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In 1986 I was prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant, 75 mg Imipramine PM, to slow bowel function and to relieve pain resulting from ulcerative colitis. I was also put on 1 mg Lorazepam. In 1991 I went CT off both the Imipramine and the Lorazepam, resulting in a terrible colitis flare-up. After a few months I reinstated with success. However, these medications, and everything else I did for the colitis ceased work about three years ago, and in January, 2015, I underwent surgery to remove my colon and replace with an internal J-pouch, which cured the colitis. But that left me with the 30-year-long Imipramine situation. In January, 2016, I began tapering the Imipramine 10% every three weeks, which went fine until I got down to 19 mg, then 12 mg, at which point I began experiencing severe anxiety as well as dizziness. Realizing I had tapered too quickly, I updosed to 25 mg a month ago but have not as yet stabilised at this dose, as I am still experiencing considerable anxiety as well as insomnia. Until September 23, my tapers were approximate percentages as I hadn't yet bought a scale. I use the supplements Theanine and Nature's Balance Happy Camper to help with the anxiety, along with magnesium glycinate. It's only been a month, but I'm a little worried that I am never going to stabilise at 25 mg. In 2004, due to depression, I was put on a succession of SSRIs, in addition to the Imipramine, including Zoloft, Prozac and Effexor. Lexapro 20 mg seemed to finally work and I remain on it at this time. In 2011 I was prescribed 1 mg Lorazepam for insomnia, now 1.5 mg.

I quit taking Imipramine in Nov. 2022 but I am still experiencing bad withdrawal effects and its now March 2023. Mainly dizziness, brain fog, unsteadiness and fatique. Anyone else?

Hello Everyone!! I’m so excited to have found this group! I have a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder. My number one issue is anxiety and worry over everything possible thing, specifically health anxiety. I have no stone unturned when it comes to worry. It’s awful! I have taken Imipramine for 20 years for this issue. Most of the time the dose has been around 50 mg. (current ) and never more than 100 mg. a day. I would deeply like to come off this medication. When I talk to my psychiatrist, she want to transition me to 75 mg. of Effexor instead. I’d like a chance to transition off of medications, and see if there might be natural or holistic remedies I could use instead. I have previously taken my 50 mg. pill and cut it into 1/4ths. Then, I took a 35 mg.dose. On day two of this regiment, I thought I was going to die. Sweating, nauseous, dizzy, anxiety through the roof. I am a teacher and I have a son with level 3 autism. I have to function, so feeling this way is not an option. I’d love to know what is the best way to transition off Imipramine and what natural approaches help. I’d love to know how to have the least amount of side effects in the transition, and I want to know if I am just screwed because I’ve taken it so long and I should just go on the Effexor instead. I also have heard that getting off of Effexor is horrific, one of the hardest antidepressants to stop taking so that doesn’t give me much hope to not ever be addicted to any of this stuff. Your responses and experiences are appreciated!! E

Hello everyone, I am delighted to have found this group. I am looking for a way to get off of antidepressants (although I take them for GAD and not necessarily depression). For the past 20 years, I have taken either a 100 mg. Or 50 mg. dose of Imipramine. I’d say for the last 7 years, I’ve been on the 50 mg. dose. One day, 7 years ago, I just decided I didn’t want to be on 100 mg of Imipramine. I suddenly cut down to a 50 mg. dose with no problems or side effects. About 3 years ago, I thought I’d like to taper more so I took my 50 mg. dose, and cut it into 4 pieces and took 3 out of the 4 pieces. Two days later, I thought I was going to die. I was sweating, nauseated, dry heaving, dizzy and the symptoms of the worst flu of my life. I quickly went back to the 50 mg. tablet and that all went away. I’ve talked to my psychiatrist about tapering and getting off my meds, but she just wants me to switch to a 70 mg. dose of Effexor. My thinking and her thinking are not matching. I really would like to take a natural approach to dealing with my anxiety, but she doesn’t want to work with me in that. My questions are; 1. Are there effective natural approaches to dealing with severe anxiety? My anxiety is typically worry (about EVERYTHING) and health anxiety. 2. Can I survive getting off this pill and how do I do this? I have a full time job and a son with severe autism, so severe side effects are not going to work for me. I appreciate any input.😊 GeeBee

I have been taking Imipramine since my late teens, and have been on it for the past 38 years. (50 mg., but sometimes 75 mg. for short periods) For a long time it helped in varying degrees, but seems to have become completely ineffective as of approximately 4 years ago. I have tried numerous times to get off this medication, but always end up going back on due to withdrawal symptoms. Each time, the withdrawal is different, but equally awful. I have been working on tapering down for the last 3 or 4 months and am currently taking 12.5 mg. This is my fourth week holding at that dose. I've been dealing with the typical withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, achiness, as well as weird symptoms typical to this drug. Apparently Imipramine is also used for bedwetting, and after 38 years of being on it, affects my bladder control going off it. Combine this with a histamine effect coming off as well, and you can picture me trying to breathe, sneezing my head off, while trying to keep from peeing every time I sneeze. I have no appetite or energy, no love for life, and am impatient and cranky. Just forcing myself from one activity to another to stay afloat. I would love to hear from folks who have been on this med long term and have succeeded in coming off. I am so miserable right now I am thinking about going back on. If I do, I feel like it's resigning to being on it for the rest of my life.

I was on it for four (not entirely sure) years, 25-50mg. The first time I had to abruptly quit it was last year, 2020. I was in the hospital for 12 days and they would not give it to me there. That was when I was on 50mg. Withdrawal effects from that year: I had to pee every couple hours at the most and every 15-30 minutes at the least and my oxygen levels dropped (normally they were 99-100 but then they were 92). I would wake up gasping for breath and generally feel very off. This year: The imipramine quit working and was even making me feel worse, so I quit cold turkey from 25mg. Since then I have gotten a mysterious infection and was put on antibiotics, which I completed this morning. My primary doctor thinks I have an infection but could not find bacteria, just elevated white blood cells. I just had flu-like symptoms--headache, nausea, elevated temperature (about 100 degrees in the morning), fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, mild dizziness (which is improving) and visual hallucinations, which are not unusual because I also have schizophrenia. Doctor thinks COVID is unlikely, given lack of gastrointestinal issues and also lack of respiratory issues. Also I'm fully vaccinated and not very social. Questions: Would it be a bad idea to take just a tiny bit of imipramine to see if this goes away? Or should I just press on? Here is what I am more concerned about: I recently got a genetic test and do NOT have the MTHFR mutation (inability to process folic acid). But I will be taking Deplin, if insurance approves it, or generic methylfolate if it doesn't, starting with half of a 7.5mg--can it still help even if I don't have the mutation? I read that a lot of my health issues, like non-alcoholic fatty liver, poly-cystic ovary syndrome, depression, and schizophrenia can be helped with folate. I don't eat vegetables at all, and certainly no leafy greens, so is it possible I'm low in folate anyways? I am not looking to change my diet at the time as I'm barely eating as is. Just the idea of eating makes me want to throw up most days. I know it would be good for me to eat better, but I just try and try and it feels like nothing changes. I do actually manage to eat in the afternoon when the nausea fades for a while and I get hungry. I've lost ten pounds in a few months and I'm at 139 now. Thank you for reading!

ADMIN NOTE Here is cake's Introductions topic: Cakesgimmecakes here. I was asked to give an update. I am fully recovered from Prozac withdrawal at this point. It's been 3 years and 2.5 months EXACTLY today. The issues SSRIs left me with are things I'm still contending with, which are hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, digestive issues. I no longer blame any symptom I have on Prozac withdrawal. Prozac is a distant memory now, and I'm so grateful I have ME back. Things that helped me: Magnesium Vit D Sun in the morning on retinas Digestive enzymes No sugar - you must be strict with this; it matters because the inflammation and blood sugar swings sugar causes stress out an already stressed-out central nervous system Spirituality Mediation - rewire your brain to relax, it works Avoidance of any pharmaceuticals Walking/running/exercise Socializing CBT/therapy - this is huge Sleep when I could get it Supplement tolerance was low for a long time. I could not take fish oil or many, many vitamins. I was unable to sleep for years. NAC helps me sleep now, and controlling blood sugar. I have learned so much from my experience, and I am still angry about what happened to my life because of Big Pharma. I do not go to Western/allopathic/conventional doctors; I only seek natural remedies and holistic/naturopathic/functional doctors. Depression is truly about dysfunction elsewhere in the body. Low T3 in the thyroid, cortisol issues (read: stress), nutritional deficiences, poor communication with others/not feeling fulfilled by goals/lack of goals that truly fill the soul, no exercise, SIBO/candida/digestive woes, wonky reproductive hormones, poor sleep, toxic humans you're around, bad job. Truth: Life will never be the same after you expose your brain to these toxic chemicals. In time, I do believe society will catch on to the dangers. Pills are a quick fix for temporary issues, which excellent nutrition, sun, exercise, and therapy can take care of in most cases. We trusted our doctors and got burned. I do believe in science and that the body is designed to heal itself and the brain has incredible neuroplasticity capabilities. This is why exercise and nutrition are so important. They do make a difference. I encourage everyone to read up on the actual science behind meditation. It's not quackery. It helped because it does change the brain for the better. People recover. I'm living proof. YET, life is not perfect. I struggle with fatigue and bad moods, but my life currently is pretty stressful, and I am dealing with thyroid and adrenal issues. This is life. To this day I still pray for those suffering from psych issues and psych drug withdrawal most evening. You are not alone. Keep the faith. I believe a power greater than me is more powerful than any drug, and there can be miracles. HUGS XOXO

Since I noticed there was a call for positive recovery stories around here, I thought I'd add mine. I was put on antidepressants (imiprimine) at age 19 for depression and ativan for panic attacks. Shortly afterwards, I started having "hypomanic" episodes (because of the antidepressants?). I was then put on lithium. A few years later, I was still depressed and Effexor was added. Couldn't afford that anymore and went back to Lithium, Imiprimine and Ativan. This went on for about 15 years. After talking with a new psychiatrist about my doubts around my bipolar diagnosis, I attempted to go off of all medication. Made it off of the lithium after 14 years, which felt like a huge step. Had been off of the Ativan already for a while, so the last was the imiprimine. That didn't go so well. I know now that I just went too fast, even though I thought I was going slowly. I started having panic attacks almost immediately and cried at nothing. Felt totally out of control. I tried to tough it out for about a week and couldn't handle it - my psychiatrist started me on Cymbalta. Immediately I felt less anxious and depressed, but I also felt oddly agitated. I started clenching my jaw pretty much all the time, giving myself headaches. I developed all sorts of nervous habits, but I was so glad the anxiety and depression was gone that I didn't care. It took a year and a half for me to really try again, this time with another psychiatrist. We went even more slowly - it took about six months if I remember correctly. I had been on 60mg of Cymbalta, and I initially went to 40 for a few weeks with no problems. Same with 30, other than a few brain zaps, so I stayed there only a few weeks as well. At 20 the zaps got more frequent and I was a little more anxious but it was bearable. Below 20? Bad news. I tried the every other day thing, but I was a mess. I felt like I had the flu and I was just distressed all the time. I'm in grad school, which I'm sure didn't help things as I was constantly under pressure. I ended up using empty capsules I already had, filling them with about half of a 20mg capsule, so I could do 10/day. I stayed here for a long time, until the flu feelings went away and I thought I was coping better with day to day life. What it eventually came down to was actually a project I was doing for my MFA degree - a performance in which I counted the number of pills I had taken during my time as a psych patient (using empty capsules so I could see how big the pile was - to my best estimate, the total was 36,835) I did "the count" in nine hours and forty-one minutes, and while I had been planning on tapering even farther for a few more weeks, I had more motivation at that moment in my life than I had ever had seeing that huge pile of capsules, so I stopped. The day I counted those pills was the last day I took one. A week later, my father passed away. The universe has a strange sense of humor sometimes. I'm not sure how, but I didn't go back to the meds, and I'm so glad I didn't. I let myself grieve as much as I needed to, and the people around me expected me to be a mess, which was pretty much the case. It's been 7 months, and the physical symptoms are gone. I'm still getting used to the rest of it though - having emotions again is wonderful and also difficult, especially dealing with my dad being gone. I was numb for so long that it was hard to remember how to manage feelings on my own. I'm a worrier by nature, and an emotional person. I cry a lot, but I'm learning that that's better than not feeling. So there it is. A success story (at least so far). I have faith that this is the real thing though. I feel like myself again, for good and for bad, and I'm working on my coping strategies post-medication. It can be done

I tapered of Prozac in early 2014. I tapered over 4 weeks by taking every other day so basically ct. I had taken Prozac for 17 years for anxiety and depression. It took almost 4 months to get very bad by which time Drs had prescribed me sertraline and citralopram both of which exacerbated things tremendously. I only took a single dose of each. It never occurred to me or Drs to put me back of Prozac and by this time I was too terrified to take anything. The last 3 years have been horrific, losing my husband, my health and my income. I was unable to work for 2 years and now work part time from home which I still struggle with. I'm diagnosed with cfs fibro and severe depression all caused by protracted withdrawal. Iv seen dr Healy a few times and a neuropsychiatrist who both back my cause. I haven't taken a drug in 28 months but am about to start imipramine on their advise. I hope to get some relief from the crippling depression and pain and then hopefully taper off. I know this is a risk but desperate times call for desperate measures. I have terrible tinnutus caused from the destabilising effect of ct Prozac. I also have vertigo and chronic insomnia, especially early morning waking and sleep maintence. I use magnesium glycinate and lactium but Iv not noticed a noticeable difference. I have learned to not panic too much during extreme anxiety, instead of it breaking me completely like in the old days, I open the door and invite the beast in. This also helps with odd flare up of akathesia that was relentless in the beginning. I'm completely amazed at the lack of knowledge from Drs about the dangers of drugs but I have also found at leat 3 who are well very knowledgable. It gives me hope at least that we are not completely alone.

Ten and one half months after ending my taper from Effexor (75mgs) I have returned to the normalcy and health which I generally enjoyed before taking any antidepressant. The last of my withdrawal symptoms-insomnia, lightheadedness and mild brain zaps-are gone. All food, drug and exercise sensitivities-are gone. I don't see any evidence of permanent damage of any kind. I had to go very slowly. I took 3 years and 11 months to taper, and, although I eliminated a lot of suffering this way, I don't think it's possible to get off one of these drugs without some suffering. Still, there was only one period of a month or a little longer maybe, that I look back on as a true living hell. It happened because I began to taper too fast (3 50% cuts in a row), and everything went back to manageable within a few weeks once I realized my mistake and made a small reinstatement. I began my life with antidepressants on September 12th 1992 and took my last dose on October 31st 2014. And so I was on one antidepressant or another for 22 years. What's important to me is that all of that stuff is behind me; for others, what's important is that it can be done. Thank you to all who offered advice and encouragement through all of this. God bless this important site. I will always check back from time to time in case anyone has a question.

Hi, I'm a Spanish member who developed neuropathic pain in both legs during 2 months of successive trials with 3 ADs (2 weeks desvenlafaxine, 2 weeks amitriptyline, 4 weeks imipramine), during last December and January mostly. The pain subsided mildly but not totally after stopping them and now the pain is usually a 6 and a 7.5 during waves, I really don't have actual windows. I do take mirtazapine 15 mg and tolerate it well since 2 years ago, when it was prescribed to deal with very severe IBS pain. But the combination with the aforementioned ADs shattered my nervous system, my IBS pain (which was a 5) disappeared and was replaced by this torture in my legs. It's now 4 months off the ADs that destroyed me, I am desperate for other people's experiences since I don't think I'm any better after all this time... PS: I have an extreme food intolerance with the IBS, I've been practically disabled for the last 3 years (30 now) and unable to eat anything appart from white meat, white fish and rice. Recent electromiogram is negative for neuropathy, lumbar RM shows Schmorl's hernia with edema in L5, but Drs don't think that's the cause of the burning pains. This is my history with meds: I began with extreme IBS pain, and my first year tried all kinds of natural approaches and diets. I ended up eating 3-4 things and still with crippling pain. Then... Dec 2018 to Sep 2019: Mirtazapine 15 (pain reduced from 7-8 to a 5) Sep 2019 to Oct 2019: Mirtazapine 15 + Olanzapine 2.5 Nov 2019 (2 weeks): Mirtazapine 15 + Duloxetine 30 (gave me extreme nausea after 12 days, but it was working for the pain) Dec 2019 (2 weeks): Mirtazapine 15 + Desvenlafaxine 50 (5/10 IBS pain disappears and 7/10 neuropathic pain appears in both legs) Dec 2019 to January 2020 (2 weeks): Mirtazapine 15 + Amitriptyline 20 (burning gets worse) January 2020 to Feb 2020 (4 weeks): Mirtazapine 15 + Imipramine 25 (burning gets much worse, I'm ready to quit after 2 weeks, but Dr claims the pain will subside if I keep taking it, after 4 weeks the pain is brutal, I stop imipramine on the 10th of Feb and keep just the mirtazapine, pain gets a bit better) March 2020 to April 2020 (1 month): I stop mirtazapine to see if it's causing the burning pain, with inconclusive findings. After a month WD kicks in, can't sleep and the pain is way worse, I reintroduce and symptoms calm down after 3-4 weeks. I still take the mirtazapine 15 and haven't done more changes.

Hi there, Imipramine, Clonazepam, Cogentin are the drugs my doctor has me on to deal with the anxiety and aka that an antipsychotic has given to me. I’m worried the Imipramine (antidepressant) may be irritating the aka more. I’ve also been on Effexor, Pristiq, and Prozac since last summer tried them all for my anxiety but Imipramine seems to be the best so far. I know jumping from one to another is bad but they were not helpful. Clonazepam seems to be the only thing that is helping most symptoms. I’ve had people on another site telling me it almost killed them and is hard to get off. What to do? Should I wean off the Imipramine? Which my doctor also told me doesn’t cause aka but I’m not so sure to trust that. I think any antidepressant can irritate it? Does anyone have any light into this? I take it at night and wake up feeling hung over. It makes me sluggish and I feel only sadness and wanting to just not exist any longer since I’ve been on it. Bad thoughts all day. My body just feels poisoned from everything and I don’t know how I will ever recover from this. The aka is unbearable without the Clonazepam. I’m scared the anxiety will be worse if I go off the Imipramine tho. How to cope? How do I help myself? My doctor just gives me more drugs each time I see him for the symptoms. Invega has ruined my life. I don’t feel I’m strong enough to keep going or figure out what med to taper first. My poor nervous system is shot. Any ideas if getting off Imipramine would be a good start? Sorry so negative I just feel like I’m drowning here tho. Please help

Hey there. I'm new to this. I am thinking about discontinuing my antidepressants. I am currently on Tofranil been taking it about 7 months. I feel like it doesn;t really help. and every time i speak with my psychiatrist she just ups the dose and i feel like it really doesn't make a difference, I really need supoort on what i should do or suggestions. thanks.

Hi to Everyone on this Forum! I have been on Imipramine for more than 7 years. The dosage had peaked to nearly 110 mg at one time. Over a period, I started with Prozac 20 mg which is also my current morning dosage. The night dosage is Clonil 25 - this is supposed to be a very unique sub-product of Imipramine in high concentration. It is also supposed to help folks tapering from Imipramine and also helps to overcome PME which had surfaced last year. This is the journey so far: Week 1 - slowly tapered to 25 mg Imipramine Came off gradually from 110 to 100 to 75 to 50 to 25. Feeling so lethargic and sleepy at all times. Some degree of blurred vision too. Not much but at times. However, no gastrointestinal discomfort - the main worry that had gotten me started on Imipramine. Noticed tendency to get bloated. Week 2 - stopped Imipramine. Started with Clonil 25 mg under my psychiatrist's advice. NO major symptoms apart from feeling of laziness that remains all day long. Wanted to sleep all the time. Bloating in small bouts. Week 3 - completed 7 days with Clonil instead of Imipramine. Some headaches but nothing too serious. Cycles of bloating and some bowel movement issues. Week 4 - compleetd 15 days with Clonil instead of Imipramine. Sleep is generally good. Gastro issues seem to be rising. Re-started taking enzyme tablets along with food. Taking care not to eat outside, especially where hygiene seems a bit suspect. Today - 12 March Had the first, official episode of upset stomach since stopping Imipramine. Did not take any GI meds as such. Continued with daily routine. Contacted my psychiatrist. Not sure if all of this is Imipramine withdrawal but want to share some mild symptoms: excessive blinking easy straining of the eyes alternate days of too much and then seriously little urination bouts of extreme irritation sleep settled but not as deep as before Current State: Awaiting my psychiatrist's update Sticking to my schedule Will start exercising again from tomorrow morning Not going to quit and hurry back to taking Imipramine Feel am ready to grind this out...