**Anyone who reads this please do not go cold-turkey from this medication**
I have tried to come off this medication once -- I went cold-turkey without realizing what it would do. I wasn't informed about the withdrawal symptoms I would get if I tried to stop it and If I had known before taking it I never would have considered taking this medication. When I went cold-turkey my following symptoms were;
Insomnia.
Vomiting.
Rapid weight loss.
Panic attacks.
High-anxiety.
Depersonalization.
Derealization.
Heart-palpitations.
I was off the medication for about two weeks and I couldn't take it anymore so I went back on it. I was on 15MG for three years, I cut down to 7.5MG when I went back onto Mirtazapine and this is my fourth year on it. Anyone who says 7.5mg isn't doing anything, you're very mistaken because this dosage helps me sleep and has caused me to put on a lot of weight, too. Now I want off it -- but my question is, how do I exactly come off this medication without experiencing what I did before? I need like a guide on how much I should cut down each week or something, and I cannot speak to my GP about this because as far as I'm concerned my GP isn't well informed about this medication because my GP's advice was to stop taking it after 3 days which I did and then I had that ■■■■ experience and he actually wanted me to not go back on it. So I am doing this solo, I just need a helping hand.
The recommendation for reduction is 10% monthly but everyone reacts very differently to the medication so it would be hard to say. If your having a lot of issues trying to get off it may be best just to stay on it for now but if you want to get off of it I would just take your time.
I'm currently on 22.5mg for 2 weeks, 15mg for 2 weeks, 7.5mg for 2 weeks the doctor told me to come off them then. However i will cut 15mg in 4 & take 3.75mg for a further 2 weeks before coming off
So you could try 3.75mg & see how you get on. I've only been on them 15/30mg for 4 months. Want to taper off them now because don't want to stay on them for a long time. I think withdrawals are inevitable though no matter how slowly you taper. I guess the only reassuring thing is they will subside over time. Many people on here have successfully come off them. So it can definitely be done.
I have had to go very slowly since 7.5. Now at 3.75. Difficulty starts here. Need liquid do it slow. Just want off it, nervy, nauseous, etc still. This is one awful drug.
5mg) because I've been getting withdrawal symptoms of it anyway while on them for weeks now they have just stopped working for me! What else am I to do? Hope all goes well x
I started suffering after being on 15/30mg for 4 months or so. Even before reducing the dose, out of the blue i started to get insomnia & it's been like this for over 2 weeks. The doctor said it couldn't possibly be Mirtazapine because it's a sedative. However i have never really suffered from insomnia before. So i believe it must be down to the Mirtazapine.
I agree, 7.5 mg is a very active dose, doctors say the lowest therapeutic dose is 15mg - right, we know a little more. You are so right to do your research before starting to taper, Mirt' is an extremely difficult drug to discontinue fast - however, it is doable if you go slow. The 10% rule is suitable for most, but some find 5% every 2 weeks a little kinder to the system. Are you UK? Liquid Mirt is available here, you could try getting it from your doc, but it is a slow process (don't tell your doc you need it for 9 months + though).
Click on my name and read the links under my status for starters, get more info', be ready to do some calculating. So from 7.5 mg - less 5% - it is 7.12 mg. Anyone dropping from 7.5 by halving the tablet to go to 3.75 mg is dropping 50% and it will play havoc with the CNS (central nervous system). Be wise, trial the 5% for 3 weeks to begin with.
It is poss to make a liquid if you can't get the liquid version.
Anyway, I am sorry for your suffering, but don't despair, there is a way to get off this stuff
I also could not sleep while on 15mg after 2 months-Dr said to stop straight away-so I did-he said you up the dose each time it stops working-he has patients on 60mg. I went cold turkey with help of temazepam and 2 mg valium and after 2 weeks am weaning myself off them slowly and feeling more normal. Wish I had never gone on this at all . But each person is different and you can either stop or taper down. Good luck.
Yes highest dose was 15mg. It worked for about 6weeks then pooped out -I decided to stop cold turkey rather than up to 30mg as dr said you increase dose up to 60mg everytime it stops working. As i was putting on weight I decided to stop as dr said it would be ok. But I am glad I stopped using temazepam for sleep and valium 2 mg before bed. Now am weaning off Temaxepam slowly. At least I got good sleep while on it but it can be addictive if used too long. Is your Mirt still working at reduced doses?
I'm currently taking 22.5mg i'm ok but still suffering with insomnia. Getting to sleep ok but waking up in the early hours. Getting about 5 hours sleep atm. Have tried Zopiclone, Phenergan & Temazipam but not really doing much. Doctor won't prescribe any more sleeping tablets.
Hope its going ok today for you. I am doing this alone, asked for,liquid but dr just said too expensive. I am very worried i am feeling awful and the nightmare last night on 3.75 was sooo real. Took me ages to try to dismiss awful thoughts. Is this all part of the lowering?
Dr gave me diazepam so might be it but people say no, its the mirtaz. Did you have this when you tried the dropping last time?
Hey there, I am indeed in the UK and I asked my GP before about the liquid form but she declined me and said they don't do that anymore because it's far too expensive. How can you make it?
I did take Diazepam when I went cold-turkey but it only helped for a few hours, although some of my withdrawal symptoms were still there like the derealization and depersonalization part, those were the scariest symptoms compared to the rest and I don't want to go through that again.
I'm on day 2 of 3.75 and I woke up with the most horrible headache ever and I'm starting to experience a bit of anxiety so I suspect it's due to coming off the pills. How are you feeling?
I honestly believe GP's are not at all informed much about this medication because they seem to know very little about it. I have been passed around from GP to GP and when in the hospital I was passed around from Doctor to Doctor who had no idea what they were talking about because they gave me zero answers when I was suffering from withdrawals and they thought it was, "all in your head". Shows how much they know about it when there's a whole community of people here complaining of withdrawal symptoms.
Could always ask for a private prescription if you have some some spare cash, although it is expensive, I think about £60. I'll send you a message with instructions of how to make liquid, I think there are a few brand names in them and the Moderators don't allow them here.
My advice to you would be if you want to taper, listen to Calmer, she knows more about MIRT then any GP or MH Doctor that I have seen. She should be writing a book on this Mirtazapie as she has helped a lot of people who come to this site out of desperation. (like me)
Thank you Switchman, I'd rather not have had to learn about Mirt' but my doc prescribed it for insomnia back in 2014 & I had no choice.
Tapering is not difficult if done slowly, trouble is getting the message to people before they get into trouble with it all - isn't this the doctors role? Well they are called General Practitioners here in the U.K., but only an idiot Doctor could have missed all the media attention given to coming off AD's & of course Benzo's over the last few years.