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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Nortriptyline
Hi, yes I m trying to find out how to quit taking Nortrtyline. I m on a low dose (10 mgs) that was prescribed to help with pudendal neuralgia. Can I just stop? I m already down to one pill a day, from two a day. I m having terrible dry mouth, which I ve had all along, but in the last week, I ve started having dark red tip and sides of the tongue as well as sore, swollen cheeks from biting them in my sleep mostly. My gums are also very tender and sore and bleed when I floss. I know that this pill can cause dry mouth and I m not sure I really need it anymore. I m trying to eliminate all scripts that cause dry mouth, at least until I can get it under control. I have the same question for cyclobenzaprine (5mgs, once a day). Thanks, Bonnie
posted on
Thu, 14 Jul 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 4 Oct 2019
Answered on
Wed, 9 Oct 2019
Last reviewed on
Hello,
A sudden termination of treatment with nortriptyline or a sudden reduction in dosage can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. To avoid this, the daily dose should be reduced in small steps gradually over a period of time.
This can be done using tapering strips. One or more tapering strips™can be used to gradually reduce the dose of nortriptylineto a desired lower dose or to zero.
If more than one strip is needed the final dose of the previous strip is always equal to the starting dose of the following strip.
The treating physician (psychiatrist or general practitioner) should plan the tapering schedule together with the patient.
It is not possible to predict the perfect schedule for each patient. Some patients arefar more sensitive to withdrawal symptoms than others, and some patients cope with symptoms better than others.
The risk of withdrawal symptoms and their intensity can be reduced by choosing a more gradual tapering schedule.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr AJEET SINGH, General & Family Physician
A sudden termination of treatment with nortriptyline or a sudden reduction in dosage can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. To avoid this, the daily dose should be reduced in small steps gradually over a period of time.
This can be done using tapering strips. One or more tapering strips™can be used to gradually reduce the dose of nortriptylineto a desired lower dose or to zero.
If more than one strip is needed the final dose of the previous strip is always equal to the starting dose of the following strip.
The treating physician (psychiatrist or general practitioner) should plan the tapering schedule together with the patient.
It is not possible to predict the perfect schedule for each patient. Some patients arefar more sensitive to withdrawal symptoms than others, and some patients cope with symptoms better than others.
The risk of withdrawal symptoms and their intensity can be reduced by choosing a more gradual tapering schedule.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr AJEET SINGH, General & Family Physician
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