Mirtazapine withdrawal timeline - help!

Hi Katie:  I've been tapering for two months from 30 to 15 and now to 7.5.  I cry for reasons unknown (I think it's part of withdrawl).  I cried after watching a TV commerical the other night and wondered if I was losing my mind.  I've accepted that Mirt is the culprit.  The Doxepin doc gave me for sleep has picked up where the Mirt left off so I'm getting at least 6 hours.  Even on Mirt I wasn't getting more than 4-5.  Looks like it's going to take me about 4 months to wean off Mirt or longer. 

Good luck. I been completely off for 10 days now and so far so good apart from insomnia. I will try to keep you updated. 

Hi Frazzled,

Excuse me chipping in here, I just wanted to say you ought to look for an interaction checker (like drugs  .  com ) for those 2 meds, Mirt & Doxepin, just to be safe and sound.

Wishing you well.

Thanx calmer.  My doc (who is double board certified in IM and Psychiatry) and I discussed the combo.  I've been on both meds for a long time but now believe that all I may need for sleep in the low dose (50 mgs.) of doxepin; thus, my weaning off of Mirt.  I've taken so many weird drug combos for depression, panic disorder, SAD, generalized anxiety and anti-seizure for such a long time, I could prob. write a book about effects and side effects.  You are absolutely RIGHT to suggest checking drug interactions before starting a new one.  Good sound advice.  Thanx.

hi Karen when did your sleep improve?

I'm 2 weeks off and having insomnia

Hi Paul

Some folk have no symptoms coming off Mirt, but some struggle.  The slow taper is recommended (no more than 10% drop every 3 weeks to begin with-then see what/if any symptoms arise).

Your doc has advised you a very quick drop, in fact WD symptoms, for some people, don't show up until 2-3 weeks of a drop and I see you have done 2 drops in that time.

If symptoms are too bad you could updose again, its up to you but if it were me & I would go back a step & go more slowly if unbearable- 37.5 would be the dose I'd go back to & wait for stabilisation.  

You might well be ok, wait & see.  I know the anxiety & insomnia can be v bad, we're all different though, so hopefully you might be alright.

Best wishes, wishing you well.

Thanks for the help. I will see how it goes.Have to see GP this week so if I'm still bad I will ask him to slow it down. I've felt terrible on them and now it looks like it's going to be a slow process coming off.

Getting off this drug is pure hell. Everything you are saying is real. Some say itbtakes a few weeks, some say months, hope you are feeling a bit better with time. Just write your problems here and see if anyone can help

Thanks so much for your comments. I am on day 13 and sweating again!!! It had stopped for about 5 days from soaked sheets (changing them daily) to drips of sweat on my forehead. I have worn down a front tooth as my tongue is so active and mouth so dry. This is hell!!! I really appreciate the support this forum has offered.

Just feel free to send updates of your side effects here as we are all going through it at different levels and it helps, warts and all, to hear whats happening.

I’m in the same boat as you were... how are you doing now and did you find anything to help you??

I am 2 weeks off Mirtazapine cold turkey as I knew it was poisoning me. The side effects were/are beyond awful. I do not have the same violent digestive issues yet....but the buzzing in my ears, dizziness, irritability, hunger and dry mouth are just a few of about 50 problems. I know it will get better and thanks for your Vitamin suggestion. I think we are all just looking for suggestions for relief. Hang in there.

you are right, i have been trying to lower from 7.5 for many months, dropping down slowly.  Sleep was affected after 3.75 and now the jump off. Feel terrible, just generally ill and cant concentrate, dont want to get up, all i think withdrawals.  How,long, what is the answer to it all. Dr s just want to put you on another one. Any suggesrions how to get through?

Yes, I agree that there’s always something to try and although our GPs think they are doing the right thing, going straight to these horrible drugs is not necessarily the answer. 

I do expect to experience some nasty symptoms, but I would rather have pain and not such good sleep than be on these a minute longer... take care x

I agree. I would rather than have pain than these symptoms. At least pain is familiar. Today is day 15- buzzy head and ears, active tongue and stiff legs in the AM. I always feel better in the morning and deteriorate as the day goes on. Yesterday was the same. I do think that low sugar and lots of water is good. I wish I knew the magic answer.

Do you have anxiety alongside these symptoms, i dont think you mentioned it

Yes anxiety (it is apparently quite common) but the other symptoms are so bad that I at times can barely see straight. I have had many sad thoughts but nothing extreme yet. I am still on Lorazepam and Elavil. I have been taking both of these for many years with no obvious effect. Mirtazapine was prescribed to help me sleep. At the same time I was given Zolpidem. For me the Zolpidem was the best sleep medication I have ever taken. I stopped taking it two weeks ago as well and manage to get adequate sleep without it. So basically I stopped taking everything except those medications that did not cause side-effects over the years. I guess that they could be causing some symptoms but I don't think so. I actually feel that in the last few days things have been a little better. The most significant relapses are sweating, hunger, active/dry tongue, irritability and dizziness/buzzing in ears. After two weeks I think I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I really hope this is not wishful thinking. I am continuing to write on this forum as I have not really seen/heard a daily dialogue from anyone that quit cold turkey from such a high dose. I read that it takes from 4-8 days for the Mirtazapine to be out of your body. So I may be only 6 days into withdrawal. I hope that a detailed journey will give us all hope that there is an end. I am not suggesting that cold turkey is a good or bad idea as I understand it may have considerable adverse effects. As I said before, for me I just wanted the poison out of my system.

Hi Ann, 11 years ago I had a back operation and was in severe pain, unable to walk etc before I was operated on. I was taking a cocktail of diazepam, morphine etc for 2 months but after the operation I was relieved of all pain (other than the op site, which I could manage with paracetamol), so guess what I stupidly did? You got it, I ditched the lot !!! Within a week I had the symptoms I described on Friday which led onto severe depression and anxiety. I could not smile, I lost weight, I couldn’t sleep and the list goes on. Finally after my poor husband had just about reached the end of his tether (and I promise you that takes a lot), I sat sitting, sweating all over a chair in my GP’s room, only to be told I’d jumped over the highest cliff ever, unwittingly putting myself through cold turkey. Rather than mixing me another cocktail, he told me to ride it through. It would be hard, but I needed to persevere.  Boy was it horrible, but by week three, four at the latest, I began to feel human. The evenings were getting lighter too and Spring / Summer were on the horizon.

All I can say is keep going with this. You won’t be suffering the withdrawal symptoms much longer and the warmth of Spring and Summer will bring new beginnings for us all.  With my slow withdrawal in the planning, I too will be off this and we can celebrate, with a proper cocktail perhaps!! xx

Hi joanne, i am in tears as i read your post. I am 19 weeks off the mirt. There is a private support group that i am in on FB. Everyone in t he group is in withdrawl, i feel they will be moved by your story. Thank you and take care. Xo

Hi Paun, congrats on 2wks mirt free. I am in a support group on fb, its private and everyone there is in withdrawls from mirt. It complements this site very well. Take care.

Hi Gretel, 

Yes I’ll email Leona because I think I might need that help group as I’m about to embark on that journey, thank you for sharing that info x

Thank you so much for all of your support. It really is so helpful. Day 16 and I think I feel slightly better than yesterday. At least I don't feel worse. I am not able to join the FB group as I am not on FB. I know that I am a dinosaur but I never got onto it. Last night most of the symptoms came back as usual but they were not as intense. I am keeping my fingers crossed again today. Do you feel better Joanne? Are you still experiencing symptoms of withdrawal?? 

Hi Gretel,

Are you still experiencing withdrawal symptoms? When did they start to get better? I know that I dwell on dry mouth but it is so extreme with the grinding, I actually wore down one of my front teeth so it now has a rough flat surface. Did you experience any of these mouth problems including an active tongue and the feeling that your gums were shrinking? I also have VERY itchy skin all over. I am VERY sensitive to sound and touch along with continual excessive sweating, dizziness and buzzing/rustling sound in ears. I know everyone experiences different symptoms but did you have any of these?  Thanks so much for your input.

Hi Paun,

Im at about 18 weeks off. Just this few days the massive anxiety has began to lift. For sweats and chills ive been constantly in hot/cool shower. Chills are bad for me so many layers of clothes and gloves, hat, electric blanket. And drinking hot water when im cold. Lots and lots of water. My mouth feels wierd so i am constantly brushing my teeth. A baby toothbrush is gentler on the gums. For dry skin try coconut oil after you get out of the shower. The symptoms cycle around for me. Hope this helps. If i can help with anything else let me know. BTW, symptoms decreased in severity the busier i became. You will get through this, promise.

Ps, water,water,water...repeat. im going thru about 15 17 ounce bottles a day. Not counting the hot water i drink when im freezing.

Paun,

Also for sweats grab ice pack or bag of frozen peas and place it on the back of your neck. If you have to go to work...pack them in a cooler. Wrap a scarf around your neck to keep in place.

thanks so much for your time-you said "became" does this mean that after 18 weeks you are still suffering? Sorry to be so dense...

Hi, no I’m not experiencing withdrawal symptoms any longer because I’ve decided to speak at length with my doctor about coming off it really really slowly.  I saw a rheumatologist yesterday, who actually said I was on the right medication for my original symptoms.  I didn’t argue - I neither had the energy or inclination.  There is no doubt that this drug does what it is prescribed to do. However, I wonder how many medical professionals would take it themselves for any length of time before wanting to come off it just like the rest of us?  I am on a mission this week to eat less carbs and food that bloats me. I am also going to increase my walking in the fresh air and general exercise each day.  Apparently I also need to think about myself a bit more, rather than keep everyone else’s plates spinning... as a mother of teenage boys who are always either training for or playing sport, wish me luck with that one!!

Paun,

Things are happening very slowly, i almost wouldnt notice the changes but i am keeping a progress journal in hopes to pass the info on to others. Im looking for purpose in this battle to restore my sanity. There is a reason...

Paun,

Keep in mind that everyone is different. Straight answer, yes i am still symptomatic, but seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

Good Luck Joanne.  It sounds like moderate exercise and hydration are recommended by many. I drink about 10-12 large glasses of water each day and coffee twice. I think that given the amount of sweating it is needed just for that. Last night was quite bad with terrible dry mouth and buzzing in head. Today is the same as yesterday except I have a sore throat something that I have not had in years. I am afraid to go back on Mirtazapine low dose as the side-effects were so bad. I know that some side-effects are the same as the withdrawal symptoms so I really don't know what caused what.I am supposed to go away for a week with my husband and several other couples. I hope that my symptoms are a little better by week 4. Thanks for your support.

Thanks again for your reply. I think the hardest part is not knowing how long this will last. I no longer have control over how I feel on a daily basis and that is hard. Before this I was walking 10km every morning, eating well and dealing with my PTSD. Now I am unable to walk in the morning as I am unsteady on my feet. I think it does get better each day but the process is SO slow that I barely notice. Good luck to all of us. I still have faith that this terrible experience will someday be behind us all.

Hi Paun I was just reading your post and I was also on this meds. My doc put me on it to help manage my anxiety and to help me gain some of the weight I had lost. He put me on7.5mg and I was not taking it daily . I wss on it short term not even a full month. So he supposedly weaned me off on my last visit because he felt that i no longer needed it. But the thing is I had already stopped taking it and i told him that i was not taking it daily. ( made me too sedated)

Even though he weaned me off, i still take it when needed abd this could be only once a week. Is this a wise thing to do? Because the days of not taking I dont like how i feel, I feel crazy. I regret of ever touching this med. I have crazy thoughts going through my head, not to mention i am going through menopause also which is the reason he put me on to help control my symptoms. How do i keep from grabbing a pill? What exactly was it doing to your digestive ? You mention violent digestive issues, how so?

HI Mary I am obviously still struggling with cold turkey but I am determined not to go back on Mirtazapine. I have read some other posts of people alternating taking it day on/day off etc. As I said I just stopped and just about everything points to my method not being an easy one. The only digestive issues that I had were diarrhea that lasted about 7-10 days.I did however see a few posts of people that had vomiting and nausea. I hope this helps.

Hi Gretel, I would love to find this group, is it secret as I can't find it/ How can I access it as I have just gone down to 15mg and am going to start the drop to ending, thanks, Lu

Gretel i am not the one going through the withdrawal. My husband is. It is so very heartbreaking. I feel so helpless. Do you feel i could learn anything to be a supportive spouse from the fb support group? If so could you lead me in the right direction to find it or one? I am willing to do almost anything to see him through this. He was having the worst side effect possible and had no choice but to quit cold turkey. He has been off of it 4 days and is struggling so bad.

Could you let me know the support group Gretel?

I have been cold turkey 8 weeks ago At. 5 weeks I reinstated a quarter of a tablet but no better. So 5 days later took half a tablet for 1 week. Still no better went back up to a whole tablet 15mg and have been on this for I week. When should I start to feel better? Please give me advice and the link for the support group I really really appreciate your help.

Linda

You have a private message from me. Please go to your account and select profile settings and from there you should be able to see your private messages.

Hi there. Can you please share the group with me? Currently tapering off, need help.

Mic

You have a private message from me.

I would also like the details on joining this FB group please?

This my first post. I was put on Mirtazapine by my doctor for insomnia and took it for 8 mnths. 15mg. I took my last dose 8 days ago after tapering off over 4 mnths. my insomnia has come back, but I get sleep every other night. My main problem is a feeling of being unsteady on my feet. My weight is dropping & I'm quite tearful. I so much want to get off this drug but am scared of going back on it. I would rather go back to my old sleeping pattern before taking it. Any advice on how long that might take from anyone who had the same problem?

Hi Marilyn,

I thought I would contact you as I have tried to come off Mirtazapine without much luck before.

I have been on 15mg for about 15 months or so now. I so want to get off them, not only because I don't feel that I need to be on them, but because of the horrendous weight gain and problems associated with it.

I have been tapering for only a week, but I have cut my dose in half and until I get any withdrawal symptoms I am determined to kick this drug into touch. My pregabalin are easier to come off, so I'll keep taking those for a while yet.

It will get better and the symptoms will wear off but it could take a few weeks. My GP is considering other drugs such as Duloxetine, but I know I still have to come off the Mirtazapine gently - you cannot simply go from one to the other if you are sensitive to the withdrawal symptoms, like you and I.

I'm here to keep you company on this journey. You really are not on your own.

Jo xx

Thank you for your reply Jo.

Things are really difficult at present.

I spoke to to my pharmacist yesterday. He said they should have worn off by now.

I am concerned as to why I am feeling so shaky and unsteady?

i wish you well and maybe we will both have better news soon.

very best wishes

Marilyn1865

Hello I'm on day 11 no mirtazapine,,was taking 15mgs primarily for roughly 3 months. Due to side effects my psychiatrist and I decided to quit. I can relate to sensitivity of hearing,,sweats at night ,,, Insomnia. Anxiety,,dizziness,,irratability,, Insomnia the first week off. Day 9 and 10 I slept fairly well. However woke up out of a deep sleep bout 4 this morning in a panic and sweating. All the stress and fear cropped up some tears a few hours ago. Seems at times my thinking just wont shut the freak up. Mayb its all W/D from Mirtazapine. Im hoping this crap will end.

hi Jeff, Are you okay now?

when did your sleep improve and did it get back to normal?

I am suffering from withdrawals right now and mainly insomnia