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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Weaning off of Imipramine
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Weaning off of Imipramine
by JillR, May 10, 2001 12:00AM
Hello,
I was diagnosed with Post Partum Stress when I was 7 months post partum. I have always questioned this diagnosis as my only symptom was severe dizziness. No other symptoms - only the dizziness. I was first given Paxil which did nothing other than make me dizzier. I then suggested Imipramine as my sister is on it for anxiety & it has helped her a great deal. My dizziness did go away after taking this drug for 2 days. I have been on it now for about 4 months. My question is this. I would like to get off of the drug since my husband & I would like to have another baby. How do I go about weaning off of it? I asked my doctor but to be quite honest I do not trust his opinion - he works at a walk in clinic & I have had many bad experiences with him - I had to tell him which meds I thought would work for me & he had no idea of the dosage so he told me to take 50 or 100mg, depending on how I was feeling, & I have learned that is not a good idea. Anyway he told me to just stop taking it, but I fear there will be side effects if I am not weaned off of it.
What would you suggest?
Another thing I have been thinking is that my dizziness was not PPS but a side effect of all of the Fenugreek I was taking - (12 capsules a day) to increase my milk supply. I have since learned that Fenugkreek causes low blood sugar - which would explain my dizziness.
Thank you in advance for your response.
I was diagnosed with Post Partum Stress when I was 7 months post partum. I have always questioned this diagnosis as my only symptom was severe dizziness. No other symptoms - only the dizziness. I was first given Paxil which did nothing other than make me dizzier. I then suggested Imipramine as my sister is on it for anxiety & it has helped her a great deal. My dizziness did go away after taking this drug for 2 days. I have been on it now for about 4 months. My question is this. I would like to get off of the drug since my husband & I would like to have another baby. How do I go about weaning off of it? I asked my doctor but to be quite honest I do not trust his opinion - he works at a walk in clinic & I have had many bad experiences with him - I had to tell him which meds I thought would work for me & he had no idea of the dosage so he told me to take 50 or 100mg, depending on how I was feeling, & I have learned that is not a good idea. Anyway he told me to just stop taking it, but I fear there will be side effects if I am not weaned off of it.
What would you suggest?
Another thing I have been thinking is that my dizziness was not PPS but a side effect of all of the Fenugreek I was taking - (12 capsules a day) to increase my milk supply. I have since learned that Fenugkreek causes low blood sugar - which would explain my dizziness.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 10, 2001 12:00AM
, May 10, 2001 12:00AM
The first thing you should do is to find a doctor you can trust. The standard program for weaning is reducing 25mg every 3-4 days, but you should have medical supervision if any complications or symptoms occur.
