Mirtazapine Withdrawal Insomnia
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi, I'd been on 30mg/day mirtazapine for about four months before I decided to stop because it was making me so drowsy (although doing wonders for my depression). I tapered down to 15mg/day for a week as per my psychiatrist's advice, and then stopped taking it at all. I was fine on 15mg, but now I literally can't fall asleep without chemical help. It's been about a week. I'd been using diphenhydramine, which worked for a few days but obviously built a tolerance, and now I'm trying Nytol herbal tablets - the pharmacist said I couldn't use any other antihistamines because I'm also on 200mg/day sertraline, and have been for about a year. I was wondering how long this insomnia is likely to last, and if there are any other sleep remedies I could try. I've been given diazepam in the past to help me sleep, but I can't see my GP to get another prescription for two weeks. I'd be really grateful for any advice or information; I'm building up quite a sleep debt and I don't really know what to do. Thank you!
0 likes, 12 replies
evergreen frazer96678
Posted
I really despair at the number of doctors that think people can just come off mirtazapine so quickly. It is a very powerful drug and coming off it quickly can permanently damage your nerve pathways. Your body needs time to readjust itself to working without the mirt and it must be done slowly. Some recommend only a 10% drop every month! I find that too slow personally, but I came off 30mg over a period of four months. For the last 2 mg I made my own liquid suspension and dropped by 0.2mg every two days. That way I avoided any withdrawal symptoms. If I were you, I would reinstate a small amount of mirt (the smallest you can manage on - maybe a quarter of a 15mg tablet) then reduce that over several weeks to give your body a chance to rebalance itself. Good luck
evergreen
Posted
frazer96678 evergreen
Posted
evergreen frazer96678
Posted
Calmer frazer96678
Posted
Evergreen is absolutely right, we are here to mop up peoples suffering & try to give help for a successful withdrawal from the poserful Mirt.
Personally I would say, as you got down to 15 mg, go back to 15 mg, this will either help instantly with the sleep, or it may take up to a week, but don't despair, it will come back. Then do a slow taper from there, a 10% every 2 tgo 3 weeks is moderate, see if you can tolerate this, if you still get insomnia/anxiety you may have to slow it down further, but some get on ok with this.
About me
For advice on tapering Mirtazapine slowly at the recommended rate of no more than 10% every 3 or 4 weeks, please see the following which is within this forum,
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/depression-resources-298570
and then click on the link "REDUCING AD'S USING 10% WITHDRAWAL METHOD".
Doctors don't seem to know precisely how difficult this AD is to withdraw from, if youur doctor is unhelpful, maybe print off the advice and take/show ~ that is exactly what I did.
Best wishes.
betsy0603 frazer96678
Posted
I am down to 14 mg and my sleep is still good, though if I get woken up in the night for some reason (like having to let a dog out at 4 AM last night!) then I have trouble falling back asleep.
A lot of people lose their sleep with cutting too quickly, rebound insomnia since mirt is rather sedating at low doses and in general, as you have found. So, a long, slow slide off is the best way to retain sleep, letting the body adjust to the absence of the med gradually.
frazer96678 betsy0603
Posted
betsy0603 frazer96678
Posted
I hope that reinstatement and going slower will allow you to keep your sleep. Wishing you luck :-)
frazer96678 betsy0603
Posted
switchman02263 frazer96678
Posted
Im haveing the same issue right now, no sleep after comming off the MIRT, what did you do? My GP will not give any BENZO, Please let me know how long the Insomnia last?
blyther switchman02263
Posted
I'm having the same problem. I just found a tea with valerian root and passionflower, and it worked just as well as the xanax that I have. Wasn't expecting it to work, but I slept for the first time in a week!
switchman02263 blyther
Posted
That is good news, Im on my 3rd day (again) off right now, I had to take 7.5 the other night, as I was 3 days with out sleep, Dr gave me some GABApentin to help me sleep as I get off the MIRT and it has worked last couple days.