Giving up on MIRTAZAPINE 30mgs

[Loughborough53]

After almost five months on this drug , it feels almost like a placebo apart from dopiness …..in fact am experiencing awful creepy strange feelings , doom and depression! My GP wants me to go to 45mg….is anyone on this dose, what do you think? I am five weeks off benzodiazepines too so it’s been tough and still is . Would like to hear of others on this horrible ‘journey’

[blackcat64013]

Hi and thank you for your post.

Changing medications can be tough. Tapering off any medication may not be easy for some people, so the slower the better. Usually if there are too many side effects, you would go back to the last dose and try again. I don't have any person experience with benzos so I am just using general advice here.

I have used Mirtazapine so I can tell you what has worked for me.

Mirtazapine has an elimination half-life of 20-40 hours so Mirtazapine is suitable for once daily administration. It should be taken preferably as a single night-time dose before going to bed (use the drowsiness to overcome depression insomnia).

To overcome daytime drowsiness, Mirtazapine can be taken in two divided doses (once in the morning and once at night-time, the higher dose should be taken at night). I did this until I went to night time only as my tolerance to the drug increased and I was able to go to 45mg.

As unique people with unique chemistries and experiences of mental health, you are the best equipped person to have a discussion with your doctor about what might work the best for you.

Wishing you all the best as you adjust to life on different meds from me in Oz 🦘

[Craftsy in reply to blackcat64013]

I have used mirtazapine 45 for many years & find it works no problem. I recommend you stick with it. Take it at night. All the best

[welly10]

Been on 45 mg 2 years now seems to balance me out really hate been on tablets but if it helps then needs must

[Lin1944]

Hi I tapered off from Duloxetine to Mirtazapine 45 mg and it took 3 months to feel ok but I stuck with it. My GP gives me Benzodiazepines just to take when I really need so I only take when feeling really poorly.I am good now but they do increase your appetite and I have put on weight so am trying to be careful what I eat.

Good luck x

[Roxylox]

Simply hated Mirtazapine, weight gain too

[Dell12345]

I took mirtazapine but found it didn't do enough for me until I added venlaphaxine. I eventually tapered of the mirtazapine. Now I only take venlaphaxine.

Having said that it can be very helpful for many people. If you've been on it for a few weeks and it's not yet had any effect then it may be time to try something else (gently taper over), or up the dose of mirtazapine.

[GreenUser]

I took 5 mg of benzo (bromazepam) nightly for sleep for years and stopped abruptly when I came back to the uk in July. The NHS refused to prescribe it was harsh as tapering would have helped. I had serious withdrawals weight loss, insomnia, palpitations, sweats, anxiety- horrible.

It sounds to me that ..experiencing awful creepy strange feelings , doom and depression is benzo withdrawal. Did you lose weight? Sweating? insomnia?

2 months later I was prescribed Mirtazapine and it really helped my sleeping. Once rested everything felt better.