Has anyone else had a problem with weight loss when stopping Mirtazapine? I don't have an appetite, and feel sick at the stomach, and have lost 10 pounds. I am beginning to worry that it may be something else going on.
Just about everybody on this forum lost weight after stopping mirt, don't worry. Try to eat despite not feeling like it. That was my problem too as I'm naturally slim and didn't want lose weight and I had to remember to eat but still lost several pounds.
Yes I tried to come off it a while back because I'd gained weight. I had terrible nausea and insomnia. Could hardly eat a thing and lost half a stone in ten days.
Did you come off slowly or fast? Either way, a lot of people have withdrawal symptoms that can last a pretty long time. Easier doing a very slow withdrawal, though. I have tried twice and had to go back on.
How long have you been off? What was your dosage?
Hi Kathy i havectried about 4 times and always go back up ...i go from 30 mg to 22.5 and even find that difficult !!
When i tried on several occasions David i lost lots of weight and got chronic insomnia ...and that was just trying to grt down slowly from 30 mg to 15
It was my second attempt. First was 45 mgs taper, this time was 7.5 at once. today makes 3 weeks since last 7.5 pill.
What do you mean 7.5 at once? Sorry if I seem confused here. Did you do a slow taper off of 7.5?
No Kathy, no taper from the 7.5, cold turkey stop at once. I know it was a mistake.
I hope you get through it fast, David. It's pretty brutal just stopping. Sounds like you already know that. I would go back on and do a taper of dropping one dose a week, then 2, etc. and do it as slow as you want. In other words, if you need to take several weeks at just one dropped dose, then do so. Would be much easier on you. Just a suggestion. Some folks decide to ride it out, and for some, it gets better faster, and others, way slower. I wish you luck. Truly.
Kathy, I am miserable. The weight loss has me friegntened that it might be something else that is serious. I had a physical in December, and was in the ER last week, but all tests were normal. Since I am 3 weeks since my last dose, I would rather tough it out, as long as there isn't something else causing my digestive issues. I slept OK last night, but when I stepped on the scales this morning, I had lost a couple more pounds. I feel generally sick, weak, and fatigued. No appetite. I have a reasonable acute case of IBS that I have always had, which makes things worse. I have had, in the past, every gastrointestinal test there is, some of them several times, and they have all been normal. No family history of colon or stomach cancer. I just hope to get better soon. The most that I have weighed over the last several years is 215, I weighed 190 this morning. I am afraid (anxiety). Thanks for your interest. I would really rather never take another Mirtazapine.
I totally understand, David. Like I said, tried twice. I am not too proud to go back on it and try again later. The slow taper is safer and better for you. No one can tell you how long you will be in this misery with the sudden stop. But I hope it's not long for you.
Thank you again. Prayers would be appreciated. David
I'm not much on prayer, but I will send good thoughts and vibes your way. That helps, too.
Hi David, I'll pray for you and everyone else suffering WD from Mirt. About the weight David I was like you on 45mg now down to 7.5, and as you know suffering badly with servere IBS,I to have lost as we say in the UK a stone,but I can't say I've lost my appetite . If your not eating you will not only loose weight,but you'll loose vitamins that will make you miserable. I had a word with my Pharmasist and he said WD from Mirt best to top up on vit D it does help a little. It's also said if you've dropped down never go back up. I'll pray for you tonight x
Thank you Norma
David if you need to reinstate on 7.5mg or 3.75mg and then witdraw slowly from there don't be afraid to do so. Don't allow a doctor to put you back on full dose or something else just because you'll run yourself in a very bad place. But if you can persevere I'll keep you in my prayers!
I've stopped at 7.5mg twice before and I was in severe muscle pain but this time I'm on 3.75mg and soon (after Easter) I'll start skipping one day every two weeks (which should take 14 weeks to be off 3.75mg completely). With God's help!
Good luck!
1980, thank you for the advice and prayers. Did you lose weight when you stopped at 7.5? Also, did you have abdominal cramps, spasms, pain and sleep issues? I stopped 3 weeks ago when I took my last 7.5, and figured at three weeks I would be much better. I did sleep better last night, but the other symptoms are still there. As far as going back to try a slower taper, I promised my wife that I would never put another one in my mouth, and I plan to keep that promise. My biggest fear (anxiety) is that there is something else (cancer, etc.) causing the weight loss and weakness. My abdomen cramps so bad that it leaves the area sore, but it is better the next day. There seems to be gas rumbling in my bowels almost constantly. Thanks again, David
No David, there is nothing else! You have typical withdrawal symptoms. I reckon with mirtazapine you never know how it will hit you. I stopped twice last year and both times I had different symptoms. The first time I stopped I had insomnia, a very quick loss of weight and diarrhea for weeks, also abdominal pains, all of which diminished after I reinstated after 4 weeks. The second time I stopped and I had no gastro issues except for no apetite (also lost weight but less then the first time) no sleep and severe muscle spasms and joint pains, most of which disappeared after I took my very first dose of the drug. That's why I need to do it slow this time.
That's how you could quickly check if it's the drug I guess! But I think after your better last night you may be just fine. As long as there are signs of overall improvement you just need to have faith in them. A healthcare person confirmed to me that this is the worst drug to come off, judging by the volume of queries they have on it.
One thing that I forgot to mention, I take two medications for heart rhythm problems, and part of the reason that I stopped them, the Mirt, is that they have cardiac side effects listed, including heart attacks. My heart problems have gotten worse, which makes the Mirt more dangerous for me to take. This whole thing is hell for me, so again, your prayers are appreciated.