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Mirtazapine withdrawal timeline - help!

Posted , 76 users are following.

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

213 Replies

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  • tassie69608
    tassie69608 helenj289

    Posted

    Hi Helen,

    I know this is an old post, but I’m dying to know as well how long  these horrific w/s last. Hope you’re feeling better by now. I can’t believe a doctor would prescribe this medication to someone who was just struggling for a bit. I have been on mirt 15mg for 7 years. No doctor ever discussed with me how I was getting after all these years. And I got used to these pills as I would take one before bedtime. And whenever I didn’t take it, insomnia and decreased appetite would return instantly. So I kept taking them. I have to tried to come off them, but without any success. I tried again to come off it and this time I stuck through it and it has now been 10 weeks mirt free. I’ve stopped abruptly but was on 7,5 mg for six months then just stopped taking them one night. My life is a mess, I’ve lost my job due to the severe w/s, my marriage is about to end if things carry on like this. I had diarrhoea and vomiting the second week of coming off until now amongs other symptoms. Anxiety is through the roof, anger, agitation,extreme decreased appetite, insomnia, fatigue etc. Lost so much weight. Doctors are not really helpful and quite frankly I don’t even trust them after this. So I started to self medicate . Nothing worked, still experiencing the morning diarrhoea and sometimes morning vomiting. I became very ill 6 weeks ago for 3 weeks consecutively and the doctor referred me to a gastroenterologist to have an endoscopy done. They find out my stomach was inflamed which resulted in gastritis and all thanks to of mirt the devil drug. I haven’t been sleeping at all, 2/3 hrs without any sleep aid if I’m lucky. I’m at the end of the road. I’m not getting the medical support I need. Nytol helps, but don’t want to carry on taking as it’s bad for u. So I have been looking for other alternatives. I’ve purchased L arginine 500mg and L tryptophan 1000mg. The L arginine didn’t work for me at all as been only on it for two nights. Today amazon delivered L tryptophan and it was suggest to take them both before bedtime as L arginine works better with L Tryptophan. So hopefully I can get a restful sleep tonight. I’m a wreck, I feel fatigue all day every day since coming off. You can see from my face that I look ill. Please if anyone of u have any suggest how I can tackle the lack of appetite please let me. I’m suffering tremendously and about to give up hope 😭😭😭😭

    • Morning_Rain
      Morning_Rain tassie69608

      Posted

      Hi Tassie

      If you’d like to join a FB Mirtazapine withdrawal (w/d) support group, please private message me.

    • paun59797
      paun59797 tassie69608

      Posted

      Hi Tassie,

      I am so sorry to hear of the terrible experience you are having withdrawing from Mirtazapine. I know it is hard to believe, but you will get through this. I am sure you have looked up the impact that anti-depressants have on your CNS and that it effects EVERYTHING. I also lost my appetite during withdrawal and had terrible diarrhea for about 2 weeks. This resulted in bleeding. It has since stopped and yours will too. I think that a diet followed by people suffering from ulcers (bleeding and otherwise) may help you. There are many sites that explain what you should and should not eat. It may help your appetite too and help your body heal. Unfortunately it seems that many who go through this process do not have adequate or any help from the medical profession. We do however have each other on this site and we are all so impacted by how our lives have been changed we just want to help others. We have all felt like giving up and helpless during this as it has been the hardest thing that many of us have ever done. Please do not give up hope. It will get better and I hope that you keep us all posted.

    • Guest
      Guest tassie69608

      Posted

      I keep Phenergan by my bed, it's a tablet given to folk before an operation. It helps anxiety & helps you sleep & is non addictive. It can be bought over the chemist counter as an aid for "flying" " sleeping" antihistamine etc.

    • karen60759
      karen60759 tassie69608

      Posted

      hi tassie, how are you feeling now? im 5 weeks off and suffering - does it get better ??

  • Morning_Rain
    Morning_Rain helenj289

    Posted

    Hi Helen

    How are you now, 8 months later?

    And are you still off, or did you reinstate the mirtz?

  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    8 weeks off Mirtazapine- today withdrawal problems still exist. They are: severe tinnitus, poor memory, unbearable sweating mostly at night but a couple of times during the day, clumsy hands/body, vivid dreams, severe pulsing/pressure/stinging gums, very irritable, sensitive to noise, tired, tooth pain, active/pulsing tongue, flushed/red cheeks, tense facial muscles, waking frequently in night and early morning 4-5am, dry skin, itchy all over and racing thoughts. This is still really terrible but actually better than before. Some symptoms have disappeared but the ones that remain are hell.
  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    Just an aside,.. as my mind races I thought that perhaps anyone prescribing this drug, should only do so if they have been on it themselves and experienced side effects and/or withdrawal issues (or not) or watch videos of people who have been on this drug talking about how it impacted their life in any way. This would include people who have been helped or harmed. This may help insure that they discuss the potential down side of Mirtazapine. In my case I do not remember anyone telling me how this drug works and the impact it has on your CNS. I may have chosen not to take it.
  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    10 Weeks off Mirtazapine cold turkey 45mg. Problems continue with severe facial/gum/tooth/nasal pressure/pain and pumping, fatigue,SEVERE tinnitus, sweating on/off, irritability and ability to focus. I am still taking 25mg of Elavil and 1mg of Lorazepam at night and that may be helping with symptoms or lack thereof. I have booked Craniosacral therapy for later this months in hopes of helping with nerve pain and tinnitus. I also met with my psychiatrist last week and was disappointed but not surprised when I told her I was unwilling to continue with drug therapy. She did admit that stopping cold turkey could be "difficult" (she never mentioned this before and I was not aware of that as difficult as that is to believe). She also said that it was biologically and physiologically IMPOSSIBLE to have withdrawal problems one year later as some on these forms have stated and that she questions the "quality" of people on the forms. She asked me to have blood tests done to determine what was "wrong" with me as my problems could not be from Mirtazapine w/d. Despite her claim of being seriously concerned about me, I have not heard from her to book the follow up appointment in 3-4 weeks that she wanted. In the end I do feel better than I did 2 months ago so there is hope. We must continue to advocate for ourselves and share our experiences with others who have also lived or are still living withdrawal hell.

  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Posted

    13 Weeks off Mirtazapine-I still suffer from some night sweating and pressure pain in nose/sinuses/gums/face. The tinnitus is getting better. It is almost gone in my left ear but still holding on quite strongly in my right. At least  it has changed. This change seemed to happen overnight last week. Two weeks ago I had a session of craniosacral therapy and since then things have changed for the better. I am also using a hand held massage tool on my back and neck. I NEVER thought that I would come to this point. Living this hell for over 3 months with little symptom relief was so tough. I am so glad that I stuck to it though. For all of us on this journey I hope for strength to beat this drug. I hope that every day we become better and stronger in our quest to be symptom free.
  • paun59797
    paun59797 helenj289

    Edited

    14 Weeks off Mirtazapine- Still suffer from tinnitus (a little less severe), gum/sinus/facial/nasal pain and pressure and some sweating. I am so glad that I stopped despite living in hell. I am starting to receive physiotherapy for my remaining symptoms. I hope that this will eliminate these problems. I have noticed a number of recent reports in the media about anti-depressant withdrawal and finally some acknowledgment that it is real. Stay strong and hopefully time will heal us all.
    • joanne00689
      joanne00689 paun59797

      Posted

      Glad to hear that your symptoms are getting easier, even though a little bit at a time. It just goes to show how this medication gets our bodies hooked, even though our minds are not.

      Stay strong and keep up the updates. I’ll need to read them when I try to come off eventually x

    • joao81049
      joao81049 paun59797

      Posted

      Please, could you Tell me for How long you've been taking mirt before withdraw? I have been taking It for one year and four months. My cholesterol are Very high.

    • paun59797
      paun59797 joao81049

      Edited

      15 Weeks off Pristiq-I had been on Pristiq for about 5-6 years (I really can't remember) but was on 50mg until November 2017 when my dose was increased to 100mg. That was when the problems started that led to my being forced to stop because of terrible side-effects. i still have intense tinnitus especially in my right ear, but it changes in intensity throughout the day from very loud to loud to moderate loud. The pain and pressure in my nose and gums is still very intense, but seems to be changing as well. I continue to have very dry lips and tongue as well as occasional night sweating. I have had two physical therapy sessions and one craniosacral therapy session. Both these sessions seem to have "changed" my symptoms. I can't say for sure if my symptoms are less severe but I know they are not worse. My hope is that I will be able to go through one day without these remaining symptoms consuming every minute.

    • paun59797
      paun59797 joanne00689

      Posted

      4 Months off Mirtazapine-So glad I stopped! I went through hell and still continue to have a few lingering problems. Extremely dry lips, tinnitus (getting better), some night sweating and severe pain/pressure in gums/nose/sinuses. Compared to where I was, this is better. I am going to physio and craniosacral therapy. I think that has helped with the tinnitus but the pain is still there. It may just be time that has helped. If the next few weeks do not get better I may add a chiropractor to the team. I can't believe how much this drug has changed my life. I still have hope that the remaining symptoms will go away. Good luck to us all.

    • paun59797
      paun59797 Guest

      Posted

      5 Months off Mirtazapine, Sorry that I was delayed in posting this and thanks for asking jeffy1. I still suffer from intense facial/nasal/gum nerve pain, tinnitus, memory issues, dry mouth/lips/tongue/palate, sweating and post nasal drip. Again, I originally had about 75 withdrawal problems so you can see that things are better. I continue to see a physiotherapist and receive craniosacral therapy. I think that they help a bit but the big helper I believe is time. Where are you on your journey or have you started yet? I still have hope that these problems will disappear too. Good luck to us all.
    • ann55375
      ann55375 paun59797

      Posted

      Also four months off mirtaz. Tried many others beforehand no success.  Are siwthdrawal symptoms sometimes feelings of despair and hopelessness on waking, that life will never again get better.  Other things i can cope with.
    • paun59797
      paun59797 ann55375

      Posted

      Hi Ann,

      I wake up every day wondering if life will ever be back to "normal". I feel helpless and hopeless everyday and have so for 5 months. I do not believe that this feeling is due to a relapse of symptoms of depression/anxiety etc but the realization that our health is so fragile and we must always try to do what is best to keep ourselves healthy. When addicted, you lose that control and I feel that makes me feel terrible both mentally and physically. I do still have hope that it will get better as I have read many posts of people that have suffered symptoms for a very long time but eventually got better. We are all different and obviously heal differently. I wish you all the best and I hope that we can both continue to be strong until we beat this.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 paun59797

      Posted

      Thanks Paun.  I dont know how old you are but have read that the younger you are the quicker the withdrawals go.  I am over 60and withdrawals seem to just keep going. You are so right, the mornings feel hopeless Nd. If nothing can be normal again.  I am sometimes better by later in day. I see you are five months, i am four.  I am glad you think this is not relapse just protracted withdrawal.  I too have read it can take time for this to pass, a long time too.  I try to keep the faith like you that it will go.  I just find it difficukt to be strong some days and cant see the wood for the trees.  Do you have alternating symptoms of anxiety and nausea too? Dr gave me meds for them yet said it only takes one month for mirtaz to,leave system and was thinking of just tryingANOTHER a.d. i have held out so far but its hard.
    • paun59797
      paun59797 ann55375

      Posted

      Hi Ann, I am 58 so not a youngster. I have anxiety but no nausea but most do. I think if you read many of these posts you will find that some have found that their doctors played down the withdrawal symptoms. Both the severity and the length. You can check the half life of mirtazapine online and it takes much less time to leave the system than 1 month. So from what I understand withdrawal happens after it leaves the system. Withdrawal of course is so individual. I was offered other drugs to help with the withdrawal but am so afraid of taking anything right now I declined. I have seen others that have gone back and again only you can decide what is best. I agree that it is VERY hard in the beginning and now. Good luck and continue to do what is best for you. 
    • Morning_Rain
      Morning_Rain paun59797

      Posted

      Hi Paun

      I’m very confused.

      Are you off two drugs (Pristiq & Mirtazapine)?

      So your withdrawals are not just caused from Mirtazapine, correct?

    • April1304
      April1304 ann55375

      Posted

      Hi I have suffered morning depression as well,It's Horrible!thing is Im weaning myself off Mirtazapine 15mg which I was taking with Venlaxine 150mg,I'm now down tp 5mg of Mirt.what I found is when I decreased the dose I felt horrible for a few days and things leveled out after that.I'm now going to cut my dose down to 2 n a half mgs and I know I'll have the horrible morning thing while I wean myself off of it.Im lucky I have a good g.p.as this is what he advised me to do and he also said it is a very hard drug to get off of,(he didn't prescribe it) anyway seeing as you've stopped hang in there and well done you! Maybe have a chat with your doctor and see what he or she says?

    • ann55375
      ann55375 April1304

      Posted

      Strange thing is the psychiatrist said that the mirtazapine only took. One month to come off and all gone.  Are these people living in the real world?  You only need to look on these sites to see that there are hundreds having withdrawals lasting for months afterwards.  Makes me wonder if its worth seeing a specialist when they lie to us
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