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Weaning Off Elavil, Stressed, High Cortisol Level, Sleeplessness, Lost Weight. Medication. Will It Damage Liver?
I have been weaning off Elavil that was used for too many damn years(I asked the doctor at least 1-2x a year to wean me off this crap), 11yrs now, and it was being used to help me sleep as I was unable to sleep anymore due to too much stress. They have/had me on 200mg at night before bed(usually about 1-1 1/2hrs before you know you are going to bed), and each time they tried to wean me off, I could not sleep for days, literally! 5 days and then I slept because I was totally exhausted. Which screws up your system, then stress from not getting sleep has increased my cortisol levels sky high, so I've gained massive amount of weight and been trying to lose, which I've lost 25lbs so far on my own, thanks to no help from my idiot doctors! But now weaning off slowly, I still am having difficult time falling asleep & staying asleep. I'm finally dreaming(I haven't had a dream in over 12yrs since being on this crap)NO REM SLEEP! but now, during the day or even night sitting on couch doing work or watching TV, I get this tinyyegling sensation in my head! Very strange feeling. Not from getting up too quickly as it will happen even if I'm sitting down. I'd like to know what the heck is going on as sometimes it feels like I'm actually going to fall and passout! And I have animals to take care of besides myself and I live alone. I'm 52yr old single female. have any suggestions. I have other questions after this on another medication which has done so much damage to my teeth, I wonder what kind of damage it has done to my kidneys, liver or any other part of my internal organs
Wed, 21 Aug 2013
Hello,
ELAVIL is a tricyclics antidepressant and once you use it for so many years,it definitely causes various witdrawl symptoms ,like you are having.
You have to be very patient in withdrawing from this drug.
The best way to come out of this drug is to reduce the dosage by 10 mg at a time and then continuing with it for 3 weeks.After three weeks,you can again withdraw 10 mg and continue for 3 weeks.Keep on repeating the schedule.
This way your body would get enough time to adjust to a slightly lower dose without causing much discomfort to you.
As far as damage to liver or kidney is concerned,you may get your liver as well as kidney function tests done,to alleviate your apprehensions regarding its use.
In all probabilities,your reports shall come normal.
Thanks
ELAVIL is a tricyclics antidepressant and once you use it for so many years,it definitely causes various witdrawl symptoms ,like you are having.
You have to be very patient in withdrawing from this drug.
The best way to come out of this drug is to reduce the dosage by 10 mg at a time and then continuing with it for 3 weeks.After three weeks,you can again withdraw 10 mg and continue for 3 weeks.Keep on repeating the schedule.
This way your body would get enough time to adjust to a slightly lower dose without causing much discomfort to you.
As far as damage to liver or kidney is concerned,you may get your liver as well as kidney function tests done,to alleviate your apprehensions regarding its use.
In all probabilities,your reports shall come normal.
Thanks
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