I have been taking 50mg of amitriptyline at night to help me sleep and to sort of lessen my anxiety for 6 months. It worked for sleep up until a few days ago, and it stopped working for anxiety months ago. The side effects became horrendous: severe weight gain, lethargy, more recently high HR, mood swings, and general weakness + nasty anticholinergic effects (namely notable memory issues). So at this point, I am done with it, and I genuinely want to start a very healthy life-style. Things are getting better for me in terms of career, family and so on. I am ready to stop it. I want exercise, good habits, healthy eating to be my saving grace.
I am extremely terrified though-- borderline panic attack sort of thing. Will the withdrawal be nightmarish? Will I have extreme anxiety, become dysfunctional? I consulted a few friends who took from 50 to 100mg for more time than I did. All they experienced was insomnia, and they told me that SSRI/SNRI withdrawals were MUCH MUCH worse, and that amitriptyline is 'benign' in comparison.
The national health system here guarantees that I can see a doctor, but not before a 4 month wait. Also, amitriptyline is OTC here, so I took it on my own.
Any advice on how to taper? Should I expect a living nightmare? Is amitriptyline worse to withdraw from than SSRIs/SNRIs?
I am really terrified so much that I can't sleep, and I can't get an appointment with a private doctor. It is way out of financial budget.