Mirtazapine withdrawal, how long will this last??!!!!

Hi Matt, 

I've been off Mirt for nearly a year now. Let me reassure you that I had every side effect going whilst coming off this med, but I did eventually get there. 

From about a week of no Mirt there can be a massive hit of side effects and I honestly felt like I was going to go mad, it was nothing short of horrendous. I tell you this as I want you to know what you're feeling I felt too. I would say it took a good month - 3 months to feel like I was finally getting over the side effects, but for some it is much less, and some don't struggle with them at all. I wish i could offer more help,  but all I can say is you just have to keep going, summon up every piece of strength you have and keep going! 

Kirsty 

Hi Kirsty 

Thank you so much for your reply , although it made me cry it also reassured me that I’ll get there and this muck will get out of my system, it bloody awful!

I’ve ordered some CBD oil from Holland and Barrett too to help .

So happy for you that this is now history , well done for sticking at it , I know I will too.

Thank you 🙏 

It’s being moderated because I mention a health supplement sold in a high street store !

Thank you for your reply Kirsty, although it made me cry it also reassured me that I’ll get through this and this muck will eventually be out of my system, I will never take an AD again , they made me worse, even this horror I’m going through is worth it to be done with them.

I’m so happy for you that this is all history for you - you done it 💪

Thank you again it gives me strength to keep pushing on 

Really?? Bizarre! 

I really do understand where you're coming from, I was in such a dark place, I thought I'd never get through it, it was the hardest time of my life but I just kept thinking it's the side effects doing this, it will pass. I nearly went back on it several times, and you may feel that way too but I promise you it doesn't last forever, it may feel like it, but I promise it does get better. 

Chin up, you are strong enough for this. 

Kirsty 

Thank you Kirsty 

I’ll push on , just got such a shock when I started to feel so bad , bloody withdrawal sucks !

I stayed in today feeling sorry for myself apart from a drive in my pj’s just to get out of the house for a bit.

So the heighten anxiety, crying, brain zaps, low mood, tiredness and busy brain should hopefully start to subside over the coming weeks?

I’ll make sure I get out and walk more and maybe try and see my friends rather than put them off.

Glad you’re well 

Matt 

Three months off mirtaza  and still down and anxious.  Using diaz to help. Now got uti. I am sure all down to that drug.  Psych has tried many others with no success so where do i go now.  Will the mirtaz eventually go or will imhave to take another ad. I am fed up with it all as i cant live normally. Haircut seems like massive challenge.  Hardly seeing friends. What a hellish thing this is.

Yep! All that does get better, it's just a blooming rough ride! As I said I had every side effect I think known to man, and they would come in "waves" few hours I'd feel fine, than bam!! I'd be hit with the worst anxiety, the kind that makes you rock back and forth on the stairs! I have two kids, so I had to get out every day anyway, and I honestly think that helped me a lot, fresh air seemed to help with the sickness too. That, lots of water and sweet tea or a full fat coke if I felt too sick to eat that day.

Kirsty. 

It took months for it to exit my system, I never imagined it would take as long as it did! I still have anxious days now, but I thinks that's just me, I've always been anxious, even as a kid. But it's a huge difference from how I felt whilst withdrawing from Mirt. I still get nervous about day to day things, but again I think that's just me, and I try and push myself to do things, even if I am terrified! 

Kirsty 

Hi Kirsty glad to see you are well, How does your anxiety now compare to how it was during the withdrawal? It's been 70 days since I stopped mirt and I keep getting 1-2 week long waves of severe anxiety. Resisting the temptation to reinstate the last dose!

Hi Kirsty glad to see you are well, How does your anxiety now compare to how it was during the withdrawal? It's been 70 days since I stopped mirt and I keep getting 1-2 week long waves of severe anxiety. Resisting the temptation to reinstate the last dose!

Hi Kirsty glad to see you are well, How does your anxiety now compare to how it was during the withdrawal? It's been 70 days since I stopped mirt and I keep getting 1-2 week long waves of severe anxiety. Resisting the temptation to reinstate the last dose!

apologies for the multiple posts! My browser is having a few issues..

I nearly went back on Mirt a few times, they even told me I could go onto citalopram to make it easier, but I just thought that would be prolonging it. 

My anxiety has good and bad days, but it's nothing like the level it was when I was going through withdrawal - that felt like a living hell. 

It took a long time for Mirt to leave my system, months in fact. I couldn't quite believe a drug would take that long, and no doctor would believe me if I'd have said that either. 

Kirsty. 

Yeah it sounds like its at a manageable level. For me its like a yo yo effect. ill feel great for weeks then terrible for weeks! Still trying to desensitise myself to potential anxiety triggers. 

Did you have anxiety before the mirt?

 

I get that, I go through a pretty decent period, where I'm managing things pretty well, then out of nowhere I get terrible anxiety! 

Yeah, I've had anxiety and panic attacks from when I was around 11 years old 

Kirsty.

Hi Kirsty 

I’m now day 13 Mirtazapine free , I’m having severe crying spells , almost uncomfortable! Nausea , raised anxiety, exhaustion, thick head and generally feel on high alert with feelings that this will never end 😩 can you remember feeling like this ? Any hope that things will get a bit better soon?

I’m making myself go for walks (well most of the time) trying to eat well which is hard as I have no appetite, drinking lots of water and trying cbd oil.

Is this all normal as part of the withdrawal?

Hi Matt, 

To try and reassure you, this is exactly how I felt. I felt so sick, my anxiety was like nothing I'd ever experienced, it was horrendous. I was shaking, I was cold, I had diarrhoea (sorry tmi) it was all down to withdrawal. And yes,  it does go, I promise. 

Kirsty 

Hi I’m now 9 weeks off mirtazapine and my headaches are crippling me as for anxiety that’s getting a bit but only a bit better 

Did you get headaches like that they get so bad that I become dizzy disoriented and the pain is unbearable 

Headaches is a very common side effect of the withdrawal. I found that because it exasperated my anxiety dizziness and headaches came a long with that too! 

Four months off mirtaz after two years on it, never worked. anxiey is still here but had it beforehand and mirtaz was meant to fix it ! How do you handle anxiety?

I still have anxiety, it's something I deal with, and work with every day. Some days are better than others to be honest. My GP told me there is no medical cure for anxiety,  most medication is great to treat depression, but doesn't necessarily work with for anxiety.

Kirsty 

Hi Kirsty 

Thank you , it really pushes me in to hear that this is what is expected with Mirtazapine WD, what a horrible drug , I wish I’d know how hard it is coming off , I may have declined using it as AD’s just don’t work for me.

Once I’m through this WD I’m gonna take more care of my mental health.

I have Mindfulness at Mind starting soon and some councilling starting in mid July.

If I can get through this WD I feel I could do anything, it’s brutal 😩

Thanks again for your reassurance.

My GP told me that too , it’s something we have to learn to live a long side , CBT Mindfulness etc , once we get it under control we can deal with it , hard work I’m sure but can be done .

Anxiety will always be troublesome to us but I’m hoping, in fact determined to work hard to deal with it once I’m through this vile Mirtazapine WD 💪

You can get through it, it's just a rough road! I'm a massive fan of mindfulness and CBT, I'm in therapy now, have waited over a year and a half, but finally I'm seeing someone to help me with this awful anxiety! 

 

Withdrawal can't last forever, just keep going, take each day as it comes, and be kind to yourself 😊

Kirsty 

Hi Kirsty and anyone else that can help with my questions!

I’m now 4 weeks off Mirtazapine, using Diazipan to help but still having a rough time, some things have improved like my sleep is getting better but I’m really low having crying bouts and nausea most days .

Anxiety is coming in waves and some days it’s horrendous, sometimes the crying is uncomfortable! 

My appetite is a bit better, I have no motivation to do anything but make myself go out for a walk every day at least.

I’m doing a Mindfulness webinar and start a Mindfulness course at our local Mind soon , 2 hours a week.

Can’t believe that four weeks off and I’m still feeling withdrawals like this , have s really thick head today, feel sick and so low .

Any positive reply’s even if they are confirming this is the normal path way would be helpful, keep thinking I’ll never get over this 😩

Hi Matt! Sorry I'm not always great at replying, kids keep me super busy 😊

Four weeks is a real tough time, a lot of people struggle at this point. Believe me, I was a mess! Don't feel discouraged, it was a long road for me. And I was emotional wreck and the waves of feeling absolutely awful happened to me too. I promise you're of the only one.

Kirsty 

I meant not the only one!

Hi Kirsty 

Thanks for the reply, it’s lovely to see a smile when you mention your kids , hope all is going well with you and your councilling ?

I just can’t get my head round how awful this withdrawal is, I wasn’t to bad on 3.75mg and now 4 weeks Mirtazapine free I feel a total wreak , crying uncontrollably, tired , nauseous and so low , I’m so hoping to see a bit of progress soon 😩

I’m seeing my GP today, don’t really know what for as he won’t be able to make it all go away and he can’t offer me another med as Ive had terrible reactions to the ones I’ve tried plus I still don’t think they work, Mind you at the moment I’d take anything to feel better.

Thanks again 

I was exactly the same.  Withdrawal didn't hit me until I completely stopped taking the med. I've never felt so ill and anxious in my life, I used to wake up sweating and was terrified of the day ahead. I have felt all of what you're feeling, I hope that reassures you a little?

Kirsty 

Hi Kirsty 

Yes it does reassure me , let’s me see that I’m probably right in the thick of withdrawal, just couldn’t imagine it would be this awful!

Seen GP and of course he said I should be through withdrawals at 4 weeks! Wish they would look into it more and get real about how long this stuff takes leave your system.

He’s referring me to the mental health team , that’ll take time so fingers crossed I’m feeling a bit better by then and am not tempted to try another AD , I really don’t want to.

Thank you again .

I would say (in my opinion) that you are. Doctors seem so utterly clueless about this med, and just go on text book.  But talk to most people, and they will say withdrawal definitely lasted longer than a month! 

Don't feel down on yourself if you need an AD though. I've had them in the past when I had depression and they helped. But this time my problem is anxiety, and really I felt they didn't help much at all. 

It took me a long time  to get over withdrawal and I thought I'd never get to the end of it, but I did. 

Kirsty

Thanks Kirsty 

I didn’t have depression when all this started it was anxiety, think the withdrawal is making me depressed! Hopefully as the withdrawal gets better the mood will lift but for the moment it’s nausea, insomnia , woozy head and crying !

Gonna try Ginger beer for the nausea I’ve heard it helps.

Sorry to butt in here but i feel your pain, twenty weeks off and the same anxiety, nausea etc. No wonder it makes us feel depressed.  Hoping that the next few months will see improvement like Kirsty and very angy at the psychiatrist appointment recently when he told me it only takes a month to leave system and he has 90% parients absolutely fine after that,!

Hi Ann

Yes it’s very frustrating isn’t it , my nausea is bloody awful today I just want to lay down and cry!

The medical profession are in total denial it’s so annoying, just counting the days till I get some relief 😩

Did you try another AD?

Ive been off Mirt 90 days now, and like you, my symptoms didnt come back in full force until i stopped completely. Should we have stayed on it?

I'm still experiencing 2/3 week cycles of feeling great, then sinking into severe anxiety. I notice it first in my sleeping pattern as it slowly deteriorates. Then I'll suddenly wake up with a racing heartbeat and feeling panicky, to which the cycle has started again. Does that sound familiar at all?

I know for sure while I was on Mirtazapine I was alot more stable. I'm still yet to beat my 2 month stint where I felt fine, even though that was while taking medication. 

 

I went through all of this, it lasted a few months, it was not a quick process! 

May I ask why you're coming  off it? Is it not helping? I came off because I felt no benefits to my anxiety at all. I was just wondering, as you say when you were on it, that you were more stable 

Kirsty. 

Dr tried me on moclobemide, was awful. Lasted  two weeks.   Previous attempted sertraline, anxiety massivem three weeks only.   Then duloxetine, zombie all day.  Concluded i was not good on any so mirtaz was best but never perfect so came off.  Trying others is a lottery.nausea went yesterday and i ate dinner.  Didnt sleep all night and ffeel like hell today. This stuff is awful. Many many posts here about it.  Wish id never taken it. Resigned to months of withdrawal as seems commonplace, keep posting asit keeps spiris up.

Hi Ann

I’m week 4 of no Mirtazapine, feel desperate, very low , nausea, exhaustion, crazy thoughts, head feels foggy I have no motivation to leave the house just been laying on my bed last couple of days listening to audio books , the taper off Mirtazapine was a breeze compared to this 😩 just keep hoping it’ll get a bit better soon so I can start pushing myself again and get out in the air . I’ve started drinking tea with ginger to try and help the nausea.

I tried Citalopran and Sertraline but had terrible reactions to them , I had some seizure’s so I had to stop them , no seizures since . The Mirtazapine just made me sleep and made me like a zombie all day so I couldn’t drive or go out walking.

Trying really hard to ride the storm , this is by far the worst week so far 😩

Here’s hoping we’re all gonna get through this , I’m sure we will but I definitely under estimated how hard it would be.

Keep strong 

Well done for getting this far, keep going.  You are like me, sensitive to other anti deps and i think that makes the mirtaz withdrawal worse for us.  I have still to keep pushing myself all the time and normal life seems far away. Hoping tiime will help as some say it can take a while. I dont think another anti dep is the answer.  We are just unlucky.

Hi Ann 

I agree, we and thousands of others like us just have to keep the faith , things will get better and one day this will be history!

Just wish the medical profession would understand withdrawal and except that for most people it bloody hard ! 

I'm the same as you feel like going back on it too get a good sleep. Not sleeping at all came off mitrazapine about 8 weeks ago no side effects at all at the time . Now bang I've got them all nausea n lack of sleeping is the worst n I mean about 1 too 2 hours a nite and up n down all night xx

Kirsty your posts have been so helpful I thought I was going mad and now I've seen many people are suffering the same as me x

Karen

If you would like to join a very helpful Facebook (privacy settings: secret) mirtazapine withdrawal support group, please private message me.