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Mirtazapine withdrawal timeline - help!

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helenj289
helenj289

Hi, just wondering if anyone can give me some guidance of what to expect during withdrawal from Mirtazapine.

I have been taking 15 mg for about 8 months then tapered to 7.5 for a month and 3.75 for another month. I stopped taking it completely 3 weeks ago. Mirtazapine has helped me with sleep and anxiety to some extent but the weight gain (17 pounds) is more than I was willing to put up with.

I had no withdrawal symptoms during tapering or for the first 10 days after stopping. Since then my sleep has been getting gradually worse and right now can barely sleep at all without sleeping pill. I'm also feeling very tearful and having lots of negative thoughts. My appetite has reduced slightly although haven't lost any weight yet (unfortunately)

So questions for anyone has been through it... When did your withdrawal symptoms 'peak' and then start to get better? How quickly did your ability to sleep come back? And how long did it take you to lose weight gained?

I appreciate that everyone has a different experience, but it would be helpful just to have some idea of what's to come! Starting to feel a bit desperate especially with the insomnia. Thanks

2 likes, 213 replies

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  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    Day 17 completely off Mirtazapine- yesterday had one terrible bout of sweating but not at all over night-buzzing in ears still bad last night and better this morning as per the usual pattern-I am still grinding teeth and have dry mouth-in fact so bad that my mouth just sort of hangs open-I can close it but find I rub my teeth with my tongue and rub my teeth-still dizzy-I have lost some weight in the last week mainly due to loss of appetite and staying away from sugar and carbohydrates that made my gums sore-short term memory is still bad and not able to concentrate at all-over all I think the symptoms are a little less severe than before-I now feel that I am able to go out on errands a little more than the last couple of weeks-I am still very shocked that a medication can have such an intense negative impact on your entire body and mind for so long after stopping and I know that this may be just the beginning-did anyone else go off of Mirtazapine high dose cold turkey and stay off ie. not go back at a lower dose? I know that it is different for everyone but going back and enduring the withdrawal again is even scarier if that is even possible-I hope that this daily information helps someone

     

    • Morning_Rain
      Morning_Rain paun59797

      Posted

      Hi Paun,

      I know Gretel already suggested the Mirtz Withdrawal FB Support group to you. But dinosaur or not, you should really join FB and join that support group.  They CAN help you get through this. 

  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    Day 18 completely off of Mirtazapine-Last night was terrible again-intense buzzing in ears along with pressure-dizzy-dry mouth continues to be a problem-gums still feel raw and like they are shrinking. grinding of teeth is still awful-very irritable-some sweating before bed but not overnight-vivid dream-restless sleep with early waking (6am)-most other symptoms seem okay-I did notice that someone had said that keeping busy helped them-I did go out yesterday and ran a few errands and did feel that I was able to do that despite the symptoms-they did not go away but I don't think I noticed them as much-still drinking lots of water-I continue to hope that this was the best route for me

    • paun59797
      paun59797 Gretel

      Posted

      Thanks for the support Gretel-I am on DAY 19 and last night was tough-feeling very discouraged and just wanted all of the noise in my ears and terrible feeling in my mouth to stop!!!i have read so many stories about how others have felt this way and I know they got through but it is sooo hard-I am very angry at doctors that give this "medicine" to patients-I am one person, not a doctor and know of the debilitating effects that it can have-anyway same symptoms last night (and yesterday) Today is starting out like the last few so I don't anticipate a change tonight but it may happen. I really am trying to stay positive but living for tomorrow is hard.

    • paun59797
      paun59797

      Posted

      Day 20-21

      Missed yesterday as I was actually very busy. Dizziness on day 20 was terrible again at night despite being busy. Dizziness today is a little better but still quite significant. Dry mouth continues to be terrible. I went to my dentist and she gave me some products to help but the only one that seems to relieve it a little is the Xylitol gum. I let it rest on my front teeth like a cap and it prevents my teeth from grinding. The dryness is still there and I must obviously remove it when I talk to others as you can see it. I continue to be irritable and sensitive to noise. There are other symptoms but these are the most intense and troubling.

      Again, I am trying to stay positive.

    • richard1977
      richard1977 paun59797

      Posted

      Hi,

      I came off 15mg Mirt 4 weeks ago on docs advice. It worked well for me for about 8 months then just stopped. Poor sleep and anxiety came flooding back. I was switched to sertraline 50mg for 1 week and for the past 3 weeks been on 100mg. I also take 80mg sr propanolol once a day. It's been hard I don't know what is withdrawal and what is side effects. Hoping it levels out soon!!!! I've had sweats, increase anxiety, bad sleep. I've been taking phenergan for sleep, it's a anti histamine which has helped and is non addictive. I've tried zoplicone and sominex but I  neither really helped. Have taken the odd diazepam on occasions too. Yep it's really hard I really feel for you. I've been off work since Christmas it's hit me for six. At the moment I'm just trying my best to push through but it's an emotional rollacoaster of feelings and thoughts!!!! Just hoping it settles soon. I would not go back on Mirtazapine now though. Just want my confidence back and some of the old me now.

      I need to stop the phenergan soon really and see if I can sleep without it. Does give you a bit of a hangover effect next day esp taking 2 a night but I would not take anymore!!! Hope you feel better soon!!!!

    • paun59797
      paun59797 richard1977

      Posted

      Hi Richard,

      I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering so much. I do share in terrible withdrawal problems. I am sure that you have looked up the medications that you mention in your message. They can contribute to the sleep problems, the anxiety and the sweats (diazepam). I have read a number of messages from people on these forums that have said their side effects started week 2 or 3 so I guess it could be possible that it is the Mirtazapine. As we all note, everyone is different and our bodies adjust in their own time. As I have said many times I feel that the Mirtazapine poisoned me and I am determined to never touch it again, in fact I threw it all out. All of us on these patient forums are pretty much looking for the same thing. How long does this pain last?? I am so grateful to those that have written here and they gave/give me hope. I am confident that this will pass for all of us including you. I really hope that your symptoms subside quickly but I do believe that you should be contacting your doctor again. I am trying to make sure that I am VERY well aware of any possible side effects of  any medication that I am prescribed in the future. It may impact my choice to take it or not and also prepare me for what may lay ahead. Please hang on and get as much rest as you can. Also, try to drink plenty of water and eat well. Things will get better!! 

    • Iris1234
      Iris1234 paun59797

      Posted

      this is me now!!! i feel like im dying or have been poisoned! so dizzy!

      what was your outcome?

  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    Day 22- Last night buzzing was less intense but certainly there. This morning woke up with severe dizziness, worst in many days-dry mouth started out a little better but back to usual feeling along with sore gums. Still very irritable. Sleeping is still light and unsettled but at this point is not of major concern given the other terrible symptoms mentioned above. I think I will hang in there as there seems to be some change.
  • emma52288
    emma52288 helenj289

    Posted

    Hi Helen, are you all symptom clear now? I am 1 month and 1 week into my Mirt taper. I have been on Mirt for around 18 months and started on Citalopram 6 months ago. I feel better and didn't want to be on 2 meds any longer and the weight gain has gotten to be an issue (clothes won't fit). I was on 45mgs and then went down to 30mgs for a month and now on 15mgs for a week so far. I don't expect to see any withdrawal symptoms for at least 3 weeks. But would love some reassurance that what ever I get won't last too long.

  • Morning_Rain
    Morning_Rain helenj289

    Posted

    Hi All

    Mirtazapine is a rogue drug that although they claim it to be in the class of tetracyclic drugs, it is very much in a drug class of its own.

    That isnt good news for us, the consumer.  As laymen, here’s what we do know it does:

    - It messes with ones blood sugar to the degree your body thinks you’re diabetic, hence the wild cravings for sugar and carbs resulting in egregious weight gain.

    - It significantly slows down your metabolism also adding to the weight gain.

    - It has antihistamine properties that proliferate throughout your body saturating all your subsystems.

    This mistake of a drug is not fit for human consumption and should be banned. 

    For all you folks trying to withdraw from this horror of a drug, my heart goes out to you. I’m in the midst of it and it’s the hardest thing I’ve done in my life and I been through some very bad stuff.

    • joanne00689
      joanne00689 Morning_Rain

      Posted

      Hi Jo,

      Thank you for your post, it’s reassuring to know we’re all in this together.

      I’m currently fighting the effects of being on Mirt. Due to my incredible weight gain on this drug, I have been back to my Slimming club and so far have lost 7lbs in as many weeks, but boy it’s tough. 

      I’ve been fighting sugar cravings by eating loads of fibre filled fruits and bran. I’ve also really upped the exercise.

      Under normal circumstances I would be losing 2-3 lbs per week, but whilst on Mirt 15mg my GP has told me it will be hard.

      The other night I lay awake in bed with hundreds of thoughts running through my head (sounds like a song!) and could not sleep. I was beginning to think Mirt had stopped working, until I realised I had forgotten to take it! That’s how quickly it reminds us!!! So at 1.35am I took it and felt hideous the next day...

      In the afternoon I lost my keys, so the whole family searched for them. My husband found them hanging in the coat cupboard!!! I was very upset because I felt I was losing the plot, but I know it’s not me. My GP has said when Summer is upon us, he will help me very slowly and carefully come off Mirt.  At the moment I know it is helping with pain and sleep but at a cost to my sanity....

      I don’t want the cold turkey vomiting and diarrhoea I experienced before - ever...

    • drew17
      drew17 Morning_Rain

      Posted

      Hi Jo,

      Agree totally with you challenging the status of Mirt.

      I have written to a NHS watchdog, the “pharmacological vigilance” group.” but all I have had so far is a technical description of the drug with no hints of withdrawal from the market place or recommendations for health professional not to prescribe. This dialogue is still ongoing. 

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