Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
17568 tn?1424973559

Elavil Withdrawal

I am a 56 year old woman whose severe  chronic insomnia has been treated with Elavil for 22 years.  The starting dose was 5 mg and has beengradually increased over the years to 50 mg.  I have been evaluated in asleep lab and prescribed other medications; but because of a problem with metabolizing drugs, Elavil became the drug of choice to treat my problem.

I have attempted to stop the Elavil, but experience unbearable symptoms which cause me to return to the drug -- severe rebound insomnia, flu-like symptoms, body pains, trembling.  Even with these uncomfortable symptoms, I feel completely lucid, happy and enthusiastic about life in general -- until the symptoms get so bad I must return to taking Elavil. I feel groggy most of the time while on the drug, inarticulate and slow witted, all of which affect my work performance and general quality of life.

I need to stop taking this drug, but how should I go about it.  Is there a health facility where I can be checked in while going through withdrawal. ( I live near New York City)  It's very difficult going through this alone.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Elavil withdrawal was started.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Ask your doctor about Trazodone.  It is a non-addictive anti-depressant that works wonders for insomnia ... and it does not leave a person 'groggy or feeling like a zombie' the next morning.  Blessings for restful nights ahead!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Withdrawal from a medication that you've been on for so long should not be done alone. A local primary care doc should be able to help you. However, for specialized care consider the NYU hospital system which has an excellent mental health facility. Good luck.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Forum

Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease