Mirtazapine Withdrawal - Tapering Off Tips / Advice?
Sep 14, 2014
I started withdrawing from Mirtazapine back in Jan of this year, from 7.5mg. I got the liquid version and tapered down by 0.5ml (.75mg) initially every week, but had to stop that and start by dropping a day a week as I got withdrawals etc. I have been doing very well and was able to drop back to dropping it over 4-5 weeks. I got down to 0.1.5ml and the withdrawals kicked in, nausea, anxiety, sleep problems, cramps, etc etc. I stayed where I was for a few weeks but as things didn't really improve I continued to drop down to 0.1ml. During this time I have had some ok days and some awful days. Yesterday and today have been awful, dreadful low mood, very tired, anxiety and horrid nausea again.
My question is, initially I was going to go down to 0.5ml then taper off that to nothing, but the thought of another 3 months before being off it completely terrifies me. I am thinking about starting to taper off 1 night a week, over the next 7 weeks at the 0.1ml, but wonder if the withdrawals will be worse than ever!
id appreciate some advice. I have done the taper so ridiculously slowly, that I am now just fed up with the whole thing, and want to get back to normal again.
i was initially put on it as in Feb last year I had the flu, and was left with anxiety, my GP then prescribed Propranolol which gave me insomnia, and so it went on from there! The Mirt only made me sleep in the first week on being on it. I started it in June 2013, so been on it just over a year and have been withdrawing from it since Jan this year.
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If anyone could share some of their experiences and perhaps advise on when this nightmare is going to end I'd really appreciate it.
I’m 34, otherwise healthy, started Mirtazapine (in some sense against my instincts) about two years ago due to severe anxiety (no depression at all) and panic attacks. My Doctor prescribed Mirtazapine 30mg, to be tapered upwards from 7.5mg.
I remember the first few days I felt a weird sensation when swallowing (simply felt like uncoordinated swallowing, where the food/drink seemed to be going at the wrong velocity towards its target). However, after a while and increasing dosage this symptom vanished more or less.
Fast forward about a year and a half forward, and (apart from helping my IBS by making me numb) - the drug was totally useless anxiety-wise. I was still feeling very bad. True, I had not gotten many panic attacks, but I found that they were just transposed with a very generalized anxiety which I believe (self-diagnosed) had almost become a phobia: I became afraid of trying new things altogether from fear of having e.g., an allergic reaction (never had any of those ever in my life and never feared them before either). I had quit sports because I could not stand the sensations involving an increase in heart rate or blood flow. Done all of the tests and all is fine with my heart and everything else for that matter. It’s all in the head but the head controls your body and your mind.
The Mirtazapine just made me numb; I could feel less love to my fiancée (now wife!) and cared less about the world in general. Realizing that I had just become more anxious (if less panicky) the Doc upped the dosage to 45mg. What a disaster. More than a month afterwards I was just getting more and more anxious on a daily basis.
Eventually, AMA, I decided that going on Mirtazapine was the biggest mistake of my life. I started tapering, very VERY slowly. I think I went from 45 to 15mg with relative ease, taking more than two weeks at a time to decrease the dosage by 3-4mg at a time. Each time, I would feel great for 2 days, then start developing quite severe cramps and feel lousy for another week or so, then I’d get slightly better. Knowing that I am really ultrasensitive to any change in physiological parameters I tapered from 15mg to 3.75mg in a turtle’s pace: 3.75mg at a time, with more than a month (and even two sometimes) between each taper. I have a PhD in Chemistry so I know what I’m doing. Again, every time, after 2-3 victorious days where I’d feel like I’ve conquered mount Everest, I’d then feel lousy for 4-8 days; but then things would seem to be a bit better. Weirdly, at the lower doses of 7.5mg and 3.75mg I started again experiencing swallowing difficulties; I started choking on water and became very mindful of my swallowing dyscoordination. Still I felt altogether quite alright – and I believed that the remainder would be similar.
How wrong was I. I have come off it completely exactly two weeks ago. Again 2-3 days where I felt fine, then a few more days with cramps. Then, good old panic hit, with terrible anxiety that just keeps getting worse and worse. I feel terrible weakness, zero energy, I have withered due to loss of appetite (since when I eat my stomach just cramps a few hours later; actually not so bad since I had put on some weight during my time on Mirtazapine). I feel completely overwhelmed by the symptoms: every time there is something new. I feel weird tingling sensations and I have strange feelings of pressure in my stomach. I get dizzy a lot and then just feel weak. My muscles are sore without any reason. I was certain that these issues would resolve in a few days; Mirtazapine’s half-life is quite long and I know that receptors can take 2-3 weeks to get re-modulated (actually that’s why they always say that the beneficial effects of Mirtazapine will take around 2-3 weeks to become effective when you go on it). But I did not expect this gradual and horrible worsening of symptoms over the last 14 days. I have had to start treatment with Benzo’s (as needed, I try to avoid them but sometimes there’s just no way around it) and they seem to help in some instances, whereas in others they only seem to do a moderate/poor job at managing the symptoms. For the first time in my life yesterday I suffered from ED. Never happened to me before and despite a very supporting and loving wife, I felt that was yet another crushing blow. The weird thing is that all these things are not getting me depressed – just really anxious.
I can only hope that things will start to get better. I have no idea when these things would begin to get back on track. Doctors seem to be quite oblivious to my suffering, not really believing that withdrawal could be so powerful yet not finding ANYTHING else wrong. The situation is really frustrating.
One thing is clear to me: I’m never, EVER going back on this horrendous drug. It was a huge mistake beginning with it, and for all of you who need these kind of drugs: ask your GP or Psychiatrist what are the withdrawal difficulties expected for the medication. I know I sure wish I had asked it.
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For the first time in a very long time, I'm finally in a good enough place to make the step in coming off my Anti-depressant. I've been on Mirtazapine 45mg for the last 4/5 years and before that a string of various of medications.
Despite my anxiety been kind of excessive at the moment, after a discussion with my GP, he was happy to let me begin tapering down the dose. The problem is with my anxiety I feel it mainly physically rather than mentally so it makes me a little oversensitive to any changes that take place in my body.
I guess what I am searching for is some reassurance so I can stop driving myself up the wall, exhausting google search on mirtazapine withdrawal. 6 nights ago I started my first reduction so 45 mg to 30mg. In all honesty it's not been that bad, a few waves of nausea, headaches and random aches and pains. Those I was expecting so don't mind too much. The trouble is that for the last 3 days, I've found myself a little short of breath for most of the day. It's nothing that's outwardly noticeable at the moment, but it's there and is slightly concerning. Has anyone else experienced this when tapering?
I'm kind of freaked out a little because one of my fears that's arisen since the mirtazapine is the that i will develop random allergies and my brain is wondering if I've suddenly developed an allergy to my meds (ridiculous, I know!) The other thing is that the rest of my family has had either viral chest problems lately so maybe I've just picked up that and it's a coincidence? Or it could just be the anxiety.
I'm totally spinning myself in circles at the moment so any wise words are most welcome at this point. If I know it is just withdrawal and nothing that can actually hurt me then I'm fine with whatever effects it throws at me.
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My LTHR had been scheduled for next week. During my pre op session last week the dr remarked that the pains down my left leg may be due to a spine issue, while the groin pain would almost certainly would be due to my bad left hip. He is suggesting that I see his spine colleague before he definitely goes ahead with the hip op.
My question to you hippies: before your hip op did you have pains down your leg(s) including ankle? And (this is the important bit) did the hip op get rid of the leg pains? I am thinking that if your answer is yes to both questions then maybe I should get a second opinion from another surgeon.
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Having hysterectomy next tuesday. terrified.have no support at all as a bit of a recluse. i keep being told what i can and can't do after op by different medical staff so a bit confused as well. i'm 66.
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I am due to have a LTHR on May 11. Just looking for a support group to join because I'm sure I will have post-op issues that are being or have been discussed here.
I do struggle with anxiety in certain situations and I am concerned about waking up intubated (hope I don't have to), the compression hose (getting them on and off and just the restrictive nature of them), and the risk of being on blood thinners for a month (although I prefer that risk over not taking blood thinners and having a higher risk for blood clots).
I am 47 and have had hip issues since I was in high school - though never diagnosed until two years ago, I had a femoral acetabular impingement that, with diagnosis, could have been repaired years ago and I wouldn't be in this situation now, more than likely. So, I'm frustrated that this has to happen now but the impingement has caused arthritis, which is now end stage bone on bone so I need to get this done to lessen my pain and increase my mobility.
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Chances are you are having your first colonoscopy too like me. I have decided to stop reading everyones stories about their colonoscopy experiences and to write about mine, mainly to stop myself freaking out. So hear goes, today I went to the hospital to collect my bowel prep, 'moviprep' pretty sure someone with a great sense of humour decided to call it that, good old bowel prep or perhaps 'bog hugger' might be more apt. Somehow I don't think a movie with the popcorn will ever be the same for me now. Anyway, spoke to a lovely nurse, who explained how to take the stuff, what I couldn't eat etc and about the procedure, and she didn't sugar coat it. So as I have to be at the hospital for 7.30am on Wednesday, I am allowed breakfast tomorrow before 9am. I can drink clear fluids all day. I have decided to stock up on energy drinks to take throughout the day, nurse said it was ok. I then start the moviprep between 5pm and 7pm, I have to mix a and b sachet in a litre of fluid and drink it, and drink 500ml of clear fluid after. Then I wait or maybe hug the loo, will let you know, loo permitting. Then the leaflet says rest for 2 hours, not sure if their interpretation of rest is the same as mine lol. Anyhow between 9pm and 11pm I have to mix another two sachets in 1 litre of water along with 500ml clear fluid to wash it down. It then says at 11pm or when you stop going to the toilet you can go to bed. MMMh. Well the nurse said as she went through the leaflet with me, "you might find you actually don't stop going to the loo". She then asked me if I had any worries. I said I was worried that I might poop my pants on the way to the hospital, (sorry a bit graphic, but do we all not feel that way). She did say some people do do, and suggested I wear a sanitary pad or the like. I also said I was worried it would hurt, whilst she didn't say it would or wouldn't, she said it could be very uncomfortable and for a few days afterwards too, but it affects everyone differently and that things settle once you get back eating and using the toilet normally again.
I am going to drink plenty of water and have a light diet of toast and eggs for lunch and some plain white rice and chicken tonight as although I wasn't advised to it seems it is better to avoid foods with any fibre in them. Probably have egg and toast for breakfast in the morning, then I am going to keep really busy till 5pm 'D' (for diarrhoea) Day as I am calling it.
I sincerely hope that I am sounding upbeat and chilled about this whole experience, that's my aim. In reality I am scared senseless, (poo less!!! - hopefully I will be by 11pm tomorrow night ha ha).
Because like everyone else not only is there the worry of the procedure there is the worry of what might be found.
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I need help in weaning of Omeprazole. I have been a 20Mg a day user since 2002 and the last 5 years have been hell. I am now at the point that I really need to get off this drug, whatever my GP is saying. Does anyone have any tips and suggestions on how they got off the pills. The daily symptoms I'm having is terrible.
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I'm getting circumcised in 2 weeks time. Spare the 'don't do it' because I won't change my mind - sorry! haha. I'm 33 so have thought long and hard enough about it. Unless your in the same position, it's rather hard to understand but I have always felt like I should have been circumcised at birth.
What I was hoping for was to gain some before and after tips from those who have also had it done.
BEFORE
My doc said to not take any fish oil for a few days beforehand because this will increase the blood flow.
Can anyone comment of things which also should not or even should be taken which can decrease the blood flow? I regularly take vitamins, would it be best to cut these out also?
AFTER
Self dissolving stitches are used but I have read to take these out after 10 days to limit 'train track' scarring from appearing.
If there is any excess bleeding, cold compression should be used for 10 minutes every hour to stop.
Wear jocks to have the penis position upwards towards your heart to promote recovery.
Can anyone comment if it's a good idea to use anti scaring creams afterwards? I read Mederma and Vit-E Serum is quite good. Would you use anything directly after surgery, or only when the stitches are out?
So for those who have had it done, any tips or advice to help with a more successful recovery would AWESOME!
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I've pondered my own need for a hip replacement. I'm sports mad and always have been, playing competitive squash for 20 years (probably the cause of my hip degeneration), followed by many years of rowing and subsequently cycling - which I still do with a passion. I was diagnosed with arthritis about 6 years ago (at 52) and have lived with it since then. Mine's been odd - I've never had the excruciating pain that most people seem to complain of - pain, yes - but bearable. My main issue has been with a gradual loss of range of movement. At this stage, I can barely tie a shoe on my right foot, putting a sock on is a nightmare - and cutting toe nails on that foot is pretty much impossible. But in the absence of severe pain and being still able to cycle with relatively little discomfort, I've never really known what to do about getting it fixed. That being said, I did decide to do something about it this year - and it looks as if I may actually be going in to get it done next week!! As I'm sure most of you did pre-op, I'm feeling pretty apprehensive - and still questioning whether I'm doing the right thing, even though I know I'm having many more 'bad days' and that the constant lack of a full quality of life is getting me down. So I guess I'm curious as to whether anyone has been in a similar position - and whether all you experienced hippies think I'm doing the right thing.
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I'm due to have Rectocele and cystocele repair. I had my last consultation with my surgeon back in August 2015 had my pre op assessment in September. I was told I would be in for surgery around December and I'm still waiting, I spoke to someone at the gynae waiting list team today and they said I'm not even on the list yet as they are so far behind. I completely understand that they are busy and their are woman out there a lot worse then me it's just that walking and lifting is becoming a real pain and I'm sick of taking co dydramol which blocks me up when I already struggle to go to the toilet for a bm.
Sorry for ranting I just wondered if anybody had any advice as I'm starting feel like I'm moaning all the time to my husband.
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Well my date for my hysterectomy is in two days ( Wednesday) I'm absolutely petrified, I'm not sleeping and I feel so nervous.
Any advice from any of you lovely ladies would be so much appreciated right now. Because at this point in time I feel like running in the opposite direction.
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So, I have my date! June! Excited and nervous all at the same time, I'm reading lots lately about swelling, pain and being off your feet longer than you thought. This IS a difficult surgery, and I know it's not going to be easy. Trying to put some positive vibes out, and remembering why you did this, is anyone brave enough to show off their tootsies? Maybe before and after? A lot to ask I know.
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I'm 40 years old, mum to 2 girls 16 & 11. I just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and I'm so scared and confused, I'm looking for people in the same boat to help me understand what I'm going through. I have suffered with scalp psoriasis for about 10 years. For about a year I had the odd pain here and there, but nothing I thought was worth going to the doctors about, but 6 months ago my knee started to hurt more regularly but I still put it down to getting old. One night I woke up in excruciating pain on my knee, could not move it at all, took a couple of hours with a bag of frozen peas to ease the pain and after taking painkillers the pain went and I carried on with my life. Just under 2 months ago that same pain came back but not just my knee, my shoulder, my elbow and my neck were affected too. I felt like I was paralysed by pain and had to be practically carried to the GP. That was the first time I ever heard of PA...I didn't even know it existed. My GP suspected it and sent me to loads of blood tests, and prescribed a load of tablets. A week later the pain was not easing so back to the GP and this time he gave me stronger co codamol and the pain started to get better. Another week and the blood tests results came back and showed inflammation, very low vit D and folic acid, so GP gave me supplements and decided to give me a 3 vial steroid injection, which he was hopeful could relieve me of pain for a month, while I was being referred to the rheumatologist. I was pain free for 3 days and then it came back with a vengeance. Back on the co codamol and naproxen but the pain was easing just a bit, I couldn't sleep as I any position made something hurt. GP asked for an urgent referral, but that got lost and despite me trying to get things moving, nothing was happening fast enough so I went private, got an appointment within 2 days and a diagnosis. I started methotrexate 2 weeks ago, which makes me very sick and diarrhoea for 3 days, then it settles. Still on co codamol for pain as I refused the steroids the rheumy wanted to prescribe. My life has been turned upside down, almost every day I wake up with different joints hurting. I feel like the pain is eating me away, it's so disheartening when I can't even prepare my child's lunch box because my hands won't allow it. I work through an agency and they are on the verge of getting rid of me because I have taken the odd day off when the pain is just too much. I have been on anti depressants for years and I feel my depression getting worse, I don't want to leave the house or see anyone because I feel so so low. Will it ever get better?
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I am going in tomorrow to have my cyst and fibroid removed.could anyone tell me what happens once you get there.i have to go for 11 am an have been told I should go down by 2pm.
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I am trying desperately to come off mirtazapine and I am trying to work out the best plan to withdraw, 26 days ago I reduced my dose from 30 to 15, although I am bearing it, the side effects are awful, I have a thick headache, nausea, trembling, but to name a few, today I burst into tears for no apparent reason, please can someone tell me if this is normal? I was hoping to cut the dose down by half again, does anyone know if this happens after each reduction ? And when is right time to reduce.
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I've been drinking every night for about 3-4 years (not great with dates). It started off as a bottle of wine a night, then a load of beer, then not so much, then more, then not so much and... You know how it goes.
Recently (in the last week) I've cut it down to 4 little bottles of beer per night (330ml, 5% stuff). I've tried to taper off before, with little success, but this time after seeing a counsellor and really exploring why I drink I feel better equipped mentally to follow through with this idea.
My problem is this... Obviously the thought of the potential withdrawal is paralysingly frightening (as it has been for most of you, I'm guessing), and because of my severe anxiety I am super aware of every little thing my body feels. It's hard for me to distinguish between anxiety symptoms, and withdrawal symptoms. For example: shakiness, headaches, confusion and general 'out of it' feelings...
I don't want to just say to myself 'oh it's just anxiety, I have nothing to worry about' (WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TRAINING MY MIND TO DO) if the symptoms COULD be signs of severe withdrawal. Has anyone on here ever dealt with this combination of things?
I don't really know what I was hoping to accomplish from this post (my minds a little scrambled right now). I think I just need this forum as a distraction and for some hope right now.
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I have been on 30mg mirtazapine for four years. I tried to come off them a couple of years ago and failed miserably, returning to my full dose after 10 days of awful anxiety and insomnia, as well as migraines and nausea. I had cut my dose to 15mg for a week and then dropped to zero.
This time I read every thread on here about mirtazapine withdrawal and started off really slowly, cutting down by just 3.75mg for two weeks. Then by a further 3.75 mg. At the same time I started taking a lot of inositol. I take a huge heaped teaspoon in my tea every morning. I had only slight nausea when I first started dropping my dose but I think that was me getting used to the inositol. Once I was down to 22.5mg of mirt, with no withdrawal symptoms, I figured I could go a bit faster and dropped my dose down to 15mg. I had no withdrawal symptoms after ten days and so have now dropped my dose to 11.25mg. I use a simple pill cutter from ebay to cut my tablets. So I am now on three quarters of a 15mg tablet. Mirtazapine had pooped out on me and so I already have terrible insomnia. I take temazepam some nights and benadryl on others to help me with that.
I will post my progress here. Who knows, I may fail miserably, but whatever the outcome, I hope it will help others. I was terrified of coming off mirtazapine, but now I am excited by it. I think the key is to take it really slowly and work out the pace your body can cope with. The smaller your dose goes, thee smaller the decrease in your dose should be. Good luck everyone, and please post your own experiences here. I know some people have really suffered despite coming off mirt very slowly. Everyone is different and I think everyone's experience can be a real help to others.
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I have been taking them for about 3 months, and my doctor has been rotating between norco and oxy during that time. I was either taking 4-8 per day of 10/375 norcos or 4-8 5mg oxy per day. While being out of pain felt fantastic, I felt like hell when I wasn't on them because of the sense of euphoria I was given. Being so dependent on these meds for my sheer happiness made me ask my Dr for another pain management medicine (non-narcotic, opiate, etc) - which I have, and are working in a decent manner.
To top it off, I have another medical issue which will (2-3 times a month) get triggered. I'll end up taking 2 norco for it and it will be gone for a while until it gets triggered again. I've had this nearly all my life and it's the only drug, outside of an intense hospitalization where I'm on an IV 24/7, which works.
I'm on day 3 of withdrawal! Great! I've been through the restless leg syndrome phase, and have been on a ton of sleeping meds to get me through the worst of it thus far. I can now sit still, and other than the first night, I haven't been struggling too badly to get to sleep. I have a fantastic network of family who know about my issue and are helping me get through it, which has been a lifesaver.
So what else should I expect? How long will the physical side of this last? More importantly, how long will the mental part last?
I'm currently exhausted 24/7 (prob an effect of the sleep meds), not eating or drinking much, and I have waves of anxiety that make my heart pound out of my chest, but I'm alive and while I'm not super happy, I'm not depressed either. I've never gone through withdrawal before, and I feel like I haven't had as rough of a time as 90% of the posts I've read. It's mainly the feeling like I need to take another pill.
One of the toughest parts is that I am living alone with a bottle full of norco for my other medical issue. When this other issue comes about, I will need to take 2... I can't just uproot my life for quite a few days of the month to stay in the hospital. I'm just afraid of relapsing and having a lot of my progress thus far erased. Any tips?
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This is day 17 of tapering from 45 g to 30g alternate nights 22.5g and odd nights skipping it. So far i've had no withdrawal symptoms. I know it's early days and have to be careful, I just wanted to share my experience so far and perhaps give a glimmer of hope to anyone out there! Also my stagnant weight has finally shifted. Coincidence?
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Yesterday it was my 6th night on 7.5mg of Mirtazapine (instead of 15 mg). Moreover I could not take my dose on Saturday since my wife was celebrating her birthday so I had a few bottles of beer and did not want to combine it with med. What I experience so far is maybe slightly worse sleeping (really slightly worse). In this thread I would like to post my progress of withdrawal since I know many of people here go or would like to go through it as well and such threads would be very helpful for me.
My questions now:
1) did anybody experience really heavy back pain + shoulder pain + weakness in arms and palms (fingers) - all the time while on Mirtazapine?
2) did anybody experience huge volume of stool every day - all the time while on Mirtazapine?
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