Hi. I'm in my late 40s and have been taking Mirtazaine for 3 years. In the last year I've had itches in my legs and burning feet. I came off the Mirt in mid November and have been exeriencing worse symptoms of peripheral neuropathy - itchy burning feet and pins and needles in my hands (mainly at night). I'm otherwise healthy (no diabetes) and wonder if the Mirt caused the neuropathy. Anyone else had similar?
I doubt it. I do get restless legs for about 10 minutes or so shortly after taking my dose. But then it quickly settles down. Mirtazapine has actually stopped all my itching that I used to have daily before taking the drug.
Gina
i am not so sure to dismiss this so easily as I have been on mirtazapine for four years and two years ago developed numb feet. Just cannot get to the bottom of this at all after many trips to docs and hospital to find out. Be interesting to see what others say. I put a similar post to this on a few months ago. I am convinced it is the mirtazapine and made significant lifestyle changes and no difference. I am having trouble coming off due to lack of sleep. But am trying to reduce from 30. Was on 45 and feet were worse
Sounds like it could be a lack of Vitamin B.
Hi. No it's not vitamin B - I've had all the other checks so it's not clear what the cause is. I have to say the symptoms were mild (slightly itchy and burning feet - worse if I had a drink) whilst I was on the Mirtazapine and got worse 6-8 weeks after I came off it completely (so it was obviously masking some of the symptoms). But did it cause them, I don't know?? I did see a study that showed a handful of people (out of 17,000) had reported neuropathy - all had been on Mirt for 2-5 years, all were over 40.
Hi Gina,
When I stopped Mirta last June for two months (didn't last longer) I also ended up with tingling hands and feet, feeling of numbness etc. I was even admitted to a neurologist who performed MRI and muscle tests on hands and feet. That excluded peripheral neurpathy and passed completely when Mirta was started again. I'd suggest taking magnesium citrate and few other supplements, like cod liver oil as this kind of medication depletes body of microements. I hope this will help you and that all those akward sentations will pass. But speak to your GP for a refferal if it doesn't go.
Also it's worth noting that blood tests are not very reliable when it comes to muscles. Our teeth will break from the lack of calcium so that our blood had an optimal level of calcium. Intracellular lack of vitamins and elements can be assesed via a hair analysis or more advanced testing but simple blood test will only show major defficiencies.
Hi Philip, I've was on 45mg of Mirt for 5yrs, I was given it for entirely different reasons to most people ( IBS ). I came off it once about 3yrs ago with no problem,but due to a serious illness I was put back on 45mg. Over the last 8-9mths I've been trying to tapper off it again. Well I went down to30mg quite easily then I went to 22.5 and then my Tum was really painful. I forgot to mention this is chronic IBS. Then I redused to 15 mg and the pain got worse,so my GP suggested keep it at tht until after Xmas let it settle. So I sent an email to CITA and they replyed it should not have been given me for IBS. I'm now at the stage of tapering according to the CITA protocol but even Halveing that. It's a really hard drug to come off, so if your comeing off it take it real slow. Oh and I also have a numb foot. Sorry it's such a long post but I don't want anybody to underestimate this drug. Take Care GO SLOW
Thanks. That's really helpful. Was it mainly at night? I've also had what feels like pings in my legs and occasional rapid heartbeat - could be anxiety/depression creeping back in (without the Mirt to keep it at bay). As I've been off the Mirt for 2 months, I'm going to carry on and see how it goes - hopefully it will ease (I'll let you know!). The doc has suggested I go back on the Mirt or start amitriptyline (good for nerve pain) but I'm going to try and keep off for now.
You could ask for a Scat scan if you're worried about your muscles. Iyou go for an injection in the morning and the. Get the scan in the afternoon.
Gina, I'm having the same problem now and it has been chronic for years as I've tapered off mirtazapine gradually. Did you make any progress? Are you free of the neuropathy now?
Hello gina im new to this i am also weaning of mirtazapine which i have only been taking since feb this year 15mg up to 30 then 45mg im having really bad tingling hands
I have been on mirtazapine for only a month and i developed extreme numbness and severe pain in my hands and fingers, but the pain is stronger in my left hand. It only happens during the middle of the night and early morning, so bad it wake's me out of my sleep. I called my doctor and he has me weaning off of it now but he is unsure of why it happening... but the pain is so bad i don't want to take it at all, i just hope it is not permanent.
I have been taking 15mg of mirt for 2 weeks and it has worked for sleep but I now have numb feet . I had been on seroqel for sleep but it would make me anxious . Other than the numb feet I feel better on mirt. I also was prescibed cymbalta and 200mg of neurorotin for my new diagnosis of prostatitus. This is a frustrating choice between sleep or numbness off feet.
Philip,I see your post is quite old ,I wonder if there is any change in numb feet. My numbness was after 3 days of taking 15mg of mirt.
gina where did you find this study of 17000 people.? Icannot find it. I have contacted Merck the drug company that supply the drug and told them the symptoms of neuropathy when using this drug. They do not list it as potential serious side effect and I agree with you that Mirtazapineis is the cause of my neuropathy. I have contacted lawyers to sue Merck and I hope that more people will respond to this post so maybe we can pursue a class action suit.
Do you still have the numbness and severe pain? I developed the same symptoms after only 3 weeks on mirtazapine. My left arm is the most severe. My last dose was 5 weeks ago and I am still suffering. The withdrawal was a nightmare for me after only 3 weeks!
Hi I am taking Mirt which i believe it induces my restless legs...also when my skin is rubbed it leaves a tingle.Also my toes feel numb. I am sure this medication is to blame os this Peripheral??. Anyone else have this or am I taking rubbish. Im at my wits end. Diana
Hi Gina I think I have the same but I also have Restless Legs its driving me mad. I blame the Mitz for all this so i might try a different med. If it wasnt for Restless legs i could cope. x
OMG thats mad as ive got the same symptoms and problems and didnt think it may have been the mirts? im currently off them but suffering exactly the same problems. itchy skin burning feet but also losing strength in my hands arms and legs. Im also suffering terrible myoclonus and sleep jerks. i really hope this settles down as its wreaking havoc with my every day life. did you get to the bottom of it and if so did your problems resolve? Ive been referred to a neurologist but its my 4th time and each time they do nothing to help. Im really desperate now