Also, what damage could be done if you were unsuccessful?
Greatly could depend at far along it was, if the brain lost oxygen, etc. But the biggie to consider would be that excessive amounts (TCAs like amitriptyline raise serotonin levels) may result in serotonin syndrome with symptoms like confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and muscle rigidity. But it is hard to say what the actual liklihood would be for an attempt but I always figure people should go into an attempt with two scenarios (1) it is going to be successful and be sure it is what you want as if you can't take back the action and die well that's it and (2) be willing to deal with any permanent consequences of a failure and research what those could be for each method. So I am glad you asked as it means you are considering what's the worst case scenario for surviving the attempt and thus are not acting impulsively and trying to carefully plan your self-deliverance.
Any info you have that would put my mind at ease would be much appreciated.
I am not sure if it will put you at ease, but let me try to address a few things about this method and maybe something will be helpful, maybe not.
it can take to kill you - 12 to 24 hours or longer,
It could possibly take even longer than that 12-24 hour period. Suggestions go as high as not to be found for 48 hours.
From w o z z's
Ways to a dignified self-determined death it also sounds like a pretty long, drawn out way to CTB:
Lethal dose
For all tricyclic antidepressants we recommend a dose of 6 g. For a long and deep sleep, the combination with benzodiazepine is necessary (see below). Tricyclic antidepressants slow down the digestive process and thus their own absorption. Death should normally occur 12 to 24 hours after ingestion of these deadly drugs. However, one should know that dying sometimes takes 24 to 48 hours.
In order for self-determined dying to succeed, it is essential that no life-saving measures are initiated in the first 48 hours.
Then the issue about inconsistent dosing, for example even the PPH changed its dosing over the years until it got to the current 10g. Other literature though say 6g-7.5g of the TCA:
Lethal dose
The lethal dose of all mentioned tricyclic antidepressants is given with a quantity between 6g and 7.5g.
In the book of the WOZZ - Foundation a dose of 6g is mentioned (cf. Admiraal, Chabot, Ogden, Loenen, van, Pennings: Wege zu einem humanen, selbstbestimmten Sterben, Amsterdam, 2008, p.91). Chabot gives a lethal dose of 7.5g (cf. Chabot: Dignified Dying.
A Guide. 2014, p.96). The dose of the long-acting benzodiazepine taken in combination should be at least 500mg (cf. Admiraal, Chabot, Ogden, Loenen, van, Pennings: Ways to a humane, self-determined dying, Amsterdam, 2008, p.92 and Chabot: Dignified Dying.
A Guide. 2014, p.96).
Click to expand...
Then as you noted the PPH says 10g (when not part of a 5-drug cocktail, 8g in the 5-drug mix). PPH suggests not being found for 24 hours, which along with wozz's mention of 48 hours sure makes this method sound not very ideal, but again I can totally understand the desire to get out of this miserable world and looking for an available method.
It sounds you have previous copies, you will also notice the dosage in the PPH/PPEH has changed over the years from a lower dose to its current 10g suggestion, adding to the wiggle room to find a sweet spot. In 2012 it said 5g, in 2019 it said 8g, then began to say 8-10g, now says 10g. So in 12 years the dose suggestion
doubled. And along the way the meto dose changed from 60mg to 30mg. I think what I am sort of getting at as things change, while there is a scienfic basis to it the PPH/PPEH is still subject to changes as Dr. PN is adjusting as it goes along doing the best he and his partner can to provide information but this 12 year change doubling the dose should kind of show why perhaps there are still some reliability concerns for this or other methods (no method is without its risk of course).
There is a discussion as to how they got to their rating and I bet one of the factors is the fact this is not a peaceful way to die (it literallly says 'it is not peaceful' in their blurb on it and note that while it can be done as a single agent, it is 'greatly enhanced' as part of the cocktail mentioned above and it scores very low on the process side given how slow it is).
Taking into account that even in the current MAID protocol of DDMAPh, it calls for
8g of Amitriptyline on top of all the other medications so take with that as you will as to if a lower dose of a TCA alone would be sufficient
: https://www.acamaid.org/pharmacologyinfoupdates/
That's a pretty range of so-called lethal doses. Individual facts like weight and health likely also play a role so it is not really a one-size fits all situation, leading to more ambiguity on a successful dosing.
With whatever you decide, I hope you find everything you are looking for and get peace & serenity.
