Mirtazapine help! For Calmer :)

Treatment and medication
1

Hey calmer,

Im hoping you could help me?

Little bit about my story.

3 months ago was a fit healthy man (32) loving work and enjoying life. I have recently had a little baby girl (6 months old).

3 months ago I started to get panic attacks and racing thoughts when I tried to sleep.

I went to my GP he prescribed me sertraline, worst mistake of my life(lasted 8 days on them).

I then went back and he prescribed me Mirtazapine.

I took 7.5mg for 3 days then moved up to 15mg for roughly 2 weeks. On the second week I thought these ain't doing much for my anxiety and I stopped taking them. Big mistake!!! I've never been depressed, within a few days I was in a black hole, crying etc.

I made the choice to reinstate the 15mg dose for 2 weeks, went back to the GP because I still thought they wasn't doing much for my anxiety. He increased my dose to 30mg. I've now been at this dose for a week and I still don't feel right, I know people say stick at it for 4-6 weeks but I'm starting to believe the mirt is causing OCD type intrusive thoughts which I've never had before in my life.

I'm seeing a privets counsellor which i think is helping more than the tablets.

Basically I want of these tablets! Even though I've only been on them a short time i believe they are causing more problems than they are fixing.

Making me lazy, not wanting to leave the house, not wanting to drive, OCD intrusive thoughts, and can't work.

I just want to get it out my system, I've forgot what the real me felt like, I feel kinda numb?

I'm writing to you because you seem to have the knowledge and information to help me get of these.

How do I go about it?

Thank you in advance.

Jimmy

2

Any advice is welcome from all members xx

3

Hey jimmy

Im in the same boat been on anf off these bloomin tablets for a year. They even took me off put me on sertraline too i lasted 2 days! So like you back on mirt. I have an app with psychiatric doctor first time in my life because they dont know what to give me!

All that effects you are explaining are very typical it seems. Im down to 7.5mg because the 15mg was making anxiety worse. I cant leave the house for feeling faint and dizzy. I was told the higher dose for depression and lower dose for anxiety. I suffer from depression but these tablets have caused anxiety really badly. I like you tried to come off cold turkey from 7.5mg BIG MISTAKE! I was like a junkie coming off drugs. There is a 10% method which calmer may explain more but unless youre doctor is willing to give liquid mirt then calmer may explain how to do it.

4

Hey kelly,

I think I made a big mistake going on tablets.

I've always been the type of guy not to take any sort of tablet, even a paraecetamal.

Thinks it was because I'd never experienced anxiety and I thought they would be a 'quick fix" how wrong I was.

My counsellor seems to think I may have postnatal depression / anxiety. After the birth of my little girl.

I'd never experienced depression till I tried to come of the mirt, it could of been withdrawals but I didn't ride it out long enough I just jumped back on the dam tablets lol.

I'm currently on 30mg I don't seem depressed but anxiety levels are high. Wished I would of waited and tried to ride it out without the tablets.

The problem I've got is my partner, and mom saying stick on them it'll get better. But I'm thinking the longer I'm on them the harder it's going to be to get of them.

Thanks for the reply.

You having a tough time hun?

Jimmy xx

5

I've just received an email from the CITA website with a book of how to come off. Explains what supplements to take and how to reduce.

I'm going to have a good read of that and see if I can start to reduce.

My first message was aimed at Calmer because he/she seems to be the Oracle on this topic, seems real kniwlagble. I'm glad to hear from all members though xx

To be honest if it wasn't for the intrusive thoughts I've encountered I'd probably give them a good chance to kick in.

But the thoughts are making me ill, I know I am not my thoughts but I'm sure it's the mirt causing these.

Jimmy x

6

Hi Jimmy

Was on these for 9 weeks.  Everyone was telling me to up doze it would get better.  Got to 30g at week 7.  Had the same as you.  Eventually went back to doc and said I was taking no more.  I thought I was dying a slow death.  She told me. To half the dose for a week and stop.  I did not do that but took 3 weeks, still probably not long enough.  It is now 5 weeks mirt free and am stiff suffering, thing marginally improving.  If these have not worked for you and making you feel worse, get rid.  Have never taken anti-depressants in my life and never will again.  Don't know how long it will take me for recovery.  Know and listen to what your body is saying.  Wish I had.  I am 66 years old and want my brain back.  Good luck.  I am using homeopathy and acupuncture as this med has messed up my stomach, my sleep and my anxiety.

 

7

Jimmy I've been on Mirtazapine for 6 months to help with depression and my insomnia and I've had the same feeling of being tired all the time and not wanting to leave the house as well as being dizzy at different times of the day as well as messing my stomach up. I've been slowly weening off of it because I'm tired of all the side effects which I accepted because it help me sleep somewhat better.. You'll have to come up with a game plan to ween off of it but hopefully it shouldn't be too bad because you've been on it only a month.

8

Hey rob

It's a strange drug isn't it. Gets hold of you pretty quick.

I'm gonna listen to my body and mind. And come off.

The wife won't be happy because she thinks I'll go back to having panick attacks.

At 30mg I get a strange feeling like a constant panic attack but don't menifest if that makes sense.

Jimmy.

9

Hi Judith

5 weeks off now that's good news. Hopefully you'll start to feel the benifits of being mirt free very soon.

I too won't be trying another AD like yourself.

Jimmy x

10

It's something I definitely wish I hadn't started but was so desperate for sleep that I gave in to taking it and it has really had a negative effect on my life I only wish I tried to get off of it quicker it I just have to fight through the withdrawal symptoms and hope for the best. Hope all goes well with you in the future!

11

Know exactly what you mean.  Try Bach rescue remedy for panic attacks.  I am right at this moment trying to deal with palpitations.  Never had these before taking this.  There is lots of natural remedies out there. Ruth

12

I've been on 30mg for a week know, im wandering how much do I reduce tonight. Do I drop to 22.5mg tonight ? How kind do I stay on each reduced drop?

I've only took it for no longer than 6 weeks and it's got an hold on me.

What dose you on rob? How much do you reduce and stay at each dose etc ?

Jimmy

13

My high was 45 but at 30 the longest. I went down to 22.5 and did ok but tried to rush it down to 15 after two weeks and felt awful. I currently went down to around 18 give or take because it's hard to cut pills to get that dose. I've been ok so far but it's been about 5 days. Everyone reacts differently but I would take it slow and ask whoever prescribed it to you to get a game plan.

14

I've asked my GP they seem to think it's non addictive and I can just stop, they have no clue really.

15

Sorry to hear that it sounds like he doesn't have a clue if he doesn't believe Mirtazapine is addictive and it's easy to just come off of it when you want without any effects...

16

Hi Jimmy,

I have been on Mitrazapine for 31/2 weeks now. 15mg, will need to go back to Drs to assess but don't plan on increasing dosage of I find I can function at this dose. I have weaned off Sertraline (before that Citraplan) They do make me sleepy but I'm glad if that as I was suffering from insomonia (for years). On the initial couple of weeks it seed to make me very angry!!! That seems to have calmed down now. Only time tell! I am beginning to function slowly although it exhausts me when I do however.

It apparently takes 4-6 weeks to really kick in so I am going to persevere and give the meds a chance. I think too often when we experience side effects we give up and don't give the meds a chance to settle down and reach an even platform.

Good luck. But please give the meds a chance to kick in. Listen to your wife or others who can observe you but ultimately it is your own body that you need to listen to.

17

I agree my stomach was bad enoigh with ibs but worse now. Did you have dizziness? im down to 7.5mg for last two weeks but the dizziness is shocking so bad i cant go to work. I wake up feeling like im not me at all. I swear this drug has just trurned me into an emotionless wreck. I have no interest in anything like i did before. Its not really working for my appetite anymore other than craving sweet stuff late at night. Could go whole day not feeling hungry. My sleep is still rubbish i wake up a few times thriugh the night in almost a surreal anxious zombie state! Arggh i just want to be happy again.

18

Hey rob

I cant understand how doctors dont realise or care. Whats with this awful dizziness! I tried to explain it to the doctor i get an almost cold feeling in my stomach and feel as if im going to faint sometimes at random times in the day but its every day! What dose are you on now? I guess we shouldnt be surprised that it was originally used for cats for making them eat! We will all be meowing soon 😀

19

Just do it really slowly then hun especially at 30mg. It was bad enough trying to come straight off 7.5mg x

20

Hi Sharon,

uts an hard one for me, I wanna stay on the mort for my family, that say I'm starting to function more and more each day.

But then me being me don't want tablets in me 😩 I really don't know what to do. Suppose it's the stress of getting back to work, and Christmas is around the corner.

If I start reducing now i could risk feeling really ill over Christmas and I don't want that for my family's sake.

Jimmy xx