Withdrawal from 15 mg Mirtazapine is hell - Anxiety Support

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Withdrawal from 15 mg Mirtazapine is hell

BettyA profile image
19 Replies

I was only on this drug for about 2 months and then started 'feeling funny' so stopped it after two months...and for several days it was better. So I thought...gosh this is good, no withdrawal... well beginning about 5 or 6 days ago I started in having anxiety PLUS in the mornings...and its getting worse. I can't even describe how I felt this morning... I know I could not keep living day in and out with this (not going to commit suicide)

The only other drug I take is a very limited about of .5 Ativan... 60 pills have to last me for 2 months... and I take them only when I feel they might help.

A friend told me withdrawals from Mirt. might not start for 2 weeks and she was RIGHT... has anyone else gone through this with this drug.

I DO NOT want to take ANY other drugs...Guess I just have to trust this will eventually pass and hope it doesn't take too long... Any words of encouragement? Sure would appreciate it.

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BettyA profile image
BettyA
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19 Replies

Hello Betty

Sorry you are not feeling so great at the moment , I think your friend has a point as I know some meds can stop in your system for a couple of weeks once you stop them just like they can take a few weeks to get into your system and sounds like they must now have left your system and you are starting to feel it , but the words come to mind

This To Shall Pass

I know not very helpful when you are feeling rubbish but a very true saying , I think I would tell myself with every day I am feeling off it I am getting closer to feeling better again

Take the Activan now and again if it helps while you are adjusting it will just take the edge of for you and I hope you start to feel better soon which I am sure you will and come back and let us know how you are doing :-)

Take Care x

BettyA profile image
BettyA in reply to

Oh yes, Bounce, it did help...just hearing from someone helps, so thank you... It is true, I also believe in This, too shall pass... was just kinda hard to convince myself of that this morning... I hope it doesn't take too long... Thanks for 'being there.'

Still would appreciate hearing from anyone who has quit taking Mirtazapine (Remeron) thanks again.

Lyndaweb profile image
Lyndaweb in reply to BettyA

Hi Betty I took mirt 15mgs for 10 days. Started to have severe anxiety head about to blow off! Pricking all over and horrific feelings of dread. Felt dead inside which is hard as I suffer from depression. I stopped taking it cold turkey and still feel horrendous (on day 4). Anxiety still through the roof muscle twitches pricking skin, feeling dread n numb and constipation. I also am trying to find out how long this will last.

Sandraan profile image
Sandraan

Hi Betty, yes I know exactly what your going though, Iv just come off one antidpressant and started another, it is horrfic, I just can't wake up of a morning and sleeping into the afternoon ( that's not me at all ) of course then I feel even worse Once Iv gotten up, it's dreadful I rang my doctors Friday in an awful state, they have given me an emergency appointment for tommorow, but Betty I know she'll just say it's your medication kicking in. just have to wait till they kick in, ( but you know how bad it feels ) I just don't know if I can do it anymore, I wish I could do something to help take away your pain as I know how awful it is, how you feeling now ?? X

Sandraan profile image
Sandraan

Sorry Betty I forgot to add mines a different antidpressant than yours, Iv got diazpam to help me, but that's doing very little of anything !!!! X

BettyA profile image
BettyA in reply to Sandraan

I'm so sorry for what you are going through, Sandraan...but we will make it!! I do not want to start on another one... Like I said, the only other drug I take (for about 2 years) is .5 of Ativan which is a really low dose... and it sorta is helping me some now...but not that much. I will be careful it IT, too... There are times I've gone for days without taking the Ativan with no side effects ... I'm glad its such a low dose.

I am taking a lot of homeopathics plus some other supplements and they are helping somewhat... its just a matter of getting past this... and WE ARE STRONG, Sandrann...we will make it!~ ! :)

Sandraan profile image
Sandraan in reply to BettyA

Thank you so very much Betty, I can't believe all the different emotions etc you go though, Iv slept constantly for a week, I think it's a mix of medication, very bad depression, and just not wanting to cope, I know that's wrong bet, but when your that depressed you just have to go with what's right at that time, sleeping all day is TOTALLY wrong but it's happened now, please please god I can get up in the morning and get out of the Rut, it's so so sad Bet. As Iv had to come live back with my parents there in there 70s ne and shouldn't be watching me like this, I'm so sad Betty I just want to be right, I'm sick of BATTLING FIGHTING this everyday. Thanks god for people caring people like you. Your a life saver I mean that THANK YOU XX

BettyA profile image
BettyA in reply to Sandraan

I wish I were there to give you a big hug!! :) And then a lecture! ha!...telling you to NOT say you are doing 'something wrong' because you are NOT... Oh sure, we could maybe do things differently, but in the vast scheme of things... some of those things we do are SO unimportant.... Just make it a prime goal to take care of YOU... and maybe gradually do little things here and there that make you feel like "Ok, good...I did that"... but just don't judge, ok? OK. Awrighty then: lecture over! :)

A wise teacher named Louise Hay once coined this phrase: "Remember: don't should on yourself.' :) Things WILL get better... I needed to repeat that to myself quite a number of times this morning!

Take care!

Chrismazing profile image
Chrismazing in reply to Sandraan

How are you?? I feel for you so so much having to move back in with your parents.

Melonous profile image
Melonous

Hi... I very stupidly ctd from 30mg of Mirt... not a pleasant few weeks, but it does pass! I struggled with sleep mostly. Hope you're feeling better soon. :) x

BettyA profile image
BettyA in reply to Melonous

Hi Mel, so did you quit cold turkey...or taper... ?? I know we DO get past it... sometimes when you try to tell yourself that, some little voice goes: Ha! We'll see about that! :) But, yes, it will.

CarlHolvey profile image
CarlHolvey

It would be good to speak to a professional.

Taking so much ativan over an extended period can cause a very dangerous withdrawal later on.

The withdrawal symptoms can also appear like the symptoms for which the medicine was initally started and it can be difficult to tease out which are symptoms and which are withdrawal.

BettyA profile image
BettyA

OK....will reply to my own post! :)

Things are getting better and the withdrawals are mainly 'weird feelings'... and I know I have been CONCENTRATING on 'how do I feel right now' WAAAAY too much... A couple of people have suggested I started taking the Mirt again and then start to taper. NOPE.

The soon I get the ____ out of my system the better... I WILL survive... I would never EVER recommend this drug to anybody... But hey, if it 'works' for you, that's great...

Its so easy for drs to Rx us 'pills, pills, and more pills'....without really knowing that much about them THEMSELVES... Big Pharma gives a lot of kickbacks to drs for using 'their pills'.... and the TV ads make it look like we are in for a blissful life if ONLY we take these magical pills...

Maybe I should have tapered off...but I didn't...so that is in the PAST... Eventually you DO WIN THIS GAME...regardless of what it puts you through... To me taking another pill to help you come off a 'troublesome' pill is up for question. Yes, I know, if its works for some, great... Right now I am just p'd off that I ever started that pill!!!! Well, tally ho and forward we go.

AllisonShaffer profile image
AllisonShaffer in reply to BettyA

Hi Betty :) I don't know if you still reply to this but I was hoping to get some advice. I been having a lot of stomach problems lately for the past 4 months, not due to depression but other reasons, but i use to be on Escitalopram 10 mg for years witch i had to be weaned on by taken half a pill for a month then start taken the full pill and since i been having stomach problems, he all of the sudden switched me to Mirtazapine 30 mg and Venlafaxine 75 mg without tapering my Escitalopram witch is a low dose so i dont believe he had to but when i was on it, i felt great, slept good, I weighed 98 pound and i ate ate ate, which i didnt mind because i needed some weight gain and due to sickness i couldnt eat much anyways, but all of a sudden I quit cold turkey on the Mirtazapin 30 mg because i couldn't afford to keep getting every month. Well its been about 3 weeks now, and I couldnt sleep worth a flip, headaches so bad that every little sound triggered my anger and made it worst, I lost weight to 92 pounds and feel so sick that i couldnt eat at all and becoming so weak and shaken, chills, flu like symptoms, cant sleep, up all night feeling like i am going to be sick, none stop bloating and burping, constipation. My head feels like its fuzzy and itches my ears feel clogged. I wanted to know if these are withdraw symptoms and if getting back on Mirtazpine since i can afford it, would help get rid of these symptoms. I know i make not get a chance to know but i hope someone can help. Ty so much. i am only 19 years old and feel like these symptoms are killing me because i am so tiny and feeling sick. I cant do nothing with my life feeling like this.

Burek profile image
Burek in reply to AllisonShaffer

Hi Allison I have same symptoms for 6 wks .would you tell me if your symptoms go away please teresa

corsaUMM profile image
corsaUMM

I was ok with Mirtazipine. Start back on half then cut down gradually. I was hooked On Ativan for twelve years that was more than HELL .... I take Seroxat Anti depressant and allowed 14 diazepam every 6 months, when I have to do something scary. Hell of a life feeling like this. I had tremendous panic attacks, horrible thoughts, you name it I had it. However it has been 30 years ago since I stopped taking it and it has still left scars. So be very careful with it. Use sparingly as possible.

DitchDoctor profile image
DitchDoctor

Withdrawal symptoms, severity and length of time depend on the dosage, the length of time on the medication and the individual. Speaking as a health care professional and someone's who's titrated successfully off Mirtazepine I suggest the following:

Get in the mindset right now that you will get through this and symptoms related to withdrawal will go away. Once you're truly motivated:

Think of everything in 2's. If you're taking 15mg then reduce the dose by cutting in 2 for 2 weeks. So reduce to 7.5mg for 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks buy yourself a pill splitter from any local pharmacy and split the dose in 2. Now you're taking 3.75mg for 2 weeks.

Finally, using the pill splitter cut your dose in 2 down to 1.87mg for 2 weeks. Following this stop the Mirtazepine.

You will have insomnia the first 10 days or so after first reduction. But you'll then get back to sleep after two weeks as your body adjusts to the lower dosages. This will be a cycle until you're off the Mirtazepine. You may also experience:

Headaches

Decreased Appetite

Weight Loss

Fatigue from Insomnia

Anxiety

My absolute best recommendation is to keep your mind & body busy through out the entire titrating process. Exercise, work, but do not sit around watching tv etc. This will result in increased anxiety and in some people panick attacks due to a misunderstanding of their withdrawal symptoms.

Folks, you can all do this. Yes you're going to feel the above symptoms but remember this:

THE WITHDRAWAL WILL RESOLVE.

Eyeamok profile image
Eyeamok in reply to DitchDoctor

Hi, I have done exactly as you have indicated, split pills every 3 weeks till I got to 1.87mg. Once there I remained for 3weeks before stopping altogether. During my decrease schedule I did not have any withdrawl symptoms what so ever, if I did I would have slowed the taper even further. One week after the last dose I became very dizzy, this caused headache, nausea and broken rest which is having an impact on my coping. I am able to stay in a quiet room but even a short car ride exacerbates my symptoms. I might add here that I am having none of the reasons for taking remeron in the first place like depression, anxiety or insomnia so I am still committed to remaining off this med.

I have tried Meclizine and betahistine for the dizziness but with no effect.

I hope this blog is still followed( your last post was 1 year ago) maybe a shared experience will help.

I am now a retired health care professional, I would not have been able to do this and continue to work.

midsummer45 profile image
midsummer45

I was on Mitrazipine 15 mg for 2 nights and had awful scoliosis pain, Nightmares, woke up screaming! My mouth was swollen too. Can someone please tell me how long the side effects will last?

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