Been taking 40mg Paroxetine for 22 years which worked really well. However due to the occasional blip it was decided to try switching to Mirtazapine. Stupidly decided to go cold turkey once i had tapered down to 20mg. After 3 weeks i wasn't coping well & informed the doctor about what i had done. Was subsequently put back on the Paroxetine 40mg. Now that i am back on the Paroxetine (7/8 weeks) i want to drop the Mirtazapine. I have been on 15/30mg Mirtazapine for approx 4 months. The doctor told me to drop from 30 to 15mg for 2 weeks & then come off. However after researching tapering i decided this was too quick. So i tapered from 30mg to 22.5mg the main problem that i have is insomnia, this started even when i had been on 30mg. At first i could sleep but all of a sudden i was struck with insomnia, something which i have never suffered from before. I have been on 22.5mg for a week now & apart from the insomnia i am feeling ok. Thinking of dropping the dose tonight to 15mg because i know no matter how slow i taper withdrawals are inevitable & i really don't want to lengthen the process. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
You are on an antidepressant Paxil already so why did he put you on Mirt as well as it seems the side effects are similar? Insomnia was my problem as well on Mirt 15mg and dr said you up the dose each time it stops working-I did not like this idea so decided to go cold turkey. Why draw it out? Some of these drugs take months to work properly. I am not a dr but it's up to you-I know what I would do. Good luck just hang in there as it well get better after the withdrawel symptoms go.
Dr gave me mirtaz two years ago for insomnia and anxiety with depression. I was told to keep uppping it but past 15 i couldnt handle it, felt really awful so ended up on 7.5 for ages now. Gp said we should get off it and have gone down to 5mg for a bit, now 3.75'for a month and boy i feel awful. Waking 5am needing diazepam and the nausea is really bad. I know you went cold turkey, did you have any of these symptoms then? I would love to get off it but not sure if these are original symptoms or withdrawals. Did tou take it for long?
Hi
Did you ever feel good or ok on mirtazapine ?i ask because you are clearly really suffering and i wander if you have never been well is this part of your mental health problems and /or withdrawals. If you have felt better on the mirt then it shows it worked for you and now you are reducing you could be withdrawing and it may not be the right time for you. If you have never felt better on it then your mental health has not been managed and perhaps withdrawals is just part of it.
Only felt marginally better on this so you may be right. The option of going back the way is not tenable so i hope i can return to normal but it looks like i may have to try another, hopefully not as they have tried many which did awful things to me. I think my body doesnt like ssris.
Mirt is not an SSRI.
Have you discussed venlaflaxine. It was the only thing that worked for me. SSRI s made me worse. Mirt just helped me sleep.
I was on 7.5 for 10 days then 15 for 2 months then insomnia set in so decided to stop it rather than upping dose. Used temazepam plus 2mg valium whilst in withdrawel after 2 weeks am cutting down temaze to 5mg and upping valium to 4mg for last 4 days . Hope to stop temaze in 3 days and continue valium for a few days then stop. Each day I am feeling better being off this mirt which is an older type anti depressant tricyclic type before SSRI came on scene.Chart below may help --Schedule 9. Withdrawal from temazepam (Restoril) 30mg
nightly with diazepam substitution. (30mg temazepam is
approximately equivalent to 15mg diazepam)
Night time
Equivalent diazepam dosage
Starting dosage temazepam 30mg
15mg diazepam
Stage 1 (1-2 weeks) temazepam 15mg
diazepam 7.5mg
15mg
Stage 2 (1-2 weeks) temazepam 7.5mg
diazepam 12mg
15.75mg
Stage 3 (1-2 weeks) Stop temazepam
diazepam 15mg
15mg
Stage 4 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 14mg
14mg
Stage 5 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 13mg
13mg
Stage 6 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 12mg
12mg
Stage 7 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 11mg
11mg
Stage 8 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 10mg
10mg
Stage 9 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 9mg
9mg
Stage 10 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 8mg
8mg
Stage 11 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 7mg
7mg
Stage 12 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 6mg
6mg
Stage 13 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 5mg
5mg
Stage 14 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 4mg
4mg
Stage 15 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 3mg
3mg
Stage 16 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 2mg
2mg
Stage 17 (1-2 weeks) diazepam 1mg
1mg
Stage 18 Stop diazepam
--N OTE-I was on Temaze 10mg to start with not 30 mg.
I am on warfarin.
i think venlafaxine cannot be used with it. Correct me if im wrong.
Venlafaxine oral increases levels of warfarin oral by slowing drug metabolism.You need to be under a dr if this is the case.
Yes i have seen the consultant and await another decision, he has tried so many.