Like many of you, I’ve been through tons of medicines that I just couldn’t take. You name it, I’ve probably tried it. I’m taking Nortriptylline now, and only taking 10mg. I still hurt, but it’s tolerable- hydrocodone helps too some days. I’ve been on this since September, and have had one major attack since then. I am so tired of being tired, and wonder if anybody has just stopped taking meds like this one. Supposedly, you shouldn’t just stop. I went a week one time without and slept even more!!! I am only 5’1" and weigh only 90# (52 yrs old).Because of so many other Dr bills, Gammaknife etc not an option right now. So has anyone just quit?
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quitting cold turkey is really not a good idea. Maybe you can discuss with your doctor to switch you another medication?
There are many TCAs: doxepin, amitriptyline etc. Dont quit cold turkey; rather do a cross taper if you can. See the list here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricyclic_antidepressant#Binding_profiles
I have been on various antidepressants, and i can tell you going off cold turkey is rough and just not necessary.
Either taper down slowly or do a cross taper with another medication.
also ask your doctor about alternative medications, there are many!
good luck and merry Christmas,
H
Hi kat7!
Stopping 10 mg of nortripyline will be so easy as its such a small amount.You can stop the 10 mg just like that or you can do it by 5 mg every 10 days.You will have no problems.From higher doses titrating down you have to be very cautious so as to avoid horrible reactions. I am like you too very light and some medications have put me to bed for a week.All the best!
I’ve been on nortriptyline for about 18 months now. I’m ATN so I settled on 50mg to dull the constant crushing aching pain. At my highest I was at 100mg but I was so hazy mentally and sleepy I couldn’t live. I used to be a chronic insomniac, now I feel practically narcoleptic. I HAVE to sleep 8-9 hours or I randomly fall asleep during the day. I get so frustrated with being tired all the time but it beats never sleeping. At full power the pain only let me sleep three hours a day, then I would wake to the screams coming out of my own mouth. Maybe in another year or two I will get fed up enough to try other meds, but of the 7 I tried, this has been the best side effect, so for now I am gonna live as a half zombie. Good luck!
I’m only on 10mg as well because any more than that makes me hugely nauseous. I routinely go a couple of days without taking it with no issues.
I’m suppose to take Nortriptyline 75mg nightly but I take it very sporadically and haven’t suffered any side effects. Taking 10mg is a very low dose that I highly doubt you’d have any side effects from stopping it cold turkey, but I am not a doctor. You might want to leave a message for your dr so she/he is aware what you’re doing. [quote=“haach76, post:2, topic:13042”]
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