Imipramine

I have been taking imipramine for the past 6 years.  I got on the medicine for postpartum depression and it worked great.  After having surgery 9 months ago, I found my colon stopped working and I had to take laxatives in order to have a BM.  Well, on a hunch, I started lowering my dose of imipramine and I started having BM's again.  I am facing another surgery in a couple months and I want to get off this medicine.   I am trying to get off real slow but I am having severe withdrawal effects.  For the past 6 weeks I have gone from 150mg to 25mg and each time I go down a dose the withdrawal effects get bad.  Now, I completely stopped (from 25mg to 0) and I'm really miserable now.  I'm wondering when I'm going to feel normal again.  I'm shaky, nausated, dizzy, bad dreams, can't sleep, no appetite ... the list goes on.  I just don't know what to do anymore - when is it going to end - I'm following my instructions - going slow and I've been miserable - I can hardly function.  

Do you have any advice?  Please?  I wan't to get off this medicine and without having to start taking another antidepressant (that's what my doctor recommended).  How long are these withdrawal's going to last?

Thanks for your help.

[Lambloved]

I would have to ask why your not wanting to take the anti-depressants.  The ones they have now are alot better as I took an anti-depressant years ago called Elavil or Amitriptiline plus Valium.  I did go off of it after 6 months and did fine for years.  It sounds to me like the depression is coming back because I never had any side effects when I went of that anti-depressant years ago.  Also my mom was on the one you were taking and she didn't experience withdrawls like to mentioned.  
You really may have to try one of the newer one.  I actually take Paxil and Klonipin (klonopin) because I have anxiety along with depression.  If you would like to have a friend I'd be happy to be there for you.  My name is Caren and you can email me at ***@****  I'll keep you in my prayers

[Lambloved]

I just realized on another comment I posted that they don't seem to let you put in your email address so I'M GOING TO DO THIS differently so that you will under stand.   First of all is it Lambloved and you know after that come at and then g and then mail. which g and mail is one word I hope this comes out God Bless Caren

[Lambloved]

I forgot the . and the com part.