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Mirtazapine withdrawal, how long does it last?

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rachael42781
rachael42781

Hi, Just looking for some reassurance/support. I was on mirtazapine for about 6months. I went up to 45mg and decided to taper down as I felt they were making me worse and the weight gain was nasty. I felt fab tapering down and generally, its been better than I anticipated however, I'm approaching the 3rd week off of mirtazapine and have started to feel a bit anxious the last few days. I've read withdrawal peaks around the 3/4week mark, so I'm trying to stay positive that it will pass.

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  • Guest
    Guest rachael42781

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    I never usually post but wanted to contribute a positive experience.i have been on citalopram 30 mg plus mirtazepine 45mg for five and half years after suffering severe clinical depression,to such extent several suicide attempts.It took a good year or more on these drugs to eventually feel mentally well.thought I would be prepared to stay on them for ever if it enabled me to be fully well,like I am now mentally,then over last two years NIGHTMARES!! Really bad,and was in a bit of a turmoil as I wanted to try reduce mirtazipine,but terrified of horror stories and also terrified of severe depression returning.(I know citalopram wasn't responsible for nightmares,as had been on these previously with none).

    Finally decided enough was enough,and last 7 nights ago dropped from 45mg mirtazipine to 30mg,so far no bad side effects ( I know it's early days!) but also no nightmares,which is wonderfull.will stick with 30mg for at least 6 months,and if no nightmares and or problems will probably stay on this dose with citalopram 30 mg).

    good luck to everyone trying to reduce,there are positive stories.

    Also take 1000mg omega three capsules three times day.Try to eat healthily and exercise as able.

     

    • ann55375
      ann55375 Guest

      Posted

      Hi, i have been having nightmares on 7.5 and because anxiety hasnt lifted, psych put them up to 15mg. NIGHTMARES, my god they have become horrendous, trying to wake to reality is hard. I did take up to 30mg in the past but didnt have this sensitivity, just wondering if it has come from using small dose for a long time, my metabolism has changed maybe.  Perhaps reducing would be a better option, though illness not better. 
  • Geminilady75
    Geminilady75 rachael42781

    Posted

    I realise it's been a while since your original post but thought that since I'm here, I'll share what I am experiencing right now.

    I stopped taking 60mg about 3 weeks ago without tapering.

    The first week I didn't even notice.

    However, I am now experiencing terrible and constant sweating which is highly uncomfortable, embarrassing and to a certain degree, debilitating but, I feel I've come too far to go back now and this really has been the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.

    The others have been typical but somewhat bearable.

    The runny nose, irritability, sleeplessness, toilet visits etc are beginning to subside.

    So, I would say to those who wish to come off of these, do so at a rate you are comfortable with and with confidence that you can.

    I was taking Mirtazapine for nerve pain.

    Did it help? Possibly.

    But the side effects of the drug just weren't worth it for me personally and had I have been better informed, I never would have taken them.

    A weight gain of 15kg in 3 months having spent 4 years losing 50 was not!

    It feels good not to feel bloody hungry all the time that's for sure!!!

    Like I said, still got withdrawal effects but I'm getting closer to coming out the other end feeling much better for it.

    Good luck x

    • steve27598
      steve27598 Geminilady75

      Posted

      Hi

      It's ironic that you refer to "nerve pain" as reason for original prescription. I was getting plenty of that while on 30, then 15mg😡Hiwever, I've been off it altogether for a month now and my "nerve pain" is agonising and unbearable. In fact it's so bad you would almost think I had another, sinister neurological condition: waves of tremors going through my whole body, muscular stiffness and rigidity, muscular pains, pins and needles, visual fatigue etc.

      I was hoping I was coming to end of withdrawal road but my symptoms have got much worse recently. I now feel Mirt was somehow keeping these nasty nerve symptoms in check, but it's confusing as it was prescribed to help depression.

      I'm still taking Venlafaxine (150mg) so petrified that I should have ditched this.

      This is like playing Russian roulette and no fun whatsoever.

  • Guest
    Guest rachael42781

    Posted

    Withdrawal symptoms, severity and length of time depend on the dosage, the length of time on the medication and the individual. Speaking as a health care professional and someone's who's titrated successfully off Mirtazepine I suggest the following:

    Get in the mindset right now that you will get through this and symptoms related to withdrawal will go away. Once you're truly motivated:

    Think of everything in 2's. If you're taking 15mg then reduce the dose by cutting in 2 for 2 weeks. So reduce to 7.5mg for 2 weeks.

    After 2 weeks buy yourself a pill splitter from any local pharmacy and split the dose in 2. Now you're taking 3.75mg for 2 weeks.

    Finally, using the pill splitter cut your dose in 2 down to 1.87mg for 2 weeks. Following this stop the Mirtazepine.

    You will have insomnia the first 10 days or so after first reduction. But you'll then get back to sleep after two weeks as your body adjusts to the lower dosages. This will be a cycle until you're off the Mirtazepine. You may also experience:

    Headaches

    Decreased Appetite

    Weight Loss

    Fatigue from Insomnia

    Anxiety

    My absolute best recommendation is to keep your mind & body busy through out the entire titrating process. Exercise, work, but do not sit around watching tv etc. This will result in increased anxiety and in some people panick attacks due to a misunderstanding of their withdrawal symptoms.

    Folks, you can all do this. Yes you're going to feel the above symptoms but remember this:

    THE WITHDRAWAL WILL RESOLVE.

    • steve27598
      steve27598 Guest

      Posted

      Hi

      I appreciate your comments and expertise. I'm now 7 weeks in and symptoms just as unbearable as day 1. Unbearable shakes, neurological pain ( mainly arms legs and back), musucular rigidity, visual fatigue, hoarse throat etc.

      Doc thinks these more likely to be caused by underlying anxiety than withdrawal. I've been offered sedatives, major tranquilliser ( Quetapine) and even return to Mirt.

      I'm still taking Venlafaxine and totally confused and drained by this experience.

    • Guest
      Guest steve27598

      Posted

      Steve

      I concur with your physcian. The symptoms you list are not related to titrating off of Mirtazepine. You're experiencing high anxiety.

      You need to be very active physically & mentally. Push through these symptoms; you can do it. Go for a hike, jog, cycle whatever you enjoy. Stay away from most internet sites since they're full of poor information and every individual is different.

      It's been 7 weeks off of the medication. This is a great accomplishment; well done! Now set yourself a schedule to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. You would also benefit from weekly counciling with a psychologist to reassure you that your symptoms are not related to titrating off of Mirtazepine.

      Keep your body active & the mind will follow.

    • steve27598
      steve27598 Guest

      Posted

      Thanks. I've been jogging every two days, for 7 years now. Unfortunate, this now more difficult due to feeling of exhaustion.

      It's interesting that Mirt also supposed to have secondary action of dealing with nerve related pain, neuropathy etc. I stop taking it and then get these symptoms in spades: I know it blocks acetylcholine, as part of its tryciclic AD role, so maybe that has something to do with it.

      I understand anxiety etc, but would that really generate my specific symptoms. Much more like a cross between MS, Parkinson's and MN etc etc. (Not the emotional and psychological stuff people here describing?)

      Thank you.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 Guest

      Posted

      Can you help me? I have been trying several different anti depressants as mirtazapine just wasnt doing the job.  I cant raise it over 15 as I get very agitated. (Agitation my main symptom).  All others have failed on this too, never lasted any more than a month. Gp has suggested i just try to get off mirtazapine now and lower at two weekly intervals.  7.5, then 3.75 then 1.87.  As i am still very anxious and take diazepam daily at low level i am scared lowering of mirtaz will increase agitation.  Suppose will have to try to just see but having been subject to waking with it or waking with fear, or waking with suicidal ideation, i just fear what will happen when i drop it.  I am on warfarin so using supplements is not an option. Do you think this taper is feasible when i still have symptoms, or do you think the agitation will go eventually?  I know it is a hard med to drop and am really scared.  Gp,says use exta diazepam for daily anxiety.  Wish i had never taken this med, my life is not the same, i am very reluctant to see friends since this started.

    • aga02916
      aga02916 ann55375

      Posted

      Awww im so sorry Ann that you have to go thru this , I really feel for you. Its easy for doctor to say to take extra diazepam but they so addictive. Ive been on mirtazapine only for 3 months and doctor took me off it cold turkey and put me on 10 mg of fluoxetine for 7 days and then increased to 20mg. Since ive stopped mirtazapine I feel nasuea , anxiety keeps coming in waves , one day im fine and next day is horrible, dont know if its withdrawl from mitrazipine ,or side effects of fluoxetine. Can wake up with tremors, feeling sick, feeling like im out spaced , and overthinking more than I should and so sensitive to everything , feeling pressure on the back of my head and find my eyes rolling . I know i should give fluoxetine more time and symptoms always get worse before they get better but this is a joke. I know what you mean that you are not yourself on mirtazapine. I come off it cause it was making me numb and depressed , was changing my thinking, like it wasnt me . Once I come off it my thinking came back but now fluoxetine is working so I try to stay possitive and tell myself than anything I feel now or think its not me cause im in withdrawl frok mirtazapine and that its gonna pass eventually and thats how I calm myself down. I know easier said than done but you can do it ?😘

    • ann55375
      ann55375 aga02916

      Posted

      I tried fluoxetine for five months but it made me quite ill when up,to 60mg so they swopped to mirtaz.  We are all different and these meds are evil
    • aga02916
      aga02916 ann55375

      Posted

      Yeah I agree , they all vile. Im on fluoxetine now cause I was on it before and tolerated it well so fingers crossed it will be the same this time. Was on sertaline as well but it was the worst AD I had. Lack of libido and energy. So I came off it , and I was taking them for OCD , was fine without any meds for over a year , then had loads of stress in past months , both in personal and professional life and got anxiety. And been bad with it for past couple of months . Its funny now when I think of new years eve 2016/2017 when I was crying with happiness that 2016 is finished cause it was s**t year but 2017 is even worse.grrrrrrrrr
    • jen35333
      jen35333 steve27598

      Posted

      I also have this! burning pain from my head to my toes!!! please tell me it goes away

  • nicky32670
    nicky32670 rachael42781

    Posted

    Hi there, I've actually felt quite relieved after reading this thread and realising that my symptoms are 'normal'.

    I've been taking 15mg of Mirt for the past 9-mths to help me with insomnia & anxiety. They really helped initially but then for the last month they weren't as effective (with regards to the insomnia). I didn't want to increase the dose/my dependency & so I decided to stop 'cold turkey'. I've also gained some weight & I didn't want this to continue (vain I know but that wasn't helping how I was feeling either).

    My withdrawal symptoms have been anxiety & insomnia (no surprise there) but also headaches & feeling nauseous. I've also felt a bit teary, overwhelmed & lethargic but I'm now 2 weeks in & I'm hoping that things will get better soon.

    I've been taking magnesium to help me sleep and whilst it isn't a miracle cure I do think it's helping.

    Anyway, let's hope the end is in sight - good luck folks x

    • ann55375
      ann55375 nicky32670

      Posted

      Hi, how has your traper gone.  I am just researching this site as i have benn on 15mg mirtaz for three years, still,having agitation and use diazepam for anxiety.  Gp says maybe try to come off. 15, then 7.5 then 3.75 etc.  I am not sure how my body will take this after the length of time. Any useful help please.
    • ann55375
      ann55375 nicky32670

      Posted

      seem to have heard nothing from you. Are you feeling better?  Hoping its a good sign
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