Help! In a bad way... scared and insomnia before even tackling withdrawal

Treatment and medication
1

Hello good people off this forum. I have finally decided to write about my Mirtazapine troubles after a solid week reading forums. 

As I write this, I am an anxious wreck, 'cyberchondria' of constant googling mirtazapine and withdrawal stories. I have been on 15mg for 5 months, loosely prescribed by a locum doctor in a time of family upheaval (I had to return from abroad following my dad having an accident.) Ironically he is fine now and I am the one with problems. 

I tried tapering 2 weeks ago to 7.5mg, started to feel myself and emotions coming back but the withdrawals hit home soon after in the form of insomnia so I reinstated back to 15mg. Ever since I have become progressively worse, and reading suicide related deaths (robin Williams for instance) to this drug has me terrified. 

I am a 28 year old male, 6 foot and skinny. Mirtazapine has done little for my weight gain. 

I don't know what is up with me the last few days with insomnia, no appetite, scary thoughts and an inability to focus on anything except these forums. 

Sometimes I fear I will have insomnia for life (read that on some website) and sometimes I think 1 or 2 years from my now this will all have been a hellish nightmare. 

I just want to be drug free and live my life like I used to, happy-go-lucky type character. 

Honestly, been depressed in bed for days was much better than been hot-wired with anxiety. 

Tomorrow i will visit my doctor and see what he says, having periously discussed moving from mirtazapine to prozac following a meeting with the mental health team. 

I am lucky, however, that I have the support of my parents who do their best for me. 

From my research I have seen the most positive posts regarding withdrawal are 15mg alternative nights with week 3 taking every third night etc.

In summary compulsive googling, having a taster of withdrawal have my cortisol flooding my brain. Ironic... debilitating anxiety before even withdrawing from an anti-anxiety drug. 

For reference, I have withdrawn from Sertraline, with the main problem being brain zaps. 

Does anybody have any advice for my predicament? 

2

It's horrible anno, I'm not a Dr but my nurse was forever telling me "Stop googling" I didnt agree at the time but now I can see it caused me unnecessary anxiety. Most of what I had read, I never experienced. Have you tried alternative medicine, things like Passiflora, excellent for anxiety?

I snapped my 15mgs tab in half at night, kept PPMP & Phenergan by my bed & chewed PPMP if/when I felt bad.

3

Hi I’m trying to get off mirtazapine I was given it 2 years ago and at my highest I was on 37.5mg I’ve been tapering since December 20th I was on 30mg then and today I’m going to be reducing again 

I managed to get to 6mg tonight going to 4.5mg I reduce every month and it’s hell my head is ready to explode and I’ve become a recluse please try and change to something else if you can mirtazapine has wrecked my life

4

Not ti encourage you to google but see surviving antidepressants. They suggest starting with a 10% taper and go from there. That is a harm reduction approach. I would also suggest some talking therapy.

5

I think I will be switched to Prozac and hopefully save my life. Hot wired anxiety. Thank you so much for your reassuring comment, I will hopefully be advised to taper to half like you did

6

Im reducing from 45mg tp 30mg mitrazapine and im the same been googling mitrazapine withdrawel syptoms and im terrified of whats too come xxx

7

Everybody's different, you may , or may not have these withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawing slowly under supervision helps. 👍

8

Im under the doctor i dont know how long ive too wean myself off them following his advice. I just hope i dont get any bad side effects i need to work. Thanks for your reply x