Hi Everyone, My Psoitive Mirtazapine Withdrawal Experience

Wow Graham

What an inspirational message to wake up to on this beautiful sunny Mothering Sunday.

I am down to 15mg one day and then 7.5mg the next.

I am doing ok feel some anxiety and at times a little nauseous but hey hoo I am an anxious person so I keep telling myself this will pass and eventually it does.

Am excited that I have an end in sight 

Having at one time been on 45mg of this drug which saved my life at the beginning as I just couldn’t eat after a nasty appendix operation which all went spectacularly wrong

Good luck to everyone out there who are taking on the challenge of reducing or coming off this drug 

Life is good look for the little things to make you smile

Happy Mothering Sunday to those it applies to,

Hi Graham

This is what we need to read; more positive posts.  And good of you to take the time to post it.  Bear in mind though that you have undoubtedly had positive support from your GP.  Sadly that is not the case in many situations when trying to taper, withdraw and stop ADs, as many refuse to acknowledge the withdrawal symptoms and simply don't understand that many of these ADs take an insidious hold.  Admittedly everyone is different and therefore will have vastly different experiences.  But there are far too many patients  battling extremely negative experiences whilst attempting to taper on this particular drug for the medical profession to adopt the attitude it does by denying the withdrawal process.

Having said all this your post is still what people need to read.

 

I was on 45mg of mirtz, Ive managed to bring it down to 22.5mg without many withdrawal symptoms... I will speak to my doctor about bringing it down to 15mg. I am coming off these as other than the lovely sleep I get, Ive not gained much anti depressant relief from it. I am now on citalopram. 

Hi

absolutely true - there are always going to be good experiences along with the bad, and as we know in all areas of life it is the bad experiences which tend to be reported. I’m sure there are many many people who have no trouble coming off Mirt. I really hope it stays this way for you :-)

However - just a small word of caution - 7 days is a VERY short time. I can only speak from personal experience, but for me the worst withdrawals kick in after perhaps a few weeks, or even months. If that happens, then a fast taper can be regretted...

All the best. It would be good if you could update with your experience over the next few weeks. Your positivity is a great encouragement to us :-)

Hi  Graham well done! I find that all very helpful as I am going to start tapering off Mirt next weekend. I am only on 15mg  for the past 16 weeks, and no other meds, I am also having therapy and depression has improved, but I have put on a stone in weight. Anyway thank you again for your post all the very best.

Hello again All,

Thank you all for your thoughtful, encouraging and insightful replies.

I should highlight that I would not have attempted a fast taper if this was the only AD I was taking, or I had not made so many positive lifestyle changes. I would have been much more cautious and elected for a massively slower taper. I should also say that if I found I was unable to tolerate this speed of taper I would have gone to plan b immediately (either staying on 15mg or indeed going back to 30mg). Also, I have a store of the medication so that if I feel anxiety or depressive symptoms recur I will reinstate the Mirt quick-smart. This is a safety measure, I don't want the crippling suicidal ideation back.

Everyone is unique and should be acknowledged by clinicians as being the expert in their own illness. It saddens me to hear that many GP's do not appear to attribute much seriousness to the needs of their patients when considering withdrawals.

Another major point I'd like to make here is that I have come to understand that (at least with mild to moderate depression/anxiety) two powerful anti depressants exist without negative side effects, these are social engagement and exercise and this is the deal I made with myself - I cease Mirtazapine and increase my social outlets and exercise. I like to think of it as substituting the drug with healthy activity. So, another way of describing this is to say I'm attempting to create a healthy brain by substituting the drug for a change in behaviour. Does that make sense? I hope it does.

I forgot to mention in my first post that I have not over imbibed alcohol for many years now, (this also being a factor in my decision to quit Mirt) I used to miss-use alcohol to mask my symptoms of anxiety and a harmful marital relationship, if I feel that I ever need a drink, I'll know I have a problem again. I'm now one of those guys that can take it or leave it (alcohol), I usually leave it.

My overall message is that if I can be in a total emotional mess and make a good recovery, then there is hope for us all.

If there is anybody who wishes to PM me (is that an option on this site?) I am happy to be of support.

I will update this thread from time to time with the aim of furnishing my experiences (positive AND negative) over time.

Take care of yourselves, be kind to yourselves and always accept hugs.

Hello Graham

Although I’m happy for your d/c experience from Mirtazapine, I think it important you know that the w/d symptoms do not really show until 2-4 weeks after your last dose.

The majority of folks have a few symptoms but over all feel really GREAT in those 2-4 weeks before the egregious w/d effects take hold.

I’m praying you are one of the lucky group that doesn’t experience w/d and you’ve successfully eliminated this unstable toxic drug from your body and life.

#BanMirtazapine

Hi feel pretty humble reading your latest musings what a great idea on the substituting will certainly be doing this 

I wish you all the very best and will look forward to you posting again at some point.

Next week I am going to do a month of 7.5 and see how it goes

Anxious is anxious I will not die from this feeling , hateful as it is and it will pass if I keep busy and garden and embroider and be the best hospital guide ever

Anghared x

Hi All,

Thank you Jo and Christine, I embrace your insights. I will watch for the windows and waves and report back. I wonder if anyone who experienced the w/w's was taking another AD? (As I am).

I understood that Mirt has a half life of 12 hours and that 99% of the drug is out of the system by 2.5 days? If it is hanging around in my liver wouldn't it be being metabolized and got rid of? I dunno but My GP is monitoring me (she has told me I have to see her every week while this is happening for at LEAST 6 weeks). I am going to ask my her about this, she'll set me straight. If I do get the w/w's thanks to you guys I'll be able to explain it as at least the Mirt messing with me or my brain saying WTF? Where's my Mirt?

For Anghared - you have anxiety and your'e a hospital guide? Now that's an achievement! Keep up the good work, I know anxiety is tough, I had to do my whole graded exposure thing before I went off to college again, but I found that when I faced my fears this was the only way to beat anxiety. And you're right - anxiety doesn't kill you, but it does lie to you, once I understood that, it became easier to beat anxiety. Love to you.