
Jeff K
Jeff, have you read where this person is a diabetic also. My husband is also & also is bipolar on zoloft & wellburtrin. I just asked him about when his glusoces is high, & he states he also has these feeling of anxiety, racing heart(he has a heart problem too),sweats, etc... when his glusoce is high. The smae symptoms Elyssa is feeling. I believe if it is too high it can also be causing part of her problem. I agree 100% that she should take the zoloft as prrescribed & it would calm these fears partly that she is having. I referenced her to seratonin syndrome to read about the different drugs that used together can cause this. I believe that is she would take the zoloft these or part of these feeligs would go away. This is why her psycgiatrist has prescribed it in the first place. I don't think 10 mg of amitriphaline(sp) is causing her to feel this way. Being sensitive to certin drugs is also cusing the anxiety of taking the zoloft.
Just a laymns opinion altho' that seen it & been throught it also with my hubby. I stressed that if her glucose are running high it is imperative she see her doctor or endroctrinologist in the morning. I hope she is listening to our advice still... Mary
I totally agree! Without a doubt there seems to be a couple, or at least more than one problem going on at the same time. Regardless, one of the major and most obvious problems is simply a lacking of seritonin, and zoloft would fix this problem. Once taken, the anxiety should go down quite a bit. I can't help but feel that the overly causious use of benzos, especially when they can be extremely effective. The dependence is in all honesty a pain, but if a person tapers at a slow enough rate, they aren't really that much of a problem.
Anyways, once that first step is taken and the seritonin is back to normal levals, the anxiety should decrease significantly. I honestly know almost nothing about diabetes and the consequences of the two conditions! So in many respects this is a case where I have to say loud and clearly that I'm not a doctor, and you very well may have a better insight into this problem. I nonetheless according to what I do know hold on to the fact that zoloft will make her feel much better!
Thanks!
Jeff K
I don't think its my diabetes. My numbers aren't too high. I had uncontrolled diabetes years ago and I was fine.
I'm just scared of the zoloft side effects making me feel worse or mixing the two. My preference is to just get off amitriptyline first then start the zoloft. In my head it sounds easier. Probably sounds stupid I but can't help it.
After some reading I see that anxiety patients go through what I'm going through. Taking pills and their side effects are scary. I already feel sick don't want to get worse. Elyssa
Well, I can't argue with how you feel in regards to this. If you do decide to first t-per off the current med before trying zoloft, it is important that you contact your doctor. This was not in accordance to the original plans, and as I mentioned earlier, switching meds vs. stopping a medication must be approached in totally different ways. A medication such as tramadol, an snri can put a person into seizures. Sometimes when certain meds are stopped abruptly, the withdrawal can last much longer than if it were tapered.
Anyways, in this case it is vital that you contact your doctor. I know and respect your choice, but I do have to add on one last thought in regards to mixing meds. If you broke one pill of zoloft in half and only knew one half as zoloft and the other half as lexipro (even though it's not), both halves are still the same drug. Both are ssri's, just like any other ssri or other seritonin type medication. By taking two small doses of different seritonin type drugs, it really should be viewed as a new type of drug vs. two different medications, sort of the medication that must be taken in order to transfer between medications.
Completely stopping one before starting another medication isn't realy all that different than stopping your current medication so that you can start takeing the same med again, only in this case it would be a slightly different medication. The only time when seritonin syndrome occurs is when a full dose of one seritonin type drug is taken with a full dose of another seritonin type drug. In that case, the body is taking twice the amount of the drug that is needed, something that no doctor would ever do.
Regardless, I do respect your decision and pray that you contact your doctor to inform them of the change in plans that you decided on implementing.
Best of luck to you, and I sincerely pray that all turns out for the best.
Jeff K
I'm sorry about the number of messages, but in all honesy, if you can't handle the withdrawal I would then go to the er. The one thing that you should be aware of is that I'd be willing to make a bet that the treatment given would either be an increa#ed dose of the original seritonin medication, or... they would give you a dose of zoloft in order to stop the extremely problematic withdrawals.
Thanks Jeff. I am going to try and take the zoloft tomorrow although I'm scared. The fright of the side effects and the worsened anxiety is killing me but I'm guessing the zanax will help me with that. Today I have weakness and little pain going in my arms and legs. Feels like anxiety I think. Just feel weak in general. I still may go to thev ER but I'm trying nothing. If I didn't mention before I took zoloft 10 yrs ago and don't remember any bad side effects. However I didn't have anxiety back then just depression.
What if the anxiety worsens because of the zoloft and or amitriptyline? What if I get worse. I need help
Elyssa
In no way am I showing off, but due to my general and panic type anxiety, depression, sad, chronic pain (fibro), and finally discovered ptsd (never occurred to me that my entire childhood is missing, except for the flashbacks that started a couple years ago) that was the primary root source of the above excluding the chronic pain.
I've been resistant to quite a few medications as well as felt side effects that I personally considered to be unacceptable (from nausea to no sex drive). None of the adverse effects realistically were all that bad. I remember giving xanax xr a try, taking a slightly higher equivalent dose ( according to the conversion tables ) and the new med just didn't sit well for me. I know tons and tons of people who take xanax, but for me I just started to go into withdrawal. Rapid heart rate, much like a panic attack, but different, and something that just wouldn't go away with time. This in combination to other issues had me phone my doctor.
He told me to go back onto the klonopin. After about an hour, I felt 100% fine.
I currently take methadone for my chronic pain. There was one holiday weekend where I totaly forgot to call in for a refill. After a few mistakes where made due to my doctor being on extended vacation, it was a good 7 days before I was able to get back on the medication. In a strange way I was glad that the rest of my family had the flu, so I fit right in, although my symtoms were distinctly different.
The reason why I'm telling you these stories is cause in my experience, trying new meds have never been very problematic. Just stopping a medication on the other hand was never a good thing. I had taken a tca at one point while also being on either pristique or lexapro, and when the meds where flopped around, one at a time, there wasn't any real problem caused by this.
I guess that all I'm saying is that by going cold turkey off of the tca before going onto the ssri will only cause pain that you don't need to go through. I sincerely hope that you start the ssri/zoloft sooner vs. later for your sake!
Sincerely,
Jeff K
Serotonin syndrome is very rare and not likely at all given the type and dosages of these two antidepressants. From what you describe sounds like you are experiencing a combination of anxiety and withdrawal symptoms from the amitriptyline. Don't think it requires a trip to the ER if you can hang tough for a few more days while you adjust to the reduced dosage of amitriptyline. I would do as your doctor says and start the Zoloft immediately. Might help to talk to an understanding friend or family member to help calm yourself down. If the withdrawals don't subside soon, talk to the doctor again and see if she can recommend a solution.
Hi Laurie. Thank you for your comment. I hope you're right. Anxiety is not allowing me to take the two drugs lol. It sound stupid but it's real. I went down to 7 days ago, I can still be having withdrawal? ER is still not out of the question though, can't take this anymore. Elyssa
Hang in there girl. Give the doc a call in the morning. I really think you will be feeling better in another few days.
Thanks again and I hope you're right
Dear Islgirl, I am NOT a dr or nurse, but I do have some personal experience with anxiety/panic disorder and antidepressants. The very first thing I am going to suggest, it to get in touch with your dr, ask if she will prescribe you a benzodiazepine for right now, to help with the extreme panic and anxiety. Also ask her if she has checked your thyroid and your hormone levels, both thyroid and hormone imbalances can cause pretty severe anxiety. If this has NOT been done, it needs to be done, soon. Panic and anxiety disorder tends to run in families and is worst when the person may be going thru puberty, menopause or pregnancy. It sounds like you do need a benzo for right now, even if it is short term. My understanding of serontonin syndrome, is that it occurs when someone is on major amounts of ssri's or ssnri's. I am going to do a bit more research on this in a few moments and come back.
There are a few people that come to mind on this site, who are great at these these questions. Pledge, JK13, LaurieShay and Psyched are all very well versed at explaining these things. Give us a bit to try and find one of them to help on this one. By adding generic Zoloft to the low dose of amitriptyline you are already on, you still should be ok and I doubt serontonin syndrome will set in. Please call your dr and tell them of the strong anxiety symptoms and ask about the thyroid and hormone panels, these are blood work tests and either of these 2 things being off, would make the anxiety much worse, I know that much. Hang on for us, ok. Patti
Hi Patti, thank you for your comment. I've had my throid and hormone levels checked and there good. I do still have the fright of serotonin syndrome and I think the anxiety is doing this to me. I have a fright of all drugs and it stinks. I'm ready for the er. I really need help. I haven't left my house in 3 weeks!
Ok Isl, I did some research and also let a couple of community members know you could use some help. It is highly doubtful you would go into serotonin syndrome while on such a low dose of amitriptyline, even with the addition of generic Zoloft. I have had to be on low doses of 2 antidepressants before and I was fine. Maryof the many numbers made a good point I hadn't thought of, what other meds are you on, or have stopped recently, as this could be causing a worsening of symptoms. The symtoms your are having, can show up when someone is having a panic attack, but don't sound like the symptoms I read for serotonin syndrome. My hormones really have jumped around alot in my life, and it is one of the first signs I feel when they are shifting again. Until recently, I had NO idea that a standard thyroid panel does NOT always show a thyroid condition and I learned that on this site.
I have symptoms that sound like a thryoid problem and have only had the standard initial blood work, but I am going to discuss this with my dr soon, as I have too many of the symptoms for there NOT to be additonal testing done. Once a person starts having some panic or anxiety symptoms, the fear of it getting worse can actually make it worse and make it last longer. You did NOT list that you have been treated with a benzo, such as lorazepam (Ativan) diazepam (Valium) , Xanax or clonazepam (klonopin) but, one might be in order for now. On the oth hand, if you have been treated with a benzo, developed a dependence on them and stopped cold turkey, the symptoms you are having may be from sudden cessation of the benzo. Benzos are NOT bad meds, it is when people take them for long periods of time, develop a tolerance and then suddenly stop them, that problems can occur. Like I said, I am NOT a dr or nurse, but it sounds like you might have a few things going on, a hormone imbalance or thyroid problem, perhaps a crisis in your life and increasing fear, which is making symptoms worse. The aching and flu feelings you are having might be from coming off the amitriptyline, but it also could be from something else. You tapered slowly, and that is the correct way to do it and you do have some amitriptyline in your system, so, I am just guessing here, that something else physically is going on, and possibly some crisis too. Please update us when you can. Patti
You and I were both typing at the same time. Have you stopped any meds recently and suddenly? Have you had any type of crisis or loss.?What other meds are you taking? Anxiety can simply show up and the more anxious you are, the worse it takes over. Have you been given a benzo, such as the ones i listed. I know you are afraid of taking more meds but if you want some relief a benzo might help until you can get some medical and psychological answers on why this is happening and so suddenly. Patti
I've had this problem for over a year. What caused this was prednisone or dilaudid. I've been on prednisone before but during treatment I felt really sick not happy. In the hospital I was given dilaudid that didn't agree with me at all. This was last may. It's gotten worse as I taper amitriptyline. since then I've had antibiotics and that's it. I just stopped levaquin today as I was told by doc I had a bacterial infection because my CBC was 11.4. Do you know if anxiety can cause my WBC to go up? I read up n it and I see it does. I was feeling crappy but lime you said flu like symptoms can be caused from amitriptyline. I noticed when I got to 30 mgs I felt my best, not good though. I just got over a uti and had 3 different antibiotics in me to work as well. Oh, btw I didn't mention I'm on .75 - 1mg Xanax daily. I upped to .75 couple months ago.
I definitely will have more tests done but my thyroid has been checked a bunch of times due to me being a type 2 diabetic. Do you know if shaky, fast heartbeat just walking room to room, nausea,weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, hard to breathe, dizziness, are part of amitriptyline or anxiety or both? Thank you so much for your help. Elyssa
Ellysa, I think it also sounds like since you have finally opened up to us that you could be also exhibiting signs of your type 2 diabetes too. Are you checking your glucose when you are suppose to, & how high or low are they? Some of the symptoms you are describing, could also be due to that. Please get ahold of your doctor first thing in the morning. We could better help you if you would go back to your question & list all your conditions, & medications. We are not medical professionals, but many of us have the same conditions & symptoms you are describing. We are trying to help you the best we can with the bits of info you have given. I think it is imperative that you call your doctor first thing in the morning. I don't believe you are having serotoin syndrome either, but if your glucose is very high or very low you may need to go for that. I understand right now you are very scared & agigtated, but you need to take a deep breathe & relax a bit.
Check your glucose, & do what is necessary to calm yourself. Deep breathing, & maybe a nice warm bath would help too. If you are taking xanax, we can't tell you to take more than prescribed. Only a medical professional can do that. If you feel you must go to the ER then by all means do so with haste, but they may tell you the same things. Most important right now is to calm down & relax a bit. Even a good back rub by someone in the home may help you to relax. Until you talk with or see your doctor tomoorow that is all we can advise you to do without further or more info. Good luck to you & I hope you get to feeling better soon. Please let us know how you are doing...
Good call Mary, I was driving home when all the comments from Elyssa and others came in, so info did get added. I agree it might be related to the diabetes, and even though the thyroid seems to be ok, the pancreas is not and that can cause all sorts of things. The amitriptyline would only cause flu like symptoms if it were stopped and not restarted and at a higher dose when it was stopped. I had it happen once when I was on 50 mgs and just forgot to get them filled. It wasn't as bad as wht you are describing, but I did restart it a few days later. Please update us. Patti
Hi all. I'm not on any drugs for type two diabetes because I had it under control with diet and exercise. I check my sugar 3 to 4 times a day. Me not working out has brought my numbers up a bit then normal but definitely not low or dangerous. I think this anxiety and my recent bacterial infection could've raised the numbers as well.
Patti, I didn't take the amitriptyline 20 mgs last week because I thought I took them and my husband found them on tge floor in the am. I went 42 hours without anything. At this point I was on 20 mg for 3 weeks so I dropped to 10 that night. Felt not too bad then boom.
Thank you so much. You both have helped me. I'm still scared and I need help that's for sure
Hi islgirl & welcome to the site. I have to answer your question with a question because of the support groups you have listed with your question. You say you started taking the amitriptyline for migraines, but you list depression & anxiety as part of your profile. Did you have these issues before starting this medication? Is this totally new list of symptoms or did you have some of those problems before & the amitriptyline helped? We are not doctors on this site only people that have either been where you are, or have similar conditions & have some medical experience. Kaismama is a nurse & I believe has taken this drug. I took it for helping with sleep many years ago, but I don't have anxiety issues. You didn't list the full dose you were taking when it was helping you. Why are you wanting to stop it if it helped? My personal opinon for what it's worth is that you seek the help of a professional.
It sounds like you are having issues that best be left up to a psychiatrist as they are the best professional to seek advice from on taking & getting off of these type of medication. If your anxiety is from withdrawal from amitriptyline, which honestly it doesn't sound like it to me, you still need the best help available to you which is of course a psychiatrist. He will also help you figure out all these others problems & see if you need medication or not. I wish you the best, & please have your PCP or whomever is prescribing this for you get you referred to a specialist right away. For you, It's an emergency situation...
Hi Mary. Thanks for having me on the site. To answer your questions, I only went on amitriptyline only for migraines. I have developed the anxiety and in return depression from the anxiety while on the drug. When this came on I was told amitriptyline wasn't helping so my psychiatrist had me start tapering. I'm down to 10 mg and the withdrawal is killing me. I know I need help and I'm thinking the hospital may be the best way to go at this point. Having anxiety has stopped my life and has made me scared to take any drugs. I'm supposed to have introduced zoloft and haven't because of the side effects. I already don't feel good and scared to get worse. I'm trying to completely withdraw amitriptyline first. I'm sure you've heard of serotonin syndrome and the two drugs together can cause it. I'm under the understanding that most anxiety patients have the same problem. Did you experience withdrawal from amitriptyline? What were your symptoms, how long were you on it, and how long can this withdrawal last ?
I was on it to help me get into REM sleep because I have fibromyalgia & only started at 25mg & worked up to 100mg. After awhile it just didn't help me sleep. I stopped taking it on my own, without the help the the doctor. Some can & some can't Yes, I know about serotonin syndrome. I am no expert, but have a buddy that may be able to answer this better for you. I will see if I can get to him right away... Mary
Just sent a message out to the expert. Hopfully he hasn't signed off for the day. Lots of luck to you my new friend... Mary
I have to add my personal feelings that your psychiatrist should know wht he is doing. I don't think if this is the only med you are on, that you have seratonin syndrome nor at the dose you are taking adding a low dose of the zoloft is going to put you there. Many times doctors prescribe & combine different antidepressants together.I am NOT a doctor nor claim to be any kind of expert at all on this. I just read a link I am going to give you to read about seratonin syndrome & the two you are suppose to be taking are not listed together as casuing it. I can ask one other person too. Here is the link & I will raise the red flag out here some how! https://www.drugs.com/cg/serotonin-syndrome.html
Thank you Mary. I will be checking on those sites you gave me. You're such a big help. I'm really doing bad and driving myself crazy...
10 mg of amitriptyline and zoloft should not cause a problem. You had alot more amitriptyline in your system and did ok. I'm sure he's starting you on a lower dose of zoloft. He wants you to take it that way to prevent all the symptoms you are having. Your doctor has years of education and I'm sure he knows what he's doing.
Thank you for answering me back. I've been told over and over to start the zoloft but the anxiety (fear) is stopping me. I know it's a stupid way of thinking but I can't help it. Do you know why I'm having horrible tapering problems when I tapered so slowly? How long will this last? Tonight will be the 7th night on 10 mg. Part if me says go to the er because I just can't take it anymore. Today I have the shakes as well. I can't lie in bed any longer and I can't get up for too long. I have no out. Are you a doc or do you have experience with amitriptyline?
I was also told prednisone (which I've been on before) and maybe the dilaudid I was given in er may have caused steroid psychosis. This just came out of the blue. I also wonder if the amitriptyline itself caused this whole thing
Steroids can effect you while they are in your body, but not usually afterward. If you would follow the doctors directions you probably wouldn't be feeling the way you are.
I'm trying but my anxiety is stopping me. I know I'm being so stupid, just trying to withdraw from amitriptyline first so I feel better inside taking it. I hear you're a nurse so you must see or have seen what anxiety can do to a person
Good call, Kasimama.
I know first hand what anxiety does to people, but you know what, the things that cause me anxiety are the things I have to do for my job. I force myself to get through them. I know they are unreasonable and not good for me.
I just wanted to add in here that kaismama has given you wonderful advice. Also, your anxiety isn't stopping you... you are stopping yourself. If you can look at this situation like making choices... you have pros and you have cons. Write them down on paper if you have to. If you keep coming up with "cons" verses "pros" then I think your problem is you are letting the fact that you have severe anxiety stop you from making the best choices because you have trust issues. I think you keep wondering "what if this and what if that"? Let's just assume that your doctor knows what they are talking about and follow the directions... give it at least 6 weeks to work before making a decision that it is or isn't doing any good. Only trying it will give you the right answer.
Mary
Fern .5 years ago I was given amitriptyline for sleep because I had many surgeries. My dose was 300 milligrams. I'm out of my medicine the first day had bad headaches I thought I had the flu the second day my body hurt I can't even get out of bed dizziness blurry in my eyes other the third day I didn't understand why I was feeling this so I went on the internet to see if they had withdrawals from amitriptyline. My doctor never told me that I was going to have withdrawals today when I picked up my medicine and I ask the pharmacist and she told me there is withdrawals from amitriptyline after you take them along too so make sure you talk to your doctor explain to you taking them long-term and without him you could go with me
Related topics
depression, influenza, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, insomnia, pain, generalized anxiety disorder, amitriptyline, anxiety and stress, tapering
Further information
- Amitriptyline uses and safety info
- Amitriptyline prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Amitriptyline (detailed)
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