Mirtazapine withdrawal continues

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hello all, well for anyone withdrawing from mirtazapine I thought I'd share my journey so far. I have managed to reduce down to 7.5 for 14 days and have to say I still feel rubbish. Each reduction in dose has brought on withdrawals that I've had to deal with but determination has made me through them. Now on 7.5 I still feel rough most days and the thought of going lower is worrying. I'm trying to come off the drug after 4 years as although it did lift my depression I've had endless tummy problems. Doctors have said I can just stop now as it's such a low dose but have tried a couple times and feel terrible and end up taking the 7.5 just to get rid of the withdrawals. Although determined I'm not sure I can make it off as the withdrawals are just too tough. When I have a really bad day it makes me question everything. I haven't ever felt great on 30,15 or 7.5 so there doesn't seem to be a dose I can settle on to regain my composure to go on. Seriously thinking of maybe trying the Prozac bridge to see if it can get me out of this mess. Any advice appreciated

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Craig

    sorry to hear of your troubles. Discuss with your GP. If they recommend switching to Prozac, do it. It's much easier to withdraw from as it has a long half life, stays in your system for longer. Glad to hear your depression has lifted

  • Posted

    Hi Craig, I just like to ask you what you mean by tummy problems.

    Ive been on Mirtazapine for about 6yrs,I suffer IBS and I'm WD at the moment,I've gone from 45mg to12.5mg but like you I feel stuck there because my tummy is so bad.

    I just want to get off this drug of which WD for me has been a really bad temper,and a severe Stomack problem,and I'm scared to go down to 7.5mg because if my tummy got any worse I don't know if I could cope with it.

    so just as your asking advise I asking you your tummy symptoms.

    • Posted

      Hi Norma, i started Mirtazapine around 4 years ago when i was depressed. As my depression lifted and i started to feel a little more normal I noticed i was having constant tummy aches. I decided to keep a diary for over a year to track my progress. As i played with the dose trying to get off I noticed that anything about 15 would set my stomach off. I used to get problems on a daily basis and in the end went to the docs to have tests done. Each time a different doctor assured me that the mirt wasnt causing it. What a load of ...... When i managed to get down to 15mg my stomach issues completely disappeared. I don't even gt heartburn like i used to on a daily basis.

         Mirt is prescribed to cats by vets as one of its side effects are it stimulates appetite.. However i believed this stimulation caused my stomach to produce acid and caused me a whole hosts of problems. My brother is on mirt 30mg and has been for years. He's always had a horrendous tummy and has had a multitude of tests done..I have told him its the medication but he sides with the doctors. I'm currently on 7.5mg at present and have no tummy problems at all anymore, just lots and lots of anxiety... Will we ever make it off, who knows...wishing you well

  • Posted

    So thsts why my ibs has gone awol along with my appitite. My tummy has been all over a while on these I thought it was just anxity. My tummy feels hard often and hurts. No matter what I eat my tummy just churns. I thought it was stress and anxity. But no doubt it adds to my long list of issues with this stupid tablet. It's pretty much sorted my morning anxity that was my main issue but done nothing but destroy my life. I've developed fears after fears. Constantly think I'm dying. Shakey, dizzy, groggy. Can't handle emotions. also anger and tearful often. Craved mcdees breaky all year so finally ate one last year and it stopped the craving now it's just Chrisps or chocolate late ar at night. Im staying steady on my 15 to try get stength to get off but I'm like craig and thinkng about tapering to another. Life is hard but I feel made harder on these things. They don't warn you about the wd coming off these thjngs!!!

    Craig your doing really well and your nearly off. give your self credit lad. I've read there can be weeks of wd sfyer stopping but think every day u get through is a step closer to feeling your self again. I know we both don't want other meds after this awful time we both experienced but keep that option thewe as a plan B. the doc keep saying the same thing to me it's a low dose bla bla they don't understand things unless they tried them, them self. That's why I prefer this group as many that help have experienced thjngs. I know one lady was so sensitive like me and she had to take 1mg every month. Took her over a year to get off the liquid form but she got there. try keep strong for now and maybe have a chat about tapering with doc as your next option if it gets too much. Your really an inspiration to me tho and give me hope that I can be strong like you one day and hey get off these awful things.

  • Posted

    Hi Craig

    Sorry to hear of your suffering Craig; there is no easy way other than slowly it seems.  I hope you manage to get some respite by staying on 7.5 like others have done until the symptoms settle.

    Wishing you well.

  • Posted

    Hi Craig

    I pray you come over this sturggle you going through..... People like you give motivation to people like me who has been on Mirt for 5 years now and scared to come off it due to all the withdrawal syptoms i read about.. I had plan to start coming off it but when i saw my Gp he advise not to. Please keep on your courage

    • Posted

      Hey Charles, thanks for the support. I was a victim of just staying on the drug but it took me a long time to realise it was causing more harm, than good, in my quest to come off it seems it is a nightmare rollercoaster of feeling unwell. I can totally understand with people who try and give in due to the terrible withdrawal. I was one of these people hving tried to get off twice in the last four years. Each time I became so poorly i always assumed it was my original illness returning. I now know this is not the case, and it angers me. Over my journey i have researched more and more than anything I have done in my life. Any type of drug we put into our system on a daily basis we will become addicted to... I was always told antidepressants are not addictive. My anger is not at the anti depressant medication as I have recovred twice in my life using them, what I am angry with is no doctor has ever told me that should i wish to come off, it will be as tough a journey as depression itself, wishing you well

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