Opinions - Amitriptyline Withdrawal

[AvidFan]

I hope this is posted in the correct place. Just need to ask something on behalf of SWIM (really SWIM, and not Patient X).

This person has been on 25g 3x daily of amitryptiline for over 35 years. This person was admitted to a medical facility recently, and the doctor there decided to stop the amitryptiline altogether, and did this with a very quick taper (less than a week). The person is now manifesting extreme anxiety, insomnia, and depressive mood. The doctor says this is nothing to do with amitryptiline as it is not "addictive". Personally I feel if you take a psychoactive substance like this for 35 years or more, then stop taking it within a week, it is going to have some effect on your brain chemistry.

Patient X once had a tumour in his neck, and saw 4 different doctors, only the fourth actually spotted it was a tumour and suggested he had it removed (thankfully it was benign). He also had an injury to his knee which the doctor couldn't figure out until X self diagnosed and showed the doc the printout. This is why X doesn't really trust doctors, and thinks they can't just get away with being "omniscient" (or omniscient-incompetent) now there is so much info available on the net.

X also just had a row with a family member who considers diazepam (valium) to be an antidepressant and therefore replaces the amitryptiline.

Any opinions or experiences welcome.