Withdrawal From Imipramine

Last dose of Imipramine (25 mg) taken on Monday July 2nd 2012. Under a doctors guidance. Slow, very slow taper. Took 5 months, dropping by 25 mg every three weeks. Began experiencing what I think might be withdrawal symptoms since last dose July 2nd. Symptoms have been: Nose bleeds, Nightmares/Weird Dreams, Profuse sweating at night, Feeling flushed during the day, Headache, Feeling of malaise, Nasal Congestion, Nausea, Insomnia, A bit off, Flu like symptoms and tiredness. I've run these symptoms passed by doctor, but have not heard back from here yet. I was on Imipramine for over 20 years with the highest dosing being 200mg per day.

Since Imiprmane is an older drug, I can't seem to find comprehensive information about withdrawal.

I'm on day 9 of withdrawal and hoped the symptoms would be gone. They are fading, but some still present.

Looking to see if there is some guidance/time frame with Imipramine completely leaves the body.

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What you've described are pretty typical withdrawal symptoms that can occur from stopping any medication that you've been taking for a long time and you were on it for a very long time.

Since it is a drug that acts on brain chemicals, your brain now has to learn to rebalance itself, without the addition of the drug and that is going to take awhile.

You may continue to experience some symptoms from well over a month, though they should continue to taper off in severity.

Learn more Imipramine details here.

When I stopped narcotics cold turkey, after being on pain management for years, the best thing I found that helped was distracting myself. I'd go out and do stuff, such as going to museums, or watch my favorite movies. Doing some of your favorite activities can help take your mind off of it.

If your doctor also keeping tabs on you?

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Hi. It has taken me two years to reduce from 150mg imipramine (been taking it for 10 years before) to 85 mg and I'm still going! Have a very understanding doctor who prescribes 12 x 2mg diazepam each time I do a drop (about every 3 months). The first week after a drop is the worst and I usually take one diazepam in the morning to 'get me going' then see how the day goes from there. Most doctors are very reluctant to prescribe diazepam as they are very addictive but just 12 tablets has been a godsend til I'm over the worst of each withdrawal. It's so unnecessary to go cold turkey. If your withdrawal symptoms last longer than 10 days then you've probably dropped too much so take it more slowly, don't let your doctor rush you. Hope this helps.

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I am wondering how much you decrease at a time ? You say that you decrease every 3months

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Took one 25mg imipramine 3 nights ago and not taken any more as it has given me insomnia when will sleep return

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I am on 10mg in conjunction with fluoxetine , have come on holiday and didn't bring enough imimpramine and run out today , home Thursday will I get withdrawal symptoms

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I am no longer taking imipramine had horrible side affects, no sleep because of the constant twitching or jerking was annoying, thankfully after 2 months of very little or no sleep my sleep has come back to normal and jerking/twitching has stopped, no more headaches or dizzyness either.So hang in thier those who are still withdrawing u will get their :)

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Update, I am no longer suffering any side affects or after affects from the imipramine and will never take it again, so pleased to be sleeping normal and to have the horrible withdrawals gone, took 2 months for things to get back to normal for the bad effects to completely stop, they did ease off slowly during that time, glad to have my life back :)

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After 5 years on Imipramine for a neurological condition (and subsequent depression) I started coming off 100 mg pd slowly about 4 months ago, primarily because I had horrible lethargy and sleepiness that I thought might be due to the Imipramine. I've had the odd set of 'brain zaps' and I've had bad restless legs. Since I came down to nothing 3 weeks ago I've felt horrible, like having flu, and I feel in a bind. The lethargy and sleepiness are still there so I'm caught between going back on the Imipramine and toughing it out; I'd like to get off meds but my daily struggle is getting too much (I'm off work and doing anything other than sit down is a real effort).
Has anyone been through this and can advise me? Surely, millions of people must have been on Imipramine or other TCAs at some point and tens of thousands must have come off like me, so why is there so little info out there?

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I have been on Imipramine for 13 years and have tried weaning off of it multiple times under my physicians supervision. At one point I was taking 300mg at night. Imipramine made me tired so I only took it in the evening. I work in psychiatry and addiction but never expected Imipramine to be this hard to taper off of. I was able to get down to 100mg at bedtime for the last year. I'm now weaning completely off and it has been horrible. Between the mood swings, a consistent cycle of anxiety attacks and hot/cold flashes, I am doing my best to ride it out. I do have Clonazepam that I take as sparingly as possible since it is a benzo. I have found that sleeping as much as possible through this has helped and trying to do even the smallest things to keep my brain occupied. I just want to know more about the different stages of the withdrawal symptoms to know how much longer I may need to deal with this. I'm aware that everyone is different but any estimate would be helpful.

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How has your tiredness changed with reducing the dose? Mine doesn't seem to have changed much.

I had different withdrawal effects (see my earlier post) and now, after 5 weeks of feeling horrible, have gone back to some imipramine in the hope that a low maintenance dose of half or full 25 mg tablet daily followed by a very gradual residual taper will banish them for good

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Paul,
My tiredness has not changed. I do feel a bit better today and didn't take any last night. I did wake up freezing this morning but it has subsided for the moment. I also restarted Lamictal this morning which has never given me a problem weaning off of. It has also been quite helpful in the past to supplement the Imipramine. I'm also looking into acupunctue for assistance. I have always had a very high tolerance to any type of pain since I have had 8 knee surgeries so I did think this would be not as big of an issue. I'm also extremely stubborn and have the attitude of "I win, you lose" in most situations. I think that is helping me deal with this awful ordeal. I will keep you posted.

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Hello....I'm Cathi......I've been on imipramine for 20 years and now, I have the opportunity of finally getting off this insidious drug. My doctor told me to go from the 100mg. per night to 50 mg. per night for two weeks and then just stop.......Aw-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!! So I quickly went to my pharmacist who told me to start at 25% less for two weeks, and repeat another 25% for two weeks until I am down to the last 25% for two weeks. I've tried for years to get off this menacing drug and no one seems to agree on anything. But each time I tried, the side effects were "Awful". Besides sleeplessness, I also got this crawling feeling all over my body and I was shaking also. I should have asked the pharmacist from the start. Anyway, after reading all of the comments, I now know I'm not alone in the nightmare project. Restless legs syndrome can be eased with over-the-counter natural tablets that melt under your tongue. This product is called Restful Legs and can be purchased at Rite Aid or Walgreens and even on Amazon. I'll be thinking of all of you as we entertain actually being successful getting off this drug. If I hear any other information, I'll share. Happy Thoughts!

{affiliate link added}

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To Rhonda, I'm on 100mg imipramine right now. I'm getting a lot of leg twitching. Driving me crazy! I'm still taking, not decreasing. Why am I twitching? Never did until about 3 days ago. What's happening?

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You have to switch to Liquid Imipramine and taper very slowly... maybe 0.25 - 0.5mg every 4 weeks or longer depending on your withdrawal symptoms...
I'm down to 15mg from 35mg in about 2 years!

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Taper very slowly 0.25 - .5 mg every 4 weeks using Liquid Imipramine

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I have been on Imipramine for 26 years, unbelievable. I have wanted off of this drug which was prescribed to me for depression for a while now but was afraid to try and go off of it. I was on 300mg and 200 mg when I decided to start tapering off. I am on 50 mg now and had gone down to twenty five and had some very bad side affects, brain zapping, little to no sleep, I put myself back on 50mg and feel a little better but constantly sick to my stomach, does this at some point go away?? The medical industry never tells you about these things. I hope all who are on this will be able to successfully get off of it.

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I weaned off, pretty slow for 3 months from 75 mg to 12.5 breaking the 50 mg in to quarter parts and then just stoping completely. I've been on this and two others drugs for 7 yrs. Since getting off I've not had many brain Zapps and not many withdrawal symptoms other than miner restless leg syndrome that stopped, insomnia which comes and goes, I still have very vivid very frightening night terrors that feel so real I wake up and literally think they happend, think I talk in my sleep ( which scares me because I sleep in the same room with others at times and I feel I say horrible things) I've been off of the drug for over 3 months now and I feel pretty good lots of exercise helps and outdoor activity, I used to take resparidal and oxcarbazipine all of witch I don't take any more, Still night terrors though, that feel like I can't wake up from at times, not every night though

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Taking generic imipramine is causing me insomnia. The brand version was great! Took at night and gently fell asleep. If you want brand tofrinal you will have to pay hundred for a months supply. What a shame they mess with our brand name drugs. Can't get bactraban anymore. Generic muciropin is horrible and doesn't work for bacterial infections. Who is letting this happen?

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This reply is probably too late for you but I thought I'd let you know that I found a way to get rid of leg twitching/restless legs. It sounds absolutely mad but it works. Put a bar of medicated soap in between your sheet and mattress. It works.

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It sounds like your having Anxiety, I never had any of those symptoms except for the tiredness on 25 mg. I was tired, all the time and no energy. I couldn't handle it anymore and I put myself back on 50mg a week ago. I want off this drug so bad. The tricyclic drugs are not a good thing to be on very difficult to get off of. They don't tell you that when you get on them. I sure wish you the best of luck!

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I've been on imipramine for 7 years on 150 mg. After 3 years I went down to 125 mg because I felt slightly manic and I didn't feel any difference apart from the slight mania which went away (this was wanted). I've never had usually any trouble of coming off antidepressants cold turkey with SSRI's. However, after reading these I'm becoming a bit nervous about imipramine so I'll do a taper. The thing is I've just been diagnosed with ADHD and the doctor wants to put me on Atomoxetine and I'd like to come off imipramine before then. They seem to work on the same brain chemicals and have the same side effects. Everywhere it says use both at the same time with caution. Why do these docs always want people to be on a cocktail of drugs!? The less the better is my thought. I'll update when I've come off imipramine and my experiences.

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Re: Jdjohn (# 17)

I've been on Imipramine since i was 15, i'm now 25 and it's been 10 years too long with this drug. I was prescribed this after a horrific car accident when i was a teen. i've been on this drug and i was on wellbutrin for awhile too.. i could no longer take the wellbutrin when i got pregnant with my first daughter as this causes seizures during pregnancy. after having her i got off of the wellbutrin and when i had my second daughter i had to start taking zoloft and the imipramine together because zoloft is safe to take during pregnancy... I'm wanting to get off both of the zoloft and imipramine since it's been 3 years now taking both of those together. i just want my self and my mind better ! how are you feeling now with being off of it for awhile? I take 75 MG of the imipramine and 100 MG of the zoloft.

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Dear Gail,

Imipramine as you probably know is one of the first ssri's seartonin reuptake inhibitors and can take a while to completely leave your system after your last dose. Being at 200mg/day will have definitely deposited itself in your fatty tissue and can cause withdrawal symptoms. The nose bleed is of concern which may stem from the decrease, but might be a symptom of a bleeding disorder. I'm not scarring you, but you need to talk to your doctor because that doesn't sound common at all.

Keep in mind your hormones and serotonin are returning back to normal you will feel out of sorts for up to possibly two months, but should stabilize. Get the nose bleeds checked if they continue asap.

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