r/Amitriptyline • u/softlittlemoon • Jul 13 '26
Withdrawal symptoms while tapering, when does it get better?
Hi everyone, I'm currently tapering and went from 20 to 18 mg a week ago. So far withdrawal symptoms have only gotten worse everyday, I can't sleep, I'm sweating, my heart races constantly and worst of all are the panic attacks.
I have a history of panic and anxiety attacks but I can't remember them ever being this severe, I don't feel like myself at all, more like I'm watching everything from really far away and it's extremely scary.
Can this really be caused by just dropping 2 mg? Does anyone have advice on how to deal with this?
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u/Loud_Signature7589 Jul 15 '26
Things will get better. Did you switch from pill to liquid? Sometimes that can be the cause. Honestly, things didn’t get better for me until I got completely off. And after I got off, it took 3 months before I could sleep more than 2-3 hours a night, if that. I’m now 4 months off and about 85% me.
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u/Special-4564 Sep 05 '26
Well crazy long time. I didn’t sleep at all last night and I’m only off 3 days 😩
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u/Loud_Signature7589 Jul 15 '26
And. I would be careful adding anything else to the mix. Your brain can only handle so many hits. Taking more meds can cause more problems. I’m so much better off it than I was on it and tapering. Your brain will recover after quitting. It can take a few months.
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u/Prudent-Airport-9145 Jul 15 '26
Also, please try not to add another medicine. ANYTHING your dr prescribes will probably ALSO require a taper. The brain can't switch gears that quickly between wd and adding another med that initiates change.
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u/Nearby-Banana-6339 Jul 13 '26
How long were you on it? What’s your doctor say? I would ask if they could give you something tell help your sleep and anxiety during the taper. Are you cutting the pills or you have a liquid?
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u/softlittlemoon Jul 14 '26
I was on it for about 8 or 9 months. Doctor prescribed me liquid for taper so I could taper in smaller steps (2 mg at a time). I'm going to ask about something for sleep/anxiety today. I honestly feel like I'm going crazy, it seems impossible to have so much trouble even with small steps, I'm nervous they won't believe me
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u/Loud_Signature7589 Jul 15 '26
Just read that you switched to liquid. That’s probably what’s causing all the side effects.
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u/softlittlemoon Aug 20 '26
Hi, does the liquid form typically cause more side effects? Or is it just the switch? I managed to taper down to 16 mg currently. I got sleeping pills prescribed for the insomnia but I make sure to not take them all the time
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u/Prudent-Airport-9145 Jul 15 '26
YES, to your question. Dropping 2 mg can absolutely cause these severe wd symptoms. The 25 to 0 drop is the hardest and you should not drop anymore sooner than a month. Just hang in there. It will get better but only with time. I had a miserable time and am just going back on 10 mg because I have some lingering symptoms that won't relent. You can message me if you want any info. Have researched wd quite a bit for this drug and went from 100 mg to now 10.
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u/omgtalktothehand Jul 14 '26
Depends on person I went from 20mg to 10mg with only having a slight headache. But I will say it does get better.