Mirtazapine, again. Need advice ASAP!

[CKC2023]

I've inquired about people's experiences with this before, but it may just not be for me. I was already going through a rough patch when prescribed this, and have since had periods of what I feel are extreme depression. I started at 7.5 mg and was ok (although still anxious) but when I tried increasing to 15 mg (per the doctors advice) I felt like I was about to go crazy! One of the worst feelings I've had. I called a suicide hotline, that's how terrible I felt. I didn't and don't actually want to kill myself, it was just that this feeling I had was so strange (in a negative way) that I called...(on a side note, I hope nobody ever needs to call a suicide hotline because I got connected to 2 different people and both were completely unknowledgeable and what I would describe as useless to a person in crisis). So I've since returned to the 7.5 mg (and in between, I was cutting one pill in half to more slowly lower the dose, but I've read some online posts that cutting a Mirtazapine is bad, not sure why?) so I pretty much dropped from the 15 mg to the 7.5. I was ok yesterday, but tonight I feel like I did when I was on the higher dose....a feeling of doom and uselessness, and no patience with anything. I can't call the doctor at this time, and don't want to alert people I know of having these feelings again (as I kind of did the first time around when I increased it). I didn't normally feel this way before the Mirtazapine even though I do suffer from anxiety, but this is much worse. I feel like I know what Sylvia Plath might have lived with now, just to use an example. And it's awful. I have some Clonazepam but not sure if I should take it. It's getting close to the time I'd normally take another Mirtazapine dose, not sure if that's why my body and mind are feeling this way---could it be some kind of withdrawal? How then do you get off of this stuff without going into a rehab unit??? If this is the case, I never should have been put on it as I have had some problems with addiction. Any input will be so much appreciated, I just hope to get some soon! As in yesterday.

[Nothing_but_books]

Antidepressants aren't considered "addictive", but they can be very hard to get off, or even to lower the dose. If you aren't comfortable talking to the prescribing doctor about what's going on, call your pharmacist.

I never heard of a problem cutting the pills, but ask the pharmacist to be sure.

I don't know how long you were on Mirtazapine, but take your time tapering. The longer you were on it, the slower you should taper. Go slowly.

[CKC2023 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

I haven't been on it too long, maybe 2 months. And I just realized that I start feeling lousy when it's getting time for the next dose, so what would I do if I was away from the Mirtazapine and couldn't take it any time soon? I feel worse at those times than I did before starting it.

[Ellamaye]

Every medicine works differently for different people I am on mirtazapine and I'm happy with it . Doesn't mean you feel the same so go back to the doctors and tell them it's not for you x there's plenty of other meds x

[CKC2023 in reply to Ellamaye]

Actually, the doctor said this was the last thing up his sleeve for me as far as treating my anxiety. So I interpreted that as the next step would have to be a psychiatrist.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to CKC2023]

Psychiatrists have much more education about psychoactive medicines than general doctors do. If your regular doctor is having a hard time finding just the right med to help, a psychiatrist might be more helpful. As I mentioned above, your pharmacist is a good resource. Ask for advice, and maybe a referral.

[CKC2023 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Thank you, will plan to do that.

[blackcat64013]

Hi CKC2023,

As others have said, you really need to go back to your doctor for a medication review.

In the meantime, if you are struggling with Mirtazapine, the best thing to do is take it at night rather than in the morning, at the dose you feel best on.

[CKC2023 in reply to blackcat64013]

I do take it at night. But I find I'm especially drowsy during the day, and leading up to my nighttime dose I begin to feel like crap, mentally.

[MrsSippySlim]

I was on mirtazapine for awhile, I started to feel more depressed and hopeless to the point where I didn't want to get out of bed. Once I stopped taking it my symptoms improved.

[CKC2023 in reply to MrsSippySlim]

Yes! I get myself out of bed, reluctantly, but then have a hard time following through with anything and end up feeling worse. But overall I feel that my thought process has become very negative also.

[lannyh]

I have taken mirtazapine and clonazepam in the past. I was on clonazepam for 15 years and yes it's addictive. It's a great drug but should only be taken as needed. I've also took mirtazapine at night to help for sleep. I was told by my Dr. That it's more sedating at a lower dose so I had the 15mg and was cutting them in half. I also took geodon in addition and it seemed to help my depression. Was told that it would boost my other antidepressant. I hope this info helps.

[CKC2023 in reply to lannyh]

I agree it's more sedating at the lower dose but on the higher (just 15 mg---was told it could go much higher than that) I felt more depressed than just about ever, and could not pinpoint why other than this med. I've never heard of Geodon.

[tiblo]

hi i have had mirtazapine it gave me terrible irritable leg i take clonazepam i find it a great pill when i first went on it it took 1 hour to work now it takes 3 hours to work do you know why that is i have had anxiety for 17yrs i have been to hell and back with it clonazepam has given me my life back i just wish it would work quicker now its the best pill i have had in 17yrs

[CKC2023 in reply to tiblo]

Hi Tiblo, thank you for your response. I wish there was a site people could talk in real time about things like this. I really needed that a couple days ago but wasn't able to find anything than that suicide hotline. Would have preferred a live online chatroom. I have some Clonazepam also, but since it's a regular doctor prescribing it and not a psychiatrist, I get limited amounts. It did help me when I was feeling crazy from the Mirtazapine. The thing about Clonazepam is that your body builds up a tolerance to it. The longer and more frequently you take it, the less it will work. I wasn't happy about that either, but I'm surprised that you feel it does kick in 3 hours later? If it doesn't work in about an hour for me, I think either I'm too tolerant or something happened to make it inert. One thing I did discover though, is that if you take a small dose of diphenhydramine with it, it seems to have a stronger effect. But because the diphenhydramine causes some drowsiness (and Clonazepam can too), you need to be careful with how much you take. I think they call this potentiating. Don't take the Clonazepam when you don't think you'll need it, and it'll work better when you do.

[CKC2023 in reply to tiblo]

By the way,

what do you mean by irritable leg? Restlessness?