Mirtazapine withdrawal and brain zaps

Hi Jo

I’m not on FB I just follow these forums

Hi Matt, haven’t spoken to you in a long time. Last time we spoke you were on 3.75 mg of Mirt,  ready to drop off completely. I’m still on 7.5 mg. I’m into minds about how to come off it completely. How have you been keeping anyway, and how have you found the withdrawals ? Did you go on another AD ?...  and do you think coming off benzos is easier or harder than Mirt.? 

 Anyway good to see you’re still about and putting up a good fight 

Steve

Hi Steven 

Yes finished the Mirt about 11 weeks ago , it was hard I must admit but withdraws have gone now just the odd brain zap and low energy.

I’m down to 4mg of Diazipam now , 2mg morning and 2mg bedtime, it’s nasty stuff to get off , I came down to fast on the last drop so went back to 4.5mg then dropped 0.5 last week, will do it it these small amounts until I’m off it. It’s hard to say what’s been the worst as I’ve been withdrawing from meds for months now , first the Sertraline then Mirtazapine now Diazipam so it’s been a tough few months and still got a way to go.

The only thing I miss about the Mirt is the sleep and appetite, my sleep is not great now and I struggle to eat but I suppose that will all sort it’s self out in time.

Some days are better than others , today I’m wiped out and to exhausted to move !

Glad your still doing ok and take your time with the Mirtazapine, you’ll know when your ready to take the next drop, there’s no hurry.

Matt 

 Fair play to you Matt, you must be one tough cookie. I salute you. I’m sure things will gradually improve for you, it’s just a slow process,. I read in your earlier post that you were prescribed the  AD venlafaxine.  Did you bother starting it or are you  not bothering with A.Ds  now.

 I joined FB, Just to join a with drawel group. It’s been good, good tips. Surprisingly how many people are having trouble with these drugs.  They are prescribed way too easily.

I’m actually quite jealous that you’ve been off the Mirt for  three months.  I should’ve jumped ship with you, but we will all get there in the end.

They say healing is inevitable

Hi Steven

No I didn’t start the Venlaflaxine , I would rather try and be med free , I’m still suffering anxiety and low mood but not any worse than when I was taking the AD’s , in fact I’d say I’m a bit better in some ways.

There’s no hurry to jump off , go as slow as you need to , no point suffering if you don’t have to.

I’m not on FB but all support is good so good that you joined the group.

Keep in touch and let me know how your doing and don’t feel any pressure to drop until you feel ready 

Matt 

How you doing Matt hope your getting better I'm having good days n bad days still having issues with my sleep tho 😫 xxx

Hi Karen 

I’ve been having some problems lowering my Diazipam dose so have had a really hard few days , I had to reinstate my last dose as the drop was causing me awful withdrawal symptoms and I had a bit of a meltdown 😩

My sleep continues to be bad , I get around 4-5 hours a night which is not enough as you know sleep is so important as it can make it break your day.

I’m pleased for you that you are getting some good days , they will come more and more .

I hope your sleep settles down so you have more strength 

Matt 

 Hi Matt, 

 I hope today finds you better than the last couple of days. I just wanted to ask what are the withdrawal symptoms while coming off the diazepam, what dose are you at now. Are they similar to Mirt withdrawals ?

 And one more, has the nausea from the Mirt withdrawals  past now ?. I only ask as I’m thinking of jumping off Mirt now, As apart from sleep I can’t see is it helps, and the longer on  the drug the more severe the withdrawal will be. I’ve got some Diazipam to help but don’t want to get to hooked. 

 Well I hope things improve for you soon Matt, I am sure they will. You’ve done a lot of drug detoxing over the last six months.  Like I’ve said before you must be a tough cookie and I’m sure you will prevail 

Steve

Hi Steven

I suppose we are all different and it depends on why we were on these meds in the first place .

I have bad anxiety which cal also make me feel depressed, I cane off both antidepressants before I was well because I had serious side effects on them , I came down from 15mg of Diazipam to 6mg whilst still on Mirtazapine so I can’t say what withdrawal was what , I got down to 5mg fairly comfortably and then down to 4mg , my problem is that my anxiety is still bad , trouble leaving the house , not wanting to see people or go anywhere also my sleep is very bad which doesn’t help .

I think if you are feeling well then the withdrawal probably won’t feel as bad as so much of it is about being positive and having a life ! I don’t have much of a life at the moment.

I’m a 53 year d female , despite my name 😂, I am trying HRT as it could be hormones for me I just don’t know , I’m also on the waiting list for CBT which is supposed to be good for anxiety.

So I suppose what I’m saying is that the withdrawal may be a bit less intrusive if your mentally well when you do it , the withdrawals I got were extra high anxiety, nausea, shaking, crying, feeling cold , dizzy , feeling helpless, upset tummy, that’s my experience but as I say I think having a strong attitude helps and maybe I’m just not in that space yet for another drop, I’ll stay on 4mg for a while and assess it again in a month or so.

Do what’s right for you , as the GP said to me yesterday it’s not a race .

Check out the links jean has suggested 

Matt 

 Hi Matt.

 Thanks for your detailed response, it is really appreciated. It not only helps me, it helps countless others who come to this site seeking advice and reassurance. I’ve noticed  there are a few that come to this site seeking reassurance and help, but later, when they may have turned a corner and they themselves are asked advice, they are vague or don’t reply.  Glad to see you’re not one, you’re in the  (Kind Soul Brigade).   That girl Kirsty is a little star as well, still replying to people a year after her original post .

 You’re right, your mental frame of mind before beginning withdrawals can make a big difference.  But I also know that Mirt could bring a hero to their knees in an instant. 

 When I originally reduced from 15 mg to 7.5   I thought nothing  could be worse than what I experienced in the fourth week of cessation,  but I was wrong, the fifth week was even worse,  and the sixth week  worse again.

How I avoided the graveyard or the funny farm is a miracle.   The fear, despair  and the anxiety reached an unimaginable pitch.  On two occasions I had to leave groceries in the basket and flee from the supermarket. Luckily in the seventh week things just started to calm down which showed me the cruel confidence trick Mirt plays on your mind, though it didn’t feel that way at the time. In the grip of the storm, the storm IS your reality.  Ironically, I never suffered anxiety before touching this med.

 Now I’ve got to somehow get rid of the other half (7.5mg).  Will no doubt have similar symptoms to those above with the added bonus of no sleep - oh joy!!

 But I believe that true healing doesn’t begin until you’re completely free of these types of drugs.

 Luckily I’ve got some Diazepam for round two.  Will use sparingly, as the last thing I need is another dependence. 

 Anyway it’s good to touch base with you, as I know you’ve experienced all of the above and more and I  hope the benzo taper goes a bit smoother for you.

Keep up the good fight Matt, you will get there in the end.

And no doubt, when I’m a quivering wreck in round 2 you will get more questions from me.

Steve