Hi new to this' need advice on best way to reduce mirtazapine

Thankyou for your reply, have you managed to get off them? My chemist says not to split them but how are we meant to taper without a gradual reduction instead of a 15mg drop at a time, I wish you well.

I tried twice to get off by doing slow tapers. Didn't work. I haven't done the CITA method, but the folks I talked to said it works well. You will still have symptoms, but not as bad. I've been splitting them, like I said, for years. If the pill is scored, it can be split. I wish you well, also. Keep us posted.

Hi Cathy, your right about doctors they have no clue..I am about to follow the Cita protocol, looking at the chart, when reducing from 15mg, on one day in the week take 7.5 then rest of week take 15, do that for 2 wks, after doing that take 7.5 say in Monday and Thursday rest if week 15, then 3 days and so on. When you are in 7.5 totally, start the process again with a 3.75 one day in the week and so on, it says you can drop a dose every week, or to minimise SE, do the drop every 2 wks, hope that helps you Cathy, when I spoke to Cita, they said the withdrawal process can take 6 mnths, it is what it is, but very best of luck, keep us posted..

Thanks Angela. Will see what they say on Tuesday. Were you on mirt for a while.? I am hopeing cos hav been on 7 weeks only I might not get too bad symptoms.

Your welcome Cathy, I've been on them for 8 mnths, I won't knock them because they have done their job in some respects, it's just the depersonalisation, numb, no emotion, no interest, I could go on, so I figured, why stay on them, I just have to have faith that I will be off this, good luck to you Cathy, let us know how you get on..

Hi Angela, I am currently withdrawing from Mirt. I have made it down to 15mg so far, i found when i dropped a dose i intially felt better then i started to feel worse and would go back up. Too me a long long time to realise when i dropped I had to wait for my body to get used to it. I persavered and am finally down to 15. I will make my next reduction to 7.5 and then see how i feel. I never found any real way of reducing, i tried allsorts but realised in the end i had to listen to my mind and body. All i found is when i reduced the withdrawal symptoms seems to come a couple days after the drop.. UNfortunately one of my withdrawals is anxiety. The doctor offer valium and diazapine but i didnt like the idea of a drug that was addictive so i went for propranolol and they work exceptionally well.What they helped me with is when the withdrawals were getting the better of me i used to reach for extra mirt to counteract, but these propranolol give me a life line instead... anyway wishing you well

Hi Craig thanks for your reply, it seems a terrible drug to come off doesn't it.. Yes you have to go by what your own body is telling you, your doing a reduction sensibly, how have you tapered? I'm on them 8 mnths now, I want off them to get Me back, if that makes sense.. Let me know how you get on, I put in a comment earlier of the Cita protocol of tapering if that's any use to you, take care..

Hi Angela, I tried to come off them for the last 2 years but every attempt i failed miserably. Everytime i tried to reduce I would be hit with such bad withdrawals i would just go back up. I went to the doctors and was offered other drugs to help me off but i just couldnt bring myself to take something else that could be addictive as i realised how addicted my body had become with Mirt. I eventually got chatting to a Dr who really listened to me and understood my concerns. The Dr said that in order to get off them I would suffer some very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. This worried me enough but i thought how long can i ride this rollercoaster. When i was given the propranolol the doctor assured me that they have no affect on the head just the adrenaline gland. I eventually plucked up the courage to take them as and when the withdrawal hit hard, and they did ease it down. With that came the confidence to carry on. I have tried reducing to 22,5 for a while but that didnt help, so i dropped from 30 to 15 and just went for it. I am now 2 weeks at 15 and this is the furthest I every managed to get to in two years, so i'm chuffed with that. My next plan is to drop to 7.5 and do the same again....hope this helps

Hey there Craig ...when I see my gp next week I am going to insist that he prescribes lunesta and valium ..because some of the dreams involves suffecation and I stop breathing my husband staying awake at night monitoring my sleep until I go off if

Craig, do you have nausea with your withdrawal and, if so, did the propranolol help?

The withdrawals were mainly anxiety and headaches, I do feel sicky when I wake up most mornings, the propranolol just calms everything down making it easier to cope with