Remeron (Mirtazapine) is a tetracyclic antidepressant (TeCA) drug that works primarily by raising levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. It is generally used to treat major depressive disorder, but is also sometimes prescribed as an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), antiemetic, hypnotic, and appetite stimulant medication. Off label uses for Remeron include: social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, insomnia, and to increase appetite in those who are underweight or have eating disorders.
In regards to effectiveness as an antidepressant, a major meta-analysis study from 2009 found Remeron more effective than all SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and Bupropion (Wellbutrin). Despite the fact that its efficacy was considered superior to all other second-generation antidepressant medications, the degree to which it was superior was not statistically significant compared to Lexapro, Paxil, and Effexor. Other off-label uses for Remeron include: helping curb symptoms of drug withdrawal, treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, reducing Parkinson’s disease psychosis, and to treat anorexia in cats.
Although Remeron can work very well for pulling someone out of a deep depression, others find its side effects to be intolerable. Perhaps the most difficult side effect to cope with is the significant increase in appetite and cravings for carbohydrates (i.e. junk food). The major increase in appetite tends to result in significant antidepressant-induced weight gain among certain individuals.
Others who take this drug find it makes them feel too sleepy and/or it eventually “poops out” and stops working. If you have given this medication a shot, but no longer want to be on it, read below so that you have a general idea of what to expect during the withdrawal process.
Factors that influence Remeron withdrawal
When coming off of any antidepressant, there are going to be various factors that influence both the severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms. These factors include things like: the time span over which you took Remeron, your dosage, how quickly you tapered when discontinuing, as well as your individual physiology.
1. Time Span
Over how long did you take Remeron? In general, those who took it for an extended period of time may take longer to readjust to functioning without the drug. When you take an antidepressant every day for years, your body and brain become reliant on it for functioning. Those who took Remeron for shorter periods of time will likely have less severe withdrawal symptoms and shorter durations of withdrawal than long-term users.
2. Dosage (15 mg to 45 mg)
Most people start taking Remeron at a dose of 15 mg per day before going to sleep. Although there isn’t a relationship between dosage increase and effectiveness for treating major depression, some patients may benefit from increased dosages. A psychiatrist may have some people titrate up to a maximum dosage of 45 mg per day.
It is thought that individuals taking the minimum dose of 15 mg should have an easier time withdrawing than those taking higher doses (e.g. up to 45 mg). If you are on a higher dosage, you will likely need to conduct a gradual taper in order to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
3. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering
Quitting any antidepressant “cold turkey,” including Remeron is thought to yield more severe withdrawal symptoms than if you conduct a gradual taper. By tapering, you allow your body and brain to gradually adjust to changes in dosage. For long-term users, it is recommended to taper at a rate of 10% of your current dose per month. Therefore if you were at 45 mg, you would taper down to 40.5 mg to start, then after another month drop to 36.45.
When tapering you don’t have to necessarily be exact with your tapers, but if you round the dosage down, you may notice more severe withdrawal effects than you planned on. As you can see, a taper rate of 10% may take some individuals an extended period of time to successfully reach 0 mg. The whole idea is to taper slowly so that you don’t shock your nervous system by quitting cold turkey – which can result in severe discontinuation effects.
If you feel as though you can handle a quicker withdrawal rate than 10% per month, that’s your decision. Everyone will react differently to withdrawal and some people may not be as sensitive to the discontinuation effects as others.
4. Individual Physiology
Much of the withdrawal symptoms are based on individual circumstances. Since everyone is unique, each person tends to recover at a different rate and symptoms are subject to variation. One person may engage in mild exercise, eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, and stay hydrated which could facilitate a quicker recovery than someone who doesn’t exercise, get proper sleep, and dwells on their withdrawal symptoms.
During the withdrawal process it is important to avoid comparing your recovery to that of other people as each person usually recovers at a different rate. Additionally it should be noted that some individuals transition to a new antidepressant and/or are taking other drugs and may not experience as much of a withdrawal as a result of other medications.
Remeron Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below are a list of symptoms that have been reported during discontinuation from Remeron. Keep in mind that you may not experience all of the symptoms listed below during your withdrawal. The withdrawal process is highly individualized in regards to what symptoms you will experience, their severity, as well as how long they last before you recover.
- Anxiety: Upon discontinuation, many people have reported major spikes in anxiety. The anxiety that you experience during withdrawal is likely linked to changes in the neurotransmission of serotonin and norepinephrine as a result of taking this drug. Many individuals report feeling anxious for an extended period of time after their last dose. Just know that the anxiety will eventually diminish as your brain reverts back to drug-free functioning.
- Appetite decrease: As was mentioned, this is a drug that can significantly boost your appetite. When you stop taking it, your appetite will likely return to what it was prior to taking this drug. It is this natural decrease in appetite that will lead you to lose most of the weight that you gained in relatively short order.
- Concentration problems: Many people report feeling spaced out and/or foggy thinking when initially quitting this medication. You may have trouble focusing on work-related tasks and/or schoolwork when coming off of this medication. As time passes, your concentration should come full circle and return to normal.
- Confusion: Some individuals become confused as to what they are experiencing during withdrawal. This confusion is generally a result of poor combination and cognitive function. The confusion and fog should eventually pass, but it may take some time.
- Crying spells: It is common to feel increasing depression when you withdraw from this medication. The increases in depression and other mood swings can lead to crying spells. During these spells many people feel completely hopeless about their situation. The reality is that they will eventually recover and these will subside.
- Depersonalization: This symptom involves feeling unlike your normal self, almost as if you have become a zombie and/or are panicking because you think you’ll never feel how you did prior to taking this drug. It can be very uncomfortable to feel depersonalized, but it’s generally a result of chemical changes that will change over time.
- Depression: Most people experience increases in depression when they withdraw from an antidepressant. In fact, the depression a person experiences in withdrawal is sometimes more severe than it was prior to their first dose of Remeron. This is due to the fact that when you withdraw from an antidepressant, a new chemical imbalance is created because your brain is now trying to function soberly after being fed a drug for weeks, months, or years. This new imbalance should correct itself, but it will require some time.
- Diarrhea: It is possible to experience diarrhea as a symptom when coming off of this drug. In order to minimize this particular symptom, a slow taper is recommended. Additionally consider taking some over-the-counter Imodium if it gets out of control.
- Dizziness: This is one of the most common symptoms that people experience during withdrawals. You may feel varying degrees of dizziness for weeks, or in some cases, months on end. The dizziness tends to be more extreme during the first few weeks of withdrawal. It can manifest as vertigo too in more extreme cases.
- Fatigue: It is common to feel lethargic and excessive tiredness when coming off of an antidepressant. The fatigue is usually due to the brain still not having fully rebounded back to normal after your last dose. The fatigue can last for quite some time, but your energy should return over time.
- Flu-like symptoms: Reports of flu-like symptoms and/or allergies upon discontinuation are fairly common. These symptoms tend to be intensified with “cold turkey” withdrawals and can be minimized if withdrawal is conducted gradually.
- Headaches: Having headaches is very common when a person first quits this medication. These headaches may last weeks, but affect some individuals for months after their last dose. Although these can be a nuisance, they usually subside once a person’s level of arousal and anxiety drops.
- Heart palpitations: Do you have sensations that your heart is pounding extra loudly or racing? These sensations are known as palpitations and are somewhat common during withdrawal. These can exacerbate anxiety and vice-versa so if you experience them, it is better to accept them as merely being a symptom rather than something to panic about.
- Hypomania: This is considered a lower-grade form of mania (i.e. mood elevation) exhibited by individuals with Type-2 Bipolar disorder. There have been cases of hypomania reported during withdrawals from Remeron.
- Insomnia: After quitting this drug, a lot of people struggle with falling asleep at night. A thing many people have found helpful is to take melatonin prior to bedtime. Additionally consider engaging in some sort of relaxation exercise such as deep breathing or meditation to mitigate insomnia.
- Irritability: When a person goes through withdrawal, they become highly sensitive and are prone to mood swings. A very common mood for a person to experience is that of irritability or the feeling that everything is a nuisance or bother. The person doesn’t want to feel this way, but due to their brain activity and neurotransmitter levels during withdrawal, it is an inevitable experience.
- Itching: One of the most common symptoms associated with Remeron withdrawal is that of itchiness. Many people report feeling very itchy and cannot contain the sensations to scratch their skin. This itchiness may be uncomfortable and persist for some time, but it will eventually go away as your nervous system adapts.
- Mania: During withdrawal from Remeron, individuals with bipolar disorder have been reported to experiencing a manic switch. In other words, if you have bipolar disorder, the withdrawal could make you transition to a state of mania. Although this will not occur in everyone with bipolar disorder, it is something to monitor during withdrawal.
- Mood swings: It is very common to experience changes in mood during withdrawal. Some days you may feel really depressed and angry, others you may feel hopeful and see the light at the end of the tunnel. Many people go through ups, downs, and changes in mood during the withdrawal process.
- Nausea: In some cases the nausea from withdrawal can become severe. If it becomes severe, the nausea can actually lead a person to vomit. To prevent severe nausea, make sure you follow a gradual tapering protocol. Some nausea upon discontinuation may be inevitable, but you will minimize it by slowly weaning.
- Panic attacks: During withdrawal from a potent drug that affects serotonin levels, it is possible to experience panic attacks. When you discontinue this medication, the levels of serotonin in your brain may be lower than average. This may lead you to feel increasingly anxious and make you prone to panic attacks. If you find yourself panicking, just know that these attacks will eventually go away as your neurotransmitters adjust.
- Racing thoughts: You may notice that your thoughts race when you initially come off of this medication. These racing thoughts are hypothesized to be what could potentially lead to mania or hypomania among susceptible individuals. In any regard, the racing thoughts can also be linked to anxiety, drops in serotonin, and heightened nervous system activity during withdrawal.
- Sleep changes: For many individuals, Remeron tends to improve their sleep. When coming off of the drug, you may notice that the quality of your sleep is reduced. You may have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting an adequate amount of sleep each night. Your sleep patterns may fluctuate during withdrawal, but they will eventually stabilize.
- Suicidal thoughts: Many people who take this drug for depression may experience a resurgence of depression and suicidal thinking when they quit taking it. In some cases, the suicidal thoughts a person experiences during discontinuation could be significantly worse than prior to taking the drug. When withdrawing, your neurotransmission will often be imbalanced as a result of the drug you had been taking and discontinued. This imbalance is what can make people feel suicidal until their brain readjusts to normal functioning.
- Sweats: A very common withdrawal symptom from antidepressant medications is that of sweating. You may wake up during the middle of the night soaked in heavy night sweats and/or notice that you are sweating intensely throughout the day. This is one way your nervous system is readjusting itself and is part of the detoxification process.
- Tiredness: Although many people report heightened anxiety and difficulty sleeping when they withdraw from Remeron, others report feeling very tired. Additionally even individuals who have difficulty sleeping may notice lower than average energy levels throughout the day.
- Tremors: In various cases, people tend to notice that they are having “shakes” or tremors. This is a more common symptom in the acute stages of withdrawal. You will stop shaking once your body readjusts without the drug.
- Vomiting: Some individuals actually get pretty sick when they quit taking Remeron. If you quit cold turkey, your chances of vomiting increase because you have suddenly quit from a dose that your nervous system was used to getting. In order to decrease your chances of experiencing this symptom, take the time to gradually withdraw.
- Weight loss: Since most people tend to have increases in appetite and/or cravings for food when they are on this drug, they tend to gain weight. When the drug is stopped, most people have no difficulties losing the weight that they put on while taking the drug.
Remeron Withdrawal Duration: How long does it last?
Most people have reported withdrawal symptoms lasting a few weeks before the majority cleared up. However this doesn’t mean that everyone is going to feel back to their normal selves within one month of their last dose. How quickly you recover from withdrawal symptoms and adjust back to normal functioning will likely be influenced by individual circumstances including: your sensitivity to withdrawals, how quickly you tapered, and whether you are taking other drugs.
As a general rule of thumb that I recommend is to wait three full months (90 days) to reevaluate symptoms. Three months is a lengthy period of time and will give your body and brain some time to transition back to sober functioning. It may take some time before your nervous system and neurotransmitter levels revert back to how they were prior to your first dose of Remeron. Keep in mind that some people have reported experiencing symptoms over 6 months after their last pill – these are obviously the more extreme cases, but show how debilitating the withdrawals can be for some people.
After the acute symptoms have passed during the first couple weeks of withdrawal, take the time to make sure that you are engaging in healthy activities as this may help repair your nervous system. Getting some light exercise, eating healthy foods, staying productive, socializing, resting, and learning some relaxation techniques can go a long way towards speeding up recovery. What you are experiencing may be very uncomfortable and may push your mental limits, but maintain faith that you will eventually recover and you eventually will.
If you have successfully withdrawn from Remeron and/or are going through withdrawals, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below. Sharing your experience may really help another person who is dealing with the same thing.
I stated mirtazapine in 2003. I didnt realize how wicked it was until I tried to get off of it. I tried cold turkey about 2 years ago and got terribly sick. Nausea, chills no sleep and a lot of symptoms mentioned above. Decided I was going to have to wean off. Have been working on weaning off very gradually for over a year and a half. Started at 30 mg. dopped to 15 and have been edging my way off that for a year. Slowly. I cut the 15 in 1/2 and took that for months.
When my body felt normal with that amount I went to 7 mg. When my body felt normal with that I started shaving bits off that tiny piece until I slept normal and my body felt normal. I am now at 3.75 mg and shaving on that tiny piece. Feeling well and sleeping well. Only bad thing is I have lost 13 lbs which I could not afford to lose. I am at 97 lbs. Just now beginning to get an appetite back. Will keep shaving that tiny piece until I feel normal and hopefully can just have that med fade out of my life.
It has been a long process and will never take another antidepressant. I am 78 years old and the doctor gave it to me in 2003 when my husband died and I was depressed. Who wouldn’t be? I should never have been given this evil drug. All of you keep it up. Get off of it but do it very slowly. Slow to the point of seeming ridiculous. Keep trying and you will get there. Myself included. I am not giving up.
I was put on mirtazapine for generalized anxiety disorder 3 months ago. Started at 15mg for 6 weeks than up to 30mg for 3 weeks. That’s when I started to experience side effects. Sexual problems, and zombie medicine head. Tried to stop cold turkey but after two days was hit with unbearable anxiety. So I got back on 15mg for 2 weeks than down to 7.5 for a week than stopped.
The first week after my last dose I felt awesome like the doors were opening and all my emotions were coming back then it hit! This week was sure hell! Anxiety over the top diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, nausea to the point of almost vomiting. I have to force down my food, I’m tired all the time.
The only good thing is I’m still sleeping, for now anyway. My anxiety and depression are worse now than before I started taking it! My doctor told me there is no withdrawal it’s you! I want to show him this forum! I just hope it starts to ease up soon! I really don’t want to go back on mirtazapine and am fighting the best I can!
I’ve been on Remeron three times and the first two times I barely noticed the withdrawal. I was just glad to get rid of the munchies. This time around, I’ve been taking 30 mg for about six (6) months before starting my taper at the beginning of January. It had pooped out on me and I was on a waiting list for rTMS which I’ll start next week. It was important for me to get off the drug, so that I wouldn’t have to withdraw after starting rTMS, so I tapered over tapered a big too fast.
When I got down to 15 mg – after about three weeks, I became so agitated I felt like my skin was crawling. Physical symptoms not too bad compared to horror stories I’ve read. I’ve felt a little muscle ache and pretty severe fatigue. I keep going because I know I will feel better when I get into my third week of rTMS. That is what keeps me alive.
Hi. I have been taking these antidepressants for about 2 years now. 45mgs per day. I reduced my dose by half for 3 weeks. Than took myself of them all together. I haven’t had one in a week and I must say have never felt better :) I am feeling alive. :)
I’m pleased to have found this site through google search. I know now I’m not alone in the struggle to come of Mirtazapine. I was on 45mg for about a year and a half along with effexor (which was ineffective), so then I started Prozac along with the Mirtazapine but that didn’t work so the Prozac went. I tried to go up to 60mg but was intolerable. I’m now nearly a month down from 45 to 37.5 and about to drop down to 30mg.
I know this was originally really good in helping me sleep, but in truth now it is poisoning my system. So I have to reduce down and go through all the withdrawals. I can hardly walk a lot of the time I need a stick. I am used to swimming a mile a day but now I cant really get swimming cause of the extreme vertigo and palpitations. In some ways it is reassuring to read other peoples experiences of Mirtazapine withdrawal so I can know what to expect and am not alone with it.
I decided to stop taking Remeron when I was a senior in high school (2008). I had been on 45mg for 3 years. I went completely cold turkey, which in hindsight was not the way to go. I started on them when I was a ward of Montana State, and when I moved with my grandmother in 2008 I was never provided with psychiatric help. I hated the way that they made me feel. And to be honest with my situation I was put on them so that the psychiatrist and treatment center that I was in could get a bonus on their paychecks (I found this out after I had stopped taking the drugs and was reassessed for depression by a psychiatrist I had in school).
I had symptoms similar to a heroin addict and I have never touched drugs such as that. By that I mean I had muscle aches, profuse vomiting, and I was extremely tired from being up all night vomiting. I still have some of these symptoms to this day that have never gone away, but I am not sure how much of that really can be contributed from Remeron. Good luck to all that are coming off of this drug. My advice is to definitely wean yourself off. I wish I had because that week of misery was absolute torture.
I have suffered from general anxiety disorder and severe panic since from my late teens and I am now 27. I have tried everything and anything to be better. From medicines to therapists to alternative therapies. The only medication that has worked for me is Mirtazpine 15mg each night. I suffered a six weeks period of severe side effects when starting them, but after that and some counseling, things started to improve for me. Yes I had the increased appetite and gained weight and got a bit lazy on them, but my constant unsettled nervous feeling was gone. I have been taking these tablets now for three years minimum.
My life is changing now and I am in a position where becoming a parent is on the agenda so I am on my 2nd attempt of coming off. My first attempt was horrible and due to a serious life event and I gave up. I will be honest with you all… it’s was horrible for 6 weeks. I felt physically and mentally unwell. Scared of just being alive. Not sleeping. Having terrible nightmares of realistic situations if I did sleep and suicdal helplessness overwhelming me. My doctors advised me to go back on them, which I did.
I then endured the effects of going back on them. I wish now I had just persevered. Here I am a second time. I have gone from taking 15mg daily to 15mg every couple of days. I do not set goals or targets for reducing them. I just push myself as far as I can go. With my last gap of 4 days I found the day I took my Mirtazpine I didn’t feel the same positive affect I used to which pushes me to keep going with not taking them. At this moment in time, I am filled with upset, constant dizziness which is preventing me from functioning and causing me to vomit.
I am not sleeping and I have been having waves of suicidal thoughts, but reading all this today from everyone else. We are all going through it. I am going to keep pushing on. I am focusing on being mindful, accepting that it feels bad BUT reminding myself I am in control of this. It’s my decision to come off the drugs, I am bringing this on myself, this will pass and in time I will be stronger because I won’t be relying on this medicine. I feel a CBT approach really helps in dealing with this if you can try your hardest to think rationally through everything that’s going on.
Medicine helps to a point. I am a great believer in that and I feel no shame for having to have taken medicine for mental health, but a lot does come down to what you do for your mind, how you look at life, and your general lifestyle. Going through a lot of bad with my first attempt I would recommend relaxation apps, mindfulness reading or practices, positive reading, acceptance and realization of what your body’s going through. Be kind to yourself and understand it’s a hard time but you will get through it.
If possible if your still having anxiety issues CBT through your health service or even start reading self help books. Anything to help the mind is worth doing. Also want to thank whoever wrote the information and all the people who have commented on this page. I have found it really helpful today with today being a rather emotional day. Good luck to everyone. Hope to read this again and see more people coming out the other end.
Thank you very much for your input. I am in the middle of hell, and looking for the other end as well. God bless you, and everyone who has taken the time to post here. It is, like you say, a good source of comfort. I have this site saved as a favorite for easy access.
I have been on Remeron for 3 months now, have been weaning off since middle of Dec, was on 15mg, then went 7mg for a week, then 7mg to 3.75 mg alternate nights, didn’t feel good at all, so am doing it for another week. Feel extremely tired, having trouble sleeping, nausea, trouble concentrating, had to stay on clonazepam, which is worrisome. I’m so frightened about taking the last pill, if this is how I feel now. Why aren’t we told about these horrible side effects before being put on these pills? I am full of worry about the whole situation I’m in. Good luck to everyone trying to get off of these pills, it is a nightmare.
I was on this medication for about 3 months to help with my anxiety (15mg). While it helped my anxiety immensely, it also made me gain upwards of 20 pounds. For that reason, I wanted to discontinue the medication. My psychiatrist told me to do a slow taper. So I went from my 15mg to 7.5mg for two weeks. After those 14 days, I went to 3.75 for another 14 days. Now I am on day 6 of being completely off of the medicine and I feel horrible.
My head is constantly hurting, I’m nauseated every morning and night. I feel clammy and sweaty 24/7, every time I force myself to eat, it makes me sick. The only relief I get is when I’m asleep, but as a senior in high school, sleep is hard to come by. I can’t keep missing school because of these withdrawal symptoms. Is there anyone out there who has had a similar experience? If so, how long did these symptoms last? Please help me. I’m miserable.
I am now on day 13 of coming off of this medication and I am still not back to 100%. I’m still shaking and sweating all the time, but I can eat normal food and go to school. Every morning and night, my stomach feels horrible. In the middle of the day, however, it feels OK. I’m just so ready to not be sick anymore. Again, anyone out there know how long these withdrawals will stick around? Please help.
Dear Stanton, I’ve read all the comments in this forum from top to you then I had to stop, your situation made me very tearful… bless you. If I could take away your w/d’s I would, I’d do them for you, all you want is to go to school. I hope your w/d’s have gone by now and I wish you all the happiness you can handle and more. Take care.
I have been on 15mg for about 2 years, and I stopped a week ago, due to running out of them was the initial reason, unable to get a prescription for 3 days. I went to the Doc, said I have run out, I will get a script, but I don’t want to take them anymore. His response, was that “you have gone 3 days, so you should be ok to stop”. Haha!! What I am experiencing, more now than the first few days:
1 – Sleep goes out the window immediately.
2 – Dizzy, Unsteady on my Feet, “Like walking on marshmallows”
3 – A Significant Headache / Migraine on day 4, but relatively ok there otherwise.
4 – Feel Wound up like a Spring
5 – A strange combination of feeling more Alert/Wired in the Brain but Concentration is illusive.
6 – Muscle Tension / Aches and pains
7 – Increased Heart Rate – but not irregular beats or similar.
This is incredibly tough, particularly whilst trying to work at my Job which involves a fair amount of pressure/stress, concentration and accuracy.
I am going to try my hardest to just stay off these things, like so many others, if I had known the side effects, and how incredibly hard it is to come off this stuff, I would never have agreed to start them. Yet, I did ask the Doc for something like Valium to keep on hand “IF” I feel an occasional anxiety attack coming on, but due to the abuse of, and addictive nature of Benzo’s, they just say no.
Instead they put you on these hideous things. That is really frustrating to me, as a I don’t like taking any pills, and seems like the wisest thing to do; prescribe something that is available to “calm” you down if/when you have an anxiety attack, instead of a brain changer everyday. I hope I succeed!! It’s early days, but if I am lucky enough to start to feel OK within a couple of weeks, I will be happy. To assist coming off, I have ceased any alcohol use.
Good luck to everyone who is trying to get off this. As mentioned I have just stopped at 15mg one week ago, and it is a difficult “ride.” I know there are some very long dose reduction strategies on here, but I am hoping with an balanced diet, exercise, no alcohol, meditation regime that all will be OK.
I have terrible pain in the back of my upper legs you are the only post that mentions this. How bad is it for you?
Thank you for posting this! I was put on 7.5mg of Remeron along with scheduled doses of Klonopin after voluntarily admitting myself for Xanax rebound symptoms (I thought it was Ambien withdrawls). At first it was great. I was eating a lot, which is good for me at such a small size, and I was sleeping well. Then the Doctor raised my dose to 15mg. I eventually started being dizzy, my anxiety increased and then I was so tired, I couldn’t wake up to save my life (the Klonopin was reduced by this point).
It was a weekend so I cut my dose in half in hopes that I wouldn’t be so tired, then two days later I experienced, twice, what I thought was electrocution. I eventually got to 3.75mg, but even at that dose I’ve been having: vertigo, head zaps, dizziness, catatonic like days, crying spells, upset stomach, not sleeping well, etc. I’m about to stop taking the 3.75mg of Remeron and start a new medication. We tried Zoloft but it didn’t work (or the Remeron withdrawals were over-powering the Zoloft).
I’m a bit scared but I was told to take a little more Benzo to work through it, despite the Dr. saying, “it’s all in your head. That’s such a tiny dose.” I haven’t drove off my street in a month because I’m afraid of getting dizzy or zapped while driving and then hurting someone or myself! It makes me feel better to know I’m correct, and this isn’t my imagination. I wish everybody the best of luck getting off this medicine!
I think it’s a great medication for VERY short term use. One that can immediately pull someone out of a bad mental state while waiting for another medicine(s) to kick in, but beyond that, don’t take it! It’s too hard and painful to get off of. My next scary goal is to get off my “tiny” scheduled dosing of Klonopin. :/ One thing at a time.
I’ve been off from Mirtazapine for almost a week now. I was wondering why I did not feel like myself the past few days then it dawned on me that maybe I am having withdrawal symptoms. I noticed itching just today. I decided to check online and read the comments and I can say to myself that I am indeed having some withdrawal symptoms. What is different in my case is that I was given a new antidepressant because I told my doctor that I want to get off Mirtazapine because it’s getting me fat. I am hopeful that the withdrawal symptoms are just normal and that I will get over it soon. Good luck to all. With determination, I know we can do it!
How are you getting on? I am trying to reduces from 15 mgs to 7.5 mg but I am feeling lousy. I was ok for a week and the last few days feel cold and shivery and slightly anxious. I am tempted to go back to the 15 mgs it’s all a nightmare.
I am entering my week 2 and I can still feel the anxiety and panic inside me. I feel that it is as if the new antidepressant that was prescribed to me does not work. It’s really been difficult for me up to this time but I try to manage my anxiety and panic. I think this is the result of relying completely on the meds without trying to do some hard work for myself. I think the best thing to do is meds + therapy sessions. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for me. I just panic with the thought of going back to my doctor and saying that the new antidepressant did not work well for me, but I’ve read that it takes 2 to 4 weeks to feel its effect.
Try cutting the 15mg pill in half and then in half again. That would give you half a 15 mg pill and then a quarter of a 15 mg pill. Take the 1/4 and the 1/2 pill giving you 11.25 mg. I am currently dropping in this way and have been on 11.25 mg for 21 days. The side effects were very minimal. In 7 more days I plan to drop the 1/4 pill and will be on the 7.25 mg. Hoping this helps you.
I’m so glad I found this site. I was given this drug to help me with anxiety due to tinnitus and it really saved me but after a year I think I had the tinnitus managed. I was only on a low dose 15mg and the last 3 months 7.5. Stopped two weeks ago. First week awesome more alert my kids said great to have you back dad. But now 14 days in and insomnia has reared its head. Itchy as well and constant stomach upset. I’ll beat it but man it’s tuff. I thought the ear ringing was hard. I’m hoping another few weeks but I’m worried.
I’m so glad that I found this information. I have been on Mirtazapne for a little over three years and decided to come off it two months ago. I wish I’d been able to manage without it after I suffered a heart attack, was left with angnia and lost my Dad within a few weeks of each other. But I just went to pieces and ended up on Mirtazapne which worked splendidly. But I didn’t want to take it anymore because my mental state was fantastic and I felt strong enough… Blimey!!!!!! I had absolutely no idea just how hard it has been to come off.
Multiple night time migraines, insomnia, and now horrible vertigo. I’ve cut down from 45mg over three weeks to 30mg over three weeks and now 15mg but this isn’t nice at all. I keep on thinking my heart is playing up, am having palpitations and chest type pains and this vertigo and nausea is driving me nuts. All I want to do is be on my heart meds. I’m sticking to the 15 mg a day but don’t honestly know how long to take that for because reading the comments, this could take months! GRRRRRRRRRRRR
Had been prescribed 7.5 mg in August, 2014. Was recommended to increase to at least 15 mg, which I tried for just one night. Too much for my system, so I went back to 7.5 mg, where I stayed for 3 months. I gained some much-needed/wanted weight and definitely felt better, less depressed and far less anxiety. Since I dislike taking medication, I wanted off the drug soon. Started the tapering process mid-November for 10 days, cut the pills in half to represent approx. 3.75 mg.
Then on Thanksgiving night, when I was visiting good friends for the week, I decided to stop taking it altogether. Today is day 9 without Mirtazapine / Remeron. My guess is that since I wasn’t taking the drug for long and the smallest dose available that my withdrawal symptoms are minimal. I am tired, but I was tired while taking the drug. My sleep has not changed. I am itching and my appetite thankfully has remained active. No anxiety or depression looming. In fact, I feel quite relieved and happy to be off the stuff.
I admit though that it served a need, I was in severe depressive mode for 5 months following the death of one of my beloved dogs, which then triggered all manner of childhood trauma. I spent 5 days in a hospital, followed by 2 treatment programs. Been in therapy with a wonderful man who does not advocate medication. I appreciate everyone’s comments, what an excellent forum to share our experience and stories. Thank you.
My son was taking 15mg for 1 month, and felt like he was in a constant fog. He stopped taking this drug cold turkey, and has been having all the horrific side effects that everyone else has mentioned. Stomach pain, nausea, dizziness, insomnia…you name it, he has it. Can’t believe that this drug can cause such horrible side effects after taking it for such a short time.
I can only pray that the side effects start to taper off within the next week or so. I don’t know how much more he can handle at this point. I’m desperate to help him. Is there anything out there that helps, perhaps a natural supplement that someone has found that makes you feel a bit better? I can’t believe that doctors continue to prescribe this medication.
Hi Jess. I have been off mirtazapine for almost 7 weeks now and I have also had real problems with sleeping. At first sleeping 10 hours and still being unable to wake up but the last 4 weeks it has been insomnia that is the problem, only sleeping 2 or 3 hours per night. The way I cope with the insomnia is to still go to bed about 10pm and I stay in bed until 6am as it is better to stay in a routine to give your body a rest even if you do keep waking.
When I wake during the night I either listen to a relaxation, mindfulness or body scan exercise on my iPod, (you can download these from the internet) read a book or put on some hand cream and massage it gently into my hands. As a last resort my G.P has given me Zopiclone 7.5mg which I can take 1 at night just before I get in bed, I do however not like to take these unless I feel so unwell due to lake of sleep. During the day I will only have a nap for about an hour as if I do sleep longer then I know I have little chance of any sleep during the night. I hope this may be some help to you. Good luck.
Thanks so much for replying. My doctor put me back on 15mg as my withdrawal was so bad. Last night I took half a dose as she advised I reduce slowly insead of cold turkey. Even this affected my sleep so I’m feeling pretty rotten today. Hope everyone is doing well coming off this awful drug!
These posts are great, I had no idea the withdrawal would be so bad. I’ve only slept 1.30hrs tonight and 3 the night before. Itching & stomach ache biggest issues too. How do people cope with the insomnia? Does it get better? I’m desperate. Was on 45mg then tapered down to 15mg then stopped 3 weeks ago. Can’t eat or sleep :( please help x
I have been taking mirtzapine, max dosage 37.5 mg for the past 18 months and it has helped me tremendously with stopping my panic attacks, reducing my anxiety levels and pulling me out of deep depression. It has also helped me sleep and get my appetite back, and has enabled me to get back to ‘normal’ life. I found that it did take around 3-4 months on this drug to have it’s full effect.
I have been doing so well that my doctor and I started reducing my dosage slowly a few months ago, down 7.5mg every 6 weeks. I’m current down to my last 7.5 mgs and have been experiencing dizziness, hay-fever, achy legs and joints, and decreased appetite which is good, as I gained 8kgs in the past year and a half. I’m hoping the unpleasant side effects will dissipate soon. Good luck to everyone trying to come off mirtazapine. I hope this drug has helped you as much as it has me!
Hi there everyone. New to this site. Was on Mirt. 30 mg for 8 months. GP prescribed for anxiety and panic attacks. Stopped working after a few weeks. Decided to stop taking and withdrew gradually. Took last dose of 7.5mg seven weeks ago. What a hellish nightmare!! Side effects include insomnia, anxiety, nausea and terrible sore tongue and mouth. Red patches on tongue with excruciating pain. No relief!! Driving me crazy. Any suggestions to alleviate mouth problems? When will there be relief from these withdrawals? It’s driving me crazy, but will not take any more of these horrendous drugs. So grateful I found this site. Felt like I was the only one suffering. Many thanks. -Bett.
I have been on 45mg mirtazapine since February 2012 however for the last six months I had been feeling “out of it”, unable to function at all, like a zombie/almost comatose! So I decided to go “cold turkey” and take myself off the mirtazapine as I was feeling so ill. I stopped taking 45mg mirtazapine 4 weeks ago. BIG MISTAKE! I have been so ill with: nausea and vomiting, constant pains in my head like it is going to explode, so bad in fact it has had me in tears, stomach pains, extreme sweating at night, muscle weakness and tingling, vision problems (cross eyed, can`t focus), poor balance, dizziness, itching, twitching, dry mouth, sleep problems: either 2 or 3 hours sleep or unable wake up at all after 10 hours sleep, confusion, emotional, tearful and feelings of hopelessness, anxiety.
I did consider taking mirtazapine again as I have been feeling so rough but I was feeling awful on it too, so I am going to stick with it and stay off mirtazapine. I would not recommend going “cold turkey” if you are taking a high dose as it really does make you feel so ill. I would like to thank all the people who have commented on this website as at lease I know I am not going mad and all this is normal for people stopping this medication. I would not say mirtazapine is a bad drug as it has saved my life however coming off it is a nightmare! I would recommend reducing your dose gradually and not doing what I did.
Hi Samantha, I don’t know if you are still following this thread but I’m wondering how you are doing now. I’m coming off remeron after being on it for 10 years. I have been feeling unwell even while on it since May last year and after trying several others which didn’t help realized that it was probably the remeron making me feel sick. Have had lots of tingling, crying episodes, headaches, some nausea…. How long did it take you to feel well again. Hoping to hear some good news.
Margaret, How are you feeling now? Any update would be greatly appreciated. Hope you are well.
I have been on Remeron for four years for intractable nausea and depression. My dose was never higher than 22.5 mg daily, and only 15 mg for the past two years. Six months ago, I tried to wean off by a 1/4 tab for a few months and had occasional nausea. When I dropped down to 1/2 tab, or 7.5 mg. the nausea became unbearable so my psych had me go back on the 15 mg. It has always given me crazy carb cravings and I need to lose at least 30 lbs.
A few days ago, I again started taking 1/4 tab less and I feel awful with mood swings, crying jags, and today nausea is creeping in. I feel this med needs to get out of my system and I’m going to try to push through. Perhaps I need an even slower taper and would have to go to a compounding pharmacy to have the Remeron broken down into smaller doses since I can’t break the pills into less than 1/4 tabs. Never thought this medication would cause these problems or I might not have started on it.
I am from England and I have been on Mirtazipine since January 2013. Fluoxetine made me worse and I started Mirt as I needed an aid. The drug helped – I could sleep and it numbed the PTSD. However, I gained 3 stone in 3 months, and had health issues – borderline under active thyroid, high cholesterol, bad chest – the list goes on! I went from a size 8/10 to a size 16.
I decided to wean off Feb 2014, I’m still weening off! I have terrible mood swings, brain zaps, my anxiety is through the roof! And I cannot sleep. Food cravings are subsiding. I had to keep going back up on my tapering because I became so ill. I never knew how bad the side effects were until I eventually googled it. The docs don’t tell you the aftermath of coming off them!
They indeed helped but the negatives of the drug put me off and I wouldn’t want to go back on them! I’m hoping to take sleeping pills as I can not sleep rather than Mirtazipine. Seeing the comments from you all has helped me realize that I am not alone! The fight continues and it’s nice to hear that it’s just this devil medication!
Pdoc did rapid taper from 45 to 0 in 5 weeks. Withdrawal started 8 days later and is terrible. Still have anxiety, insomnia, tremors, diarrhea, nausea and no appetite. Been off 2.5 weeks now hope it ends soon.
Hello, my name is Grant, I have been on remeron for about 2 years and I have had enough of not feeling myself and decided to come off them. I have been tapering down for about 2 months and have been off completely off for nearly 3 weeks. I’ve had upset stomach, irregular heartbeats (which set off a panic attack) head zaps, feeling very sick in the mornings and spikes in anxiety. Even through all of this I can feel that I am getting back to my old self, I can feel emotion again and can remember how I used to feel before going on the meds.
The biggest 3 things that are helping me are… exercise… healthy eating… deep breathing whenever I feel my heart racing. I know I’m going to be through the worst soon and I know with positive thinking I will be back to normal soon. Just don’t try to dwell on your withdrawal because your mind is very powerful and will conjure up physical symptoms. Ignorance is bliss. Life is a wonderful thing when you let it be and half of it is definitely in your mind!!
Started on 15mg of Mirt nightly, slept O.K. but couldn’t stop eating so cut the tablets in half (7.5mg) and then half again six months later.That was a big mistake, buzzing nerves and feeling like hell. A psychiatric nurse advised me to go back to 7.5mg and pay if I have to, for the bottle of liquid Oral Solution of Mirt (66 ml).
I asked my g.p. for it on a private prescription and it cost me over £70.00 but was worth it because the awful withdrawal symptoms stopped. I also had to buy a box of 100 1ml/cc syringes for exact measurements which I bought from Amazon, you can get other syringes such as 3.0ml/cc etc. Over one year I reduced the nightly dose at a rate of 10% a month.
One drawback is that it says on the liquid Mirt bottle that you should not use it after six weeks of opening the bottle which makes it an expensive way to get off the poisonous stuff. I am now on one drop via the syringe in water every few nights when I don’t feel quite right.The other thing I did for the wretched insomnia was to buy a CD online, ‘Say Goodnight to Insomnia’ by hypnotherapist Mark Bowden which I play several times during the nights I can’t sleep.
Also I found that water aerobics at the local Sports Centre really knackered me into sleeping. I also go to a Buddhist Centre for meditation which is the best meditation I have ever experienced for calming the fraught brain cells. There is a link for their online meditation I am looking into.
Hope this helps any of you out there going through the hell of withdrawal, also came across a great website run by James Moore of ‘Let’s Talk Withdrawal’ which has now merged with MadInAmerica which gives good advice on the subject.
Hi I’ve been on mirtazapine for 4 years now along with lithium. Its been wonderfully calming but decided its time to get back to my authentic self. I’ve been off it 5 weeks and there have been changes in my sleep and mood but it’s just a transition period. I keep praying for the strength to get by without it and am looking forward to losing the weight I put on.
Hi my name is Tina and right now I have weaned down from 45 to 7.5 all within a month. I have never been so sick in my life. I was it for 6 months and am having a really rough time and I haven’t gotten past the hard part!
Have the withdrawal symptoms gotten better for you yet? I was on for about 6 months too and now off about 3 weeks and still feeling terrible.
Just wanted to give an update. It’s now been 3 months off Remeron. I noticed quite a few people post about allergy symptoms. I found out about histamine intolerance, which also explains things like nausea, insomnia, headaches, and fatigue. I’ve had major improvement through eating a low histamine diet and working with a naturopath. For the most part, I feel better emotionally and physically than I have in years. Glad to be out of the “remeron fog” and feel alive again. Would never go back on any antidepressant again.
Hi Judy -Thanks for the update on how your doing. How long after stopping did it take for the withdrawals to calm down please? Did you have any anxiety during WD? Pleased your feeling better. I’m 4 weeks off Remeron at the moment, suffering some nausea, difficulty sleeping & anxiety.
Jo, That’s a difficult question to answer. I am having symptoms, but I think they are more related to histamine..but this is hard to know for sure. I suspect I’ve had histamine intolerance for a long time, but it has been hugely exacerbated by the withdrawal from Remeron. Antidepressants deplete the enzyme needed for digesting histamine foods, plus they are an antihistamine. Hence, when you got off them, you get a rebound effect.
To anyone coming off antidepressants, I’d recommend checking out histamine intolerance and considering reducing high histamine foods. When I look back at the worst parts of withdrawal, I think I’d have done much better if I had gone low histamine a lot sooner. I have had some bouts of anxiety as well. Qi gong has been invaluable in dealing with the emotional and physical effects of withdrawal. Check out Lee Holden’s “7 minutes of magic” on youtube.
Stopped suddenly taking 30 mg which I was on for about a year. I’ve now missed, I think, six doses and the main issue is insomnia. Waking up soon after falling asleep and just being unable to sleep in the first place.
I have been on remeron for maybe 10yrs 45mg. I am going down so slowly and that was before I read all there is about it and the comments. I am very nervous now. Now it’s that the doctor’s don’t know how bad the withdrawal is or they feel it’s in our heads. I didn’t ask my doc how to do it because she would of told me to cut down quickly. I am a recovering addict so I feel like I have M.D. after my name but I have learned plenty about withdrawing from drugs. I can’t believe what I read about coming off of this drug. I never dreamed it would be like this if the doctor told me about it. I would never have agreed to go on it. This may sound far fetched but our doctors do get gifts from drug companies for prescribing their medications and we get addicted. Doreen in Massachusetts
Doreen, I just want to provide a bit of reassurance from a positive perspective. I took Mirtazapine for 8 years and it has saved my life, of course, along with weekly therapy for PTSD. October 2013 I began to naturally wean off as I began to feel happy for the first time in my life. I was taking 45 mg a day so I started reducing it by 7.5 mg approximately every 3 months. As of September 2014 I have been completely off the medication with very few side effects. Fatigue and sleep interruptions are all I am having to deal with.
Every person’s body, life experiences, and stresses are so different that I don’t believe one should have any preconceived ideas about how their personal withdrawal is going to be. I have a fairly regular exercise routine of walking 3 times a week for 40 to 50 minutes. I drink lots of water and try to eat very healthily. I hope this is helpful. Ontario, Canada.
Diana, That is exactly what I want to hear. I have been on Mirt for about 18 months now and plan to taper down very gradually over 6 months, then hopefully I should be able to lose the extra weight and continue on my journey to get fit. Thanks for your posotive story, Rachel
I had been on 30mg for a year before tapering off over a 6 week period! It’s been 4 weeks since I stopped completely now and the withdrawal symptoms have persisted I have a combination of all of the following: Crying spells, depression, tiredness, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headaches, Insomnia, Irritability, Itching, mood swings, nausea, panic attacks, racing thoughts, sleep changes, suicidal thoughts, diarrhea & vomiting. While pills did save my life I am finding the withdrawal pretty horrific despite tappering off… just have to stick with it and see what happens…
6 Weeks off Mirtazapine and I am still having very bad anxiety. Crying every day and lots of itchiness. I keep going back to these posts which verify that i am not going mad. The antihistamine pills help the itchiness. This is proving to be very difficult (all the side effects). A little voice tells me to go back on the drug or go back to my GP, but I am resisting!
I know how you feel Steve. I keep coming back too for reassurance. I was on 30mg for over two years, tapered off them over 4 months because of weight gain and they made my hair fall out. Been off them completely for 3months and still going through hell – no appetite, anxiety, insomnia, severe body aches, shaking, headaches. It seems I’m spending all my time either waking, aching or shaking! I’m determined to stay off this dreadful drug, but damn it’s hard. Thank heaven for forums like this.
Helga, Don’t give up. Keep trying. I still cannot sleep through the night and I do get crying sometimes. I also get anxious and nervous a lot.
Originally I said I was sorry I started taking this drug, but after thinking about it, I am not sorry. Yes it is difficult to withdraw from, but it did help me through some very difficult times. Are you feeling any better?
I am starting to have some good days, but just when I think I’m over it, the symptoms come back. Not feeling as nauseous now and my appetite is slowly returning, but the body aches are still really bad most of the time. I’m determined to get through it though – one day at a time, and on really bad days one hour at a time. Just can’t wait to feel “normal” again.
I am on 30mg of Mirt and was prescribed this medication during rehab (depression and alcoholism). I thought it was sent from heaven since I no longer had trouble sleeping and my mind didn’t race at night before bed. I have been on this medication for 6 years now and I have noticed the increased weight gain over the years. Dieting and exercise did very little to help control the cravings and weight gain.
I notice that the cravings seem to start about an hour after taking the medicine. I also have swelling in the lower part of my legs which has been diagnosed as “Diastolic Dysfunction” but I tend to believe it is from the Mirt. I am contemplating having my dosage reduced or self medicating to wean myself off of this drug as the weight gain is becoming a burden (250 lbs currently).
This forum has helped me to prepare for the symptoms I should be on the lookout for and hopefully eliminate this medicine completely.
I am scared to come off this now. I only take 7.5 and after reading all the comments I’m terrified. This medicine has helped me so far but I don’t want to be on it forever, but guess there’s just no way out.
Kim, don’t be afraid. 7.5 isn’t a bad dose to stop. Just accept that things aren’t going to be very pleasant for a short while, but, refuse to let that chemical get the better of you and make itself a home in your body. I am 19 days since my last dose, and got 7 hours sleep last night. I am still feeling bad, but better than last week!
I was also on 7.5 dose for a few years. I’ve stopped cold turkey. I had wanted to try a gradual decrease but ran out and there was a mix up at pharmacy and I ended up not having it for a few days so decided to quit. I had gained lots of weight while on it. My withdrawals are not too horrible. It’s been about a week now.
I had one night where I could not fall asleep. I’ve had the itchiness although not severe. I do have the nausea and a bit of diarrhea but no longer crave sugar and carbs and junk food. I’ve been sneezing a lot more than usual too and had a bit of feeling like I’m getting a cold since stopping but haven’t actually gotten one. Just a slight cough and that feeling in my throat.
Not sore… Just like a cold is coming. I feel a bit more tired because I’m not sleeping as much (I wake up early) but my mood in general is good. I had one day where I just wanted to cry all day. I just remind myself the withdrawals won’t last and feel overall better in myself since stopping. I don’t ever want to go back on remeron.
There are many symptoms described before but everyone is different. I stopped taking mirtazapine 2 weeks ago I didn’t taper it off I came from 15 mg to 0 because it was helpful for me at the beginning, but after that it started triggering anxiety. Now sometimes I feel like panic attacks but they don’t last more than 2 minutes and I start praying to God, be patient I’ve come off worse things. Keep going, we can do it. Good luck
I cut my 15mg dose in half for about 3 days and then stopped entirely. That was about a week ago. Symptoms were so mild I rarely took note of them, but tonight (a week later), I feel horribly dizzy and nauseas. I feel it is not coincidental… Gonna try to remind myself that it will take time but it WILL get better.
That’s exactly what I did too, same dose as well. Maybe four, five days ago was my last dose. Getting insomnia like crazy! And racing thoughts, but so far that seems to be it. Hope it doesn’t get much worse. I was only on it for five months.
How long were you taking it?
Hi, I too felt much better the first week but then had a horrible panic attack the second week, as well as all of the mentioned side effects. I thought at first it was due to an increase in my thyroid med, but figured out quickly that it is remeron withdrawals. I have been taking it for ten years and I can say it saved my life.
I can also say the time to quit is now, though I admit I am taking trazodone to try to get some sleep. The withdrawal symptoms are rough and hellish but I know it’s “temporary”. Good luck to all as this will be one of the toughest challenges in our lives–from the posts read here this is apparent. None of you are alone, but keep in mind that some of us may actually need a drug such as mirtz.
Hell, I might need to go back on it but I think I have to get past these withdrawals to ever know for sure. The first time I tried to stop my stomach was jacked and I was passing blood. I went back to remeron but am gonna give it all I got this time. Keep posting everyone. It helps.
Coming off 60mg of Mirtazapine for depression after 9 months on it as am feeling in a much better and manageable mental state. Overall I am feeling happier but now that I don’t need it as much for the happiness boost the side effects of weight gain and sedation are outweighing staying on it. This has been the only antidepressant to work for me after taking a number of SSRI’s and I have tapered my dose off gradually over the course of a month and a half, I don’t recommend doing it cold turkey from previous experiences unless your Dr says so.
I think it’s so much nicer mentally and physically to wean yourself off them. I have been off it for about 3 weeks now. Going off it I experienced intense nightmares for the first 3 nights. It’s definitely harder to get to sleep and I wake up in the early morning but this isn’t a bad thing for me after being able to sleep 12 hours straight in a sedated like state on it. I felt ‘depersonalized’ for a few days. My appetite has decreased dramatically back to my normal after the first week of being off it and I no longer have crazy sugar cravings.
I’m not as sedated/tired, my mood is still stable but I am experiencing small random bouts of anxiety off it, however I can control this better now. I have felt a little nausea and the feeling like my body is not regulating my temperature as effectively. The weirdest symptom I feel currently is itchiness which I keep reading is the most common symptom of mirtazapine withdrawal. It has really helped me through the worst of my depression.
Even with the side effects of increased appetite and weight gain, tiredness and the occasional weird bodily sensation that I experienced being on it this – it has been the best antidepressant I have tried. Now I just need to get over the small but strange withdrawal symptoms but these are insignificant in comparison to what I have benefited from taking it.
Thanks, Cathy I have quit taking Mirtz and still have the burning sensation. I went to my PCP and she wants me to try Gabapentin 100mg once at night. Don’t know if this will work but will try anything at this point. Any feedback on this drug? Again thanks.
I was on mirtz. only for 15 days. Felt good the first 3, after that unusual mental/physical symptoms. Mostly the same as you guys and gals have experienced. Having said that has anyone had a problem with their feet having a burning sensation like walking on hot coals? Like I said only on this medicine roughly two weeks I have quit cold turkey. It has been 9 days without and all though I still have fuzzy head feelings, is this normal for such a short duration on this drug?
There’s no “normal” experience on any of these drugs. If you haven’t experienced these burning sensations prior to taking Mirtz, it was likely induced by the med. It is certainly possible to experience withdrawals or other oddities after a short duration on a medication. Your symptoms should eventually subside though. Good luck.
Hi Everett, I had to check a few things out on this website yesterday as my withdrawals have ‘come back’. I had been taking an antihistamine for about 10 days & decided to go off it as I was feeling drowsy every day. Turns out the antihistamines have been keeping my withdrawals at bay. Back on them today.
My initial comment is further up the page dated 25 September 14. I left a few of my symptoms out like scratching & itching like crazy – especially my burning feet!!! So there you have it. You’re not alone & yes it is all part of this hell. Good luck with it all. Cathy
I have been taking 30mg for over two years. My last tablet was New Year Eve 2014. I ran out and couldn’t get any more. Therefore, I have been going cold turkey. I knew I wanted to come off them as I have been a totally different person whilst on them. I lost all sense of fun, took no joy from life, felt old beyond my time and basically got sick of walking around like a zombie. So far in 2015 my side effects have been quite severe. My sleep feels like its completely stopped.
Only being able to have 2/3 hours per night if I’m lucky. This is by far the worst side effect for me. I find it really hard to function without good sleep, which I think contributes and exaggerates the feelings of anxiety and tearfulness. If my sleep was better I think my brain could cope with these issues more competently. It’s now the 13th January 2015. I’m currently off work with flu. Whole body aches and have a very heavy head cold. Not sure if this is mixed with accelerated allergies too as eyes itching and watering, sneezing more than usual.
Been handy in one respect to have this time off as its given me time to research side effects and help me understand better. Before the flu I was having terrible night sweats for two weeks. My whole body had itched and felt extremely sensitive, weirdly the palms of my hands itched horribly (and there I was thinking I was coming into money lol). Head aches everyday so far, right royal splitters! Some dizziness and strong feelings of nausea. Sunday gone all I did was cry, tears uncontrollably running down my face.
Feeling so insecure it was horrendous! even caught myself to having suicidal thoughts because of how pathetic I was feeling. I’ll admit that I’m not looking forward to what’s to come too. I’ve copied and pasted links explaining all this to my husband in hope that he will understand what I’m going through and have the love to be patient and kind to me. I’m scared, but I want to do this, I want to enjoy life again. I don’t want to feel joyless and numb anymore. The strain it puts on me and the people around me is just plain unfair.
Last night I took zopiclone to get some sleep, I managed 4 hours, so nice not having to lay in bed knowing my mind is getting more delirious by the second. However, this worries me as well. I don’t want to get hooked on this either. Will have to do some research on that too. Good luck to everyone coming off mirtazapine. I would love to hear from someone who has been off the for a very long time and maybe they could share their thoughts.
Kerry, it is very interesting to me that you do not only describe your withdrawal symptoms, but also what it did to you while you were using it. I have been using it for four years, mostly 30 mg. My GP prescribed it because I was experiencing fear of driving for a number of years and because I was very stressed by my work and had difficulty sleeping. I woke-up every night at about 3:00 and then my mind went racing, until I finally fell asleep a short time before I had to get up.
I was really exhausted by this, so I thought remeron would be a good choice to cure both problems. After taking it, it felt like heaven. I could sleep again. That was such a relief. Remeron did nothing though for the driving problem (which is also a side effect of continuous stress). After some time I began experiencing other effects of remeron. I became very tired during the night, although I slept well. I could hardly get out of my bed in the morning. Another thing was a strong feeling of indifference, that is hard to describe.
It was as if every mental energy was sucked out of me. A zombie-like feeling, like becoming “brain dead” very slowly but gradually. I had less and less energy to perform my work and other duties. I decided to stop taking remeron several times, by taking half a tablet first, or by stopping cold turkey. I did not succeed, because I could not sleep at-all and my mind went racing in such a way I could not concentrate anymore. One week ago I came home from a long day of work and felt so tired and miserable that I quit taking it again.
To my great relief the side effects are now bearable. I have lots of energy. I really feel alive again. I am a bit irritable and have minor concentration problems. My wonderful sleep has left me, but I feel a lot better overall. I should never have taken remeron. It it a drug that may save the life of very depressed people, but how it works exactly and what side-effects May occur is absolutely not clear. It is to my experience not a drug one should use for years and years.
Hi Kerry, how long have you been off mirtazapine now!? I have been off it 4 months. It’s been a hard time for me but all of a sudden the insomnia has got worse. The last two weeks or so, I’m lucky to get to sleep 7 hours, after going to bed. I’m in bed my midnight and lucky to be asleep by 6:30 AM. I’m hoping this is just a ‘fluctuating withdrawal symptom’ as mentioned above? I went on mirtazapine for insomnia after a bereavement in my family :(. I don’t want to get hooked on zopiclone etc. I don’t know what to do.
Kerry, I was on 30mg mirtazipane for about four months. I too felt joyless, it was like life had been sucked out of me. My doc prescribed me another antidepressant and suggested a taper off mirtazipane over three days then nothing for three days then start the new med. However once I stopped taking mirtazipane I felt better than I had in months, so I never began the new medication I just went cold turkey. I’ve felt like I could burst through my skin with anxiety and my sleep hasn’t been great, but I feel hopeful. It’s been 4 weeks since my last dose and still haven’t quiet turned that corner, gotta give it more time. :)
I have come off mirtazapine and I am struggling massively with insomnia. I thought that I would research to see if others have ever found the same and came across this thread. OMG I just had to post a reply. In short, I’ve suffered with depression for years, but along side an undiagnosed sleep condition – narcolepsy. When I quit drinking, I lowered my dose of citalopram myself and hit rock bottom.
Whilst I have got other underlying issues, my doctor prescribed me mirtazapine to aid my sleep as he was convinced I was exhausted because of my depression – even though I wasn’t actually having trouble sleeping, just feeling exhausted even after 8 hours sleep. Although this was never an area I struggled with and I had sleep tests, I agreed, trust the doctor’s right. I got a narcolepsy diagnosis and I am on meds for that now but as for everything else, it certainly wasn’t getting better, if anything worse.
My doc upped my dose from 30 to 45mg a few months ago (even though I had requested a change back to an old AD called fluoxetine). Anyway, after the last few months of hell I have finally been seen by my psychiatrist and requested a change back to the Fluoxetine as its the only AD I felt happy on and that controlled my ED. Within 2 days of a lower dose of 30, and then 15 mg for 4 days I didn’t even think I needed to start the fluoxetine.
I had horrendous night sweats the first night on a lower dose but I immediately started to feel normal again. Suicidal thoughts gone, feelings of gray, unexplainable loneliness gone. I thought it was just a coincidence, the sun shining or something. However, I now have insomnia, something I haven’t ever ever suffered with – EVER. On top of a sleep condition anyway, I thought this was impossible, I could sleep standing up in a bar!
That’s why I needed to see if anyone else suffered with this side effect of coming off the mirtazapine. But after reading people’s comments on the effects it had on people while taking it, I just needed to share my ‘not so coincidental’ experiences.
I can understand what you are going through. I hope that you are better since January 2015. It is hard for our loved ones to understand what we are going through. Mitrazapine has changed me as a person. I hope to get my old self back.
I was put on Mirtazapine 15mgs to help me sleep as well as Trazodone for depression. I’ve been on Traz for 2.5yrs and Mirtazapine for 20months. I’ve put on 2 stone but had lost my appetite Trazodone. I’m now coming off the Mirtazapine cos I’m sleeping but mainly because of the weight gain. GP told me to take one 15mgs tablet every other night for a week then one every two nights for a week then stop.
Do Dr’s not realize it’s not that simple!? It just over 3 weeks now and I’ve just realized that the indigestion and itchy skin are withdrawal symptoms. I was expecting to have a headache and disturbed sleep but not those. Anyway just wanted to share a great tip. To stop itchy feet stick them in a bowl of hot water with Epsom salts (buy at health food stores) or have a bath with some in (without bubbles) then cream yourself with a good emulsifier like E45 or diprobase.
I’m persevering – hope this helps someone.
Yes I have burning feet. I was put on remeron 7.5 for 3 weeks then bumped to 15 for 3 weeks then bumped to 30. I took the 30 one night and the next day I felt terrible so I cut back to 7.5 because I wasn’t feeling that great on 15. I have been down to the 7.5 for a week know and I’m having headaches, nausea, cold and then hot, sweating, some crying spells. I feel terrible, but hopefully it will end soon. I will cut back to 1/2 a 7.5 soon. I do not like that all these medications have more side effects than I know about.
I have been taking Mirtazapine 15mg for one week then 30mg for the past 2 and a half weeks to which I have experienced dizzy spells, feeling of going to pass out and a real fuzzy head. Not good at all, I work in Retail and have been having panic and anxiety attacks which just came out of the blue as I am a very social person but have had a bad year.
I’m from England and all my family are still there and my Dad is recovering from Bowel Cancer, to which was devastating news to cope with but thankfully they caught it in time and is doing well. Maybe this triggered these attacks and so I was prescribed these pills. I took a quarter last night and am seeing my GP tomorrow as do not want to be on them. Going to stick with B complex stress formula, terrible drug, feeling spaced out all the time.
My 84 year old mom was on Effexor in April and after 39 days started to hallucinate. Her doctor took her off of them. She continued to have hallucinations for the next four months and has not had six straight hours of sleep since then. The doctor started her on 15mg of Remeron three weeks ago to help her sleep and increased it to 30mg five days ago. She has went to a sleep clinic last week because they believe the lack of sleep may be a REM disorder and this is why the hallucinations are happening. Hoping to pull her off everything today.
I was on Mirtazapine 45mg for 7 years. I decided to come off them, so my Psychiatrist said to decrease from 45mg to 30mg for 2 weeks, then down to 15mg for 2 weeks then stop. I think this decreasing slope has been too steep. I have been off Mirtazapine for 4 weeks now – (not going back to this drug!). Withdrawal symptoms have been mania where I am in hysterical laughter and then in floods of tears, but hey that’s a withdrawal symptom!
I am constantly itchy which is infuriating, and had tremors (shakes) in the first week or so of complete abstinence. I also find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time and find that I can’t keep still! Other physical symptoms include diarrhea but that’s not too bad. I wish everyone well when coming off this drug, it will be worth it in the end.
My Psychiatrist didn’t mention anything about withdrawal symptoms, I didn’t realize they would be like this, but these support posts have been a great help. I wouldn’t say as other posters have, that it is the Devil Drug, but I would definitely not go back on it. The lack of information and support from the NHS has been pretty disappointing. I have found keeping busy and walking everywhere I can and talking to my (private) counselor and having a supportive wife has helped a lot also. **GOOD LUCK**
Hi, I am on the same dose and like you have been for 7 years. I agree I think that’s a very steep drop. I feel I’m ready to lower and my doctor lowered me to 30 mg last Monday (sept) and said he wouldn’t even think about lowering to 15 mg until April mainly he said due to winter months already been tougher on people but also for your body to stabilize itself and for me to feel comfortable. I was told I wouldn’t feel any change for a week – 10 days after lowering and then I would feel change which would be chemical imbalance for few weeks (so far I don’t feel anything but I’m sure that will change). I wasn’t aware of symptoms until I decided to just check it out and prepare myself as it were. Your doctor seems to have rushed you through the motions and your body hasn’t had proper time to adjust, but really hope you will be symptom free soon! Good luck in your journey.
I started taking Remeron 5 years ago when I was hospitalized for psychosis, and diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I understand where everyone is coming from when they say this drug is “evil” and they will never take it again; the withdrawal symptoms are pretty awful. I decided to wean off of Remeron and have been fully off of it for 2 weeks. I feel nauseous and dizzy, and I get pretty bad headaches. My mood feels good for the most part, other than my thoughts being slightly more disorganized.
I hope that everyone commenting on how evil this drug is also understand that it has helped so many people. I can 100% say that if it wasn’t for Remeron, I would have committed suicide. I felt hopeless for over 4 years, and I had tried over 3 other antidepressants. After I was hospitalized and put on Remeron, I could literally feel my brain healing. I was able to get a job, go back to school and function as a normal human being.
Antidepressants aren’t for everyone, but they are not evil, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with being on them. I am so glad I found one that worked for me, and ultimately led me to a place in my life where I feel safe enough to try weaning off of them. Thank you to whoever wrote this article, the info is great and it’s good to know I’m not alone in my withdrawal symptoms. Good luck to everyone else!
Yes, good post Rae. For me the benefits of being on Mirtazapine have been subtle but profound, it has pulled me into a new direction and for the better.
I was on 45mg and tapered off in a month. The withdrawal is horrendous, the worst has been the insomnia and anxiety which forced me to be off work. I kept reminding myself that the withdrawals were temporary.
I agree that Mirtazapine can be an effective drug. I have BPD and anxiety and after a serious suicide attempt was started on it. It really helped my mood but when increasing from 30mg to 45mg I became so angry and full of rage that I reduced back down to 30mg. This drug has helped me but since starting it 9 maths ago I have gained 3 stone and gone up 3 dress sizes.
A week ago I reduced to 15mg and 2 days ago stopped completely. I feel nervous and anxious and after reading other comments, I understand why I have been awake all night. I hope I can continue without mirtazapine because my weight increase has made my anxiety and mood as low as before.
Samantha, My story is almost *Exactly* the same as yours, from the reason I went on it, the weight gain effect it had, and the current trouble sleeping as I’m easing off. I feel like I have a cold today and maybe it’s from this. Anyways, it was sort of nice to see someone with the same experience so thanks for posting.
Rae – I totally agree with you. Mirt saved my life and yes it was rough for 6 weeks but without it, I am not sure I would be here today. I too am in a happy place and want to come off it, from researching tapering is the best way, and yes the side effects may get rough but not having to take a happy pill every night will be a blessing. And it may make my weight loss journey just that little easier. Rachel
Hi, I have been on 15mg off and on for 2 years, but from January this year 7.5. In March decided to come off with help of liquid solution as you can measure the amount correctly. Been off now for a week but don’t feel great, so even with a slow taper it’s not easy.
Where can you get liquid from? As that would be easier to taper off with.
I went from Prozac to Mirtazapine, mostly because I was having panic attacks and my GP refused to give me a benzo. Biggest mistake ever. I gained 15 pounds, got plantar fasciitis due to overweight, and worst of all, I kept getting panic attacks after a month. GP prescribed a way too short tapering time (about a week) and now I am back on Prozac, 60 mg. After 2 months, I am starting to feel like a human being again, however I still have some brain zaps and get fidgety, and I’m not sure if it’s still mirtazapine withdrawal or anxiety symptoms.
Hi Fer, can I ask you how long and what dose of mirtazapine you were on? I was on Prozac for almost 5 months and felt better than I had my whole life but had no sex drive, so I was put on 7.5 mg of mirtazapine 20 days ago. It made me very sleepy, so I was upped to 15 mg a week later. Two days ago, was upped to 30 mg. I am not feeling myself at all – having a hard time communicating, feeling spacey and depressed, weird dreams, etc. So I am going back to prozac, but am not sure how to go about that and what to expect.
I have been off this medication for 2weeks now and have been experiencing a body crave for something. Not cigarettes, alcohol or drugs of any description that I can think of just a low grade crave. That started within days of ceasing mirtazapine which I was only on for about 2 months @ 30mgs. For a few days now have been experiencing headaches, nausea, heart palpitations, hand tremors and for the entire time insomnia.
I didn’t know what was happening to me. Finally I thought to look up withdrawals of this drug & bingo there it is in black & white. This page and all the comments have answered everything for me. Thank you one & all. I’m not going crazy at all!!!
I agree Cathy. I feel like I am going crazy. I just cannot calm down and relax. But at least I know it’s the pill and not me. I am suppose to start a job soon and I hope I feel a little better by then. I don’t think I will though. I will never ever take this drug again. I have been on it for 3 years. I am also Diabetic and withdrawing from these pills has caused my sugar to go crazy. I have had to increase my meds and need to increase again.
I have suffered from a migraine every day for seven years and coming off mirtrazapine made it ten times worse. I was told to taper down but my doc has said to just stop taking 15mg because my withdrawal is like heroin withdrawal. Im on diazepam for a week now to get this crap out my system . I WILL NEVER TAKE MIRTRAZAPINE AGAIN IF THE DEVIL MADE A DRUG ITS THIS ONE
I am still on this drug. It hasn’t done anything for me. On 30mgs at night. Feeling anxious in my tummy ever since I’ve been taking it. Sweats etc. sooo if this is what I’m like on it what am I going to be like trying to quit it
I am on day 4 of quitting cold turkey after being on 30mg for almost a year, I am only just starting to get major withdrawal, feeling nauseous, hypo-manic, can’t sleep, vivid dreams that are just plain weird and my eyes keep going out of focus, my appetite increased the last 2 days but has decreased today. If I had have known the effects of coming off mirt was going to be so bad I wouldn’t have taken them.
How are your withdrawal symptoms now? I’ve been on mirtazapine for almost a year and have decided to go cold turkey from tonight. I keep switching off and actually fell downstairs and broke my ankle after one episode. I almost fell again today so have decided that I need to get off these drugs.
For almost 8 years I am taking remeron. My doctor used to give a 15 mg dose at first for about 5 years then I decided to take 7.5 mg by cutting the tablet in half. Now I am with my family in Yemen, and nowadays I stopped taking remeron for 5 days. I am anxious and irritable and can not sleep well with much allergies but I will try my best to stop using this drug.
Just stopped taking Mirtazapine after only two weeks on it. I am experiencing fuzziness in the head, slight buzzing in the ears and dizziness.
A feeling of disassociation. Will never take this again. I have to drive, and I feel I would be a danger to myself and other road users. Staying put at home till this stops.
Interested in your withdrawal
Maureen, as I say in my post I was only on it for nine days 15mg then 30mg the last day, look the last pill 8 days ago, like you I feel fuzzy in the head, sick and buzzing in the ears, also I am not sleeping.
For 7 days the pills were wonderful, sleeping like a baby and less anxoius, then horrendus side effects set in, was awake for 36 hours, anxiety worse, restless was pacing the house, could not read or watch TV, felt I was going mad, I threw them in the bin cheers
I am having right now the same side effects as you do until you withdrawal from remeron 15mg. I was on the medication for about 2 weeks, and the blurred vision, and headaches, unable to sleep are not unusual as well. The only thing remeron did, was I gained 15kg from weight, but It really didn’t do any good with my anxiety as it still exists and it is difficult to leave, or dissolve from my comfortable zone… phobias. + the crying spells are common as well.
I will never take this evil drug again…. Does anyone knows, if magnesium can get your brain chemistry back to point 0, before I went onto remeron, I also may have a infection but my blood, other tests from the doctor were fine. Really difficult to cope with it, it makes also depression worse, what I didn’t have as much as before
I withdrew from mirtazapine, cutting down one week and cutting it off altogether. I didn’t realize the side effects, especially dizziness. My doctor doesn’t either and sent me for a brain scan. I guess I should have asked a pharmacist. Not going back on it that’s for sure… only was given to me when I was looking after a sick husband.
I have been on this for 2 weeks and have not felt this good in years. I had no idea of the side effects until I started to eat my way through every carbohydrate in the house (plus down the street and around the corner!). Then I started my research. I am beginning my cut back as of tonight. I feel cheated though, because on this drug I have felt sane for the first time in more years than I can say.
Part of me is mourning the possibility of never finding any drug that helps me feel sane. And it’s not just a question of choosing Fat & Happy over Suicidal & Insane. I could live with F & H but my family has a history of Diabetes. It’s like a slow form of suicide!
I feel exactly the same way.
I feel the same way Beverly. I am Diabetic… a type 1 and withdrawing from these pills has caused some major problems. I can’t control my sugar levels and have had to increase my dosage twice and still have high sugars. Never again will I take this drug.
Hello, The cravings can last for a couple of months but will subside. Best when they subside if you leave sugar alone altogether. Not pushing the drug, but it has helped me sleep for years now, and because of that my immune system improved and I no longer get Bronchitis or pneumonia 4 times a year. I too though would like to stop taking medication at some point.
I am planning to get off very very very very slowly. I tried recently going down from 30 to 21.5 and felt depressed immediately. I kew it was from the medication and went back up to 30, which I had only been taking for a couple of months, usually it took 21.5. I think this drug is easy to become physically dependent on. I am also not sure of the long term effects. Good luck and feel better.
I only took mirtazipine for 10 days 30mg for the last day. For 7 days they were wonderful, then horrific side effects set in .
I threw them in the bin It is 6 days since I took my last pill, I am still not sleeping and fell sick and a bit anxious.
I am never taking that poison again.
I’m currently trying to get off mirtazapine this is my third attempt. The last time I ended up in hospital massive heart palpations and tremors, vomiting,diarrhea and didn’t sleep for days I was a mess. This time doing it very slowly I’ve weaned myself down to roughly 3 mg every 5 days. I’m now up to day 9 with none but feeling very anxious panicky and emotional .. It’s by far the worse antidepressant I’ve ever taken and wish I knew just how hard it was to get off as I never would of taken it in the first place
I have been off mirtazapine 4 weeks now and have had a couple of panics not to bad though, but also having foggy moments to where it feels like my mind is racing, so it’s not bothering me as much because I know it’s withdrawls just have faith it will go away Instead of going back on it, going threw it all over again !!! I know it’s easier said then done, but hey I’m going threw it!! And sucks, but try to be active and not think about it that’s the best way. :))
It took me over a year to successfully get off 45 mg of Remeron, which I had been on for about 8 years (only 1 year at 45 mg. though). It was a slow, miserable process with many withdrawal effects. I finally took my last pill 3 weeks ago and am still suffering some withdrawal effects–mainly nausea, itchiness, and increased allergy symptoms.
There have been several things I’ve done that have been invaluable through this process. The first has been a daily qi gong practice–which is a moving meditation. It helped enormously with both physical and emotional side effects, as well as insomnia (after only a few days of practice, insomnia disappeared for the most part–only showing up for a couple of days each time I decreased my dose). I’m not sure I would have been able to come off the drug without this practice, which I fully intend to continue.
Secondly, I’ve done daily guided imagery or sometimes twice daily. This also helped a good deal with balancing emotions, reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality.
I started taking fish oil part way through and that was useful as well. About a month before I came off the drug entirely (I was taking 3.75 mg), I started st. john’s wort tincture (not standardized extract). I felt it might help ease emotional symptoms..and whether it was that or other things, I don’t know. But in the 3 weeks since stopping Remeron, I’ve had no difficult emotions..which was different than every other decrease.
Knowing what I do about antidepressants and how bloody hard it’s been getting off them, I would NEVER again take them. Through qi gong and imagery, I feel that I’ve changed the underlying patterns that were causing depression..and there are many better natural ways to deal with low mood.
Hi Judy,
I was very interested to read your withdrawal from Mirtazapine. Please can I ask what your final dose was before stopping? I am also tapering of this evil drug, and am suffering withdrawals at the moment.
Many thanks
Jo
I was at 3.75 mg. when I finally stopped taking it.
Hi I’m stopping my Mirtazapine 15mg. I’m cold turkey because I can’t stand taking this medicine anymore. I’m on my third day and it’s not as bad as I thought. I’m drinking lots of water and sucking on hard candy. Wish you luck.
I was 15mg mirtazapine for about 6 weeks then went up to 30mg and I’ve been on them for 6 weeks but I started to feel very numb on them and my doctor said to stop them altogether (but I wish I didn’t). I’ve been off the 6 days and it has been horrible, had no sleep, extreme nausea/vomiting, shaking, headaches and my anxiety and and depression has been awful! Finding it really hard to cope but I’ve learnt not to ever just go straight off them.
Please keep your doctor in the loop. You can do this and move on.
To be fair, I want to state that I took Remeron for nearly ten years, up to a dose of 40 mg. per day. I would not be alive today if not for the efficacy of this drug, and I tried nearly 8 different ones prior to it – all of which failed miserably. Yes, it’s trying and taxing to wean off of but it deserves praise and credit too.
I’m hypersensitive to most drugs and it took at least 4 months for me to taper off slowly so that completely stopping it was possible. I tapered down 10 mg per month but had trouble getting off the last 3.5 mgs! I found you need to have fortitude, conviction, and not cave just because you have a bad day with side effects. I had very unpleasant GI upsets but took over the counter aids to help me get through them.
I endured several migraines as well, but they passed and became fewer and further between until they weren’t an issue anymore. I itched, only at night, in isolated areas, for less than a week. Patience, have some patience. I’ve been having vivid dreams but I had them before taking this drug. My appetite has lessened and for that I’m grateful – I did gain weight and wish to lose it now.
We cannot feel the greatness of joy if we shelter or mask our pain, so I’m riding the tides of being in better touch with my emotions now, handling a bit more anxiety and worry. It’s not killing me and it’s liberating to know my brain isn’t being influenced by chemicals any longer. I think more clearly, my memory is improving, my overall mental health is better and healthier as I make difficult decisions in my life to attain happiness that isn’t disguised or bottled with refills.
I nearly had to “lick a pill” once a week until my body got the idea I refused to give it more and began letting go. I’m making my very long short short but wish everyone on this road a well recovery, breathe deeply on your journey, and contact me if you feel the need for extra support. ~Kind is the new pretty.
UGH! I had no idea Itching was part of this. I have had the worst near all over body itching, mostly my neck, shoulders and back. it’s intolerable. :( But the reason I am looking up this horrid drug is the unbelievable rage I am suffering. The last few weeks have been the worst. I’ve pushed so many people away, and blaming myself thinking it was me. Uncontrollable anger, the worst words, self harm. Never ever have I been this bad, and had to think what the difference is. First match in google was a whole forum asking about that… god almighty.
I have been on this before, and tried to do a course, which I ended up walking out of, the depersonalization and made it impossible to think beyond my immediate surroundings, how foreign I felt, how wrong it all seemed, pointless. the same thing for ever, why bother. why try. But I don’t recall the mood being this bad, which is why I thought it was one of the better antidepressants there was. Having been on many since 1996, I know I cannot tolerate most SSRI medications, and this did not seem as bad.
Now I wish I had never touched it. I’d rather be sad than hurt innocent people with evil words and them harm myself because I cannot stand the person I thought I’d become. Now I am aware that it is this thing. I may be able to at least stop and be more in control… but it’s so damn hard, the littlest of things send me into a rage. To the point of tears, over nothing. Such futility. Overwhelming. Sorry has lost all meaning and I know I cannot explain this to anyone as they will only hear excuses, but at least I now know it’s something external.
I am not a evil creature – not the person I’ve been for almost a year. Had I been successful in what I had been thinking lately, I wouldn’t be typing this… how can they give people these things? Insomnia, itchiness from hell, weight gain, mood swings, violent outbursts over nothing. Is it any wonder people lose their minds? :(
I was on this medication for 3 weeks for anxiety first 2 weeks where great I was sleeping eating well and no anxiety attacks… then BOOM the 3rd week I started getting suicidal thought’s which I have never had I am not even depressed so have no reason for these thoughts to occur to me! I told my doctor and was told to stop taking them straight away I am now on day 4 of cold turkey and things are starting to get better suicidal thoughts are wearing off and my anxiety is calmed so much the only problem is I’m really struggling sleeping! Would not recommend this medication to anyone it’s a evil dangerous tablet!!!
I am suffering exactly what you describe. The only good thing is now my family and I know it is not just me.
Hi what is this movement meditation please? I have been off mirtazapine 4 months and still can’t get to or maintain sleep. Insomnia has been at its worst the last couple of weeks; which worries me massively :(.
I’ve been on it for 6 years (15 mg), my last dose was 15 days ago (7.5 mg). First week was okay, second week awful, excessive tiredness + depression and anxiety + zero appetite + hopelessness and feel like I want to escape away from myself. I just couldn’t get another dose of it, my health insurance does not cover it. Otherwise I would continue taking it to feel just normal.
That is how I feel Kim. Like I want to escape from myself. I stopped cold turkey and has been 2 weeks now. I cant sleep, feel nervous as hell and itchy. I shouldn’t have just stopped but I did. Part of me wants to start taking them again but only because I cant handle how I feel. I feel so nervous sometimes that I don’t even want to socialize with anyone. I will never ever take this drug again.
Hi Cathy, may I know how are you now?
I decided to taper off two weeks ago from 30mg and cut down to a half then a quarter. This week I have had none for three days and am experiencing headaches, itchiness and my brain feels fried. I also keep thinking I have bugs crawling all over me. I really don’t want this to go on for weeks but am determined to see it through.
I probably should have seen my doctor or read this article prior to me stopping, however I’m at the point of no return. If people are experiencing these symptoms after tapering off for months I cannot see why this would be any different. Anyway, off to slap some more non existent bugs. Good luck everyone.
Thank you, I have been slapping non-existent bugs and didn’t realize it was my withdrawal. Good luck to you.