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Mirtazapine withdrawal and insomnia

Posted , 10 users are following.

rydav
rydav

One year ago, insomnia and anxiety brought me to mirtazapine, 7.5mg. I've been feeling much better of late, so decided to come off. Over the last forty days I've tapered by grinding down my tablets to uniform sizes, 1mm at a time (I don't have access to liquid mirtazapine). As the doses got lower, I did notice improvements in my daytime mood, as well as IBS symptoms. The past two nights have been my first without taking anything and insomnia is back in full force, but I'm not anxious like I was a year ago. I don't know what to do though and don't know what to expect. Please help before I get anxious and don't sleep for three months again!

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • markd6694
    markd6694 rydav

    Posted

    Hi

    I am on day 10 of being off, I felt better yesterday I must admit, IBS worse this morning so back on the peppermint tea. I would say the more days off it the better I have felt. Not getting a great sleep but we were on pills to sedate us so we are bound to feel like this. I have listened to relaxing music and practiced breathing during the night. I have had 6 hrs of broken sleep but still glad I am off it, keep fighting on....

  • markd6694
    markd6694 rydav

    Posted

    Hi

    I am on day 10 of being off, I felt better yesterday I must admit, IBS worse this morning so back on the peppermint tea. I would say the more days off it the better I have felt. Not getting a great sleep but we were on pills to sedate us so we are bound to feel like this. I have listened to relaxing music and practiced breathing during the night. I have had 6 hrs of broken sleep but still glad I am off it, keep fighting on....

  • markd6694
    markd6694 rydav

    Posted

    Hi

    I am on day 10 of being off, I felt better yesterday I must admit, IBS worse this morning so back on the peppermint tea. I would say the more days off it the better I have felt. Not getting a great sleep but we were on pills to sedate us so we are bound to feel like this. I have listened to relaxing music and practiced breathing during the night. I have had 6 hrs of broken sleep but still glad I am off it, keep fighting on....

  • ellie88719
    ellie88719 rydav

    Posted

    Have you thought about talking to a doctor??

    • rydav
      rydav ellie88719

      Posted

      my doctor advised to just stop taking it, or to take it one night and not the next night, alternating for a week. most advise against that.

  • marcusdevon
    marcusdevon rydav

    Posted

    hi! a very fast taper indeed! - well done, i completly understand though.

    My best advice would be to become a member of mitrazapaline support on Facebook as its very very buoyant andnpopular with posts with people going exsctly thtough this - much much easier to vommunicete and grt infirnation .

    you may need to rrinstate sone dosage ofvyour tablet and ease fown a little mire grntly

    • ellie88719
      ellie88719 marcusdevon

      Posted

      Which country do you live in Ry? I live in England and we don't t have to pay to see a doctor only pay for the medicine..

      Our National Health Service staff are very overworked and under-staffed so patients often get no longer than ten minutes for an appointment!It just isn't long enough to discuss something as important as changing medication which can have potentially dangerous consequences. I came away from my last appointment feeling a bit confused about what i was supposed to be doing about coming off Venlafaxine and starting Mirtazapine.

      I don't think its me being stupid, otherwise why are so many people trying to get advice on these forums - even though everyone seems keen to try and help.

      Sorry, I'm not helping you am I? I'll finish my rant now and I hope you manage to sort out your concerns.

      HAPPY.NEW YEAR !!

    • ellie88719
      ellie88719

      Posted

      Sorry my reply should have gone to Rydav !!!!

    • rydav
      rydav ellie88719

      Posted

      I'm in Canada, but I was in england for two years and that's actually where I first started taking mirtazapine.

      thanks, happy new year's!

  • gillian62018
    gillian62018 rydav

    Posted

    My story is exactly the same as yours. I don't have any useful help to offer unfortunately as I'm not as far along as you on the tapering process, but just wanted to send some good vibes your way as I know how debilitating insomnia is when it's as severe as we get it (at my lowest point in the summer I hadn't slept for more than about 2 hours in 10 days and my mental health really declined very badly). Can I ask - you say you tapered 1mg at a time - at what point did you jump off, did you go fro 1mg to 0? This is probably not of much help to you but I'm just wondering if the tapering was too quick because you don't have access to the liquid (what country are you in?). It could also be psychological, on the first night of not "taking anything" for your sleep. Saying it's psychological doesn't help I know because the end result is still the same, but perhaps after a few nights your brain will settle into it. I could list a hundred things to try but my one bit of advice would be to stay away from any meds specifically for your sleep (except for the Mirt) as in my experience it only makes it worse. If things don't improve there is always the option of reinstating and trying to do a smaller cut/jump - for me, sometimes knowing I have a back up plan and all will be ok if it doesn't work out this time, is half the battle. Good vibes to you xx

    • rydav
      rydav gillian62018

      Posted

      thanks so much for your kind words. yes I think I did go quite quickly but I didn't know what else to do without the liquid. I'm based in Canada. not sure if the liquid just isn't available here but my doctor said he wouldn't prescribe it which is strange, not like it's a big ask.

      anyways I'll try to stay positive and will consider reinstating on a small dose if tonight doesn't go well.

      good luck to you and thanks again

    • gillian62018
      gillian62018 rydav

      Posted

      I've spoken to a few people in the US who aren't able to get the liquid version of Mirtazapine like it's sold here in the UK, but they were able to go to a compounding pharmacy and get a compound version made for them. We don't have compounding pharmacies here in the UK so I'm not sure what that is, but maybe worth you looking into as an option, just so you know you have a fall back? It makes me so angry that doctors aren't willing to help people come off the medication properly - I just don't understand it! Wishing you all the very best and a happy 2020 xx

  • tac
    tac rydav

    Posted

    hang in there ! it gets worse befire its get better but then you will b sooo happy good luck

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