Mirtazapine Facebook Group

Treatment and medication
1

Can someone who runs the nice Facebook mirt group please let me know what it is called. I used to be a member 2 years ago but left Facebook. I wanted to try and taper off mirr again after an unsuccessful try 2 years ago that triggered anxiety that Ive just come through but i want off this drug as its been almost 7 years i have taken it and its caused my health to deteriorate badly and my mental state. I know people may say but look how bad your anxiety went when you slowly tappered and yea that is true it got worse but i think that was purely withdrawal and that it was my underlying anxiety state coming through again because honestly my anxiety was never as bad as it has been these 2 years after i tried to withdraw and now i have depression too so i want off as it isn’t helping wither condition.

I was on 15mg. i got down to 11.5 when the anixety hit hard with severe panic attacks that led to 12 months of horrendous anxiety and panic. That was all of 2018. I am now in a bit of a better place hut my anxiety has never gone down to where it was prior to withdrawal. but i no longer have 12 hour panic attacks, every single day like i had in 2018. Now it is more like general anxiety every day. Anyway, I want to try again even slower. I was withdrawing by 0.5mg every 2-3 weeks so i plan to go slower. I went back up to 13.7 by mid 2018 to see if it helped from the 11.5 I got down to, doing 0.25mg increases that year and i have stayed on that dose since.

I would love to join that group again if anyone can point me in their direction please.

Thank you
Julie

2

hi julie, if its the group i started i can help you, send you a message x

3

That would be great. Thank you.

4

Julie. Read about " Rebound ".. this is when the nervous system and brain react in the opposite direction. Clearly, most all people experience REBOUND. When you take pills to help anxiety and insomnia to calm you, and you start reducing the pills, the brain becomes hyperactive. Creating anxiety, because the brain wants to reach "homeostasis." A balance state... Stay calm. Do yoga, and deep breathing. Taper slowly,, real slow - most experts say to reduce by 10% each month or slower. Each reduction amount is LESS, because 10% becomes less as you ween. Study the concept of " rebound."Many doctors are not taught this. They are lost. Read from Dr. P. Breggin. He is and expert in these medications. You will be fine.. Have confidence. Best to you --- love.

5

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your reply.

I am currently on 13.7 my husband informs me as he has been filing each tablet for me so my plan is to first drop to 13.5 which i know is tiny but i think i need to go very slow to avoid what happened to me last time as that was the orst year of my life and it destroyed my relationships with my children as i was so u well with panic and anxiety i couldnt function. Thank goodness my husband and children supported me and loved me but i feared being so unwell that year i became unable to function and i became full of guilt. Theyre all teenagers and were great but it wasnt easy for any of us having me bed rideen with panic attacks and crippling fatigue every single day.

Fingers crossed for a better experience this time as i will be so cautious.

6

Good luck.. Do not fear. Fear is the enemy. Be confident. Trust.
You will be fine. Do deep breathing exercises. Imagine the most beautiful scenery you have ever witnessed. Do yoga. Pray. All these things help with anxiety. Try to eat healthy and food that is calming. Be confident in a VERY VERY SLOW taper. You may experience some " Rebound" but it is the drug leaving your system, and not your thoughts. Your husband is helping.. You are lucky to have a great person to support you. Count your blessings. Everything will be fine.. oh, and NEVER, NEVER feel guilty about anything. Each day we get another chance. You are forgiven. You see ? YOU are good. Love conquers.

7

Thank you so much. You're so right.

What are good calming foods? Im very interested in diet to help.

My biggest fear is the panic attacks returning when i taper. Last time it was severe panic attacks that I experienced.

8

julie. i am not a nutrition expert. I do know that i had to quit coffee for many years. I had drink less alcohol. I never, never was a big drinker. These days I rarely drink alcohol. Sometimes one drink. I do know foods with Calcium and Magnesium are supposed to be calming... I have read where Chamomille tea is calming. Everyone is different. You might want to see a nutritional expert or a Naturopathic doctor. I saw a Naturopathic doctor several years ago, and he really helped me. He said to: limit red meat. Eat fish and chicken.. occasional red meat. Limit dairy. But i love milk and it has a lot of Calcium. And cheese. Those help me. Everyone is different. I greatly reduced sugar. Difficult, very, very helpful. Water is the best. He prescribed these natural things for ME: passion flower capsules., Tryptophan capsules. ( those really helped me sleep a slightly better ) , B vitamin complex, Valarium, kava. All helped some, along with a slightly better diet. Some say olive oil helps a little. . Maybe read books about nutrients that help calm, and self talk is important. Remember, any anxiety will not kill you. Think POSITIVE thoughts. Lastly, watching comedies on TV, and being around funny people have helped me. Laughter is the greatest medicine. Remember, it may take 3-6-12 months for a change in diet and habits to take affect. Be patient. Be courageous ! and Love. stay in touch.

9

HI JULIE, SORRY TO HEAR THINGS HAVE BEEN SO TOUGH FOR YOU. JUST KEEP FOCUSING ON ONE DAY OR EVEN ONE HOUR AT A TIME . I'M NEARLY 70 AND HAVE HAD TOUGH TIMES TOO, INCLUDING MY OWN HEALTH PROBLEMS AND MY LOVELY DAUGHTER'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. YOU'VE HAD SOME GOOD ADVICE ON HERE, JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT ITS WORTH TRYING A DIFFERENT DIET AS CERTAIN FOOD ARE RECOMMENDED TO HELP WITH ANXIETY. ANYWAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED JUST CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST - YOU CAN BEAT THIS!!!

(SORRY LINK NOT PASTING, WILL SEND SEPARATELY!)

10

Still can't post that link - I'm obviously doing something wrong!

Just check out www.nhs.uk>mental health

They suggest foods that might help. Anyway its all healthy stuff so can't do anything but good.

11

Thank you so much Ellie. I shall have a read of that. Thank you for your kindness.

12

Thank you.

I read an anti anxiety book years ago which had similar advice. Certain foods can really help. I eat fairly clean but I am trying to reduce any sugar in my diet and eliminate dairy but i agree that is hard lol.

Take care and thank you. Julie

13

I read many, many books. Some helped. My biggest problem by far was acute, serious insomnia caused initially by physical addiction to Xanax. Then, worse - doctor did not slowly off Xanax. Had seizures. Almost died. Xanax is VERY addictive. Some people get addicted within 4 or 5 days !!! It is a horrible drug. Klonopin is also. Stevie Nicks got addicted to that drug, following a psychiatrist's prescription. It took away 8 years of her life. Benzos are extremely addictive. Especially, Xanax and Klonopin.

14

Yes, i have heard theyre really difficult to get off. Ive never touched benzos, and never wouod, too scary.

15

Good for you. Please spread the word about Benzodiazepines. Tell as many people as possible. Emerging, are websites that are spreading the truth about these drugs. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies have hidden the truth. for decades. truthfully, yours

16

I just started Remeron last night.Could I get some feed back from anyone who has had a good result from this medicine.My Phsyciatrist has tried me on several since they stopped manufacturing Immipramine.I dont want to have the bad withdrawls in the future if this isnt a good drug to stay on.Thank you.

17

Julie can you tell me what this drug has done to your health.? I just started last night on 15mg.My psyciatrist has tried several antidepressants for me with nit much luck and bad side effects.I agree to slowly taper off this medicine since you have been on this for a while.Take it one day at a time.I understand panic attacks so well.Wishing you well.

18

Julie can you tell me what this drug has done to your health.? I just started last night on 15mg.My psyciatrist has tried several antidepressants for me with nit much luck and bad side effects.I agree to slowly taper off this medicine since you have been on this for a while.Take it one day at a time.I understand panic attacks so well.Wishing you well.

19

I tried it several years ago, because I had Horrible insomnia. It did help me sleep. Very little side effects, for me. Only one side effect. With sex, the drug made almost impossible to climax. I am a Male, so I did not like that. I eventually weened off very very very slowly. Everyone is different, but Mirtazepine did help me sleep a little more, and deeper. I had horrendous insomnia. Many , many, many many nights without sleep. good luck keep people informed because many doctors do not.

20

Hi Joan

Mirt helped me a lot iniitially. I suffered an attack, by my brother which led to severe anxiety, insomnia, unable to eat or leave my home. I started this drug at 7.5mg for about 7 'months before i increased to 15mg. It worked and helped me sleep, eat and get out a bit each day. I needed to gain weight as i had always been underweight. I went from 6 stone to 9 stone which was a huge shock but ive since lost half a stone so feel a bit happier. I an only 5ft tall.

A few months into taking mirt i gaijed the weight, and i felt so tired all the te. Doing basic chores at home was too much. Just cleaning my bathroom Id feel hot and dizzy. The fatigue got worse and worse and I found out i had an underactive thyroid, i never had any health issues prior. Then i was later diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and as a result i have become housebound again these last 2 years.

Also after a few months on the 7.5 i developed weird thoughts. What if i ended my life thoughts that causers me huge panic attacks as i wasnt suicidal. So my GP blamed anxiety and increased me to 15mg, Once on that dose they got worse and i had for 18 months thoughts of what if i hurt my darling children who i adored. Those thoughts destroyed me as i am thhe modt loving mother. Worst 2 years and my GP of course blamed anxiety. He said meds couldnt cause the thoughts, so i stayed on them. Then the hwalth issues started to hit so my focus went to that and i developed a huge phobia of going outside, severe social anxiety to the point i havent seen anyone other than my own little family in 2 years, really strange fears.

I still have intrusive thoughts but thank god they lived away from ky children and knto my health. Now i want off because i was jot even this anxious when i first went on them and i had no physical health issues. I blame this drug for so much. I just hope i havent caused CFs and anxiety forever taking these. This is just my experience, it does not mean it will happen to you at all. Many find this drug helpful.