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Hi guys, I'm new here. Just looking for advice really, I started Mirtazepine about 4 weeks ago on 15mg and was put up to 30mg a week later. I didn't tolerate this and became irritable and even resulted in self harm. My gp has put me back down to 15mg 3 days ago and I feel really dizzy, extremely anxious and at my wits end! What can I do? Can I just stop this medicine? I have a baby to look after and can't continue like this! Xoxo Carly x
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frazzled carlyanneuk
Posted
So sorry the med doesn't seem to be beneficial for you. Mirt at 15 mgs. is usually given for sleep and unfortunately it takes 3 weeks or longer to adjust to it. At 15 mgs. it did nothing for my depression but helped with insomnia.
NO you should not just stop it. Slowly taper off -- alternate 15 to 7.5 (15 one day and 7.5 the following 2days [actually nights] this should not be taken during the day. Then after a week of altering, drop to 7.5 and after a week drop to 3 mgs and after a week you should be able to quit it. It has some nasty side effects both when you start and when you withdraw. Do tell your doctor you are tapering off the med and you can expect side effects albeit mild since you haven't been taking the med that long.
Good luck and don't panic (easy to type, hard to not do).
carlyanneuk frazzled
Posted
Thank you frazzled, my gp was the one who just put me from 30 to 15. I don't think she really knows what she's doing! Will 7.4mg make me more sedated and dizzy though? X
frazzled carlyanneuk
Posted
I hate to type this but when I was attempting to withdraw from Mirt from 30 to 0 (remember that all our bodies react differently and I've been on MIRT for over 20+ years so my answer might not pertain to you), I experienced all the symptoms I had before starting the med.
At 7.5 mgs.I was outrageously anxious, was lightheaded, sweats, fatigue, leg cramps, walked wobbly and lots more. when I woke in the a.m. (slept good at 7.5 so yes it does sedate but not to the extent that 15. mgs. does), and other nasty side effects that were so bad, I decided to stay on the med at 15 mgs. The reason I wanted to stop the med was because I thot it wasn't working. I was wrong. Now at 15 mgs. it's working fine. Doesn't do a thing for my anxiety but helps with sleep and depression.
So my answer to you is, I don't know how you will react at 7.5 mgs. For me it was not as sedating as 15 mgs and I never suffered dizziness. The docs try to find the right med. but you are the only one who knows how your body is feeling. Maybe Mirt is not the right med for you or maybe you should stick with it unless the side effects are unbearable. Only you know how you feel and you must convey this to the doc.
Again good luck -- my heart goes out to you.
cheng12505 carlyanneuk
Posted
carlyanneuk cheng12505
Posted
Hi Cheng, I went from 30mg to 15mg and am dizzy as hell. My anxiety is ridiculous too, I'm scared and don't know what to do 😥
chris06405 carlyanneuk
Posted
I wish my doctor would give me something else to help with sleep but he won't. put me on 30mg about 2 years ago. living hell with anxiety the following morning and really bad moods which I've never suffered from. I cut the down to 15mg anxiety gone in mornings and bad moods gone. seen two other doctors, they said mirtazapine can't cause anxiety, utter rubish, but still have theses strange attacks that come on usually once a day last about 1 1/2 hours feel realy ill like im going to collapse legs wobbly, fever like symptoms, sweating have to sit and eat and drink and rest ,then it just wears off and I'm fine again had all sorts of test done, I'm convinced it mirtazipine. it is definitely not a panic attack or anxiety and I am convinced it's the tablets. I think that mirtazapine is not for everyone, and find the right level is very unpredictable with this tablet but that doctors will not admit this. try cutting down or go to a different doctor , i hope you get on ok, but this tablet can be hell as you say there must be another tablet that is more suitable for you.
Calmer carlyanneuk
Posted
You're not going crazy, and yes I agree your doctor probably doesn't know that for some people 30mg can bring on anxiety. And to switch the dose down 50% maybe increased the anxiety ... how many days were you on 30mg?
I'd guess that within a few days the anxiety (which is probably some WD effects or discontinuation syndrome) will lessen. Mirt' is a powerful AD, swapping doses by big quantities can mess with our CND (central nervous system). In my humble opinion, and I'm not a medic, I would NEVER alternate doses because again it confuses the CNS. And never suddenly stop taking AD's, tapering slowly is the safest way. When you're ready you can research that I'm sure, but for now trying no more than 10% every 3-4 weeks seems to be the kindest way.
Anyway, I hope you and your baby are OK, when any anxiety strikes sitting down and taking things slowly putting your concentration into say TV, reading an easy book, or simply watching some good You Tube cuts will bring down your anxiety ... remember it will pass, it does pass Carly. x
carlyanneuk Calmer
Posted
Thank you so much Calmer, I am literally at the end of my rope with all of this now.
I've been on 3 different meds so far and I feel like nothing is going to help me, it's nearly a year since my daughter was born and I'm still in pieces 😫
Calmer carlyanneuk
Posted
3 different meds - I hope the doc advised you to taper those slowly also ... most docs, even p.docs think you can switch these about, stop/start and its not so - WD happens for the majority of folk. Hang on in there - I would try and let the anxiety calm down from the bouncing about with different doses, don't sudden;y stop taking Mirt tho'.
A very simple meditation might well be your best friend, when you are alone/baby asleep at lunch time - just sit, feel the weight sinking into the comfy chair, hands resting in your lap, just feel those 2 things, thats all - then be aware of your breath in your abdomen, and your nostrils, cool air going in warm air coming out. Leave your concentration with the cool/warm sensations - air coming in and out. Simple. No need to search meditations on You Tube unless you really want to - simple is best. You might really enjoy the peace it brings.
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