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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Amitriptyline

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Posted on Wed, 1 Feb 2017
Question: ive beeen taking 200mg lamictale for quite sometime now by accident, my doctor increased to 400mg for 16 days i took a double dose have harmful courl thishave bee,

how to taper off of amitriptyline
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
20-25 % every two weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

The dose of amitriptyline should never be removed as cold turkey as there is great risk of withdrawal symptoms unless otherwise there is emergency or intolerable side effects. I mean to say that it is always safe to go slowly while discontinuing amitriptiline after years of use.

As a principal the dose can be reduced 20-25 % every 10-14 days. In case there is no pressing symptoms take the 14 days option rather than the 10 days option as it diminishes the possibility of withdrawal symptoms to a significant degree.

For clarification suppose you are taking 100 mg of amitryptiline go as below
First week onwards
75 mg per day

Third week
50 mg per day

Fifth week onwards
25 mg per day

Seventh week onwards
10 mg per day for few days and discontinue


Regarding your earlier post I am glad to know that you have detected the error at the early stage and prevented any kind of serious side effects which could occur at higher dose.

Having said this I feel you wanted to post something but it did not go through. The post " have harmful courl thishave bee," is not clear and I request you to post it again.

I loo forward to assist you further in your health needs.
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3354 Questions

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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Amitriptyline

Brief Answer: 20-25 % every two weeks Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using Healthcaremagic. The dose of amitriptyline should never be removed as cold turkey as there is great risk of withdrawal symptoms unless otherwise there is emergency or intolerable side effects. I mean to say that it is always safe to go slowly while discontinuing amitriptiline after years of use. As a principal the dose can be reduced 20-25 % every 10-14 days. In case there is no pressing symptoms take the 14 days option rather than the 10 days option as it diminishes the possibility of withdrawal symptoms to a significant degree. For clarification suppose you are taking 100 mg of amitryptiline go as below First week onwards 75 mg per day Third week 50 mg per day Fifth week onwards 25 mg per day Seventh week onwards 10 mg per day for few days and discontinue Regarding your earlier post I am glad to know that you have detected the error at the early stage and prevented any kind of serious side effects which could occur at higher dose. Having said this I feel you wanted to post something but it did not go through. The post " have harmful courl thishave bee," is not clear and I request you to post it again. I loo forward to assist you further in your health needs. Thanks and regards.