Mirtazapine withdrawal, how long does it last?

Hi Jo, I am afraid all day long. The evenings are better only because I am not alone. A fear driven life really stinks. I hope it goes away...for all who experience this.

Jo I've been afraid of going in the bathroom on many occasions etc, totally irrational also have racing thoughts and crazy fear x

I’m really sorry you have fear all day long too, Gretel.

I don’t know how I’m going to survive this. I can barely function, . Between the constant negative & intrusive thoughts and the non-stop anxiety/panic/fear I’m not able to do anything but sit on the couch frozen afraid to do anything. 

Toria, so irrational. I’m amazed at what my brain remembers in order to make me afraid of things and situations. It uses all those memories against me to make me feel fear. 

I wake up feeling like this every morning now. I remember before mirtz how I always woke up feeling content and NORMAL. This is NOT normal. 

It’s so damn hard to do anything, I have to plan exactly how I’m going to do the smallest task because of the fear. I feel so overwhelmed by everything. I look around my house and wonder how I was able to do things before this. I effing hate this!!

My partner goes back to work on Monday I've not been alone since I went into hospital august the 13th, it's madness as the day before that I was wandering around a golf course with my partner without a care in the world, I want my life back 😭 X

Do you have any physical symptoms jo?

Yes, I do. Loud swishing in my ears, internal tremoring, racing pounding heart & cold sweats to name  a few. 

I’m also starting to have brain zaps. Feels like someone is slowly parting my scalp. 

What are you going to do to prepare yourself for the 13th, Toria? 

You can do things to make the transition easier for yourself.  Like maybe your partner can FaceTime with you during your time alone.

I'm freezing all the time until bedtime and then it calms a little, my partner is going to ring me and try and pop home for lunch, it's crazy as I used to like my own company, strangely though even through all this I'm ok going in shops alone but that might be because I had CBT years ago who knows x

Yes, since mirtazapine i am afraid of everything, so stupid as i wasnt like that before.  I cant sit in dentists chair, i cant sit to get my hair done which should be a pleasure, i dont like to go out alone, i cant even go for a massage which should be relaxing.  So many other things.  What has this drug done to me, ive lost my confidence to do anything.   Youre not alone, many in here have the problem, i wish i knew the answer to get my life back.

I'm at the dentists tomorrow 😐

I’m also noticing that when I get too hot if the room temp is up it spawns a panic attack. My heart races, I get full body sweats etc. 

Anyone else sensitive to heat causing anxiety/panic?

How long have you been off mirtz, Ann?

I very rarely get too hot I'm more the other way, although when I am overheated I feel anxious and like I can't breathe also the first two times I quit mirtazapine I had sweaty hands feet and armpits for quite some time (nice) 😦

Toria, you can do this. I know how hard things are, even the simplest things we use to do are a big deal and scary. But you’ve got this. The dentist is going to tell you everything looks great. Tell yoyrself going to the dentist is taking good care of yourself. It’s a very positive thing. 

Thanks jo 😘 I never used to think twice about things like I do now, it's like my thought patterns are in a constant vicious circle x

Nor did I, Toria. I have been notoriously independent my entire life, now I’m a frightened needy mess. 

I think the mirtz reduction/withdrawal causes our bodies to release cortisol which creates all this fear and anxiety/panic.  How can one combat a chemical that I’m taking every single night. This weaning takes forever. How will I outlast it? 

I’ve also had CBT and DBT. Isn’t helping me much that I can tell with tapering.  

How's your eating jo? Also things I find that help are a walk each day (not in the morning as makes me more anxious) plenty of water, Epsom salts in a bath as they contain magnesium which helps with anxiety and as you get lower on mirtazapine avoid histamine rich foods as that's what makes you itch, if you have trouble sleeping buy some anti histamines as that's what's in mirtazapine and that's why when you withdraw you get allergies and rashes etc, the lower doses are more sedating too x

My eating is very bad. I’m trying but it’s so hard since I’m afraid of everything. 

What are histamine rich foods? Can you name a couple examples?

Spinach is one, but you won't need to think about that until you're off mirtazapine, try not to be scared, I've found chicken makes me feel a little better I've also been cooking from scratch x

Thank you, Toria.

I don’t have any issues with being itchy or rashes or anything. The first time I tried to wean off in 2015 I did though, but that’s when I weaned off a quarter of the dose every 10d. I was off 15mg in the matter of a month. WAAAAAAY too fast. 

Mirtz has never made me drowsy or sleepy, just the opposite. It wires me, which I told the provider back then and he ignored. I told him my body can typically react opposite compared to most people when taking stuff. 

I’m reading apples and onions are loaded with anti- histamine properties. 

Thank you for all the good tips. Toria.

I am not even off it yet, have managed cown to 3.75 and will try anothrr cut soon but im very sceptical it will help me feel better, everyone here seems to be much worse off it.

Try to stay positive, Ann. The slower you go, the better. 

It’s probably true that even after your last dose there may be residual side effects for a while but I think/hope they would not be “as bad” as if you had just stopped taking it at 3.75mg. 

This drug is nasty and very hard to understand why it lasts and impacts your system for so damn long.  Someone would make a boat load of money if they figured it out and sold a mirtz withdrawal kit. It would literally save lives.

BTW Ann, congrats on being on 3.75mg!!! Thats huge progress. Stay strong. 

I’m right behind you at 10.5, and in just 1+ week i’ll be moving down to 9mg. Gulp. 

Well done to you, progress indeed.  Keep posting and we will see what comes next.. for me its diazepam as im now tolerant to 5mg so that is another taper to,come!

Hi Ann, you are almost there. You are a real trooper. It seems like some are symptomatic after w/d, but then there are those who hop off without troubles. Just stay positive, i found tha t helped alot.

We should write a Mirt survival manual.