My withdrawal progress

Hi Neogenx

Yes quite a long time I remember... no improvement, I would edge down slowly if you were to ask me my advice  

I would do a 5% drop, test the water, so to speak, using the liquid method and go to 7.12 mg. Sadly, of everyone I have read about who does big tapers and struggles, either loses confidence or goes back up the doses which plays havoc with the nervous system.  You've done well so I think enough time has passed ~ you'll be fine, try the 5%.

In MHO, I wouldn't worry the malaise/fatigue is depression returning, those are symptoms of WD/discontinuation.  So you might find going lower you willl hit a dose where you feel well again.  Are you planning to stay on 10mg Lexapro Neo?  Personallly I wouldn't taper both at the same time.  

I hope you feel some improvement soon.

Hi Calmer.

Fortunatelly I can rely on you and your answers

Well, I would like to go lower but - right now I have only 1 pack of Sol tabs (30x15mg = 60x7.5mg). The other packs I have are standard tablets. For me that means that I would need to reach 3.75 in approximately 60 days to be able to devide the standard tablets 15mg into 4x3.75mg. Moreover I would say that it is not recommended to taper during autumn and winter time. What do you think?

Why not autumn/winter time?  Take Vitamin D to cover lack of sunshine.  I started my decline in October last year, I think the dark nights and dark mornings helped me sleep, I always sleep better in the dark.  

Can you not get more Sol Tabs or tablets from your doc?  A therapist once said to me that I should be able to make my own discontinuation plan, it angers me when I read that general doctors won't give more time/tablets to patients.  Mirt Sol Tabs are easiest to work with for a liquid, but you can make liquid with both.

I have brain fog now, getting late (for me !) but think about it, remember that if you dilute 2 x15 mg tablets OR 2 x 15 mg Mirt Sol Tabs, (as per instructions I gave you) you draw out 7.12 ml each night for 4 nights.  Then start over again because the liquid only lasts 4 nights (or maybe more but taking no chances).  

Much go rest my brain, all Mirt-ed out  !!

Hi Calmer.

Thank you for PM.

I talked to my pdoc like 2 weeks ago and she recommended me to start getting off in spring. Anyway, I can imagine her idea about "getting off" as she already got me off Citalec (cold turkey) and Trazodone (cold turkey). During my next appointment I will ask her about giving me more receipts for Sol Tabs

Very wise, its good just to gather up the info for a while, absorb, before any taper anyways.  Only you know when the time is right for you.  7.5 mg isn't a bad dose, you get sedation still maybe?  I did, and still do at the low dose.

CT twice ~ you know this is terrible practice for a so called "professional" ~ it just serves to make suffering/torture/call it what you like worse ... and for some people, makes them think they are even more ill than before they first went on any medication, when the truth is the CT from the meds made them worse !!!

Hope your week is good Neogenx, take care.

You are right.

Unfortunatelly that time (when my pdoc advised me to do CT) I did not know anything about these "meds". Today I can say that I learnt enough to know how to "proceed". Maybe I will try larger cuts - 10% instead of 5% since it seems neverending to me

Hi Neo

Stay in the sauna and drink the alcohol, joke, only joking.

Its the same old story of, and at a risk of sounding boring now "the lower doses of Mirt' are more sedating and causes more fatigue".  Don't you think ?  

I know diddly squat about Cipralex and its side effects, taking 2 AD's together, oh wait a minute ... I'll pop a message in yoir message box.

 

hi,i am tapering like you and have the same symptoms.I was wondering if these get less as i reduce but it seems not.I have been tapering for while (may 16?) lost count of the day numbers but do keep a diary.Started on 15mg ,now at 10.2mg or 0.68ml.Last cut went great -days 4+5 I felt awful then to day 14 i was pretty good.This cut 4+ 5 awful but also 9 -12,so no pattern unfortunately .Will stay put on this dose till i'm feeling better.And the extra weight  ! Now thats a another topic.....

Hi Plainden & Neogenx 

Well you can take comfort that you have similar symtpms; I too have a reaction day 4/5 and 11/12 ... then good days. 

I find it useful to check the journal, know what to expect (usually) and therefore not let the symptoms affect the confidence, seems pretty much as though it repeats each time.  

You know Neogenx, I've spoken to lots of folks who have your symtoms, I wouldn't wait now for the symptoms to change, just doing a slight cut test 5%, then 7%, and if ok maybe a little more every 3-4 weeks) might make you feel better.  If you start at a baby 5% and just wait 2-3 weeks I think your confidence in tapering may well be restored  

I noticed the weight very slowly change after about 7.5 mg ... and you will get there, and it won't be a matter of hard work because naturally the weight will very slowly change, because your appetite changes, I no longer get the munchies, in fact some days I can take or leave it.  Having said that, occasionally I get "the Mirt WD tummy" .... ugh, and then its about accepting it will pass, a few days maybe, take the o/c meds to stop the rush and its fine.  

Hope you find some comfort talking to each other, sure helps to have a buddy in WD.

Wishing you all well.  

 

Hi Calmer.

For me it is very difficult to accept that it could be WD since I have been on 7.5mg dose since 5 months ago. On Saturday I was in a shopping mall with my family and there was some event called "Rheumaday". I had a short talk with a doctor and he recommended me to get some tests done for rheuma diseases, especially "Bechterew disease", because of my back ache, joint aches, etc.

Your symtpoms of back & joint ache, malaise/fatigue ... I'm not saying they are caused by WD, I am convinced these are side affects of the Mirt'.  Many folk speak of those symtoms.  A lot of us are also struggling with the tiredness at the lower doses.  Are you sleeping ok?  

I would get the tests done asap, see if spondylitis can be detected, but I would be assured at the same time, that these symptoms are common for people on Mirt (not me) but many have spoken of them.  But get the worry ruled out if its possible.  

Are you intending to stay on Mirt or do you want to get off?  Its just that 5 months is a long time to stick at a dose if you want to try to get off.  If it helps any, I had a bad time at a bout 8.5 mg, once I got below about 6.5 I started to feel an improvement.  

Hope this helps a little.

Your comments always help, this one is not exception

Well ... I will see ... maybe I will start tapering before Christmas

Thank you for your kind words.

Good luck Neo, what ever you decide.  

Hi Calmer

Have been following Mirtazapine on this site and notice you have read and replied to a lot of posts.  I was on Mirtazapine for 9 weeks - last two weeks got to 30g and was in a terrible state.  M had done nothing for me the whole time except make my anxiety and sleep worse.  Doctor would not agree said to go to 

30 as this would work.  After 2 weeks on 30 said had enough, it did not give me an appetite.  Reduced down over 23 days and came off .  It's now day 19  mirt free.  Things have improved every so slightly but this morning has been so bad.  Have you come across the 3 - 4 week peak.  Coulditbe my withdrawal is peaking.  For the last week I have had head bands and tension a my brain is adjusting back.  Or are these waves and windows.  I know I was only using it 9 weeks, but they were 9 weeks of hell and now weeks of near hell with very slow benefits.   Mornings are horrendous.  I am 66 and don,t know how much more of this I can take .  Any comments would be most helpful .  Anyone else been here

 

Hi Ruth

So sorry for your suffering.  I wonder how it was for you at 15mg ??  Also are you taking/have been taking anuthing else?

30mg works for nearly no one, in fact I've read of so many folk whose anxiety got worse at 30 mg; make sure your doctor is aware of this for any future poor souls!  

Its such an awful drug to come off when its done quickly, although I'm sure you thought you were alright to do it in 23 days, but now ... ugh, awful discontinuation.  Any other symptoms apart from band around head & tenson ?  Its best to treat each symptom seperately but those aren't really treatable apart from maybe relaxation or guided meditation.  Drinking lots of water, avoiding caffeine and just trying to eat healthily will all help ~ can you eat alright?

Could well be a peak, hard to know, such a shame after only 9 weeks!  You're certainly right about the windows & waves, one day OK next day feeling ill, thats the nature of Mirt.  For sure it will pass, I think its important to keep that as your mantra - no one can tell you how long it will take because its different for us all.  Retaking Mirt' could be your last resort, remember that, there's no shame inn it, many have had 3 or 4 attempts before getting it right ~ that's why I'm always 'harping on' about doing a slow taper (have you read my links under my status??).

Anyway, I hope you can get some relief quickly, let us know how it goes for you Ruth.

 

Hi. Thanks for replying. Have started homeopathic treatment but unfortunately I have what they call an aggravation, worsening of symptoms before getting better.  Do not take anything else.  Did have triple antibiotic treatment at end of tapering and guess what side effect was anxiety.  Ithink it follows me around.  Always feel sick.   

Sorry hit wrong button.  No way will I take another Mirtazapine.  They nearly killed me.  Do you still have symptoms on your tapers.  Was always ill on it high or low dose but no one seemed to listen.  I am so unhappy and despondent.  I hate these really bad days.  Anxiety was never as bad before these drugs.  Do you have the brain tightness and fog.  Don,t know if my brain is capable of feeling normal again.   I am hoping that I will see the light somewhere.  Sleeping is still terrible.  Wake up after 1 hour back to sleep 3/4 hours then awake for adrenaline rush.  Never had a problem with sleep before.  Morning palpitations are easing ever so slightly.  Where has my life gone.  How do you stay positive.   

My main symptoms during tapering is fatigue, yes foggy brain but then I had that before the taper.  I'm on a real slow coach taper so I havn't had the sickness, tummy flu, insomnia ... just takes so long !

Well may as well try to be positive because it will pass for sure, its tougher with a fast taper ... especiaally when your sleep is so bad.  Have you tried Phenergen?  Over the counter here in UK.

Homoeopathy is so gentle, beware St John Wort ... not sure it doesn;t have an interaction with Mirt/withdrawal, have to check that one.

Did you go on Mirt for depression?  Any other AD's before?  They really do mess up the system, takes a while to rewire  x

Hi

Had good day after visiting homeopath .  Gave me small pills.  However I seem to be getting what they call aggravation after dosage.  This is a worsening of symptoms.  She has told me this is a good sign and indicates the pills are working.  Fairly good day yesterday and slept better last night.  Poor morning but I have now just entered a massive panic.  Do you think this could be a wave.  Was starting to feel a little bit of positivity until this happened.  It also seems homeopathy is not a quick fix and these aggravations could last over a week.  Was on Mirtazapine for anxiety and not eating.  Did nothing for either.   Not having as many brain storms.   Have another appointment next week so will continue till then.  She has told me I can text her anytime.  I have texted and phoned her and she is so patient.  How long have you got left on your taper.  Will report further after next appointment.  Do you have waves and windows. Keep well. Ruth

I think all Mirt WD symptoms come in windows & waves, so yes it probably is a wave.  Most folk say the symptoms are much worse in the mornings, wearing off in the afternoons.  

Its weird how Mirt' makes some people "eat for 2" and yet not others ... I out on aa good 20 lbs in weight ggrrrr .... it is trickling off very very slowly, but from everything I've read it doesn't fully come off until your off Mirt.

I think I should be off by Christmas, fingers crossed, then it may be a testing time, or maybe not  

I don't know if this may help you ... someone once said "if you feel a surge of energy [as some do in  Mirt WD] don't sit around waiting for it to turn into a panic attack, go for a jog or fast walk"  ...  now I'm not saying that every time you feel energetic it will lead to an attack, I'm just quoting some advice - see if it fits, its like a cortisol build up I guess, and exercise really helps.

Great you have faith in a homoeopath, she sounds really understanding.