Post-Benzos: Amitriptyline or other antidepressants?

[Guest [...]]

Hello all.

 

I've been an intermittent/occasional user of benzos -- mainly diazepam, and I want to quit them for good. I'm not tapering -- following the useful advice given by more experienced members of the forum -- as I've never been on benzos more than few days in a row, and never at high doses. While I do have psychological dependence, I don't have physical dependence, and tapering actually risks putting me in a physical dependence, which I had better avoid.

 

Anyway, the main reasons behind my use of benzos are debilitating anxiety and severe panic attacks, both triggered by insomnia. CBT, psychotherapies etc. do not work for me -- have tried them for 10 years. Am diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar -- something which I contest, for many reasons -- but previous attempts with SSRIs have all been failures, and have kindled further anxiety. Mood stabilisers did not work, and I do not want to take antipsychotics, given the risks.

 

Now, I'm trying not to feel guilty about my occasional use of benzos -- but I'm at a very vulnerable stage, with plenty of insomnia, anxiety and panic attacks. So, there is a good risk of my getting addicted to them. I want to avoid that. And, if possible, I want to quit them for good, reserving them at most for once a year, intermittent use, should a particularly nasty attack strike me.

 

To tide me through the insomnia and anxiety now, and to avoid taking diazepam, I'm thinking of taking a low dose amitriptyline or doxepin -- as suggested in the Ashton manual -- for a few weeks, and then tapering that out.

 

Do any of you have experience taking these, or any other antidepressants/other drugs, that helped you wean off benzos? Anything that helps with insomnia or anxiety would be particularly welcome.

 

Thanks ahead!

[[Et...]]

Amtriptyline might help with your insomnia. I take 35 mg a day for my tension headache and it helps me sleep at night. I started out at 10 mg. I take it three hours before sleeping. However, I wouldn't take it for too long since I can't really sleep when I skip a dose.

[[El...]]

I started taking amitriptyline a few weeks ago. It works pretty well for the the insomnia, but it doesn't do anything for my anxiety. For me the amitriptyline is much more effective for sleep than remeron was.

[Guest [...]]

Thank you both, for your replies. That really helps. I think I'll try amitriptyline, start from 5 mg, and see if it helps with insomnia and anxiety. It's insomnia that's the main problem, and the trigger for the anxiety and the panic attacks -- the fear of not being able to sleep. Also, if I can take it intermittently, or only for a few weeks at a time, even better.

 

Also, Ella, looking at your signature, I'm greatly impressed by your commitment to withdrawal. It can't be easy. But you have all my sympathy and my appreciation. Keep it up, and hang in there!