Posted by bigcat on November 17, 2005, at 7:58:15
In the past, tricyclics have often thrown me into outer space. I become insanely paranoid, unable to speak, very confused, not able to finish sentences etc. Enough to make teachers think I was on drugs, or strangers think I had some severe cognitive "handicaps". Nasty side effects don't deter me, and I was curious if titrating the dose too quickly in the past could have caused/increased these symptoms. Soon after taking my first 25mg Elavil dose in my most recent trial of this med, I had a few hours of RESTFUL sleep (not knock-out into hung-over sleep). I was undoubtedly improved by the next day (mood improvement, creativity returned). As I began to slide back down, we increased the dose and I was virtually blacking out, on another planet. NOT the kind of drug you can take if you are to be around people.
However, perhaps you need to raise the dose VERY gradually on the Elavil so you won't get so spacey and "drugged-out". Does anyone have any experiences with Elavil where dose adjustments needed to be very gradual to allow for a full trial without coming off it beacause of a "dumbing down" which sends anxiety and paranoia through the roof? I know many people refer to TCA's as "dumb drugs", but does this pass as the therapuetic effects take hold, or can this be contained by a very slow titration process? What would be considered a high-end therapuetic dose? I would appreciate any advice/experiences.
be good
-matt-
poster:bigcat
thread:579569
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051112/msgs/579569.html