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Mirtazapine withdrawal

  1. It will get better I've been off for 3months now I'm still getting funny feelings, I often feel sick and breathless, plus I'm getting a lot of numbness too.

    I've decided that I'm not ever taking anymore pills of any kind ever again, my gp keeps I should but I'm not,

    I've come this far and it's been horrible so never again, I just want to be normal..

    I'm sleeping really well too, so you will get better just stick to it....

  2. Hello all, very interesting for me to find all these posts about Mirtazapine and the many problems related to taking it..i've been on 60mg for well over a year and been experiencing numbness , joint pain ,nightmares,weight gain (despite joining weight watchers and eating sensibly),and loss of taste. After a lot of soul searching(i don't want to take off on a downwards spiral to where i was at my worst)and consideration about my quality of life (knee pain giving me problems and making even walking somedays too painful coupled with back pain at night that would keep me awake) i finally decided to take some action ! this week i have been taking half of my usual dose and gritting my teeth through the queasyness, bouts of anxiousness ....so far so good.....! really don't want to be the distant, zombied-out person anymore....good luck to any of you out there having a similar time x

  3. Hello all, very interesting for me to find all these posts about Mirtazapine and the many problems related to taking it..i've been on 60mg for well over a year and been experiencing numbness , joint pain ,nightmares,weight gain (despite joining weight watchers and eating sensibly),and loss of taste. After a lot of soul searching(i don't want to take off on a downwards spiral to where i was at my worst)and consideration about my quality of life (knee pain giving me problems and making even walking somedays too painful coupled with back pain at night that would keep me awake) i finally decided to take some action ! this week i have been taking half of my usual dose and gritting my teeth through the queasyness, bouts of anxiousness ....so far so good.....! really don't want to be the distant, zombied-out person anymore....good luck to any of you out there having a similar time x

  4. I was on amitryptaline for about 6 years, then had cosmetic surgery which left me in so much pain I couldn't sleep for weeks but didn't feel I could see my GP about it as it was 'self-inflicted'. Eventually I went in desperation when she took me off amitryptaline and put me on Mirtazapine for post operative stress disorder. 15mg for two weeks and then 30mg. I'd been on them for 3 months and felt I was ready to come of ADs once and for all. My GP told me to alternate 30mg and 15mg for 5 days, 15mg for 5 days, 15mg every other day for 5 days and then stop. I have, however, done my own tapering and carried on with 7.5mg every other day for 5 days and am now leaving an extra day between doses and have gone without for 4 days now. Once I have left a 7 day gap I'll stop taking them altogether. I haven't felt any sort of withdrawal apart from waking up alot during the night which I can cope with as I don't work. Do you think I'll be ok with this tapering?

  5. . I have pack of 15mg sitting on my shelf for four weeks and so pleased I never started taking them to be honest. biggrin

    When doctor asked me why I told him that it's all very easy for him to sit and write out a prescription but when I appear for an appointment and I am in such a desperate state that I want to give up on life, the last thing I need is a script for something that will make me feel worseexclaim!

    I have a friend who has been given another A/D and she's been bedridden for a week now with them.

    I am doing just fine without anything at the moment. Still stressed but managing to get through.

    Weaning yourself off is the best way and good luck wink

  6. I was put on Remeron 2 years ago by an Egyptian doctor in Saudi Arabia for stomach pain and nausea. It used to help but.... Had I known what a nightmare it would be to quit it.....I tried 3 or 4 times now. First time inadvertently stopping it only after 2 months on it at 7.5 mg! The withdrawal was horrible! 24-hr nausea, cold-hot alternation, intense fear and anxiety and yes, no sleep more than 1-2 hours at a time. Eating was out of question. Interesting detail: withdrawals don't start until 8-10 days after the last dose and peak around 3-4 weeks. It's funny to read how someone says here: "i'm off cold turkey, no withdrawals", then a week later "Oh, my God, I'm dying!" Devil himself must have invented this drug.

    Second attempt, after alternating days with/without for a month or so. I lasted for about 3 weeks without it, became unbearable, even mayo psych had no clue about it. 3rd attempt lasted for about a month. Decided to stabilize, then a month later was diagnosed with gallbladder problems, so postponed quitting for a while. Now a year later, having read "Antidepressant Solution", I'm trying to do it right. 6mg for a month, 5mg for a month (almost) and so on.

    Symptoms: disrupted sleep (don't feel tired at night, wake up early from back pain,), gnawing incapacitating back pain (right below the shoulder blades), fron ribs pain, belly aches, random dumping (sweating, nausea, diarrea after eating), throat spasms, stomach spasms, sore throat, nausea (with or without food), dizziness, crawling side of the head or parts of body, cold/sweating, nightmares, anxiety, hypochondria, rage, irritability, the full monty.

    I'm determined to persevere this time, but with demanding work, 3 kids, trips abroad - it is very difficult. This site helps a lot. Please continue to share.

  7. Hello ggain, ok....done the 60-30mg period....then the 15mg ....now doing the 15mg on alternate days....had some weird side-effects including gum boils (?) and cramp-like spasms in my stomach.....but tip-toeing thru reasonably ok (i think) was alarmed to read the last post by potap 75 who highlighted the unknown (to me anyway) fact "withdrawals don't start until 8-10 days after the last dose and peak around 3-4 weeks" getting really nervous about this ! Will continue to decrease till it's all out of my system tho'...and thanks for the heads-up on this .Hope everyone is doing ok ...it is a comfort not to feel alone . x

  8. Everyone is different,

    But it is generally recommended to reduce 10% of the current use every 3-6 weeks and see how you're feeling. Then you could do it faster if the withdrawal is not so bad. But some require it even longer. For me 3-4 weeks are at it's worst, almost unbearable. Anxiety, fear, but especially gastro symptoms remind me about my surgeries and suffering. All old wounds ache and hurt, even old traumas and injuries from 20 years ago. Mild exercise is really helpful, like 30-40 minutes of cardio per day and some light weight lifting. I'm down to 5 mg and bracing for the next reduction. Good luck to all.

  9. Hello, I've been on mirtazapine for around 7 - 8 years now, varying doses from 15 - 45mg, been taking 45mg for around 4 years. During that time I had 2 years of psychotherapy which helped resolve a lot of issues, but every time I try to reduce/come off them I end up tearful, anxious, angry, scared & ultimately back to square 1 (or square 45!)

    So, after a couple of years during which my Dad passed away, I moved in my then partner, moved out again & now have my own flat, I decided I'm not depressed & to start coming down in 15mg increments, 3 months at a time until I'm completely free. Started lower dose of 30mg 2 weeks ago and was feeling mentally ok, a bit tearful, but ok. Physically my appetite has decreased dramatically, I've had some killer headaches, backache & feel like I have low grade flu.

    Today I couldn't cope at work, felt overwhelmed by emotion & had to go home, felt terrible about myself for this as I've been fine in this job - I can't be 'that nutjob' again who cries at her desk & people tiptoe round.

    I don't want to be dependent on pills, but at the same time I can't function & maintain a life, a job, a flat & not being on benefits (which I'm very proud of!) while dealing with all these effects. I'm thinking of cutting a 15mg pill in half and taking 37.5 instead of 30mg and see if that helps, as some people seem to recommend titrating down by 10% each time and I've done 33% in one go - too much I think!

    Anyway, it really is a comfort to read about all your experiences - you're all very brave.

  10. Here I am a month later. I successfully tapered to 5.4mg the month before and now I'm 3 weeks after the next reduction - to 3.8 mg. I'm absolutely dying!

    Tremendous pressure and spasms in my upper stomach and chest, nausea, zero appetite, can't eat anything without sweating and getting more nauseous.

    Dizziness, cold and hot flushes. Skin crawling on the back of my head. Tremors, breathing shallow, twitching eyes.

    And yes, this time - insomnia. The nausea wakes me up at 3:30 am and that's it. Can't work, can't exercise.

    And the worst part - it reminds me very much of my Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, which have been torturing me the last 4 years and for which I had an endoscopic surgery last February.

    So the anxiety and panic are tremendous "oh my god, did the condition return?" "How am I going to go on vacation abroad in 2 weeks", "I'm ruined for the rest of my life", "my poor kids" etc.

    I keep pacing outside again and everyone keeps telling me that it's withdrawal again, but in panic I just can't believe it and picture the worst case scenarios.

    I was actually feeling quite good just 3 days ago, eating whatever I like, exercising in the gym, playing with my kids, doing yard work etc.

    But starting exactly 1 week after the reduction, my symptoms were gradually getting worse and worse until finally they hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday at work. First I thought I had a cold (both kids were sick), but then I realized it's something else as it was getting worse.

    What it means? Maybe my reduction of 1.5 mg was too big? It was 30% of previous dose. What do you think people?

    I'm crying as I type this.

  11. Hi all, I was really pleased to have found this discussion link. I've been on Mirtazapine now for nearly 15 years, every time I've tried to come off it in the past I've had really bad insomnia that's made me feel really miserable and made me start to feel depressed again, so I've ended up just staying on it over the years.

    I made the decision a few months back that I was going to try and come off the tablets again. I've never been so well in my mental health and so I thought that this would be a good time to try. I also asked myself whether I really wanted to be on medication for the rest of my life (that might start having giving me health problems in the future), especially now that I don't really experience depression badly any more and I'm happy.

    I spoke to the GP about it and he never mentioned any withdrawal effects. I said I was worried about sleeping and he prescribed me some anti-histamines to help with that. I dropped down from 15mg to 7.5mg for a couple of months and then stopped taking it altogether 2 weeks ago..

    My god!!! I've had the most horrendous time. At first I thought I had picked up a really bad virus or something (until I started reading of other people's experiences). I've had constant waves of nausea, feeling light-headed and like I'm going to faint, hot and cold flushes, extreme exhaustion (yet an inability to sleep). The anxiety has got progressively worse and I am crying all of the time and without any control over it (like randomly in a shop queue). I can't remember a time when I ever felt this wretched.

    I came to the decision over the weekend that I'm going to go back on my previous dose (7.5mg) to get myself back on an even keel again and then go more slowly next time around. Seriously hideous! I never imagined it was going to be this bad, I was prepared for the insomnia and the feeling upset but not everything else. I work full time and in a stressful job and I just can't see how I'm going to be able to go to work if it carries on like this. From other people's posts it looks like the withdrawal can last up to a couple of months and I just can't afford that impact on my life.

    Good luck to everyone else who is going through this.

  12. Hi, TryingHard

    I'm a living example of the most terrible time with Remeron withdrawals. It has been so bad, that I had to reinstate at 5mg last night, just to get a hold on sanity again.

    My killer symptom has been right sided stomach pain, resembling my previous gallbladder surgery. But then again - the runs, nausea, tremendous tension and anxiety, spinning head, feelings of doom and hopelesness. Sweating/cold and have I said "nausea"?

    Withdrawal seemed to have aggravated all previous injuries and surgeries.

    Oh, yeah and crippling hit-with-a-reebar-across-upper-back pain right under the shoulder blades. I couldn't even take a full breath at times.

    I seem to feel better today, the appetite is back. I even came to the office for a full day, but the last 5 days were HELL ON EARTH. no OTC medicines helped at all.

    And mind you I haven't quit it altogether, I just decided to speed up the tapering by dropping 30% of the dose. What an idiot. Feeling utterly defeated, powerless and exhausted.

    Funny thing, again the first week or 10 days felt great: so much optimism, strength and clarity and then exactly 8 days into it - BOOOOOM!

    Yesterday while shopping I couldn't stand the rattling of the cart wheels agains the floor, so I had to go to a seldom visited corner and sit there calming myself down.

    This drug has a potent anti anxiety effect, hence rebound anxiety when discontinued. You literally experience adrenaline rush, because the adrenaline receptors are now unblocked and there are so many more of them by now.

    Good luck and health!

  13. It's comforting in a way to know other people are going through this. I have been on Mirtazapine for 13mths now. Before that I was suffering with extreme insomnia and anxiety. I would only sleep an hour each night and it was such stressful sleep that it was useless. I went on like this for 2 1/2 months until I had some sort breakdown (ready to do myself in) and my Doctor put me on Mirtazapine.

    I am feeling alot better now and thought it is time to get off the meds but I didn't expect to be suffering so severly with withdrawal. 14 days ago I stopped taking 7.5mg of Mirtazapine. I was alright for the first 3 days but my then the multitude of symptoms began.

    I can't get to sleep at night and the adrenaline pumps through my body all night long. Loss of appetite, nausea, neck and back pain, headaches, fear, anxiety, exhaustion, hot and cold flushes, a constant sick feeling in my stomach like something terrible is about to happen and the this list goes on........

    The fear of not sleeping at night has become all consuming. I can't distract myself from it. I am so terrified of the stress I have to go through every night that I literally shake in bed at night and cry.

    I am scared that my previous problem (almost no sleep) that put me on these meds is returning but I want to get off them. I'm so terrified that this will never end but I am determined to fight it. I wish people who have succeeded would write on these posts, so all of us suffering through this would know for certain that it will end and we will be stronger for it.

    I'm so sorry to all the people suffering through this. It is the worst thing I have been through (and I been through some tough sh@#). Keep posting, understanding helps so much. Good luck to everyone.

    Be strong...fight for your right for a happy life!!!!

  14. Well it took me a few months, but I'm off of mirtazapine now, so if you have come off of them and you are still getting withdrawal symptoms please stick with it, I was on them for 5years, I didn't taper I just stopped taking them, it's been six months of crap but I'm absolutely fine now... I will never take another drug as long as I live, unless my life depends on it.... So have faith everyone and know that you can get off these things and you will get back to normal, for the past 2months my sleeping has been great, plus I've lost some weight and I'm really pleased with myself, my skin looks lots better, no more aches and pains, I've got more energy now than ever.... So good luck and god bless everyone"....

  15. Hi reading this has been really helpful. I was taking 15mg but only for 2 weeks. I decided to stop taking them altogether 4 days ago, and now i feel like crap! Really bad stomach problems. Does anyone have any idea how long this will last, i am determined not to take another of these tablets and wish i hadnt bothered in the first place.

    Thanks

  16. I have been on 15mg for a few months now and have just spent a week cold turkey coming off the drugs.

    The first 4 days were very unpleasant, sweating, shaking, twitching, extreme anxiety and nausea to name just some of the effects, so please dont take the decision lightly to come off them cold turkey.

    I have been on several different anti-depressants for just over a year now and although the drugs worked for me I felt that I was ready to back to a "normal life" -haha, whatever the hell one of those is! smile

    I have spoken so several doctors about how to come off them correctly, however i personally wanted to be off them ASAP and was prepared to put up with the consequences.

    I was sick of the crazy dreaming, fitful sleep, poor appetite, up and down sex drive and other strange other issues that come with medication.

    However im glad to say that im feeling quite good now and its only been a week off of them. Already my lucid dreams are fading away and i had a "normal" nights sleep last night...

    Anyway i just thought i would post this to share my experience of coming off the drug and to see if anyone had similar experiences or questions.

    Hope your treatment works out for you. smile

  17. Hi,

    I was on Remeron for about 2.5 months. I helped me sleep for the first week, but that's abougt it. Anyway, I started on 7.5mg, went to 15mg for a while, then back to 7.5mg, then 2 weeks at 15mg when I decided to get off the med. I tapered back to 7.5mg for one week then 3.75mg for 5 days then quit.

    On the day I took my last dose, I started feeling like I had lost my appetite and my mood dropped, feeling just ill and feelings of pending doom/hopelessness. I was feeling emotional about things, never like I had before. The next day I started feeling ill, flu like, some nausea, and insomnia. This lasted for about 1.5 weeks. I was miserable. Then the nausea went away, and my appetite came back but I was still feeling low. (I was feeling better just before my last dose).

    I thought I was getting better again, then about after a week, I was hit with lack of appetite again, some nausea I guess, insomnia, worse mood, abdominal cramps, aches and pains all over including my foot, and back, and sides. And just a general feeling of ill again. My stomach feels tight and full, my chest feels tight, etc.....

    Can withdrawal symptoms come in waves like this, feel bad one week, get a little better then feel really awful again?

    I'm completely off meds now, and I'm hoping to get better using 5-htp. I started using it just before coming off Remeron (talk to your doctor before using 5-htp with any meds). And I started to feel better, but then the last day on Remeron that all came crashing down and I haven't felt good since.

    I was only on Remeron for 2.5 months about, so how long can this withdrawal last?

    Thank you,

    Soccer

  18. Hi

    I was on Mirtazapine 45mg for 12 months then when I felt better GP said I should think about coming off it by reducing to 30mg for a while etc. I decided I wanted to quit faster so I cut up tablets, missed days etc and finally took the last tiny piece of tablet at the end of June. During the tapering off I had frequent bouts of nausea and the runs and thought I was always picking up viruses. When I finally stopped the Mirtazapine, the nausea was fierce. GP tried me on Sertraline but I only took 1 tablet and that night didn't sleep at all, felt even sicker and had panic attacks, so I took no more of those. Homeopathic tablets to relieve the feelings of dread have helped a lot. I don't think I'm completely free of symptoms yet - felt great for a week or more, then this past week the nausea came back again with a vengeance. I intend to stay off the Mirtazapine though, will just have to try and persevere.

    It helps to know that I'm not the only one with these horrible symptoms, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me until I read these posts. Thinking of all who are in this situation. x

  19. Update... I'm on my 4th week of Remeron. Someone else on here mentioned that withdrawal symptoms peeked at 3-4 weeks. Well, I was doing a bit better last week, then later in the week, I started feeling awful again. but then two days later, I felt a little better for a couple of days, and now today, I have had constant anxiety, a feeling of too much adrenaline, heart palps, a bit fullness in my stomach, fast pulse, (blood pressure good), headache, etc... Not sure if this is still Remeron or not? Seems like the withdrawal side-effects come in waves, a bit different each time, or somtimes the same side-effects come back. Anyone experience this?

  20. Hi all,

    I am a little overwhelmed at the amount of information on the www re: Mirtazapine. I have been on 15mg daily for nearly 2 years (for depression and anxiety attacks). I recently started tapering off and over the course of a month got down to 7.5mg per day, then alternate days, then nothing. I have not had any at all for 2.5 weeks. I have had a bit of depression/anxiety/touchiness but am coping with that, just about!

    For the past week I have not been sleeping. I have never, ever had insomnia like this before and am feeling dreadful as a result. I am not the kind of person who can function on 2-3hrs sleep a night! I have tried some over the counter sleep remedies but nothing works. When I was on Mirtazapine, I had 2 years of amazing sleep every night!

    Is this Mirtazapine withdrawal related? What can I possibly do to help get some sleep at night? I don't want to go back to my GP for more medication. Is there anything over the counter in the UK that I can buy that might help?

    I do hope to lose some of the weight I gained as well! Never had a sweet tooth before I started Mirtazapine!!! smile

    Thank you for any advice!

    Hoonay

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