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Hello everybody! I'm a 21 year old male, was always in good health, active, energetic. I'm new to the forum and I'm doing my best to post this under the appropriate terms. My story goes like this: On May 24th 2018 I was prescribed Mirtazapine by a psychiatrist because I had an acute insomnia problem (I wouldn't even call it Insomnia because it was a minor problem just sleeplessness) lasting for 3 weeks prior to the day I took my first pill. I never had depression or anxiety or any other problem it was just for insomnia. The psychiatrist was quick to prescribe me Mirtazapine after only a couple of questions, she didn't even bother with psychotherapy and similar methods. She told me to take half a dose (7.5mg) for two days and then up the dose to 15mg for four weeks and then visit her for a check-up. My sleeping problem was resolved instantly the first night I took the pill so after 4 weeks I visited her and she said now we'll start tapering you off by taking half the dose (7.5mg) for two weeks, and then taking it every other day for 5 days and then nothing. So I followed her orders since day 1 and did exactly what she told me. But, immediately after I stopped withing the first two days I started experiencing flu like symptoms, low energy, bad mood, irritability, higher levels of cortisol and anxiety, general feeling of being very sick and uneasiness. Symptoms kept adding up like: constant headaches (which I never had in my whole entire life, I never knew what a headache felt like), electric shocks through my body mainly in the fingers and toes but not limited to only them, and generally feeling like having the worst flu of my life. So I called the same psychiatrist and she told me we have reduced too fast, so we'll start the same therapy again take 7.5mg for two days then 15mg for two weeks. Within the first few days I found relief from most of my symptoms and followed her orders but after about two weeks while still on 15mg the symptoms returned. I went online and searched for people with the same problems maybe even worse. I read a lot of horror stories of people coming off this drug but I read a lot of positive tapering experiences too. And now with all the info I could gather (CITA Protocol, 10% tapering method by SA, the importance of a slow taper) I started crushing the pills and doing a liquid version like Evergreen had done and taper by small percentages while listening to my body and I started immediately after three weeks of taking 15mg, so the next day after that,using the liquid I cut to 14ml (I made the liquid so 1ml equals 1mg of Mirt) and the next day I felt horrible until the evening when most of my symptoms subsided so I continued on that dose for three days, then cut to 13ml and it's been 9 days since that cut and the last 4 days I'm having the same withdrawal symptoms. I wanted to ask you guys since I have never really felt the same as before taking this medication although way better than when I stopped like that listening to doc's orders, how should I proceed from now? Did the reduction that she did damage my brain permanently because the symptoms are still here and they come and go. Also that reinstatement 7.5 for two days than 15mg for three weeks, is that damaging? Please people tell me what should I do and how to proceed? I've been thinking of doing it the same as Evergreen and maybe I'll get lucky and be off this med without any serious side effects or withdrawals. My family and my precious girlfriend are the only people close to me that support me all the time especially the love of my live because she was the only person who believed me when I told her that these symptoms are from the medication and not from ME. Because the psychiatrist started diagnosing me with anxiety and all of these other things that I never had then my parents trusted her but now they know that I'm right and it's the meds after reading almost everything on this forum. And finally thank you to everyone on this forum for opening my eyes and telling me about the symptoms and withdrawals. Please guys help me get through this unharmed as I'm still feeling the symptoms and don't know how to proceed.
0 likes, 4 replies
william59563
Posted
I wanted to add: Since I've been taking Mirtazapine for only 2 months and considering my health history and everything else which was great before this drug, can I do a faster taper?
caroline_1957 william59563
Posted
I found melatonin good for sleep and
L Theanine good for the anxiety but my psychiatrist is still trying to get me to go on another antidepressant which I’m refusing
Go slowly and remember you will get windows and waves that means a window is s good day a wave is hell
Good luck don’t give up
christine15542 william59563
Posted
Hi William
You are definitely experiencing withdrawal, so don’t be tempted to taper too fast.
It is advisable to taper no more than 10% per month, or 5% every 2 weeks. Or listen to your body - if WD symptoms are present wait a little longer before you reduce your dosage. I know because like you I had no help from the medical profession. They have no idea or refuse to admit that mirtazapine presents with serious withdrawal if tapered too quickly or just stopped cold turkey. In fact they don't like to use the word withdrawal for antidepressants, preferring the word discontinuation syndrome!!!!!!!
Morning_Rain william59563
Posted
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