I had a period of bad anxiety and depression a year ago and my GP suggested 15 mg of this to go with Citalopram. I have been back at work for 10 months and quite well for most of that time. I recently had to start two different tablets for something else and decided to stop the Mirtazapine because I thought I was on a low dose. First week, no problems. Second week is a nightmare. Incredibly bad depression and some anxiety. Did the research and realised why. Started the tablets again at a half dose for the last three days and back to see the doc tomorrow for advice. Anyone done the same thing or offering any advice would be good. I,ve struggled to get through work this week.
Docs seem to think it's no problem, but actually it's very hard to taper of these pills. A 10% taper is recommended, but some people can go faster.
Why not reinstate the full dose, and start tapering from there? If you are determined to not reinstate the full dose, 11,25 mg might do. (3/4) It's still a big step though, so it might take some time to get back to your normal self.
I think the GP will probably suggest going back to the 15mg. I just hope it starts to do it's job quickly. I'd just got used to being well again and then this happens. I wish I had read up about stopping before I did. I just didn't give any thought to it being a potential problem. My plan is to reinstate my 15mg dose, hopefully get better and then start to reduce very slowly, as you suggest 10% reductions at a time, although I'm not sure how you can do that with tablets. I think the lowest strength tablet is 15mg which can be snapped in half, but how can you reduce a tiny snapped tablet any further.
Im currently taking 15 mg and looking to keep weening off of it, I was prescribed it for depression and insomnia. It helped with sleep some but has made me feel groggy most days and has had numerous other side effects. My only problem was that I stayed on it so long just for some help with sleep, it did nothing for my depression and I can't wait to finally get off it.
You can be creative with a knife, microscale or a pill crusher. There are even instructions for making a liquid from pills even. Instructions are somewhere on this forum.
Easily done John, sorry for your suffering, there just isn't any advice 'out there' to follow. I think you're right to reinstate. If you want to taper I would do so carefully, read up for an informed choice firstly, click on my name & follow the links under my status.
I hope you settle back soon after the reinstate, sometimes it takes a few days, but you will be ok, just needs a little time.
Wishing you well
Everyone reacts differently to each medication so it's hard to tell how you'll do but just like Calmer said try to make those most informed decision that you can for yourself.
Hi john,Calmehas some great advice on how to taper and Granto has great advise for stopping it and seeing it through.
There both gave me tremendous advice whilst I was going through hell!
There is light at the end of the nunnel,I know how hard this is to believe when your in the thick of it.
Read there forums,there advice is so reassuring!
I've recently turned the corner and it took me 7weeks,I've got the old me back.
Good luck on your journey to Recovery!
Thanks to everyone for your advice. It is very reassuring to here from people who are doing well in their recovery and good to know that there is advice from the real experts ie those who have been through it. I realise now that GPs have good intentions but are really guessing quite a bit when they prescribe. I'm hanging on at work this week, but really struggling so I hope reinstating at 7.5mg will start to alleviate symptoms. Off to the doc this afternoon. I'm guessing she will say go up to the 15mg I was on until stopping it nearly three weeks ago now. I'll post again soon.
Went to the GP today. She thought my horrendous symptoms of depression and some anxiety were due to stopping taking something which was alleviating my symptoms and helping to keep me well, as well as withdrawl symptoms. She suggested that I reinstate to 15mg and is quite confident my symptoms will subside in a week or two. She then suggests that I give it a period of being well before starting to taper. She also told me that she has had many patients who have moved from 15mg and higher, down to 7.5mg, then to 3.75mg and then to 0 without any or only mild withdrawl symptoms. Guess I will follow her advice and think about tapering sometime next year.
You have a very good GP,
Take her advice she knows what she's talking about,
I wish everything GP had this knowledge.
Hope you settle back on to Mirt soon John. If you are wanting to quit Mirt by tapering slowly, for a full informed choice read the links under my status before maybe making a steady plan - click on my name and you see see the links.
There is advice there to make a liquid from Mirt Sol Tabs, this is a real help to enable smaller cuts. If you are thinking of reinstating, it might be a good idea, and I think it will settle you also, to not go right back to 15 mg, but to go to say 12.5 mg.
Doctors will always tell you its ok to go to 7.5 to 3.75 to zero ... I've not met anyone yet who didn't struggle with that method. Doctors ugh ... !!
Wishing you well.
Hi Calmer it's vikki,
I thought my symptoms were going after the Anxiety shifted on Monday,but I was a little to eager,
My insomnia is worse then ever and it's now 7 weeks.
I didn't want to unsettle anyone by retracting my statement,if anything I hoped my blog(saying it had gone) gave someone a bit of light at the end of the tunnel hoping mind over matter helps!
I'm keeping check on everyone's recovery,hoping I recover too.
I won't be too eager to jump next time,that's if there is,OMG I'm a so worried.
Are you taking anything for the insomnia Vikki? Some people take Phenergen for a few weeks, avalable over the counter, or even Benadryl (drowsy), I think you can take one or two of these, or maybe one before bed time and one if you're wide awake say 3-4 am.
& weeks is quite a way, pity to reinstate, although some do, no shame in it, just depends how well you can cope.
Some people with insomnia in WD listen to the hinest guys on you tube, find their soothing meditations - what to do in the middle of the night - its so earrie and still and you just lye there, so hard, been there, sorry for you to suffer with this. x
Hi Calmer..thanks for replying,
I was prescribed Zopiclone two weeks ago,they don't want to give me another script and I understand why,
I run out of my Zopiclone on Sunday,I'm not looking forward to it one bit.
I tried Extra Strength Sleep Aid but it didn't touch me,
I'm going to give Benadryl a go,it could be different to the sleep aid,
I can't cope with the no sleep as I still can't get to sleep the next night.
It's so bloody frustrating!
Very difficult for you I'm sure, I feel for you - I had insomnia for months and that's why I went on Mirt' - my biggest fear when I come off it ! I tried Zopiclone but it only allowed me to sleep about 3-4 hours.
Hope the Benadryl works for you, hang on in there, I understand sleep returns slowly for those affected.
I had to come off the Fluoxetine as I was feeling terrible and dizzy all day with it. I'm still taking 15 mg of Mirtazapine and hope I can stick with it but I guess we'll see. The insomnia is the thing that is the worst of all and I'm hoping it doesn't return too badly.
Was the insomnia due to depression? I understand it can be a symptom.
From what I understand of Mirt, the 15mg dose is good for insomnia, as is 7.5mg, and the higher doses are usually prescribed for depression - HOWEVER ... such a shame but most folk get an increase in anxiety at 30mg. Maybe 22.5 is better, not sure.
The insomnia was caused by my depression which led to anxiety and finally really bad insomnia. The Mirtazapine helps me sleep but I hate the side effects that I get. Every other drug I have tried added to the Mirtazapine has made me feel worse and feeling like I can hardly function at all so at this point I don't know what to do..
Thanks for your replies Vikki and Calmer. Thought I would post an update. Reinstated with 7.5 mg for three nights and then 15mg for the last five nights. The difference in me today compared with this time last week is pretty amazing. I now have just the smallest amount of depression and some anxiety, but much better. I now have a plan, which is to not go any higher than 15mg and hopefully to get completely better in the next few months. At some point next year I will then taper very slowly as described in your post Calmer. I hope everyone has a good Christmas and once again thanks for your advice.