I really didn't think that these tabs would cause so much trouble yet docs don't seem to tell you anything good luck David and take care
Wow. I JUST figured out that the reason I have been suffering incredible nausea, stomach cramps, bloating, lack of appetite, anxiety, etc. is because I went off Mirt (30 mg.) cold turkey. (My psychiatrist did not warn me about any withdrawal, need for tapering, or anything -- just took me off it because I kept gaining weight on it and was sleeping half the day.) the only way I made the connection was by noticing that the date I went to the Emergency Room because I thought I had an ulcer or something, was about a week after I went off the Mirt.
To confirm my suspicions, i refilled my Mirt scrip (I had one refill remaining) and went back on it, and now, after a few days -- during which I guess it has been building back up in my system -- I am much less nauseated and not in agonizing pain.
But I don't want to stay on the stuff because I can't afford to gain more weight -- I have also put on five lbs. in the last 2 days, back on the Mirt! And I have a bad knee that is very much affected by extra weight; and am pre-diabetic.
D--n, I am angry at my psychiatrist. I've even told him that I've been suffering nausea and cramps and lack of appetite and anxiety, and he didn't say a word about all that perhaps being caused by him taking me off the Mirt cold turkey. Quite possibly he doesn't know about the WD syndrome. Which he should. Seriously. If you're going to prescribe a drug to an unsuspecting patient, you should know that it's famously hell to come off of, and WARN the person. And taper them off it, if they still want to go ahead.
So now I'm faced with having to explain all this to him. And if he doesn't believe me, or doesn't want to lose face by admitting he didn't know about the need to taper, I'll be faced with the need to a) come up with my own taper shcedule -- no clue, and b) find another source for the prescription to taper with.
This is really really really upsetting. Because before I went back on the stuff, I was sick as a dog. I literally threw up all day, every day. I couldn't leave the house, I couldn't work, I couldn't function; I just wanted to die.
Now I'm not sick, which feels wonderful, but I'm putting on weight again; at the rate of 2.5 lbs per day. (!!!)
God, I hope I can find a taper that works. I hope I can get my idiot shrink to sooperate. I hope I can get off this miserable stuff.
Hi Sue, you might find this thread useful: https://patient.info/forums/discuss/mirtazapine-withdrawal-tips-and-experiences-thread-498889
So sorry to read of your suffering Sue; beggards belief ... doctors/p'docs not knowing about discontinuation syndrome. SO, I made it my mission to educate my doctor, I took a copy of info that I had printed off. Its up to you if you do the same, but it might help him/her to help others in the future, and we all need all the help we can get coming off Mirt.
There is lots of help, Evergreens thread will give you support, also to save time, I have put links under my status to help others ~ just click on my name and follow the threads. Just shout out anytime if I can help/support you.
I have been tapering for a long time, using a liquid method, which helps to break down into smaller doses, but its best if you take your time and read up for a full informed choice. It won't be over in a month of two, but at least you know, with a slow taper, that any suffering will be minimised.
Wishing you well Sue, best wishes.
Thank you very much for your kind reply, calmer.
I have a concern about the slow taper; I hadn't been on the mirt long. A few months. I've reinstated in order to quell what must be the "severe withdrawal syndome" (from cold turkey-ing) written of on these boards; but I don't want to stay on the mirt a second longer than I have to. Because I'm afraid that the longer on it, the more it will "train my brain" to need it. I guess I'm making a mental analogy with, say, alcohol -- if I went on a two-week bender, when I quit, I'd probably have the shakes and nausea and anxiety and other alcohol-withdrawal problems; but if i went on a year-long bender, I'd (I assume) have much worse withdrawal symptoms, likepossible seizures/DTs.
Do you see what I'm getting at?
Also, have you found any "official" information on mirt withdrawal that you showed your doctor? Like a paper publiched in a peer-reviewed journal, or at least something written by a Dr.? (Other than Breggin --- I think he's spot-on concerning p-meds and slow withdrawal, but his name is a bit tainted in pro circles because of his connection to Scientology).
Because my pdoc is the kind of jerk who'd just dismiss personal experiences or anything else he wouldn't consider as credible as himself, with his mighty M.D. and experience. And he's not very responsive to evidence-based arguments. Unless I had a piece of paper in my hand that he considers sufficiently credible, he's going to go with what he thinks he knows. 
Thanks, evergreen!
Hi Kal and Kathy. I started on Mirt at 30 mg. then 15mg. Then 7.5mg and last 3.75 mg. I have stopped now. Been off 3 days. I am getting these withdrawals. Sweats at night...sleep not good...tremors...some dizziness
palpitations but they are not as bad as when I was on Mirt. Stay away from this med. Very bad stuff!! Hope this helps.
Stick with it David. There is no other way to get off of these invasive drugs. I have been on every drug known to man for 30 years. I pretty much know them all.. I am bipolar. I am now taking Cymbalta, Trazadone, Klonopin. I have no problem with them. You don't gain weight. I have been on Trazadone for 7years. Have to get used Trazadone, but eventually does work to help you to sleep, and of course, Klonopin relaxes me with no side effects. That works for me!!! I will proceed with withdrawing from Mirtazapine. Hate that drug. Was bad for me and gave me extremely severe heart palpitations and arrhythmia. Hope this helps. You have to do what is best for you. Keep researching every drug you put in your body.
If you don't nobody else will. Not even my psychiatrist!!! God speed.
Hi Norma. I am so glad somebody brought up the issue of heart problems. When I took Mirtazapine, I had to go on a beta blocker. My heart was so bad I could not count beats of my heart due to bad case of arrhythmia and, also very bad palpitations. As you can see I can relate to your heart issue, though I have not had a heart attack yet. I am 69 years old. I should not have been put on this drug. He also put me on 100 mg. seroquel. Unbelievably bad drug for me. I parallel it to Mirt. Same side effects but worse. Getting off Seroquel was mind blowing experience for me. I am changing psychiatrist. Norma, hope you do well. God bless!!!
Rose you are absolutely correct in everything you said. Get a new doctor. I know I am!!
David, I stop Mirt by gradually decreasing the dose. Now I am done after the 3.75 mg. I was taking. Have heart issues on Mirt. How long did the severe side effects last when you trailed off Mirt. I am feeling awful, but I am determined. Anything help you through your withdrawl? I sure could use some advice. Thank you.
Never just stop colturkey on medication. I was on 15 mg for over 11 years. I cut mine in half for 3 weeks then a quarter for 3 weeks then stopped. I am taking magnesium malate and tart cherry juice to help me with sleeping. If you drink 1 ounce of tart cherry juice twice a day, it really helps. Dr oz recommends plus it's really good for you. I get mine at GNC. I take it around 8, eat a snack around 9:30 and tke the magnesium malate. I'll sleep 5 hours straight. Then when I wake up in middle of night, I drink tart cherry juice and go back to sleep 2-3 hours. It's really working well for me. I tried years ago and failed having extreme insomnia, flu like symptoms, and weight loss. I had to go back on but much better this go round with natural supplements. They are good for you too and I feel great!
Hi,angela00207, I was just reading your post ,and having been on Mirtazapine myself for about 10-11 yrs,I've tried a few ways to get off it but failed,because I have chronic IBS,amongst other health.issues.
Could you tell me how you take your magnesium malate,tablet,spray,ect ect. Also tart cherry juice,is this from a health store. I'm from the UK,and I believe your from the US,at a guess.
I sure would be grateful for your help. By the way I tend to agree on most of what your saying here.
i take 2 pills of the magnesium malate. Source natural is the brand 1250 mg. you can find on Amazon. The tart cherry brand I like is Dynamic Health organic. You can find online too. I'm not sure if another brand woukd be the same or not, you can try. Just look for organic tart cherry juice. Good luck and I hope this helps! Let me know if you have further questions. More than happy to help!
Thank you Angela,for your fast reply.
Hi David I've just came off mirt 45 that I've been taking for 8 years as yet I have no side effects and unfortunately I haven't lost any weight I've gained near 5stone since taking this and that is the reason for stopping. I hope I don't have any side effects time will tell but the weight doesn't seem to be going anywhere..😠😠
Hi David, my Dr said it'd be easy to come off of remeron at 3.75 mg so he gave me a script for 30/15 mg pills and told me to cut, then cut again to 3.75 n just come off of it. So now I'm breaking my 15 mgs in half and taking 7.5 mg until I run out of the full pills, then I'll take the halves and cut them to 3.75 and take them until Im half way through with those, then I'll skip 2 doses, spaced until I completely run out and stop. Wish me luck.
I was only on Mirtazapine a month, but I was a real eating machine and put on nearly 10lbs believe it or not. I went cold turkey and three days later I've skipped dinner because I'm not hungry and I see my ballooning belly has already gone down a notch. I need to fast methinks because I still have stomach pains from overeating. Yes, it was that bad. I once found myself seriously considering opening junk food at the supermarket before I'd paid for it because I couldn't wait
The weird thing is that I have been feeling elated since quitting. Awake and full of energy. I had more crying spells on this drug than I ever had in the worst of my depression. Though I will say it's fabulous for poor sleepers.
I should add I have a fairly small frame and was on 30mg. Other withdrawel symptom is aches and pains.
My doctor has prescribed Mirtazapine today as I'm depressed, suffering from severe anxiety attacks, insomnia and very low mood. she said it worked well yet when I read all of people's comments on this issue, it seems that it's not a good medicine at all! and the last thing I need is weight gain. I lost 3 and a half stone 16 years ago and havent put any weight on since then, am currently on 20mg citalopram but cant get higher dosage as they wont give it to the 'elderly' I am 71 yrs old next month and have lots of illnesses which also contribute to my low mood. would others recommend me to go ahead with it?