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

Posted , 84 users are following.

kirsty12709
kirsty12709

Help! I slowly tapered off Mirtazapine. It's been 4 and a half weeks off it now and I'm sure I'm still experiencing withdrawal?! I have crippling morning anxiety and zero appetite, the weight gained on Mirt has fallen off! I also feel sick most of the day. I got so down last week that I very nearly went back on it, but couldn't bare the thought of coming off again! Insomnia has just kicked in too. 

I don't mean to post this to scare anyone, as when I was at my darkest Mirt really helped me. I just wanted to know if there's anyone out there going through what I'm going through? Any advice? How long can it last? 

I'd appreciate any help x 

4 likes, 532 replies

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  • tim11033
    tim11033 kirsty12709

    Edited

    I think the lower dose the worse the withdrawal symptoms especially lower than 7.5mg. For me personally i think that i probably wouldn't go below 7.5mg but come off completely instead. Because there probably isn't much difference between the withdrawals between coming off completely or going to a very low dose.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 tim11033

      Posted

      I know about the anxiety, nausea, headaches etc in lowering, but i wasnt prepared for mood lowering like this.  I am trying to as certain if it is another withdrawing symptom as it has come after the initial four weeks.  Trying to see if it will lift and if others have had it on their withdrawing. Dont want to be running to dr if it is foing to pass.
    • tim11033
      tim11033 ann55375

      Posted

      I think the withdrawals alone are enough to make anyone feel anxious & low mood. If you weren't suffering from sickness, nausea, insomnia, headaches e.t.c. You would more than likely be in a much better frame of mind.

    • tim11033
      tim11033 ann55375

      Posted

      In my experience the best way to deal with the situation is to try & distract yourself from your current predicament. Try & do something to take your mind off things, because the more you focus on your withdrawals the worse they'll be.

    • kirsty12709
      kirsty12709 tim11033

      Posted

      My last taper was at 1.87mg, but I've no idea if withdrawal would have been worse had I have lowered quickly? It was hellish the way I did it as it was. But you may be right, if may have been like that mo matter how quickly I did it...

    • kirsty12709
      kirsty12709 ann55375

      Posted

      I absolutely had a very low mood whilst going through withdrawal 
    • ann55375
      ann55375 kirsty12709

      Posted

      Thank you for that, i dont feel so unusual now.  I do hope the low mood is just another side effect and not me plunging downhill.  Most people only discuss the tangible sides of getting off like sick,anxious,etc.  I just did not expect the nightmares and low mood to be part of it . Did that part last for many weeks?  I would like to discuss it with consult before he pushes a different drug onto me
    • ann55375
      ann55375 tim11033

      Posted

      They are taking up my whole day and I struggle to get out for a bit.  I am doing crosswords and puzzles as i dont really want to see anybody, isolating as they say.
    • kirsty12709
      kirsty12709 ann55375

      Posted

      I had every side effect going, and as I said I felt very low, more depressed than I've ever felt before. I had to get out and about because of the kids but there were days where that was really hard! I found it came in waves, moments of despair, followed by feeling not so bad. It was quite honestly hellish, but I'm so glad I came off it! 

    • tim11033
      tim11033 ann55375

      Posted

      unfortunately you have to force yourself to go out. Keep your mind occupied with other things. You may actually feel abit better. The worst thing you can do is isolate yourself & dwell on anything negative.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 tim11033

      Posted

      Yes, i have made myself  get out this afternoon in the rain and seen a friend for a bIt.  Felt a bit better when home.  Now just to find that appetite!  Thank you for your wise words. See what tomorrow brings.
  • Guest
    Guest kirsty12709

    Edited

    Hi 

    I was on mirtazapine for 15yrs I was a carer for 13 yrs and developed insomnia. 4 weeks ago I tapered off as I had gained 3 stones. Also my situation has really improved. I am sleeping well, I am using tart cherry juice and magnesium. However the nausea had been really bad along with upset stomach and wind. I have also been drinking ginger beer which has really helped. My GP told me this med was not addictive. I rang another GP who prescribed ant-nauseous meds  and that has helped. Just wondering how much longer. 

    • dave141258
      dave141258 Guest

      Posted

      Hi and well done you , I've been on mirt for a year or so and recently started to feel very low .After consulting with my gp they put me on Sertraline 50mg anyway I took 1 on Monday evening and felt even worse , since then I've taken nothing no Mirtazapine or Sertraline so I've just stopped . I felt rough for a couple of hours yesterday , I've been from 15mg up as high as 45mg then down to 15mg I've been on 30mg for 4 weeks and now nothing is this a good idea ???

       

    • Guest
      Guest dave141258

      Edited

      Hi Dave

      i have now been off mirt for 7 weeks and finally feeling fine. I stopped the tart cherry juice and magnesium as it up set my stomach. Instead I used charcoal tablets and drank ginger beer which really helped. I am taking melatonin at night and beginning to sleep right through, I am so much more wide awake in the morning, I am though still carrying the extra weight and just hoping with time this will go. You might not suffer withdrawal as you don’t mention it in your post. Anyway good luck 

    • Guest
      Guest Guest

      Posted

      Hi sarah

      good to hear you are feeling good only 7 weeks after mirtazapine free.I see you had been on 15mg,how did you taper down and by what dosage each time? I'm down from 45mg to 15mg since May,after new year want taper off the rest.had pretty much all the withdrawels,encouraging to hear that at 7 weeks off comletley,gives me hope.

    • Guest
      Guest Guest

      Posted

      Hi Chrisy

      i went down to 7.5 for a couple of weeks and then knocked it on the head. I didn’t know about tapering until I found these posts. I read somewhere in these posts about treating every symptom as they arose. The ginger beer really helped and then the charcoal. It has been intense and I have had to work from home until the symptoms subsided, I have a kind boss. 

    • dave141258
      dave141258 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sarah , and yes I feel it , just had to take 15mg mirt as really couldn't handle day 6 with nothing feel very poorly 

       

    • lisa05819
      lisa05819 Guest

      Posted

      can you help me are you out the other side yet? im 5 months cold turkey due to health reasons and back on dosulepin but not doiing anything to get me back to myself

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