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Any positive experiences weaning off mirtazapine?

Posted , 8 users are following.

Jingyd36
Jingyd36

I've been on mirt since may 2013 after I was attacked by my brother and suffered severe anxiety and agoraphobia. I took 7.5mg for may to December, it helped me sleep and eat again. By December the anxiety hit harder so I increased to 15mg and have been at that dose since.

I'm considering weaning off. I'm tired all day every day, literally like a zombie. I'm exhausted all day which has got worse in the last year with an underactive thyroid on top. I'm also developing more and more phobias since being on it to the point I'm scared to have blood tests, go to appointments, can't socialise.... yes it could be part of the anxiety but feel it's been slightly worse since on 15mg. Also I get some odd thoughts since on 15mg but I've stayed on it because it's helped with my mood. I became very low after what happened and mirtazapine helped me feel calmer. I do believe it still helps me stay calmer and I feel content (which worries me coming off) but my situation isnt what it was 4 yesrs ago. I cut my violent brother and toxic family members out and life is much better. I am so exhausted, brain fog, much needed weight gain but now cant lose any and have a low level general anxiety since on them but I thought the fact I could sleep, eat and feel overall calm and content was worth the other annoying side effects. I planned to stay on it but I need to know if it's causing this chronic fatigue and also I feel off balance a lot. I also need to know if it's adding to all these phobias I've developed. I literally am so needy and need my husband to support me doing anything outside of the house.

I'm not saying mirt is all bad, it's not as it helped me get my life back on track and I do worry right now is it the right time as I'm coping with a chronic illness, having some extended family issues with my mother as she cut me off after I cut my brother off for attacking me yet l still have to see her so my children have a grandmother. So I do wonder if I should throw withdrawal into the mix but I've considered withdrawing for a while due to this chronic fatigue that's only been severe the last 16 months and I've been on this over 3 years so maybe it's not connected. I was always tired on mirt but it's more severe the last 16 months which could all just be linked to my thyroid.

Any positive withdrawal stories or advice on how to do it? My gp doesn't want me to withdraw right now but it isn't helping with my current severe anxiety and I've been low. The last year I've had severe anxiety due to how unwell I've been physically and due to how fatigued and poorly i felt i became house bound again when i had overcame the anxiety and agoraphobia in 2014. Mirt hasn't helped and I don't want to increase to 30mg. So I was wondering if anyone could share how they withdrew and any positive experiences as they interest is full of frightening withdrawal from mirt stories which is another reason I've stayed on it so long just through fear of weaning off but I can't stay on them forever. I want to be stronger than my anxiety and do this.

Thank you

Julie

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • caroline73041
    caroline73041 Jingyd36

    Posted

    Hi Julie

    I would say if you feel that the time is right and you want to come off of your mirtazapine then do it. I think that we know when we are well enough to do it. There are some very nice people on here that have come off of their mirtazapine very successfully with a slow taper of no more than 10% of their meds evey 4 weeks maybe a bit longer. They will be able to give you much better advice on how to withdrawal safely than me.You can only try. And yes I think that mirtazapine does make our anxiety and phobias worse in the long term. Good luck to you if you do decide to have a go. I wish you every success.

    I have been on antidepressants for 15 yrs now of one kind or another. 5 years on the mirtazapine at 45mg. Plus 20mg of citalopram. I've just stopped the citalopram and am feeling much better. Next month i will start reducing my mirtazapine.

  • vikki87350
    vikki87350 Jingyd36

    Posted

    I would prepare yourself firstly, make a list of things you'll need to do, only start the discontinuation when you know you can take 3 months out of your life because you'll need this time to heel,

    Read mental health daily on remeron and get some help for your sleep, get a book on mindfulness and go on a health kick,

    If I could of prepared for this I would of done it this way. Goodluck

  • BLUESY
    BLUESY Jingyd36

    Posted

    HI JINGYD36,,a few words that might help you,, it seems as if the 15mg mirt is not helping that much after so long on it,,as u seem more POSITIVE to come off it is most probably a good idea,,but do this SLOWLY,,i found that 7.5mg did wonders for me over a period of 8 weeks ,,then reduced to 3.75 mg for 2 weeks then off ,,,i also was worn out ,,TIRED/ECT ,,but this wore off quite quick as i reduced,and i feel ok ,,,i know u have other problems but this is a good way to start for a recovery,,,STAY POSITIVE AND U WILL OVER COME YOUR PROBLEMS,,,,,,BLUESY,,,keep on patient we all want to help you,, 
    • Jingyd36
      Jingyd36 BLUESY

      Posted

      Thank you.

      Did you find y ourself very tired on mirtazapine? Can I ask how long you were on it before you withdrew from it? I have been on it over 3 years now.

      I am in a stronger place to cope with withdrawal I think but also going through a lot with my health so it's also a tricky time and I do still have anxiety and agoraphobia. Well I did overcome it but it's returned this last year due to my ill health. So I do worry it's not the right time to wean off just yet.

      Mirt has helped me, I am much calmer, sleep well and eat well. My fears are coming off it I'd end up not eating and not sleeping again. Which makes my anxiety bad, I need sleep or my anxiety rockets.

      I just fear since being on it although it's helped me alot, I also seem to feel very very tired, I have some strange thoughts at times and have developed more and more phobias. I over think everything but my GP says that's the nature of anxiety which for me is a disorder since the attack. I agree but I can't believe how much my life has changed with the anxiety, agoraphobia, social anxiety etc.. things I never had before. i had anxiety all my life but it never stopped me going out or socialising but again I am reminded that's why I went on mirt because after the attack I was agoraphobic.

      Thank you for your positive reply.

      Julie

    • BLUESY
      BLUESY Jingyd36

      Posted

      HI JINGYD36  i was on the mirt for only 4 months ,,i was in a bad state and knew i had todo some  thing about it,..dr prescribed 30mg mirt but only took 7.5mg as 30mg too heavy i took the 7.5mg for 8 weeks ,,i had a rougth 4-5 days with bad dreams /twisting/turning all night/and other things,,but persisted with it and after 2 weeks i improved a lot so continued ,,,my dep/anx/chlostrophobia,,,,improved more the dreams ect stopped also the racing mind,,but still had sleep problems,,i then reduced the mirt to 3.75mg  because i improved again and felt 90% better,i took 3.75mg for 2 more weeks then OFF,,,I AM TELLING U THIS BECAUSE i think the 7.5mg is better 4 dep/anx/ect,,so if u are not ready quit the mirt yet why not reduce too 7.5mg and stay on that 4 a while i am sure this will help your anx/tiredness/ect,,it did wonders 4 me and i feel fine,,it seems the 15mg mirt is not working 4 you properly now,,it won;t do any harm to try,,i am now being treeated 4 the sleep problem  i hope this helps you,,,good luck,,,,,,,,,,BLUESY  
    • BLUESY
      BLUESY

      Posted

      HI JINGYD,,,,,for got to add,, once your anxiety starts to get better the tiredness will as well and u will want to do things and feel much better and have a better quality of life ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,BLUESY
  • blyther
    blyther Jingyd36

    Posted

    I just came off a little over a week ago. I was on 7.5 for 2 months. I tapered to 3.75 for a few days, and then nothing. I had some terrible reactions the first 3 days, but they got better each day. I've slept 7 hours 2 nights in a row, and I can eat like a normal person again. The first few days were terrible with nausea and insomnia. But now I'm fine, and I'm on day 10! Plan a few off days, but it was nothing terrible for me. Keep a positive outlook and meditate, breathe, and relax. You can do it! I hated the side effects of the drug, so I feel much better off of it!

    • BLUESY
      BLUESY blyther

      Posted

      HI BLYTHER,,,good for you,,u did the same as me,,with the same results it do work this way,,,it is good to be off,,,but it helped me so much i do not know what i would have done without it ,,,good luck,,,BLUESY
    • Jingyd36
      Jingyd36 blyther

      Posted

      Great to hear you're doing well.

      I do worry about weaning off it and all the insomnia and anxiety returning. I am ill with my thyroid so I am worrying about it not being the right time yet but then I worry being on mirtazapine it's causing me more anxiety. I am much calmer on it, I sleep and eat but I do seem to have developed more phobias since being on it as I seem to over think everything. I have had some strange thoughts since being on it too, and strong unreality feelings whenever I go out alone. I can't drive far, I get eerie creepy feelings when I go out alone, it's odd and I swear it's the mirtazapine causing that.

      Oh it's hard to know without weaning off it.

      Thank you for your kind reply.

      Julie

    • blyther
      blyther Jingyd36

      Posted

      I worried about it not being the right time for me either, but now that I'm off I feel so much better. It was making my anxiety worse, and it really messed up my digestive system. sad I got the unreality feelings too, and now they are all gone! Just be prepared for a few days where things are bad. But remember that they do go away! smile 

      Of course! I hope you have a good day!

    • vikki87350
      vikki87350 Jingyd36

      Posted

      It is the Mirtazipine, weather your on them or in withdrawals from them,

      When you completely rid your body of the drug you won't believe you've got your life back,

      You feel so hopeless and afraid whilst going through the w/d's that you don't think "you" personally will be ok

      You will get to the finish line but only with understanding and compassion from your Gp.

  • paul20109
    paul20109 Jingyd36

    Posted

    i wish i had words of encouragement but i'm affraid i don't. i still suffered withdrawl symptoms after only a very short time, so my advice is to follow your doctors advice.

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