Hi, I've just found this link and it seems just what I'm looking for. I've been on Mirtazapine for 6 months but my anxiety problems never seemed to improve. The doctor upped me from 30 to 45 and then the nightmare began. I was scared of everything and couldn't leave the house. I saw him again and he dropped me to 15 and 10 of Citalopram. Coming down off Mirt is terrible. I've had massive withdraw for 4 days now. Scared, shaking ,hot ,cold, cant eat I've lost a stone. Today's a little bit better but I still can't raise the courage to take the dog for a walk. I'm due to up the Citolopram to 20 in a few days, I pray this work 'cos this is misery.
Wow you sound like me . I’ve gone from 45mg to 15mg as of yesterday and I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus and have the flu. I to hav stopped eating and hav terrible shakes and sweats. I don’t know what to expect when I stop the final 15mg. I hope you manage to struggle through ok
All I can say is stick with it I found mirtazapam dreadful, it took me to places I don’t want visit again if you get my drift.
I have decided to stop everything, not recommend but I can’t tolerate side effects anymore. Hopefully citalopram will start to work I think is from a different family of antidepressant ssri and mirtazapam is an older type medication
Chin up Chris. I thought it was only me. Thanks for the reply, I know it doesn't help you, but now I know this is a standard reaction it seems a lot less scary. I took 20 mg last night to taper off a bit more gradual. Hopefully by the weekend we should have got through the worst of it. Good luck.
Mirtazapine is actually one of the newer types of anti depressant.
Personally Ive had good results from using it. It sorted my sleep out and my appetite came back. Pretty much wiped out the depression within 4 weeks. I still got spikes every few months though.
Im now on day 50 of being completely off mirtazapine. What I can say from personal experience is that all the weird side effects from taking/withdrawing do go. The only problem is I have been left with occasional anxiety spikes that can last up to two weeks. Im hoping time will be the healer of this as I am trying to get past this point in my life without medication. If things are too severe though I would consider it again.
Just make sure you hang in there as it DOES get better.
Wise words 😊
Thank you
Yeah, I think (hope) the worst of the withdrawal process is over. Maybe if they explained this part to you before they prescribed it, people would think twice about starting it. I think groups like "I Talk" and "Silver Cloud" would rather people self helped but it's not always the way forward. Some of us need the help of modern drugs to help us move forward in the first place.
Totally agree with you
Hi, I've been on Mirtazapine now for nearly 14 weeks. Started at 15, increased to 30 then to 45 and back down to 30. Didn't matter what dose I was on didn't make any difference other than make me feel tired all the time and like a zombie during the day! Finally decided that I'd had enough and nurse suggested that I wean off these, dropped down to 15 for a week and then 15 every other day. Can't wait to get these horrible tablets out of my system!!!
My second night on 15mg and I’m suffering a bit, well a lot to be honest with my mood but reluctant to take a bit more. I hope tomorrow is better at least I have some zopiclone for sleep otherwise I think I’ll be awake all night
Hi Frimley , jus wondering how your going mate ?? Are you still going thru Mirtazapine Withdrawals? ? If so what symptoms do you have ?? Do you have any leg spasms ?? Hope your ok and best wishes for the future mate. . Lloyd from Oz
Hello Lloyd, another bad night last night. Sweats, weird dreams, anxiety. Just got up now, used to be up and out with my dog by 7 before all this. Last night was not as bad as some previous ones. I wish I'd never seen Mirtazapine I really do. I'm supposed to be starting Citalopram but I'm having serious doubts. If it don't work out that means I've got to go through all of this again.
Good on ya. The bloody things ought to be banned. I've had some hard times in my life but this ranks as some of my worst.
Never want to feel like this again and I'm hoping that I can manage without tablets.
Hello Birdy, I was a little bit better yesterday but today's crap. I feel so anxious. I'm seriously considering whether I want to carry on with Citrolapram when this is over. I'm with you , I reckon no tablets is better than this.
Hi Frimley, I'm on both these drugs. Citalopram 40mgs and am cutting down on the Mirtazapine, currently taking 11.25mgs. Been on the Citalopram for 13 years! This works well for me but think I've got used to it! Been on the Mirtazapine for a year and hate it. Don't think it did much for my anxiety, that's why am cutting down. I understand it's best to cut down really slowly as the withdrawals are worse. Perhaps cutting down too much in one go is why your withdrawals are more severe. So trying keeping the cuts small may help.
Hello Vikki. Yeah I've heard this a few times. The GP says cut it by 30 but it's not him that spends a week or more shaking, sweating and being anxious. I'm taking 15 Mirt and 10 Vital at the moment but it's hard.
Couldn't agree more, Frimley. I think the GPs just don't understand psychiatric medications. My doctor told me to completely stop the Mirtazapine at 15mgs without tapering which I know is ridiculous. A slow taper is the best option all round as far as withdrawals are concerned.
I'm hoping that when I increase the Cital dosage to 20 on Saturday it will do away with the worst of my anxiety and shakes, then I'm going to decrease my Mirt by a few mg at a time and hopefully come off it completely .