2 hours ago, Bizorro said:

So, @Chippy..I’m willing to keep reducing the dose, but I would like to stay stable throughout the process. At least that way I can continue working and maintain my relationship.

 

One thing I’ve noticed is that when my libido is good, it’s a sign that I’m doing well and not experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, right now my libido is at zero, and from that I can conclude that it has a strong influence on my overall condition.

Hey @Bizorro I’m now a little confused. 
 

I thought you were asking if you should go all the way up to 62mg. Was this not the question?

Here you talk about reducing your dose? I wouldn’t suggest this whilst not stable. You are wise to know this. 

If you wanted to try going up to help I would understand that. 

10 hours ago, Chippy said:

Hey @Bizorro I’m now a little confused. 
 

I thought you were asking if you should go all the way up to 62mg. Was this not the question?

Here you talk about reducing your dose? I wouldn’t suggest this whilst not stable. You are wise to know this. 

If you wanted to try going up to help I would understand that. 

Sorry @Chippy, I think I expressed myself poorly. Actually, I would like to stabilize first and then continue the reductions. But I will hold this dose for as long as I can tolerate it.

53 minutes ago, Bizorro said:

Sorry @Chippy, I think I expressed myself poorly. Actually, I would like to stabilize first and then continue the reductions. But I will hold this dose for as long as I can tolerate it.

Nothing to apologise for. Thanks for clarifying. Sounds like a good plan. 
 

It’s good to be a stable as you can before you continue to taper. Some try a very long hold before tapering further. Many months. 
 

Once you are ready to taper we can help you decide the best approach for the taper if you would like. 

Hello @Chippy…It’s been some time now — to be more precise, 1 month and 8 days — and I’m still not 100%. I can say that some symptoms have gone away, but I still don’t feel a full sense of well-being.

 

I have constant fatigue, burning eyes, mild anxiety, and low libido. Overall, I feel like I haven’t gone back to being myself yet.

 

Right now, I’m unemployed and making some income as a rideshare driver. Maybe this is making things worse, because I wake up feeling really bad, with negative thoughts and everything that comes with it.

 

Given all of this, what would you suggest?

 

Thanks again for your attention.

5 hours ago, Bizorro said:

Hello @Chippy…It’s been some time now — to be more precise, 1 month and 8 days — and I’m still not 100%. I can say that some symptoms have gone away, but I still don’t feel a full sense of well-being.

 

I have constant fatigue, burning eyes, mild anxiety, and low libido. Overall, I feel like I haven’t gone back to being myself yet.

 

Right now, I’m unemployed and making some income as a rideshare driver. Maybe this is making things worse, because I wake up feeling really bad, with negative thoughts and everything that comes with it.

 

Given all of this, what would you suggest?

 

Thanks again for your attention.

Hi @Bizorro

 

Im sorry you are still feeling bad. It can take a long time stablise. 
 

If you hold here things will settle in time. It happens in waves and windows so not linear. 
 

How would you rate your symptoms out of 10? 10 being the worst you could imagine. 

 

You could always try to updose some more, 60mg (4.35%), or 59mg (2.6%) to be more careful, if you feel your symptoms are more than a 3/10. 
 

Certainly no more reductions for a while yet. 
 

Chippy

Hello @Chippy

I’d like to thank you for encouraging me to hold my dose despite all the withdrawal symptoms I experienced. It’s now been 1 month and 12 days, and I can honestly say the worst has passed. Let’s say that, on a scale from 0 to 10, I’m at about an 8.5 (laughs).

The rest I attribute to my libido, which has dropped, but I know I’ll recover.

With all that said, my question now is: what should I do going forward? Should I maintain this dose for a while longer? And in your opinion, how long would be ideal?

After so many ups and downs with my nortriptyline dose, I feel a bit uncertain about how to proceed from here.

I truly appreciate your help and your support throughout my journey.

Hi @Bizorro I'm glad you've found some stability. You're one of the few people on here who is tapering a TCA. I'm planning to reduce Amitriptyline. I've read over your timeline but there's not much detail in terms of the WD symptoms you had on previous tapers. Are you willing to share which withdrawal symptoms were the most difficult for you?

Take care 🤗

5 hours ago, Bizorro said:

Hello @Chippy

I’d like to thank you for encouraging me to hold my dose despite all the withdrawal symptoms I experienced. It’s now been 1 month and 12 days, and I can honestly say the worst has passed. Let’s say that, on a scale from 0 to 10, I’m at about an 8.5 (laughs).

The rest I attribute to my libido, which has dropped, but I know I’ll recover.

With all that said, my question now is: what should I do going forward? Should I maintain this dose for a while longer? And in your opinion, how long would be ideal?

After so many ups and downs with my nortriptyline dose, I feel a bit uncertain about how to proceed from here.

I truly appreciate your help and your support throughout my journey.

Hi @Bizorro

This is fantastic news!

Im so glad to read this.

I would hold this dose for a good few weeks. I like to see 6 weeks of fairly consitent 'baseline WD symptoms' before tapering. Do stay in touch and we will help you with the next stage of your taper, when you feel ready to continue.

Chippy

Hello, @Catbird I hope you’re doing well.

Honestly, if I were to tell my full history of attempts to taper off nortriptyline and the symptoms I experienced, it would turn into a long book (laughs).

I think the worst withdrawal symptom I had was a constant feeling of anguish, along with very intense chemical anxiety. It would consume me 24 hours a day. On top of that, I also struggled with insomnia and a very strong sense of anguish during the early hours of the morning, which felt even more intense at that time. Sometimes, I would place a cold cloth on my head because it felt like my brain was “burning.” It was horrible — this happened during my first attempt to taper, around 2018.

During my second attempt, the symptoms were more manageable. Even so, due to pressure from work and family, I ended up going back to my original dose.

Now, in my third attempt, I’m being more cautious. At the moment, the symptoms are milder, so to speak. The main ones are fatigue, negative thoughts, and a strange sensation that I can’t really explain.

Thanks @Bizorro i really appreciate your response. My plan at this stage is to decrease from 20 to 10mg over months. The side effects are terrible. I think you know what I’m talking about. Because Amitriptyline helps with sleep it’s the insomnia and agitation I’m worried about. I’ll keep an eye on how you’re going, it looks like your plan is to get completely off the medication. I hope it goes well for you 🤗🧡

3 hours ago, Catbird said:

Thanks @Bizorro i really appreciate your response. My plan at this stage is to decrease from 20 to 10mg over months. The side effects are terrible. I think you know what I’m talking about. Because Amitriptyline helps with sleep it’s the insomnia and agitation I’m worried about. I’ll keep an eye on how you’re going, it looks like your plan is to get completely off the medication. I hope it goes well for you 🤗🧡

Hello @Catbird ..Thank you so much for your message 🤝
I completely understand what you’re going through… those side effects, and especially the withdrawal symptoms, can be really intense.

I think your plan to reduce from 20 mg to 10 mg over a few months is very sensible. Taking it slowly usually makes a big difference, especially to avoid the insomnia and agitation you mentioned — which, as you said, tend to be the hardest symptoms to deal with.

In my case, yes, the goal is to eventually come off the medication completely, but without rushing. I learned the hard way that the brain needs time to adjust, so now I respect this process much more.

I’m glad we can share this experience. Let’s keep following each other’s progress — and whatever happens, we’re here to support each other 🤗🧡

1 hour ago, Bizorro said:

Hello @Catbird ..Thank you so much for your message 🤝
I completely understand what you’re going through… those side effects, and especially the withdrawal symptoms, can be really intense.

I think your plan to reduce from 20 mg to 10 mg over a few months is very sensible. Taking it slowly usually makes a big difference, especially to avoid the insomnia and agitation you mentioned — which, as you said, tend to be the hardest symptoms to deal with.

In my case, yes, the goal is to eventually come off the medication completely, but without rushing. I learned the hard way that the brain needs time to adjust, so now I respect this process much more.

I’m glad we can share this experience. Let’s keep following each other’s progress — and whatever happens, we’re here to support each other 🤗🧡

Great idea @Bizorro !! I'll let you know when I start the Amitriptyline taper. It could be a couple of months yet. I've got two trips planned and I really don't want to initiate a new taper whilst away from home.

You take care, and thanks for responding 🤗🧡

Hello @Chippy these psychiatric drugs don’t seem very reliable. A few weeks ago, my symptoms were improving almost 100%, but unfortunately I started experiencing strange sensations and low libido again. This may be related to the high stress of being unemployed and having bills to pay. Given this, I ask: should I maintain the current dose, or start a slower reduction?

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

Hello @Chippy these psychiatric drugs don’t seem very reliable. A few weeks ago, my symptoms were improving almost 100%, but unfortunately I started experiencing strange sensations and low libido again. This may be related to the high stress of being unemployed and having bills to pay. Given this, I ask: should I maintain the current dose, or start a slower reduction?

Hey @Bizorro

Unfortunately what you are experiencing is very normal. We find that sysmptoms go up and down in a non-linear pattern we call Windows and Waves.

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

What I think is best is to rate your symptoms out of 10. If they are 1-3/10 for a few weeks consistently then I think you have found your 'WD Normal' baseline and trying a small reduction is ok. What reduction to make is a very individual choice. There are also different ways in which you can make these reductions. As you were tapering at 10% or a bit over before, I would suggest something much lower and see how you go. You may wish to look at a Micro Taper which many find much smoother than a conventional cut and hold. We can discuss this some more if you would like once you are feeling ready.

But first it is best to find that stablity by assessing 4-6 weeks of WD Normal conditions before continuing with your taper.

Here are some topics on tapering you may find useful.

Tapering Information

Preparing Doses for Tapering - Weighing & DIY Liquids

Micro Tapering

4 hours ago, Chippy said:

Hey @Bizorro

Unfortunately what you are experiencing is very normal. We find that sysmptoms go up and down in a non-linear pattern we call Windows and Waves.

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

What I think is best is to rate your symptoms out of 10. If they are 1-3/10 for a few weeks consistently then I think you have found your 'WD Normal' baseline and trying a small reduction is ok. What reduction to make is a very individual choice. There are also different ways in which you can make these reductions. As you were tapering at 10% or a bit over before, I would suggest something much lower and see how you go. You may wish to look at a Micro Taper which many find much smoother than a conventional cut and hold. We can discuss this some more if you would like once you are feeling ready.

But first it is best to find that stablity by assessing 4-6 weeks of WD Normal conditions before continuing with your taper.

Here are some topics on tapering you may find useful.

Tapering Information

Preparing Doses for Tapering - Weighing & DIY Liquids

Micro Tapering

I want to thank you for the quick response and for the time you spend here.

So, I'll try to do it the way you mentioned, with all the care and attention.

Taking advantage, I wanted to ask you one last thing:

Why is it now being much more difficult to make the reductions, with the symptoms appearing more often? The last few times - at least the previous two - I haven't had this kind of problem. I managed to reduce 10% every 4 weeks without difficulties and followed my life normally.

But now everything seems more difficult. Sometimes I think that the medicine is no longer having the desired effect... maybe I'm wrong to think so.

Thank you very much.

6 minutes ago, Bizorro said:

want to thank you for the quick response and for the time you spend here.

Pleasure.

6 minutes ago, Bizorro said:

Why is it now being much more difficult to make the reductions, with the symptoms appearing more often?

A few reasons. The main one is the lower doses have more effect on the brain than the higher ones. So dropping is more of a challenge for the brain to adapt the lower you go.

Secondly.

If you drop a bit quicker than you should be doing, this upsets the nervous system, making further drops harder. It snow balls. It can get irritated.

Thirdly.

Sometimes wd can be delayed. So you think the drop went ok, so you make another. Then another. And a few months later the symptoms stack up on you.

You are certainly not experiencing a worsening of a mental health condition. Please don’t buy into this lie.

On 01/05/2026 at 09:56, Chippy said:

Prazer.

Existem algumas razões. A principal é que doses mais baixas têm um efeito maior no cérebro do que doses mais altas. Portanto, reduzir a dose representa um desafio maior para o cérebro se adaptar quanto menor for a dose.

Em segundo lugar.

Se você descer um pouco mais rápido do que deveria, isso perturba o sistema nervoso, dificultando as descidas subsequentes. Vira um efeito bola de neve. Pode causar irritação.

Em terceiro lugar.

Às vezes, a abstinência pode ser retardada. Então você acha que a primeira tentativa foi bem-sucedida e decide fazer outra. Depois outra. E alguns meses depois, os sintomas começam a aparecer.

Você certamente não está passando por uma piora de seu quadro de saúde mental. Por favor, não acredite nessa mentira.

@Chippy Hello Chippy,

I’ve been away for a while because I’ve been trying to live my life as normally as possible, taking the medication every day and continuing with my taper. I’m never 100%, but I take things one day at a time. I hope everyone here is also recovering from these drugs that I consider to be poisons.

The reason I’m posting today is that I’ve developed severe headaches, a symptom I’ve never experienced before. I’ve been dealing with this for the past four days. It started in the middle of the night while I was sleeping. I woke up with an intense headache that wouldn’t go away, even when I stayed lying down.

I’ve been taking pain relievers, but they haven’t helped much. I’d like to ask if anyone on this forum has experienced something similar or has any thoughts about what might be going on.

I’m starting to suspect that long-term use of nortriptyline may be causing this problem. If anyone knows of a connection or has had a similar experience, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you.

10 hours ago, Bizorro said:

@Chippy Hello Chippy,

I’ve been away for a while because I’ve been trying to live my life as normally as possible, taking the medication every day and continuing with my taper. I’m never 100%, but I take things one day at a time. I hope everyone here is also recovering from these drugs that I consider to be poisons.

The reason I’m posting today is that I’ve developed severe headaches, a symptom I’ve never experienced before. I’ve been dealing with this for the past four days. It started in the middle of the night while I was sleeping. I woke up with an intense headache that wouldn’t go away, even when I stayed lying down.

I’ve been taking pain relievers, but they haven’t helped much. I’d like to ask if anyone on this forum has experienced something similar or has any thoughts about what might be going on.

I’m starting to suspect that long-term use of nortriptyline may be causing this problem. If anyone knows of a connection or has had a similar experience, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you.

Hey @Bizorro I've moved this back to your intro thread, it's best to keep all posts about your journey in one place.

Can you update the details of your taper into your signature so we can see when you made what reductions?

It is very possible/likley that your headaches are due to your taper. Be good to see what reductions you have made recently.

Chippy

Hello @Chippy

Oddly enough, I haven’t made any dose changes in the last 6 months. I stayed at the same dose to give myself time to stabilize from the symptoms, and I actually improved quite a bit compared to how I was feeling before.

The problem is that about 5 days ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible throbbing headache that wouldn’t ease even when lying down. Since then, I’ve been experiencing this strange headache accompanied by a burning sensation that fluctuates throughout the day.

I’m very worried because if this is related to long-term nortriptyline use, I honestly don’t know what to do.

I have an appointment with my doctor on the 29th, so we’ll see what strategy he decides to take regarding this new symptom.

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

Hello @Chippy

Oddly enough, I haven’t made any dose changes in the last 6 months. I stayed at the same dose to give myself time to stabilize from the symptoms, and I actually improved quite a bit compared to how I was feeling before.

The problem is that about 5 days ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible throbbing headache that wouldn’t ease even when lying down. Since then, I’ve been experiencing this strange headache accompanied by a burning sensation that fluctuates throughout the day.

I’m very worried because if this is related to long-term nortriptyline use, I honestly don’t know what to do.

I have an appointment with my doctor on the 29th, so we’ll see what strategy he decides to take regarding this new symptom.

Thanks @Bizorro that is good to know. It is wise you hold and continue to let your body stablise. The process can be very non-linear, I would advise you continue to hold for a longer period of time and ride any waves or symptoms out. Eventually things will settle down and you will find your WD normal base line.

Be careful with the doctors, they are not very knowledgeable about WD and injury from these drugs, I would check in here first before trying any suggestions he presents.

Good evening to everyone here from Brazil!

It has been a while since I last visited this forum, which helps so many people come off these psychiatric drugs, which can be so complex.

I can say that, after two unsuccessful tapering attempts that were extremely disabling and during which I went through the true hell of withdrawal symptoms, I am going much more slowly this third time.

This time, I am also being monitored by a more experienced doctor who agrees with the guidelines and principles advocated on this site.

At the moment, I am on a new dose of the medication: 52.5 mg. I still have some symptoms, but they have not been as disabling, and I am managing to adapt to them and continue living my life one day at a time.

I am following a slower and more careful process, respecting my body’s limits. I hope that this time I will be able to reach the end of this journey with greater stability and safety.

I would like to thank everyone who shares their experiences and knowledge here, and especially @Chippy , for all the support and information shared. Without a doubt, this forum has helped many people better understand the process and feel less alone on this journey.

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

Good evening to everyone here from Brazil!

Evening! (Morning here now!)

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

I can say that, after two unsuccessful tapering attempts that were extremely disabling and during which I went through the true hell of withdrawal symptoms, I am going much more slowly this third time.

Good to hear :)

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

his time, I am also being monitored by a more experienced doctor who agrees with the guidelines and principles advocated on this site.

That is great news, can be hard to find, glad you are getting that support.

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

At the moment, I am on a new dose of the medication: 52.5 mg. I still have some symptoms, but they have not been as disabling, and I am managing to adapt to them and continue living my life one day at a time.

Sounds like things are going ok with your taper, could I ask you to put each reduction with it's date in your signature please, makes life much easier when trying to help you.

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

I am following a slower and more careful process, respecting my body’s limits. I hope that this time I will be able to reach the end of this journey with greater stability and safety.

I hope this for you too.

6 hours ago, Bizorro said:

I would like to thank everyone who shares their experiences and knowledge here, and especially @Chippy , for all the support and information shared. Without a doubt, this forum has helped many people better understand the process and feel less alone on this journey.

It is an absolute pleasure. Happy we are all here together, wish it's wasn't needed, but it is so, glad we can support each other.

Hope things keep going well for you, nice and steady, listen to your body, if things get tricky, hold, stablise and go slower next time. Body sets the pace.

Great to see you back on the site @Bizorro . Thanks for your positive attitude. How rapidly did you you taper with your first attempts, as in how long did you taper each time before you reverted to your original dose? Glad to hear your stable at the moment.