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Tapering off Mirtazapine

Posted , 6 users are following.

Swanscity
Swanscity

I'm coming off Mirt because of the weight gain.  I spoke to my GP and she said "don't bother tapering,  just come off them,  because it's a low dose". Which I know isn't wise to do.  I've been on 7.5mg since September last year.  Before that I was on them from February to August.  Going from 7.5mg up to 45mg,  and then back down, Finishing off at 7.5mg without any side effects at all.  Last night I cut the 7.5mg in half and woke up with nausea and a headache.  It was worse than being on a high dose of 45mg.  Should I just stick to the 7.5mg and take it on alternative nights,  every two,  then every three and so on.  Has anyone tapered off in this way?  Thanks you.

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  • sarah24378
    sarah24378 Swanscity

    Posted

    I am on 45mg and have been for 8 months. I hate them. They do help me sleep but I constantly wake up and in the morning I feel so hungover. In a fog and heavy head. Does this sound like the mirt. I want to start to taper down to 15mg but am scared of withdrawals. How fast did you go ?
    • Swanscity
      Swanscity sarah24378

      Posted

      Hi

      Yes,  I would say it's the Mirt. They are great for sleep.  I feel the same in the mornings.  Takes me a couple of hours to function properly.  From the 45mg,  I think I tapered down every three weeks with no side effects.  It's just trying to get off the 7.5mg, I'm having problems with it.  I tried a smaller dose two nights ago and took 7.5mg last night to see if it was any different. But I still have nausea from the smaller dose.    I also cannot wait to finish Mirt.  My GP told me there would be no side effects if I went cold turkey.  But there is no way I am doing it that way. It's all very well taking them for sleep/ anxiety and so on,  but I'm also scared about the withdrawals.  I can cope with the nausea and headaches but not the other side effects that go with it.

    • sarah24378
      sarah24378 Swanscity

      Posted

      Did you feel worse in the morning on 45mg or the lower doses ? I have a one year old and can t feel so bad in the mornings am worried I ll be like it till I get off which could take a year on a slow taper. Even after the foggy feeling lifts I get headaches I feel useless every day.
    • Swanscity
      Swanscity sarah24378

      Posted

      I felt worse on the lower dose.  The 30mg was the worse for me.  I had a terrible pain searing through my back down to my hips.  I homeschool my daughter so I need to be alert too. The small dose,  I just want to sleep all the time. The thought of the withdrawal is making me anxious.  I think the more you dwell on it the worse it will make you feel.  I started taking it in February last year and stayed on it until August.  I stopped at 7.5mg and had no withdrawal symptoms. Went back on them in October. But second time round I just can't seem to stop at that dose.

    • sarah24378
      sarah24378 Swanscity

      Posted

      I get terrible tension headaches and just feel heavy. Might not be the mirt but have to start reducing and find out. 7 months to get to 15.....wish I'd never gone up.

    • Swanscity
      Swanscity sarah24378

      Posted

      Maybe the dose is too high.  Speak to your Doctor and ask can you reduce the dose.  Did you get the headaches before the Mirt?
    • Swanscity
      Swanscity sarah24378

      Posted

      I'd speak to your Doctor and explain the headaches. Best get it sorted. I used to suffer with them too.  This way way before I started the Mirt.  The headaches were to do with my anxiety.

  • BLUESY
    BLUESY Swanscity

    Posted

    HI SWANSCITY,,when i was on the mirt i started on 30mg for dep/anx/chronic imsomnia/panic,,the 30mg was too heavy it made me a zombie so reduced to 7.5mg and stayed on that for 10-12 weeks i started to feel a lot better every week so then reduced too 5mg then 3.75 over 2-3 weeks because i felt 95% better then stopped,,i did have some side effects,,but nothing i could not handle i am now ok and have been OFF 7 weeks,,,also i have my life back,,its easy to cut the tabs into the mgs to the above size if u are carefull,it is no good up and downing the mirt it will only make u feel worse,,stabalise then SLOWLY reduce and u will soon start to feel a lot better,,i do have a sleep problem sometimes but put this down to my brother dying on jan 24 and am taking trazodone for it sometimes,,hope this helps you,,,,,,,good luck,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,BLUESY 
    • Swanscity
      Swanscity BLUESY

      Posted

      Hi

      Sorry for your loss.  I did cut the 7.5mg in half, and I still suffering two days later.  How did you manage the 5mg with the 7.5mg tablet?

    • BLUESY
      BLUESY Swanscity

      Posted

      HI SWANSCITY,,,i cut it into 2 parts 1,, 5mg-1,, 2.5mg  ,,,also u will not feel better after 2 days it takes time to respond to your sistem give it time and u will soon see the benifit and start to feel better,,i know it is difficult but u have to persivere to get the results,,good luck,,keep in touch,,,,BLUESY 
    • Swanscity
      Swanscity BLUESY

      Posted

      Thank you.   I know it's different for everyone.  I will give this a try.  I don't want to do a big drop.  I'd rather it took a while than going too quick.

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