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Withdrawal Woes

Posted , 7 users are following.

lottiezeb
lottiezeb

Hi all,

I am currently on a 15 mg dose of Mirtazapine (have been for about a year and a half)and I would really like some advice regarding the process of getting off of it. Last time my psychiatrist tried to take me off of it I was at 30 mg and she decided to take me off cold turkey. WELL. Suffice it to say that it did not go well at all- I could barely do anything other than cry, puke and sleep and when I told my psych that I was having terrible withdrawal she informed me that there was no withdrawal for Remeron hahahahaha. A second of Googling later she was like "OOPS" and put me back on the lowered dose I'm at now. She has been talking about taking me off it again recently and I said that I wanted to think about it. Mostly I am really scared that she has no idea what she is doing with this drug and the withdrawal will be terrible again. People who have stopped at 15 mg, have you been okay? I'm on a lot of psych meds and if be happy to stop taking some of them, especially the sedative ones, but I dont want to get that messed up again. Thank you!

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • pamela51740
    pamela51740 lottiezeb

    Posted

    Hi there, it really pee's me off when doctors say they are no withdrawel symptoms coming off antidepressants! Your pysch needs a slap on the wrist for stopping you cold turkey, you should never stop antidepressants suddenly, I was only on 7.5mg and quit mirtazapine cold turkey in September for 6 days and had to go back on them because it was pure hell, like you I was crying all the time having panic attacks it was horrendous, mirtazapine is a nightmare to come off, do it slowly and read old posts on here about other people's experiences, I'm going to wait till after Christmas to come off mine. Xx

    • Guest
      Guest pamela51740

      Posted

      Really think doctors ought to look at the number of poor souls posting here to take note how awful it is to withdraw.maybe they would feel differently if they had had the unfortunate experience of needing this med and then suffering withdrawels (while being told by their GP or psychiatrist) but there are no withdrawels!
  • Guest
    Guest lottiezeb

    Posted

    I have gone from 45mg down to 15mg since May (been on 45mg 6 years),by at first dropping by 15mg as per GP instructions,with withdrawels sweats,anxiety spikes,exhaustion,palpitations,nausea,muscle spasms migraines etc,stayed there three months and then felt fine.done 30mg down to 15mg by cutting tablet with pill cutter into quarters,but have still had withdrawels,but maybe not so severe,and staying 15mg until after new year as don't want suffer more over this period,considering doing 10% taper (that's if my GP will prescribe liquid) as from reading comments on this site,this way withdrawels more tolerable.only coming off this med as during last 18 months to 2 years caused severe nightmares and bizarre vivid dreams.good luck in what you decide,and keep posting your journey,and take comfort from everyone on this site,as we've all usually turned here for support,and all offer what we may have learned along the way,I found on my worst days with nausea dizziness migraine etc,it helped a lot to go over old posts for encouragement from previous souls who have successfully withdrawn.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Chrisy, i know the level you are on and just wanted to say my Dr gave me 15mg. Tablets which can be halved to 7.5,then carefully cut to 3.75.  It is that point im at and she has refused me liquid, says I should be able to just jump.  As i still feel depressed and agitated I havent gone further down yet as i dont want to muck up xmas for the family.  I am waking feeling low and worrying about what i can no longer do, like socialise.  I dont know if this will get better if i lose this drug, is it a side effect of lowering or do i need Something else?
    • Guest
      Guest ann55375

      Posted

      Hi Ann

      I maybe your GP may prescribe 15mg solvable tablet (as these are no more expensive I've been told) then you could dissolve one 15mg tablet in 15mls water (you will have to ask pharmacist for syringe,not sure if you need to get that prescribed) then you would have 1mg mirtazipine in 1ml solution,and you may find that way forward.I can understand why you want to wait until after new year,as you don't want spoil Christmas for your family.maybe new year will be a good time for us both to move forward,and the withdrawels will eventually be behind us both.keep posting.really hope you can find a different medication or treatment that will bring you relief.

       

    • ann55375
      ann55375 Guest

      Posted

      Sounds a sensible route to go.

      im dealing with dose of ibs now so unable to do much and feeling sick.  I presume its separate from mirtaz so will hop it goes soon.

  • ann55375
    ann55375 lottiezeb

    Posted

    You have done the right thing in deciding to take this slowly.  It is a difficult one to get off, i wish dr would have told me and I would have perhaps gone a different route.  It gives you sleep at the start which you are very grateful for then its helll to get rid of.  You say you are on other meds, can you tell us what they are?  Hopefully they will help you ride the storm. You are welcome to post here as there are many others with helpful advice.
  • Zara136
    Zara136 lottiezeb

    Posted

    Hi lottie

    im in withdrawals my self so I know how rough it can be.. same thing happened to me my p.doc took my of 45 mg last year which I knew nothing about withdrawals ended up   On few different anti depressants which also was a nightmare, p.doc put me back on 15mg mirtazapine on January but I never felt well on them all the done was give me a full nights sleep, been taking of them again almost 7wks ago and changed to another anti depressant... sickening when docs tell you no withdrawals, but now I'm heading to 7wks free from this awful mirtazapine and I have to say it does get better, my head is much clearer,I have more motivation...I can honestly say for me coming of 45mg also 15mg I didn't see a difference with withdrawals both times were horrific.. I think it just depends on your own body how you react ,people find that tapering right down is easier then I've saw other people on here who have tappered right down and still get awful withdrawals. I'd no choice about tapering I was just took of them overnight.

    I hope you find the easiest way possible for you... They really are the worse medication to get off... 

    Kaz

  • linda73653
    linda73653 lottiezeb

    Posted

    Hi - I reduced very gradually from 30 to 3.75 over a period of 5 months - felt fine for 2 weeks, then withdrawal set.  total insomnia, anxiety, nausea and weight loss.  I have been struggling to deal with it for 10 weeks and this weekend decided to go back on 7.5.  Within 48 hours I feel awful and this morning after some sleep (amazingly) I woke at 8am to a dreadful nightmare.  Nightmares were one of the reasons that I originally decided to quit.  Today I have battled on although I feel spaced out.  Might try taking next dose a bit earlier in the evening tonight.  I certainly would not recommend stopping at 15 - I seemed to be coping ok on the 3.75 and wish I had just stuck with that, for ever if necessary.
    • Guest
      Guest linda73653

      Posted

      Hi linda

      when you were at 3.75mg you said you were coping,does that mean you were well and nightmare free? At this dose? My only reason for wanting off this medication is to stop the awful nightmares and bizarre vivid dreams,was on 45mg for six years then around 18 months ago or so nightmares started,reduced down gradually since May and now 15mg,but still nightmares! Will hold until after Christmas and new year as don't want spoil Christmas for my family and self,then taper again,should I get to point whatever dose that is,that nightmares stop,then I will settle for that.did you sleep ok at 3.75mg?

    • linda73653
      linda73653 Guest

      Posted

      HI - no nightmares at 3.75 but was often taking small dose of zoplicone when I was still awake at 2am! A year ago when I was still on 30mg I started taking magnesium and found that I was sleeping almost normally. But once I started to reduce dosage of mirt the sleep deprivation got steadily worse.  The past month - probably from 6th week of withdrawal - I have been totally unable to sleep without zoplicone - my doc is not keen to keep prescribing it either which panics me!  As I said in my first post - I am amazed that the nightmares have come back so quickly.  Now wondering whether or not to continue with 7.5 - I have been reading posts on here and it seems that to be at 10 weeks withdrawal is good - just doesn't feel like it!!  My doc has prescribed me a beta blocker - 10mg x 3 daily - doesn't do a lot - I may up the dose and see if that helps.

      ?My main probs with withdrawal are total insomnia, nausea, weight loss and anxiety - all the things that I was originally put on Mirt for!!!!  At least withdrawal cured the nightmares - but as I was only managing to sleep at all with zoplicone - maybe that is why.

      ?Like everyone on this site I would love to find a magic cure - seems there isn't one.  Just taper very very slowly and maybe stay on a manageable low dose for however long.  I guess my biggest issue is sleep - oh how I long to go to bed and just fall asleep like my snoring husband who can sleep forever wherever!!

      ?

    • ann55375
      ann55375 linda73653

      Posted

      I have also noticed the vivid nightmares have gone at 3.75 but i feel quite depressed in day.  How to get a balance im not sure.
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