Mirtazapine withdrawal, how long does it last?

Hi

Interesting to read your reply to Rachael, Did you taper, and what was your method please?

Thanks in advance

Jo

Hey....just wanted to know what you think withdrawal would be like for a person (me) if he was on 15mg mirtazipine for about a year?

I'm off Mirtzapine for 10 days now and insomnia is main side effect.

I was on 7.5Mg for 15 months. I'm using L-trytophan at night for help

1000mg-2000mg hour before bed.

I agree about the anxiety and the insomnia, I would almost expect that to come back. I didnt however have vomiting diarrhea panic attacks three urinary infections with in four weeks internal trembling night sweats and being extremely cold when the when it was warm in the room. Some people get withdrawls some get some and some get none. If it was just my anxiety and insomnia back...I'd be ok with it, but if you get severe withdrawals from mirt, your gonna be sick for three months and it ain't pretty. That's not even the full list ...muscle and joint pain...hmmm..yeah right...never had a problem with that, cause that's not the way I am. I was spared the migraines ...not sure how or why.

I know it's been quite some time since you originally posted but thought to put my status out there because your experience sounds very much what i am going through now. i was put on 45mg years ago. i had no problems but my doctor thought to take it down to 30mg. that was june and these last few months have been horrible. night sweats so bad i have to change clothes in the middle of the night. zero appetite, nearly puke trying to eat most times. ensure the liquid nutrition supplement has kept me going on the worst days. sleep is terrible, exhausted always. i had my colon removed, not related, but i have sm bowel cramps, stomach pain. during the day my body temp, how it feels, can go from ice cold to hot flash for no reason other than this. anxiety through the roof at times. very shaky, weak, inability to concentrate, trouble communicating with others, good God how could any physcian put us on these meds knowing what it is like to stop? nobody ever warned me?

my withdrawal from tapering 45mg to 30mg has been like this nearly four months. are you or anyone reading this able to give me a bit of hope? or should i just throw in the towel and go back to 45mg for life? i just can't imagine going through this for much longer. Thanks and i do hope your situation turned out for the best.

Hi Mike

There is hope. I've gone from 45mg to 15mg.

I'm struggling a bit to ditch them altogether but to be honest my gp is loath to stop them altogether as she believes they help my sleep.

I dropped my dose pretty quickly but that didn't work out so well for me so I went from 45 to 40 then 35 & so on until I got to 15mg. Do each drop over 3-4 weeks.

I had night sweats & stomach cramps but they have stopped now.

I'm going to drop to 7.5mg shortly & then after about a month try taking 7.5mg every other day and so on until I can finally get off this awful drug.

I've found taking magnesium supplements helps at night with leg cramps etc.

Well done Emma your nearly there, remember the feelings your having are only temperary and will definitely pass

Hello Mike, I can't imagine being on 45mg!!!  I have been taking Klonopin - 4 four or five years - & cut that down in Sept. 2017.  My GP put me on only 7.5mg Sept 16 this year.  The "side effects" didn't set in until about a month ago.  AND I HAVE EVERY SIDE EFFECT EXCEPTING CONSTIPATION!!!

SO - I started going OFF Mirtazapine one week ago 11/15/16 - taking only 

half a pill every night.  I feel EVEN WORSE EVERY DAY NOW. My body 

aches everywhere (like flu ache) and I want to sleep 18 hours a day!!!  You did not mention your age - I am 80 next month - and perhaps my age is 

just  less accepting of any drug but I advise every patient to TALK ABOUT ALL THE EFFECTS/SIDE EFFECTS WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN.  I relate to you saying....why would any Dr prescribe this drug?  My depression is supposed to get better after gaining 13 lbs and feeling like Hell?

Just sayin'

Hi I am new on here and just thought I would let you know that I have just come off mirtazapine from 30mg down to 15mg a few weeks ago and 15mg every other night for 4 nights now nothing for the last 3days ,apart from really awful nightmares and feeling a bit anxious ,and today having no energy so far so good .I am 65 and been on them a few years but started getting palpitations so doc said to drop to 15mg as they are more sedative. So I thought I would share this with you oh also doc gave me a few diazapam to help with anxiety that you get for a little while when your coming off mirtazapine .so I wish you well you can do it x

i was left on Mirtazapine for more than 8 years without any support or check ups. I recently decided to stop as the Mirtazapine eventually gave me really bad psoriasis and other side effects. I reduced the dose over half a year and have been off them about 2 weeks now with only minor side effects .it can be done so dont give up people.  

Hi Mark , I'm the same but been on 45mg mirtizapine for over 9 years and looking to come off soon but scared really as reading all the horror stories on here but my gp reckons they are one of the easier antidepressants to come off .

I think not many people talk on the internet if they have come off them ok that's why we only here the horror stories hopefully .

Just wondered how you are doing now since stopping them as it's hard for me to find anybody who has been on them as long as we have and have withdrawn successfully.

Thanks Shaun

Hi Shaun, dont worry to much. ive just come off 45mg. i tapered down to 35mg on the first night, couldnt sleep so took it. second night did it again but came down to 35mg, third night 35mg, fourth night 22.5mg, fifth night 10mg, then had a difficult night on 6th night, so stuck to 10 mg. 7th night onwards totally off it with no side effects at all. been 10 days now off it and i feel fine.

Thanks and it's good to know it can be done .

Come join our Facebook page, lookup ppwindowrepairs and ask to be added. We have a wealth of info between us 

Struggling to find that facebook page ?

i am also struggling to find that page, does it definately come under that name? as all i can find for that ppwindowrepairs is actual  windows

 

If you look Me up on Facebook my name is Craig short and live in the U.K., then I can add you

Hi Mikeyboy,  Just wondered how you are doing now since stopping the mirt. Hopefully everything is still good.

Hi Shaun. im good. no problems. still on olanzapine 5mg though. i think thats why im okay

HI Shaun.

I've been on Mirt for 7 years and the doc got me to go cold turkey 4 weeks ago. He started me on another anti depressant straight away as well.

It's not been pretty but last week was the worst ( I Hope)

I only found this forum yesterday and didn't realize it was the Mirt withdrawal cause my symptoms and was blaming the new meds. Although I think some of it is the new meds as well.

It's all so frustrating and worrying to feel like this and the Doc never once mentioned withdrawals or anything. The chemist questioned him but he told them he'd researched it and knew what he was doing.

The reason I was put on Mirt was because my last anti depressant had given me an ulsa and Mirt is the kindest one for your stomach.

My stomach is now burning even though I'm on meds to stop it. Worried now that this new med will do the same and I'll have to change again. Augh!!!!

I'm glad you are fine. My doctor tells me that you should only taper down if you are taking 30 mg or more. When you get to 15 mg  take it for 3-4 weeks then stop altogether. She says it can cause problems if you taper down from 15 mg. She did explain but i didn't really understand what she said! I have great faith in her though. She's very experienced.

Hi! How are you doing now? Hopefully better!

Hi rose

I was taking 7.5 mg mirtzapine for

6 months and then stopped as I was feeling I am not getting cured now it's almost 5/ weeks as still getting internal shaking and panic attacks when I am out . Seems imbalance . Vomiting sensation is not there now but body itching is there. CAn you tell when your panic attacks or internal shaking stopped ? Wbatu done

Can I send you a request too Craig?

Hi Denis not sure if you'll see this as it's 3 months on but il try anyway. I'm tapering from 15mg to 7.5 and having huge problems, can you remember anything your doctor said about why not to taper from 15 as I'm desperate and don't know what to do? Thank you it'd be a big help

i am one week tapering 15 to 7.5 and having horrendous time.vomiting,diarrhea high temp. Cant face even water. What can i do my heart rate is 120

Hello Rose 

I was wondering if you could help me. I been on Escitalopram Oxalate 10 mg for over 4 year now and I been having very bad stomach pains for the past 4 months and been in and out of the doctor office and hopstial over 10 times and no one knows what is wrong with me. Turns out i had colon infection and had to go to a GI Specialist to find out,. Well at first the doctor told me I had depression and put me on Mirtazapine 30 mg and Venlafaxine 75 mg and i took it for over 2 months, He Switched me to those without weaning me off the Escitalopram! Which i read you suppose to be at least 4 weeks weaning yourself off to switch. well i started having financial problems to where i couldn't afford the Mirtazapine 30 mg because my medicade was droped. So I stop taken that and cant afford to go to the doctor, but now I cant sleep, but now last few months have been horrible. I also have night sweats so bad i have to change clothes in the middle of the night. zero appetite, nearly puke trying to eat most times, When i was on it, i ate ate ate, i use to weigh 98 pounds, now i only weight 92.  sleep is terrible, exhausted always. I have sm bowel cramps, stomach pain. during the day my body temp is crazy, I can go from ice cold to hot flash for no reason, sweat pores from me and im not even hot but i can have my hand a few inches away from my face and feel the heat. It like i have a fever but dont. very shaky, weak, inability to concentrate, trouble communicating with others. migraines all day and everything pss me off so bad, head feels numb and pressure, ears and eyes are killing me, the lights are terrible!. If you found a way to help me pls let me know. I need to know how you cover came this. 

Hi Mike, I've been on Mirtrazapine 45mg for just over 3months now and the side affects that I'm going through are horrendous.

Severe swollen ankles and feet

Stomach cramps

High blood pressure

No Sex drive

Severe pain in my gallbladder but the worst so far is the weight gain, in the 3 months that I've been taking these pills I've put on nearly 4 stone!!!!,

I'm going to see my Dr on Monday and ask to be taken off them, if I had known the side affects of Mirtrazapine I would never of went on.

They have helpt with the insomnia and depression but the cons weigh out the pros.

I'll really worrying about the withdrawal symptoms and the effect that this will have on my family

Hey Melanie,

I stopped taking it a week ago, I've had the worst nausea. I was taking it for four months and gained 34lbs in the first four weeks. Then gained 20 more until I stopped it. I have never been over weight. I want to sue my doctor for giving me this horrible meds. Granted they made me sleep but I would rather not sleep then be overweight. 

Hi I wanted to coming off mirt because all it did was make me like a zombie and nothing else. I contacted my surgery and was advised take the last 15mg mirt Sunday nothing the next day then start 10mg  Citalopram That was two weeks ago I am in a living hell wake at 5am immediately my inside are doing cartwheels, can't think straight ,wrenching ,diarrhoea,they have given me 2mg diazepam but have double it to 4mg three times a day.I agree with you I wish I had been advised of the possible side effect when trying to come off these demons 

Hi ANN.

I had to do a swap from 30mg Mirt to 20mg Escitalopram the next day...I took 10mg as the effects were terrible...never again..I will do a slow taper next time..

I had to use Diaz to get through it too and am now trying to wean off that without upsetting my body again..easier this way.

I didn't know what was what as far as side effects of new drugs or withdrawals from Mirt..

The doc didn't believe me and said I'd just googled the symptoms..I wish.

I will be more prepared in future and research myself and not rely on the doc s advice..they tell you nothing about all this

I hope you feel better quickly and settle down with the new drugs.

I am getting off mirtazapine.  Do you think escitalopram is any better, do you feel it is working?  I am weighing up my options as i am feeling very down and anxiety still there

Hi Ann,

I find Escitalopram totally different..to anything I've been on before.

I have terrible anxiety and panic attacks so have to stay on something. Would be lovely to not have to take something..

Escitalopram seems to block or stop the worrying and thoughts like I am really claustrophobic and this has settled also...it is suppose to to very good for OCD etc which I can imagine it would be. It also doesn't put on weight..a huge thing for me..

I do find I have trouble remembering things and have taken ages to get the brain fog to disappear...unfortunately, it could partly be due to the Mirt withdrawals..you would never know.

I would certainly try it. You will never know if you don't and most seem to love it. Just start on a low dose first. It is better than living in constant anxiety..an awefully way to live hey.

Hi Mike,

I seen your post. You have successfully taken down mirtazapine. Do you have insommia problem. I am having insommia and am on 7.5 mg mirtazapine per night. I wonder this medicine can really help insommia. Having some side effect now. Please advise. Thanks

Hey Angie,

I went cold turkey and couldn't sleep for days. Got zzquil and that helped. Now I'm like a month off and I sleep on my own most of the nights!

Hi All 

Update:

Been off Mirt since May 5. Unfortunately, now feel terrible, and at my lowest ebb. I've already posted symptoms, which haven't changed, just a million times worse. 

I'm going back to Doc this week to ask for further assessment by neurologist. For record these are overwhelmingly physical and consist 

Excruciating nerve pains-emanating from spine but then affecting arms and legs.

Unbearable muscular stiffness, weakness and exhaustion.

Permanent head tremor. 

Eye fatigue and sensitivity to light.

Voice constantly hoarse.

Summary

I know we all react differently to withdrawal, and not certain whether this is withdrawal, original anxiety or new symptom precipitated by stopping Mirt?? However, would be good to tell Doc that canvassed others and these symptoms untypical etc.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. 

Many thanks for your time

Steve

Hi Mike,

I was on lamotragine keppra amytriptalyne and depakote for 6 years. I also dabbled in topomax cymbalta and numerous anti anxiety meds. The next 6 years I was on mirtazapine 45mg and lamotragine 100mg. I received the diagnosis of fatty liver and found an all natural remedy for my nerve pain... Coming off 12 years of heavy meds has been a nightmare version of mr. toads wild ride. I thought I was dying, I thought I was loosing my mind, I could not eat or sleep for weeks and was in the ER panicking with horrible symptoms. I'm starting week 3 of withdrawals and I've decided to take time off work until I recover. Lot of rest, lots of water, healthy diet and walks. 

How are your symptoms now?

i am replying to you as, after two years on 7.5 couldnt get it higher, i want off. I have done what the books say, lower very slowly.  5mg for a month, now 3.75 for a couple of weeks and the situation is dire.

nausea - dr gave me pills for this

diaerhoea - have had it on and off during med

IBS - reappeared

Colon pain

waking every 2 hours in anxiety

fatigue

dr doesnt think these are result of lowering  I know how bad i feel, never felt really well on it anyway, just all worse now.

dr did give me extra diazepam for discontinuation so must know anxiety will get worse

hope you get your symptoms sorted out. Interested to know outcome

 

wow youve tried almost as many of these meds as me over the years. 

I ended up,on mirtaz for two plus years as itmgave me a sleep.  Never really worked otherwise as i couldnt stand high dose, was only on 7.5.  I am very sensitive to any meds.

coming down now i have got to 3.75 and want to drop again but the side effects are bad.  I thought i was losing my mind woke one night with that.  Taking lots of water, eating very little. Ache in ibs area nausea.  How long will this last i wonder.  Dont even feel like going out. Depression will hit if im not careful.

any helpful,hints.

 

Hi Ann

         Sorry I can't offer any tips as it seems no matter what dose you try to come off results in endless nightmares..I was started on mirt last yr 15mg to 45mg over a period of 4 months felt worse on them, reduced dose overnight by my doc to 15mg (awful time) but no long short been on 15mg for a yr told my mental health team that I felt worse from I started taking these Meds, told 3wks ago to double up again to 30mg stuck that 3wks had to get in touch with mental health team again who has now told me to drop down to 15mg for 1wk then I have to change onto douslpin which I was before doc changed me to these....doc didn't tell me what a hell of a time I would have getting of these meds... I have felt unwell from I started mirt but I dread what the road ahead will be like for me as the WD from 30mg to 15mg has been awful.... reading lots of sites I have not saw anyone come of this med easy it's all been a nightmare ....yet doc says there is NO withdrawals.... wish my doc could feel how I'm feeling today !!!!

                  Kaz 

Yes, same here.  Am trying so hard to live with the withdrawal symptoms, its not easy, in the hope of a better day. My dr says withdrawals are hardly noticeable, maybe a bit of anxiety!!  Whats ahead for me also i dont know, tried so many which didnt work.

Hi Ann

Docs really make me so mad..im of for a weeks holiday tonight which to be honest i dread but its been booked from last so forcing myself to go.. i will drop down to 7.5mg next wk when i return home and dear only knows what will be ahead of me but the way im feeling now i really dont plan to switch to another tab anytime soon...What dose are you now taking ? are you feeling any better ?

                         kaz

Im new to this forum, dont no how to work it propper or comment I have been on 45 dose and looking at all these im thinking why has the doctor put me on this!

Tryed coming off it and get muscle aches and pains and tingling and sorness in joins and feeling sick and panic and  anxiety, looking at comments I must be mad going cold turkey!! Started a week ago then looked it up, should have done it other way round!  But guess what I got from a health shop CBD oil, its legal in small doses in england apparently,  so I stopped then took the oil, its good for anxiety, depression, nausea, pain, ms, adhd, cancer ect doctors are not allowed to suggest it for anything, I accidently came across it in a shop 20quid, its helped! I only started takeing a few drops 3 times a day then you work your way up, its up2 you if you want to try it, your not allowed to take other or sertain medication because it works like grapefruit, stops you body from absorbing it normal and medication I think build up in your body over time which is not good. I would take cbd over any medication, thc is not in there just the good oil.

Hey Jennie,

Been taking 15 mg for 4 months. I started skipping doses to every other nite. I am armed with melatonin and benadryl. Am scared to taper to 7.5mg. I may just keep skipping doses. Seems its rough to taper down. Any thoughts? BTW gained 40lbs. since May. Hope you are doing well.

Hey Denis

Saw your post about taper problems below 15mg. Been on 15mg only for 4 months. I started skipping doses. Do you think that is a good approach to get off of this vs. Tapering to 7.5mg? My Dr. isnt saying a whole lot. I armed myself with lots of melatonin and benadryl. Sure glad i checked this before I went all out cold turkey. Thanks so much. I hope you are well.

Hi, i am going over as many posts as I can to see how people have fared getting off mirtazapine and onto something better for anxiety and depression.  I think you have done this and would like if you could tell me your story so far, i am expecting a change when see psych next week as mirtaz isnt working and my anxiety is higher the lower i go.  I just want a med which will make me feel,normal again, waking with anxiety is awful. Thank you.

Interested in your post.  Does cbd oil really work?  I take diazepam and warfarin and i bet dr would say no.  Where would i buy it, health food store?

2 weeks @ 15mg of mirt every other nite....managable but miserable. Starting 15mg every 2 nites or every other other nite. Will post again

Hey there

Hope this finds you well. I appreciate all the info. I am about 2 weeks into stopping mirt 15mg. Im down to 7.5mg everyother nite. So far...ok. curious to see how others are faring. Thankyou.

Hi Ann,

Wondering how its going. I am at the 7.5mg every other nite mark. Been on 15mg for 4 mos. Gained 45 lbs. Curious to see how you are doing.

Its still,up,and down.  7.5 for months,,then 3.75 now about 2 and sleep gone a bit awry, feel miserable a lot, anxiety still needs diazepam.  Hoping to keep going. Weight still increasing though drug decreasing, cant understand that.  

Ive been off for 2 nights. Insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes, nausea so far. Will see how it goes. Will keep posting. No weight loss during, got my eye on the scale, lol.

Where are you now with withdrawal

I have been suffering muscle aches and pains all over my body and I have to been awful! If you have body aches and stuff go to the doctors, I had my vitamin D tested and it's extremely low, before the aches and stuff I had tingling in my fingers and hospital tested me in October 4th after that day I got worse, didn't no I was until hospital told me go doctors last week, the doctors apologised, I identify idiot no identify identifies true but matazapine can cause vitamin D difficiency, if anyone is getting muscle aches go to docs ASAP! Let me know. Theres a long list of symptoms for it, docs probably disagree, but depression, anxiety, sick, bad muscle aches/pains, chills, hair loss, dry skin ect

Hi Tracjane,

That's very interesting as I too had a Vit d deficiency last year and took a course of vit d for a while

No one believed the amount of withdrawal symptoms I had.

Do you mean the mirtazapine causes the a hes and pains and depression and anxiety, or does it deplete your vitamin d?  I asked dr for vit d and she gave me it, but not sure its a very therapeutic dose.   Also,heard magnesium good for anxiety, hope someone can advise if theyve taken it.

Hi...wondering how u are doing.  I was on 7.5 x one year.  Taper over a month and have been off a week.  Having increased anxiety or just general feeling of unease, difficulty concentrating and insomnia.  Have Ativan to help but hate to take that too long.  When I wake in the morning I sometimes have gripping anxiety and have to just breath and tell myself I’m ok.  Will this pass??

Hang in there Michelle! Its all withdrawls...it will pass. Congrats on getting off of the mirt. Stay positive.

Thank you...this is hard and a few times I just wanted to go back on.  But I’ve made it a week.  Trying to stay busy but hate feeling so lousy.  Have you been through this?  Anything that helped?  

You are further on than me, i have still to drop from 3.75 after xmas.  Last drop just had nausea, the runs a bit and a migraine, settled reasonably quickly so hoping next drop will be similar.  The anxiety got better slowly too, but still on diazepam for bad times.

Im about 8 wks off. Its not easy. Stay positive and busy. Its the w/d doing the negative. I tried melatonin and benadryl to sleep and proanolol for anxiety. Time is the key.

Thanks for the support...sometimes I feel alone because it seems know one understands how I feel.

Hi

Hope withdrawal not too bad for you. I’m almost suicidal now. Been off for 7 months now and symptoms utterly unbearable. Head tremors, muscular stiffness (all over, but worse around neck, jaw, cheeks and face), eye fatigue and sensitivity to light, exhaustion and some mental confusion. Having to take more and more time off work, so job on line. Bloods normal, but Doc finally  referred me to local hospital for further neurology assessments. Will have to wait ages for that, and unable to tolerate for a second longer. Apart from that feel ok.

Bye all, and good luck in your situations.

Lots of people here can relate. Stay connected, but not absorbed. Sometimes out of sight, out of mind. Things are so mental. God Bless

I am going through a period of nausea and bouts of diarhhoea since i had my gallbladder out.  Seems this can happen but with the added bonus of trying to get off mirtazapine i feel so ill.  It has been weeks since i cut down to 3.75 and frankly im scared to reduce any while all,this stomach disturbance is going on.  I cant ascertain if its the mirtazapine not helping it or something completely different.   GP of course been telling me ibs etc down to anxiety. I am on 5mg diazepam at night too which i would like to discontinue some day.  Feeling sickly and trying to live as normal a life as i can but not easy

You poor thing, i feel so awful for you having all these symptoms. Are they really coming from mirtaz withdrawal,do you think.   You are having a really rough ride.  I would be interested to hear what neurology say about it all as i do think that drs are in denial about this med.

do you have any problems with your digestion at all, i can empathise with the sensitivity to light and exhaustion. I am waking feeling so sickly and a sort of juddering inside.  I have not had muscular stiffness vut i am still on 3.75.   I am petrified of lowering again in case my symptoms crash.

My friend has been on this at low dose for over five years alongside her prozac and lives a normal life, i cant understand how we all get such severe problems.

i do hope you get a conclusion soon. 

Please post when you do.

 

Hi again Ann

Thanks for concern. No, not sure the symptoms entirely down to withdrawal, especially after such a long period, and when they are getting more severe. 

Could also be return of anxiety, a new problem precipitated by coming off? Either way, both scenarios would seem to be devastating for nerve endings, neurotransmitters blah blah.

Thanks

S

Yes, i agree.  When it has gone on too long it makes you wonder if the neural pathways have been altered permanently.  I know i have anxiety, it has been diagnosed and they have fiven me a med for it.  Still the other symptoms prevail so what tests can they do, i dont know.  I know i am isolating myself as i am not seeing friends so much as i feel so grotty.

wish these people knew what they were doing.

 

Hi

sorry you are having such rough ride.what dose were you on?and how did you taper?over what time?I was on 45mg,and have tapered down to 15mg (will hold until after new year then taper down the rest) I like a lot of us suffered all the withdrawels,been spared insomnia so far thankfully.I too had severe muscle spasm and ridgitity in upper back and neck,so bad that it completely trapped up nerve and all down my arm,reinstated dose I had previously dropped from,but took 10 days and very strong analgesia and muscle relaxant diazepam for this to resolve.when I tried drop again,same happened,but didn't trap nerve but.straight away halved the previous reduction,and that went OK as far as muscles concerned.stil had migraines sweats nausea tinnitus etc though.this is not an easy road to tread,but keep faith,that you will get there.very best of wishes that you get some relief soon

Hi

Thanks for interest. I realise I probably tapered too quickly. (30-15mg for two years and then 7.5 for a few weeks then zilch. This was agreed by Doc)

However, going on for 7 months now and symptoms getting worse. Can’t prove but certain damage done to nerves, which is probably irreversible. Problem is that medics subtly and conveniently say symptoms mirror damage without actual damage. At the moment feels like something between Parkinson’s, MS and MND😡.

Thanks again.

Just wanted to jump on here and say a couple of things. Firstly, Steve (and everyone else here) it sounds like you're all having a really rough time. Everyone's bodies handle this stuff so differently and it's hard to know how each person is going to react. It's important to keep in mind that we all have different body make-ups so one person's experience will never be exactly the same as the next. Although it is comforting to hear of other people experiencing similar things. We also only tend to hear the horror stories because people don't really post about that on forums like this. 

I am 26 and have been on Mirtazapine for almost 4 years and have just recently come off it (hopefully for good). So far it is going quite well. I realise that it was a big change for my body and that it is just going to take some time to adjust. I started on 45mg for a couple of months, then went to 30mg for about 2 years then went to 15mg for the last year and a half. Something that NO ONE told me until recently is that the way that mirtazapine works is that the higher the dose is the higher the anti-anxiety/depressant effect, and the lower the dose is the higher the sleep-help effect. So as I dealt with my anxiety I mainly just needed it to help with sleep, hence the drop in mg over time. So you should be on a higher mg dose if it's treating anxiety and lower if it's mainly treating insomnia. 

Anyway, something I've come to realise is that it was my doctor's best effort at trying to help me get better. They don't know how my body is or isn't going to react to this drug. All of the side effects I've experienced or read through on this site so far are listed in the drug information that is provided about mirtazapine. Something that has helped me get through is to set routine exercise. At the moment it is just walking or slow swimming as I'm pretty wiped out but it really does make a world of difference. It also promotes healthy blood flow in the brain, which by the sounds of it is just what we all need while dealing with this nasty med! 

You have done so well getting off this and getting some life back.  I am lowering as per my dr advice as they havent found anything to help me. They say my main problem is anxiety, which i do have, so on small dose diazepam.  I have yet to drop down from 3.75 mirtaz soon and wonder if you can give any advice on that? Seems some do it very very slowly, others, half, then quarter bits.

i did experience a hard time dropping from 7.5 and expect to get similar migraine, nausea, fatigue etc. When next drop comes.  What i would like to know is, is this worse when you stop them?  Does the fatigue become unbearable? What is the worst symptom?

i see you can now swim, i cant somthats out, but i do try to walk every day to keep the blood flowing.  My social life is impeded due to all,of this and i just want to get back to normal.  Cant believe i was fine till this hit in my sixties, i hope i dont have this for the rest of my life.

Did you manage to get off this mirtazapine with your taper

 

How did the withdrawel go from post of 4 months ago?

Hi Steve,

wondering how you are getting on now a month has gone by and if you got any further with the investigations as to why coming off mirtaz has been so bad for you.   I hope you are feeling better and can manage without this med.    maybe they have given you a newer one  to help.  Do let us know how you are.

Hi Ann

Have been referred to neurologist at hospital, but v long wait for that. Reality is that they will say not linked to central nervous system, so no tangible help. Still getting shakes, stiffness, nerve pain, muscular weakness blah blah. Other problem for me is BP. I was already being treated for mild hypertension, but notice that my resting pressure (diastolic) is  up by 10 points and stays there. Systolic BP is ok and controlled by meds, but this change is worrying. Don’t know if the neuropathy is causing it directly, or just worrying about it??

Hope you’re feeling ok.

Hi Steve are they external shake or internal tremors?

Hi

That’s a v good question. These are mainly head, arms, leg tremors, fairly constant, visible in mirror, but not necessity to others. Would be good to hear how you differentiate.

Thanks

Hi Steve, I have internal tremors mainly in my chest and stomach but most days I shake externally and really cold 

I know your post is a year old,but would like to know how you got on with your mirtazapine journey,did you manage to stay off this drug?and if so,how long before all withdrawels settled? did you get insomnia? hope you are well.

Hi kit

how you doing on your Mirtazapine withdrawel journey? and what dose are you now? I like to try to walk and slow swim,and stay as busy and distracted myself from withdrawels (doesn't always work),but helps.

hope you are doing well.

Hows your withdrawal going?

i have dropped down to 2mg and still feeling down and not seeing friends.sleep with help of diazepam.

just wondering when or if i will feel any better, or if i come off this will dr give me more mind benders if i srill cant function.  Wonder sometimes what it would be like to be on nothing as i was four years ago.

do you feel any better without it?

Ann was originally on 45mg down to 22.5mg (tapering since last May).will drop to 18.75mg in a weeks time.every taper I get hit with withdrawels usually between weeks two to four,then they settle,but I have a long way to go.

although I sometimes don't feel like it,make myself go for walk,or meet friends for coffee,and try and keep busy,tv,listening radio,music,easy read magasines,anything to distract myself.

you are doing so well,and will be off this drug very soon,it's not doing you any good from what you say,so you will be better either when off this drug and withdrawels have gone,or you try a new medication that will work.

Yes, you are right but i have tried so many meds which made me much worse, the psych is not sure where to go with it next.  I seem to just be resistant to this type,of med, which leaves me in such a quandary.

i do try to walk each day, can watchntv at night, do a crossword but every morning i wake so depressed.  Cant shift it, some days it lifts a bit, others it doesnt. Just cant meet for coffee, so anxious.  Maybe this will go once off it but its been like this even at highest dose which i got to was 15 which made me like a zombie so going higher was awful.

i feel there is no,hope,out there for me.

Ann there is definatley hope out thre for you,just concentrate on one thing at a time,getting off this drug as its doing you know good anyway,and from what others have posted,it may take while for all withdrawels settle.then you and your psychiatrist can decide best way forward together.

Try not to think too far ahead,and take one day at a time.

Hi Toria, im a bit of a dinosaur, can you tell me how to get onto the mirtazapine facebook, i think it may be of help

Ann,

Go into FB. Go to search bar at top of screen. Type in mirtazapine withdrawl support group. It should pop up as a selection.

Toria how are you doing , I've been looking for your FB page , really had to stand back and take a good look at things , this mirtazapine really is the pits I've got from 30mg down to 7.5 mg which I've now been on for about 4 weeks , I really thought things were starting to come together but how wrong can you be . Yesterday I started to feel not well it's like I've crashed and need to up my dose but that isn't going to happen .Please let me have the FB link Toria , hopefully i'll speak to you soon x

Hey Dave,

Message Toria Stockford on FB. Thanks

Hi Gretel I've tried the FB link you gave me for Toria and can't find her can you please help me any further sorry for being thick x

Hi again , if you know Toria could you please ask her to message me on FB shes got my details ask her to just look up dave barrington-ward thanks so much , I found our chats really helpful thanks again Gretel , Dave x

Hi Dave 

Contact Toria Stockford on Facebook. In order to do that you’ll need to have a Facebook account. 

Once you have an account, search for “Toria Stockford” and message her a request to join her Mirtazapine Withdrawal Support Group.

Hope this helps!

Hi Jo tried this and don't seem to be getting anywhere , has she got longish dark hair 

 

Hi again Jo I've had a FB account for years but really don't seem to be getting anywhere with this , it's driving me nuts lol any other help you can send me would be gratefully received , thanks Dave x 

 

Dave,

Yes she has hair like that. Just message her and she will add you.

Hi Steve, how are you now? I am also struggling with horrendous eye fatigue, dryness and soreness in my eyes and sensitivity. Has anything helped?

Hi is. your symptoms improved .Im 5 weeks off remeron and have internal trembling anxiety dizziness itching. Im also very tired.im very scared.is this symptoms ever away.Please let me know.thanks.

Hi teresa, im 15 weeks off and still a plethera of symptoms. Insomnia, anxiety and feverish chills are on top the list. Starting to have glimmers of light, but it seems to ebb and flow.

Hi .did your symptoms go away ..it wiil be almost 6 weeks for me .i feel very sick.i have nousea dizziness trouble concentrating no energie woking up very early in the morning.anxiety.i feel that never ends.please let me know if you recover and how long it takes.

Hi Teresa. I am 16 weeks off today. The symptoms wax and wane for me, so by the time im complaining the y have gone. Only to come back. The constants are the insomnia and persistant anxiety and intrusive negative thoughts. Hang in there it does get better.

Could you tell me how many weeks takes for you to feel ok .looks like forever for me .i feel like i have bad flu but i dont.Thanks

Teresa, wish i could. But at 16 weeks off i still feel pretty bad. I know one off over a year, still feels bad, i know one that stopped cold turkey 4 months ago and is fine. Its really hard to tell. Feel better soon

Thanks

Hi teresa, there is a mirt w/d support group on fb. Thanks, gretel

Wonder how you’re doing now Steve?

Been a few months since you last posted. Still having mirtz w/d effects?

How are you now with your withdrawals from mirtaz.? I am five weeks almost off and thr shaking and anxiety are awful. Any help please

How are you getting on now?  I find myself in your position, off the mirtaz and the anxiety is going crazy, so much somthat it feels like its now a permanent feature for me and i dont know how to deal with it as i didnt do well on several other a.d.s . Have you managed to come to any conclusion about your anxiety or have they put you onto something else, i think i headed that way if this doesnt stop, yet others say the anxiety does stop, mine is worsening.

Hi Mikeyboy , just reading one of your posts from a yr ago an was wondering how you are coping now ?? Are you still off Mirtazapine? ? Im going thru Withdrawals from Zyprexa for past 10wks and i also reduced my Mirtazapine dose from 60mg to 30mg some 4-5mths ago and im not sure if some of my Withdrawals from Zyprexa are over lapping with the reduction of my Mirtazapine. I would like to get off Mirtazapine eventually but not till ive recovered from my Zyprexa Withdrawals. Hope you've been able to beat Mirtazapine? ? Take care an best wishes for the future mate. . Lloyd from Oz

hi, who mentioned that Mirt can cause vitamin d deficiency? That interesting as my levels went from 70's to 60's then 40's while on Mirt. was even taking some

vit d at the time off and on. Now I'm taking it daily. Seems to help.

me too

im third night without it and no sleep tonight at all now im feeling lightheaded this is horrible

how are you doing now

Your dr tapered you too much too fast. Reminds me of when i stopped taking xanax. Talk to him about what's going on. I feel you sister.

you are lucky , i am struggling since 2/3days as i stopped taking since 5days and today was my worse day

Hi London, did your internal trembling & other symptoms eventually go away?

Hi Ann,

Did the shaking & other symptoms eventually stop for you?

Hi Teresa, did your internal trembling & other symptoms eventually stop for you?

Hi Khurana,

Has your internal shaking & panic attacks stopped?

hello ...i cud not sleep going from 15 mg to 7.5 had to take the other 7.5 to get my lousy 4 hours of mertazapine sleep . and your doc recommends no tapper at 15mg.??? i went straight of merts and onto zoloft on doc advice..ended up in hospital after reaching out to mental health 10 days straight no sleep suicidal .. all the time i thought it was the zoloft now thinking was merts withdrawals. thanks

For me, the sedative effect of 15mg Mertazapine was the problem. I'd be in a fog for half a day the following day and after 1.5 years had had enough of this drug. Lexapro is not sedative at any strength.

The most sedative dose of Mertazapine is 7.5mg. It will be toughest yet to reduce to this level as you'll live in a brain fog until you stop the 7.5mg.