Harmed or suffered adverse effects from mirtazapine? I need your stories

Treatment and medication
1

I am present and have been for the past 6 years suffering with adverse effects from mirtazapine. My story is a long, awful, heartbreaking story which has left me and my family devastated. I have been destroyed by this drug.

I am looking for people who have suffered adverse reactions, problems, severe withdrawals or any other issues related to this drug. I don't want to hear anybody banging on about how this drug saved their life because I have read too many bad stories which outweigh and if the good - believe me, I have done enough research into how these drugs work and what they do. I now suffer from brain damage because of this drug and am interested to hear from others who have had bad experiences in order to do something about it.

1 Like
2

My first question is '6 years'?

My GP and consultant Psych. would have never continued any medication for more than 6 months if an adverse reaction occured.

This sounds suspicious...to the extent... I have reported to the moderators for further investigation.

Stephen

3

I think that Sarah means that she has been suffering for 6 years Stephen..not that she was on Mirtazapine for 6 years. That could mean she was on it for a few months or so and realised it was effecting her badly...and when she tried to come off it...it made matters worse??? I'm unsure.

I know I took Citalopram successfully twice in the past so it was the one I opted for at the start if this episode of anxiety/depression and for the 8 weeks I was in it,I was 100 times worse than when I started!!!

I am now on Mirtazapine....and I feel I should balance out the argument so not to fear everybody on the forum out of there wits.....I am finding it quite beneficial and am having far less adverse effects than I did on Citalopram. It helps me sleep. Calms my anxiety and it's lifting my depression. I've been on it 12 weeks.

As much as I appreciate that it didn't work for you Sarah and that it made your life worse....As this is a public forum,I feel that others should be able to have there say............It really could of saved peoples lives,got them out of deep holes and them voices should be heard too.

I have no doubt that many people will agree with you and have the same experiences as you and I'm so glad you shared yours to make people aware of "what could happen" but on the flip side....I want people to know that there are risks with every drug and just because that was your experience,it doesn't mean that every bodies reaction to the drug will be the same.

Gillian xxxx

4

Sarah clearly says that "I am present and have been for the past 6 years suffering with adverse effects from mirtazapine".

Nick

5

But that doesn't mean that she's been taking it throughout...She could of taken it 6 years ago and had a adverse reaction which is still effecting her to this day!!

6

Hi Sarah

I've been taking mirtazapine for 2 years now and started off at 15mg but my anxiety become more severe and was put up to 45mg . After being on mirtazapine(remeron) for about a year I decided to ween my way off them and got down to 7.5mg OK and this took me a couple of months and then decided to stop taking them completely. The first couple of weeks where great and it was like being my old self again, laughing , looking for new hobbies and generally feeling up beat about life and then it hit me , the anxiety had come back . It was even more severe than when I started taking mirtazapine , I felt like I was having a heart attack , couldn't keep still , couldn't sleep it felt like I was going mad so I decided that I needed to see the doctor again and he quickly put me back on mirtazapine with a weeks supply of zopiclone. So I'm still on mirtazapine now so when I decide to come off it again I will be more prepared.

7

Yes - it could be intepreted either way I suppose... on first read it sounds like: I am presently on Mirtz and suffering...  or I am presently suffering after being on Mirtz.

Sarah - it would be great if you could confirm either way.

8

If you say so!

9

Started citalopram 6 years ago - immediate severe reaction which I now know was akathisia. Doctor told me not to check side effects of these drugs because he could clearly see I was worried about touching them (I had anxiety). I visited his office everyday for a week as I was getting worse each day..could not keep still, lost a stone in weight and could not sleep. He told me I probably had bi-polar (idiot) and prescribed mirtazapine. I was scared to touch it but if anyone knows what akathisia feels like they would understand the desperation. I took a tiny dose - maybe 2.5mg and it knocked me out. Dampened akathisia down as mirtazapine is given sometimes for akathisa (I still didn't know at his point what akathisia was or that I had suffered a severe reaction). Took 2.5mg for a month and stopped....akathisia came back which I thought was just really bad anxiety, couldn't stop crying and in a right state. Doctor said I needed medication and to take mirtazapine at 15mg. I became suicidal within days and was referred to a cpn (never had severe mental health problems prior and certainly never suicidal). She said that I was suffering from severe anxiety and depression and tried to up my dose which I did not do as I knew it was the drug...she would not listen. She said any side effects would pass within a couple of weeks to a month. I waited and they didn't pass but after four weeks and trying to come off  I lost my sleep and akathisia got worse!!! I had to go back on and suffer the side effects as it was better than the akathisia which I still didn't know at this point what it was. I couldn't get off the stuff no-matter how hard I tried...it felt like what a heroin addict must experience when trying to withdraw! I was stuck on the mirtazapine for 6 years of hell...my memory deteriorated, my personality changed, my eyesight deteriorated and my visits with pychistrists began! Not once would they acknowledge or suggest this drug was killing me. 

I hit poop-out last December...I basically lost all of my emotions overnight and started suffering withdrawals which I couldn't understand because I was on full dose. I had no choice but to withdraw at 10% every 4 weeks....it has been hell and I'm now still left with the following: complete loss of emotions, apathy, akathisia, insomnia, suicidal depression (tardive dysphoria has been diagnosed as a result of the drug), memory problems, muscle twitching, sweating, racing thoughts, head zaps, headaches, a horrible feeling of feeling psychotic, gum and teeth problems, sensitivity to food and light, hair loss, anxiety, severe weight loss, muscle aches and pains, anger issues, bladder problems, my periods have stopped altogether, confusion and disorientation, and a feeling of impending doom constantly. 

There are probably a whole lot that I have probably forgot to put in but this is what I suffer everyday because of this drug! I feel like I have had a labotomy - I am not even 10% of the person I was before these drugs and it has destroyed mine and my familes life...I have two wonderful children who don't deserve this. 

I am pleased to see this drug is supposedly saving some but believe me - this drug effects so many different parts of the brain overtime and getting off the stuff is hell. Doctors won't tell you you will hit poop-out at some point...this is basically when the drug has down regulated your natural seretonin as far as it will go, so when it stops your basically left with little seretonin and dopamine - the stuff that makes us feel normal and human!!! God knows what else it effects - just as bad as an antipsychotic from what I have read. And then your left with tardive dysphoria - a treatment resistant depression. Wouldn't mind but I never had depression before medication. 

I wish I was told what could happen before taking meds or even told I was suffering adverse effects. No way would I have touched a drug. Anxiety and depression is bad but believe me it would be a walk in the park compared to what life I have now. It's been destroyed and I have had a psychiatrist who knows the dangers of these drugs tell me I may never fully recover - I have an iatrogenic illness and he doesn't know the outcome of mirtazapine users because not much research has been done. In other words we are all guinea pigs!!! These drugs are only trialled for a short period of time....I am evidence that serious brain alterations happen over long term use.

Be careful - I would hate anyone to have to go through this hell!!!

10

You have to taper soooo slow. You came off too quick...some take a couple of years to fully withdraw.

11

Sarah I really sypathise with you as I also suffer on this drug (but completely lost without it) and I also have two little children who don't deserve the home I make them. I will also try to come off it once again soon but the last time I tried I had exactly the symptoms you describe. I also took it for anxiety. I'm wondering if its's only the withdrawal you're experiencing. I was lately diagnosed with Lymes disease and while coming off this drug is very bad itself it  makes me wonder if my condition contributed to the whole experience. I'm on a few antibiotic right now and undergoing some alternative treatments like hyperbaric therapy, so really hoping it will make the dofference to the quality of my life.  Have you had any proper lab tests done to exclude any infections and autoimmune condirions (in my opinion caused by infections hence curable)? Also, having read many books and articles on the subject our brain as the rest of the body has the beautiful ability to heal. Cod liver oil helps the neurons and there are quite a few essential suplements which could help. I'm sure it will take time but please stay positive. Some people on this forum (and I read all the history posts) said it took 2 years to fully recover. I really believe you will too. 

Take care x

12

Thanks Hun. 

No - there is no underlying problem - had all sorts of test, brain scan etc...it's all drug related as I know of other people who are suffering the same. I regret the day I ever walked into the doctors office - my life was never the same since. 

I pray one day I will heal but I know of one person who was as bad as me and still suffering 10 years on. So sad and everyday is about survivng - my life should not be like this.  I obviously was sensitive to meds and the whole time I was on them I was toxic. 

I just want to warn people. My anxiety was situational and didn't need meds - therapy would have done the trick. I never had depression before - it's a deep chemical depression I feel now and nothing lofts it. I hope it's not permanent because I couldn't live the rest of my life like this.

13

I have adverse reactions to supplement now too - this is withdrawal for you. Can't even take things that are supposed to help!!!

Why give a drug that lowers dopamine? Sick

14

Lyme disease is the root of all of your problems - anxiety included. 

15

I was just reading up on tapering myself slowly , there are different ways of doing it , I was going to half a 7.5 mg tablet and then take it every other day and drop the dose like that but this site warned against that it said just taper one by taking 10% less every few weeks until you are down to nothing , trouble with that is minimum tablet dose here is 15mg and its hard to break up after that

16

You're 100% correct as to the root of my problem. I also read about some

17

You're a 100% correct here. Unfortunatelly, it's me against tens of doctors who don't know anything about Lymes. 

I also read about a person who suffers that long (possibly the same one but we can't ever be sure if someone is having an underlying condition. I don't think you should suffer this long as I believe you're young and fit otherwise. I hear you with the suplements but vit C (best IV), magnesium citrate, iodine, vit D are best to start with. I domindfulness and I wish they were telling people about this before goving prescriptions. This tgerapy really has tge potential to help. And yes Mirt should be banned for good. 

X

18

I totally agree with you Sarah....the problem with mirt and many drugs like it, is basically the doctors that give them out don't know much about them. If anything!

I was on mirt for about two years and went to my doctor because I had such bad muscle aches. He told me I had fibro and there was nothing I could do about it. I point blank asked him if it was the mirt, and he said no.

fast forward two more years muscle aches getting worse went to another doctor and asked to get off the mirt just in case it was the problem. Could not successfully withdrawal from the mirt as my body mind and soul was hooked on the drug. Had to go back on the mirt. BUT...when I went off for 20 days the muscle aches dismissed greatly.

went to another doctor pleading for help getting off this horrid drug. I am now off it over 7 weeks, and I have to say it was the worst thing I've ever gone through it affected my whole body, UTI, IBS, nausea, weight loss, headaches, chills, backaches, insomnia, itching like crazy, female problems. 

So, yes the drug does help some people, but for others it can mean a loss of quality of life for who knows how long? 

Not one doctor I went to weather they were a shrink or a GP knew ANYTHING! How can you hand out a pill and not know ANYTHING about it. I got more help here than I did from a doctor.

so, this message needs to come across because not all but some people suffer greatly from this drug, and if your the one suffering, its horrific.

for those that it helps, I say go for it...although I might mention like all AD, it will poop out at some point and it is a possibility that you will get WD and possibly permenate damage. We need to be real with these types of drugs. Even the people who concoct them don't understand them that well. So we all need to be aware. This is not to scare people. If it works for you, it works. But for the 30% who can handle it, who helps us? Seems no one is willing to pick up the pieces.

i for one won't let mirt take me down any longer. I will take my life back, but I'll also print this for people in the same spot, whether it's mirt or another AD. Doctors need I step it up, they cant continue to be ignorant to side effects. Just because a person takes an AD does not mean they are crazy and what they say has value. They need to double check when someone has a complaint while on an AD. I looked I up myself and 6% of all mirt users get muscle problems. Why didn't my doctor stop me right there in the beginning ...instead of making up a false diagnoses?

if something is off while you are on an AD report it, and double check it, and insist on help.

19

Sarah, how long have you been off the mirtazapine..?

Thanks

20

I'm glad I joined this patient access today , you have give me great insight into this drug I am taking and when I taper myself of it in the new year slowly I will remember it's the drug and not me , thank you for your help.