Tapering Mirtazapine - Driving myself up the wall!
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi there,
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 45mg 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 thats outwardly noticeable at the moment, but it's there and is slightly concerning. Has anyone else experieneced this when tapering?
I'm knd of freaked out a little because one of my fears thats arisen since the mirtazapine is the that i will develop random allergys 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 than I'm fine with whatever effects it throws at me.
1 like, 92 replies
sarah_47032 Ness88
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sarah_47032
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Ness88 sarah_47032
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I've never heard of float pods either but I will look into them. I withdrew off zopiclone a few months back after 10 years of being on various sleeping tablets. It turned out better than I thought it would but of course a reemergence of insomnia is always a concern. My sleep hasn't been affected too much yet but if it does, I will bear your suggestion in mind. Thank you.
felicity63345 Ness88
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sarah_47032 felicity63345
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sarah_47032
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felicity63345 sarah_47032
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thanks xx
Ness88 felicity63345
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neuron Ness88
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I'd suggest even taking 30mg and 7.5mgmg and do the tappering over a year. Or 3/4 of a tablet, if possible. Or 30mg one day then 45mg the next on a tapper over a year. I came off Escitalopram too quick (6 months after 3.5 years). Now I am on the same tablets as you because it eventually, after an extra 3 months free of the drug, got too much for me with high high levels of anxiety. ALl the other withdrawal effects I could deal with.
The fact you have been googling quite a bit suggests anxiety, so just tapper slower I thinks
Ness88 neuron
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My anxiety was already pretty high before beginning the taper anyway (5 day panic attack the week before. I didn't even think it was possible!) and it's not gotten any worse so I'm holding on to that.
The plan is to go to 15mg after 3 weeks at 30mg and then hold it there till mid may (I have deadlines due then) then do the final bit when I have some time off Uni afterwards.
Calmer Ness88
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Sorry to hear that your anxiety is so bad; you know it does sound like the Mirt' may well have 'pooped out' on you in this case, and this throws your system into withdrawal.
You might want an informed choice with regards to safe tapering, so if you wanted to read this it might help:
For advice on tapering Mirtazapine slowly at the recommended rate of no more than 10% every 3 or 4 weeks, please see the following which is within this forum,
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/depression-resources-298570
and then click on the link "REDUCING AD'S USING 10% WITHDRAWAL METHOD".
I hope some of this helps & wish you well.
Ness88 Calmer
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betsy0603 Ness88
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Ness88 betsy0603
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miranda91651 Ness88
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I was on this drug for 6 years and it has taken me 3 months to be completly of off this drug like you i felt sick i had headaches and stomach cramps and i also felt a little chesty too and i had a few night where i just could not get to slleep and when i did i woke up 30 minutes later,i think when you have been on a drug for as long as we have our body becomes reliant on it ,
I think that you should be very proud of your self for how far you have come so far,just take each day as it comes knowing that each day is a step nearer to being rid off this drug for good
since being off this drug i can think clearer and i am eatting normaly and the weight is just dropping off,
I would like to wish you the very best of luck on your journey
miranda
Ness88 miranda91651
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It's a relief to here that someone else has experienced some chest problems too. It's an odd feeling, like I'm not getting enough air/kind of tight but I'm not wheezy or rattly or anything. It comes and go throughout the day which I guess it making me lean more to thinking that it's anxiety related.
Thank you for your words
plainden miranda91651
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miranda91651 plainden
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I was on 45 mg,so i went to 35mg for 3 weeks to 25 mg for 3 weeks to 10mg for 3 weeks then 5 mg for 3 weeks then nothing after that and now i feel so much better,i had to really beg my doctor for help so she gave me some 15 mg tablets which could be broken into half so i used that as my guide and i just allterd the dose myself,i also went swimming and i found herbal remedies to help with anxiety and to help with the sleeping and i just tried to eat well,
everyone has different ways of kicking this drug and i am sure that you will find the right way for you
good luck