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Mirtazapine weird withdrawal symptoms!!

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calissa
calissa

Hi My names Calissa,

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 months ago. since then my thyroid levels have stabilised and are just slightly on the low end of normal. The specialist I was seeing put me on a med called mirtazapine to help with my sleep and appetite. He told me to only have 1/8 to 1/4 of a 15 mg tablet, so I started off with 1/8 of a tablet for 3 weeks every night which work good, anyway went upto 1/4 of a tablet for a week or so, was way to tired the next day so came back Dow to 1/8 of a tablet for about a week or 2. I started what I can only describe as inner trembling and rushes of energy in chest arm and neck area, these rushes would happen over and over again from about 3 am till morning. It's a really horrible feeling accompanied with crawling tingling skin which makes me squirm. I was assuming it was the mirtazapine so I stopped it at 1.85 mg. it's now been six days since I stopped and this is still happening. Has anyone else had this as a side effect/withdrawal symptom. I don't think it agreed with me. Other medication I am on are propranolol 10 mg three times a day and 5 mg carbimazole :-)

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • pixie22
    pixie22 calissa

    Posted

    When I asked the pharmacist about breaking my 15mg mirtazapine tablets so I could take 1/2, he said I shouldn't because they are film coated and need to go through the stomach whole. I wonder if your's are different? I've been on 30mg for several years and now I'm trying to reduce it gradually but going from 30 to 15 in one go was too big a drop.
    • calissa
      calissa pixie22

      Posted

      Hi thanks for replying, my tablets are a yellow colour, I have a pill cutter which works well. Although the pharmisist would know. Maybe I shouldn't be cutting them. I do know there is a crumbling wafer type tablet that can be cut I think
    • norma72045
      norma72045 pixie22

      Posted

      Hi Pixie, I'm also comeing off Mirtazapine . I was on 45mg dropped to30 mg then dropped to 15 mg without to much problem,but coming down off 15mg to7.5 is really difficult so I've followed the Cita protocol but cut it to my needs. And I cut them into halves and quarters.  Also did you know the lower the dose the more sedative they are. They are a very hard drug to come off,so slowly slowly.
    • pixie22
      pixie22 norma72045

      Posted

      My experience (limited so far) has been that the 15mg dose is less sedative than 30mg. After initial weird side effects when following the psychiatrist's instructions to take 30 and 15 alternate nights, I've now gone back to 30 most nights, but dropping to 15 once a week, on Friday nights because Saturdays are the best day to deal with any problems. So I took 15mg ( actually + half a 15mg tab) last night, and woke up at 5 am this morning, and that seems to be the pattern. It was 4 am last week, so I suppose that is progress! It just goes to show everyone is different in their reactions. I'd always heard that venlafaxine is the horror one to get off, and I've still got that to come!
    • norma72045
      norma72045 pixie22

      Posted

      Pregablin, my next and I'm dreading that I've tried before without success .    
  • australia2014
    australia2014 calissa

    Posted

    Hi Calissa

     It sounds like adrenalin response....and CNS responses, Could be link to your heart/medication or just heart implication- did you know why you have hyperthyroidism? hormone inbalance? Do you have or know of any spinal injury? smile

    • calissa
      calissa australia2014

      Posted

      Hi thank you for the response, I have a hot nodule on my thyroid that caused the hyperthyroidism. After a month most of my symptoms went away as my levels were better and then a month later this new thing has started. I do have upper back pain but I have had that forever, I also though adrenaline too but doctors are telling me no. So I though maybe the mirt.
  • australia2014
    australia2014 calissa

    Posted

    I would suggest seeing a Chiropractor therapist....They are very knowledged when it comes to the spine and nerves smile
  • gericarer
    gericarer calissa

    Posted

    [url=file://\\hi]\\hi Calissa. I took Mirtazapine doe ovr 2 years,  Started at 15mg then upped to 30mg.  About 3 months ago dropped to 15mg again,  Fekt fine - sleeping very well, feeling positive as day wore on.  Then 10 days ago started waking at 5am!! by end of week was shattered so started taking 30mg Mirtazapine I'd had left. first night slept well then got tingling sensations in hands and feet - horrible - had to tale sleeoing oill to knock me out,  This affects daytime so don't want this.

    Maybe it is starting on high dose after being off for 2 months?  Will need to speak with gp as now dreading going to bed at night.  You may need further discussion too.  Hope this helps.  Cheers Geri

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