hit counter

Remeron (Mirtazapine) Withdrawal Symptoms + How Long They Last

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.

Related Posts:

MHD News (100% Free)

* indicates required

604 thoughts on “Remeron (Mirtazapine) Withdrawal Symptoms + How Long They Last”

  1. Hi Judy, thank you so much for the information about histamine intolerance. I think I should start doing this from today to see if that can make difference in my sleep. I have not slept one day without having a broken sleep since coming off remeron in the last five months. The quality and the quantity of sleep are both poor, and that really scared me.

    The sleep is really a foundation for a good health. I don’t mind sleeping even for five hours as long as I sleep without waking up. I wake up a couple of times at night and it takes me two hours to go back to sleep again. I feel stupid and regretful to take remeron for a mild depression that I experienced after my daughter waking me up for two years.

    I think all I needed was at that time to get good supplements, exercise, sunshine, socializing, acupuncture, reiki, vitamin B12 injections and most importantly being positive. This approach would have helped me more and I wouldn’t have to endure the side effects and withdrawals effects. Well, I still believe since I didn’t take remeron for longer period of time and my dosage was kept minimum so I might improve as more time goes by.

    Judy I am sorry, you might be thinking that I am obsessing about sleep but my look has changed a lot after not sleeping for three years. First two years because of my daughter, Wao what a sacrifice to become a mommy and then remeron, I was waking up 25 times each night while on remeron and now the withdrawal issues. I used to get a lot of good comments on my look from the people around me.

    Some people would say to my husband that I should work in the Bollywood industry in India. I am originally from India. And now I don’t feel even half beautiful as before. I look tired, exhausted and unhappy. I am vegetarian but do eat eggs, I will try to avoid high histamine food to see if that can make any difference in my sleep.

    I know Judy that I have to avoid cheese, spinach, bananas, and whole milk but can I eat brown rice instead of whole wheat. If no, then what is the substitute for grains?

    Reply
    • Karmajit, You don’t need to apologize for focusing so much on sleep. It’s a necessary foundation for the rest of life. I know what you mean about interrupted sleep. If I can sustain 5 or 6 hours without waking, I’m fine. Unfortunately, I’m in a cycle right now of waking more often. The lack of sleep can color everything else.

      Are you able to rest at all during the day? Taking a few minutes to lie down in the afternoon seems to often help my nervous system. Tomatoes, strawberries, beans, and tofu are also very high in histamine. Same with coffee and tea. Brown rice is okay for me now, but wasn’t at the beginning. I’ve been able to eat quinoa without problem and in limited quantities, oatmeal.

      The list can be different for each person, so it’s a bit of trial and error at first. I couldn’t tolerate any spices at first and still can’t eat garlic sadly. Are you having any digestive issues in withdrawal? Hives or rashes? Sneezing or runny nose? These can also be histamine-related issues.

      Good luck with this… I hope it helps you.

      Reply
  2. Thank you Judy, I really appreciate your help. You are a god send for all of us who are going through rough time due to the withdrawals. I feel positive about my health now and I believe that with little more time I will go back to my normal sleeping pattern again. I just have to have a patience. You are a good example for all of us who thinks that after using the antidepressants, our body will never reach to the prior state.

    I know you was on a antidepressants for a extended period of time, and if you could heal, so can I. Even though it was never easy and you went through a lot of nasty withdrawals as you were tapering. I wish doctors who prescribe these medicine to us would also knows about the side effects and the withdrawals effects of these medicines. Judy I have two sisters and both of them are into medical professions.

    One is a nurse practitioner with a master degree in nursing and another one went to the medical school and they have no clue what we can go through after quitting the antidepressant. Things that they should have learned from the medical school, they are learning from my life. I had anxiety, running thoughts, insomnia, sores in my tongue, depression, abnormal heart beat, and runny itchy nose and flu like symptoms for the first three months after quitting the medicine – and I didn’t even use the medicine for more than four months.

    Reply
    • I’m glad that what I’ve been through can be of help to some people Karamjit. I hope that your sisters have really learned through your experiences. I think the drug companies have hidden a lot of information about the side effects and withdrawal from these drugs. Fortunately, there are a handful of psychiatrists speaking out about the risks and the devastating impact of withdrawing.

      Though I’ve come a long way, I don’t consider myself fully healed. I still go through some rounds of increased symptoms. But they are not as intense as early on and I’m having longer periods of feeling more well. One thing I wanted to mention for your consideration is the issues around histamine. Remeron acts as an antihistamine and even though you were only on it a short time, it could be one of the factors affecting you.

      I talked about it in previous posts, as one of the things that has made the biggest difference for me. If you do a search on histamine intolerance, a lot of resources will come up. You might try cutting out some of the higher histamine foods for a few weeks, to see what happens. I also find I can get away with eating things earlier in the day… the later I eat something with histamine, the more likely my sleep is to be affected.

      Stress, weather, pollen, etc. will also very much impact this.

      Reply
  3. Karamjit, Sounds like you’re doing a lot of good things for yourself. I think it’s possible to heal from this. I’ve known of people on cocktails of drugs who are now doing well. I understand how discouraging it is though.

    Have you tried yoga, tai chi, meditation or anything like that? I’ve had pretty good success from doing qi gong, which is similar to tai chi. While I’ve had bouts of poor sleep, I’ve done better than most folks I know coming off antidepressants. For quite awhile, I was sleeping 7 hours without waking up. I expect to go back to that again.

    You might experiment with stopping the supplements you take in the evening. Magnesium is usually good for relaxation, but I don’t know about calcium. I get my magnesium through epsom salts baths or lotion, as I can’t tolerate the supplements.

    Are you able to fall asleep? Or is it more that you wake up during the night? There are lots of meditation resources on the internet. I usually listen to something if I wake during the night and can generally go back to sleep. Or listening to something like ocean waves or soft music can be helpful.

    Even though most people tell you not to lie down or nap during the day, I find it actually helps me to sleep better at night. I’ll just rest some days or sleep for under an hour. If I’m not sleeping well at night, that nap is often the best sleep I get.

    The fact that you used to sleep well before your daughter was born should work in your favor. I’ve had insomnia off and on for most of my life…harder to change that kind of pattern. Still, I’ve mostly slept better in the past year than I have for most of my life.

    Also, you were on the med for a short period… and that will also work in your favor. Keep doing as much as you can to take care of yourself. When you go for acupuncture, be sure to tell them not to do things that are too stimulating. You likely need a more calming influence. Take care… it does get better in time.

    Reply
  4. Hi Judy, thank you for replying me back on this. I am currently 5 months off of the remeron. Instead of getting better on insomnia, I am getting worse. I am currently sleeping for 3 to 4 hours of interrupted sleep and that too with the help of melatonin. I am usually a happy person but this really distressed me as I don’t see any hope. I have had many symptoms after quitting remeron but they are all gone but the sleeping problem is still there.

    I am currently taking whole food vitamins in the morning, I do cardio for one hour, eating organic fruits and vegetables, whole wheat breads, organic whole milk, eggs, beans and pulses. I take calcium, magnesium, and zinc at night before sleeping. Judy I was an excellent sleeper until I had my daughter. My daughter was born with acid reflux and she would wake me up all night for the first two years.

    It was a nightmare for me because I wanted to sleep so badly but my daughter would wake me up immediately after I fell asleep. I developed mild depression after two years of not sleeping and went to the psychiatrist and he put me on remeron. He told me to stay on it for at least four months and that’s why I was on it for four months including tapering.

    I was happy that I quit after using only for four months and thought I wouldn’t suffer for that long since four months of antidepressants was not a long time. I wish doctor who first prescribed me this medicine would also told me about the withdrawal effects. So I wouldn’t take this poison and try to use an healthy alternatives. Judy I also go for an acupuncture every week.

    I have a strong faith in God and I would consider it miracle if I ever go back to my normal sleeping pattern again. But right now I am feeling that this little pill destroyed my sleeping pattern from which I will never heal again.

    Reply
  5. I have been on Mirtazapine (30mg) since September 2015 and was lucky enough to get no side effects when starting them. I am now on night 7 of going cold turkey, totally stopping them with no weaning myself off them. Day 6 I felt down, sick, hot and no appetite.

    Day 7 I feel a tad sick and not much of an appetite. I have how ever piled on the weight since being on them. Whether that’s the tablets or because I have been suffering depression (I am an emotional eater) I don’t know. But I’m more determined to come off them and stay off any antidepressants.

    Reply
    • Hi Janine, As I have stated in previous posts, I have been off mirtazapine for just over 4 months. I too experienced weight gain when I went on this drug – not surprising really because it increased my appetite so much I was in serious danger of eating the fridge! Since I’ve been off it though my weight is slowly returning to normal.

      Most of my withdrawal symptoms didn’t really kick in until about 3 weeks after my last pill, and then it was absolute hell. Even after 4 months I am still really struggling some days. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones and your withdrawal will go fairly smoothly. Good luck and hang in there – just keep telling yourself that it will get better.

      Reply
  6. Hi all, I took remeron for 4 months and two days only. I am now 5 months off the medicine and still experiencing heart palpitations and a very bad quality of sleep. I sleep with the help of melatonin and gets only 4 to 5 hours of interrupted sleep. I have had no problems with these issues before taking the medicine.

    I know Chris and Judy’s symptoms have improved with time but if anyone else could share their improvement. Please tell me how long these symptoms will last so I can move forward with life. I am off the job now because I can’t function without good sleep.

    Reply
    • Hi Karamjit, Sorry to hear about the poor sleep. It’s a real problem with antidepressant withdrawal. You mentioned in a previous post that you take supplements. What exactly are you taking? Sometimes, things we are able to take fine before are too stimulating in withdrawal. For example, I find myself unable to take any B vitamins as they will keep me awake at night.

      It can be useful to follow good sleep hygiene, if you aren’t already doing that. Turning off computer, smart phone, TV and such early in the evening. Not doing anything too stimulating in terms of exercise. I find sometimes a gentle walk around sunset can be good. Try to rest, even if you’re not sleeping.

      Some people find guided meditations or music helpful in relaxing. I take Calms Forte homeopathy and sometimes it helps. Epsom salts baths in the evening are good some of the time too. Some people take magnesium supplements for relaxation.

      I still go through some cycles of less-than-ideal sleep. But have found I can function reasonably well, even at work, on 4 or 5 hours of sleep. It takes time for the body to adjust being off the meds. I know it’s hard, but try not to get upset about not sleeping… as it will tend to make sleep even more elusive.

      Reply
  7. Hi again, I forgot to answer to David who asked few months ago about GI and digestive symptoms. I’ve had them very much: nausea, diarrhea, some sort of pain in stomach, loss of appetite… I have lost weight almost 10 kilos after leaving mirtazapine, because eating makes me almost to vomit. Not every time, but when symptoms are worst. And they all came at the same time: dizziness, sweating, cramps etc.

    Churning bowels are very familiar to me, and it actually started later than some other symptoms, like back and genital pain. But it has eased somewhat lately, without any special treatment or medication. Well, probiotics I take sometimes. Have you tried Biogaia’s products? It is Swedish company, products are easily available in Finnish pharmacies.

    I still have those digestive issues at a variating levels, but the trend has been into positive direction anyway, with other symptoms. I can not tell you what to do, because you are very aware of your diet already – I understood also to avoid some dangerous food, like very acidic or too spicy stuff (and I like them very much). Your problem in that area seems to be lot worse than mine, sorry to hear.

    But at least my experience is that it can get better, after time. Hope that’s true in your case too. And this is for everybody: I really recommend you to read this report on benzodiazepine addiction and withdrawal process. The writer is very respectable and experienced British professor C Heather Ashton. The paper is so influential that it has been translated also to Finnish by a local rehab hospital, the main one in Finland.

    Ashton concentrates on benzos, but there is a little section of AD´s too. And in my experience the syndromes are identical with AD`s and benzos, including withdrawal process. You will find practically all your symptoms in that great paper. And lot of comfort, because the main idea in it is that you will heal finally by time, not depended on an addiction´s level or length. So read it, it´s really worth it! http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

    Reply
  8. Hi everybody, I wrote here few weeks ago. My situation is improving, although not without downhills, but the main trend is still positive. I’ve been without Mirt for two months now, and for last three weeks driving down by benzodiazepine sleep pills because I got problems with them too. So I have now two withdrawal process at the same time – or actually three, because I haven´t touch alcohol for two weeks, because it worsened symptoms hard way. So this is heavy stuff…

    But the good news is that after all that I have got out of the few worst symptoms if not at all but anyway remarkably. The burning pain in my back and genitals had eased very much. I sleep clearly better – about 3-4 hours in one session, and I got them two every night – with much lower benzo medication than used to. I sometimes fall asleep even without pills.

    That is something very new to me for a long long time, because I’ve taken all those pills for sleeping. I still keep awake in the night and getting to sleep is sometimes anxiously troublesome, but easier anyway now. So in my experience insomnia can get get better. It was really hellish about a week or two ago. So do not loose faith. And insomnia was my main disease and reason for medication.

    I don’t need them for anything else. Some symptoms have become worse, especially dizziness. It is not that bad that I can’t live with it, but it is still pretty uncomfortable. I feel unsure while cycling, but I can do it anyway – and usually it makes me feel much better. But benzos can be too reason for all this now, at least much of it. I can not know for sure, but it seems very obvious to me, because it is getting little better now – after dozing is stabilizing after heavy drop.

    I have also almost normal days too, as yesterday. I drove 30 miles by bike with hard tempo and haven’t been in better shape for years. My mood was great and no symptoms anywhere during the exercise. And heavens I enjoyed the ride! And in general my mood is much better – at least when symptoms are not having the worst period. My sexual appetite and capabilities have gone up which feels great although I am over fifty. But not dead yet, it seems…

    So trend in my case is still promising and I feel positive at least a lot of times. I have used mirtazapine and benzos for decades, and too much alcohol also, so I should be one of the heaviest cases. I know few people who have been withdrawing of Mirtazapine successfully, leaving all the symptoms behind – my wife is one of them. So it is possible and in purely clinical terms it should be unavoidable after enough time.

    Sometimes it may take much longer than one expects, but do not loose the spirit. I will be back sometimes later, keep fighting.

    Reply
  9. Hi, my name is Karamjit and I was on a remeron for four months only, 15 mg for 3 months and 1 week and 7.5 mg for one month. It’s been 5 months since I last taken my pill. Even though all the others symptoms are gone in the first three months but my sleep is still broken. I am worried about the broken sleep because I was an excellent sleeper for all of my life. I just had insomnia for two months before I started taking the medication.

    I was never on any kind of antidepressants before. I have always slept 7 to 8 hours on a one stretch whereas I am now being up after every one hour and takes me two hours to sleep again and then sleep for another hour and it has not improved with the time. Please tell me if the broken sleep will ever improve with time because I don’t feel fresh after waking up.

    I am a 35 year old female and have no health problem. I exercise most of the time, and eats a very good diet. I don’t smoke or drink and avoid caffeine and don’t take naps. I take my supplements. And I live a stress free life.

    The only stress is that I will never sleep the way I used to sleep before because of the use of remeron for four months. I wish I had used a more holistic approach before starting the remeron and had never touched this medicine.

    Reply
  10. I have commented on a few earlier posts, but decided to write my own. I was on mirtazapine for two years, most of the time on 30mg. It was prescribed for anxiety and the massive panic attacks I was having. The side effects when I started taking it were minimal, apart from weight gain and hair loss, but coming off it has been a living hell. I tapered off slowly over about 4 months, and I have been off it completely for almost 4 months.

    I have had almost every possible withdrawal symptom – body aches, sweats, headaches, bloating, loss of appetite, crying, mood swings, pain in my back and ribs, dizziness, insomnia, palpitations and strange sensations in my chest, panic and anxiety, muscle weakness, lethargy, extreme tiredness, and on and on the list goes. A couple of weeks ago I thought I was starting to get over withdrawal as I was feeling pretty good, but just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, the last few days have been really bad.

    Today for instance, I went shopping – something I find hard to do because of a complete lack of confidence – and had a really bad panic attack, causing palpitations and a fear of passing out. I am 65 years old, diabetic, and I have severe arthritis. Since I came off Mirt my BGLs are all over the place, and my arthritis is much worse. My doctor seems to think I’ve become a hypochondriac, and tells me there are no withdrawal symptoms – in other words, he’s saying it’s all in my head.

    I wish he could experience living in my body! However, my pharmacist tells me that what I’m experiencing is definitely withdrawal and tells me to hang in there and things will improve over time. I just want to feel well and normal again. I am determined to stay off this dreadful drug, and never again will I take antidepressant medication of any kind.

    Thank goodness for forums such as this. It is very interesting to read what others are experiencing, and reassuring to know that I’m not going completely crazy. Here’s hoping we all feel much better soon.

    Reply
    • Hi Helga, in my experience I’d certainly believe your pharmacist, this is great forum if it gives any sympathy to others out there suffering that it helps keeps us sane. I’m a 53 year old male gym trained for 35 years and my job was dealing with the public and had no issues with crowds or any other phobias. As I said in a previous post I took the drug for approx. 10 months with taper after 9 weeks on citalopram [about 12 months on antidepressants].

      Before that I took nothing other than over the counter drugs for colds etc. So have not been on any other form of psychiatric drug till then. I haven’t taken the drug for 9 months now and have had most of the withdrawals like yourself, still getting a lot of them, fatigue, joint and muscle pain being the forefront but maybe larger gaps between the bad times. The anxiety and confidence, anger and avoiding people issues come and go although I’m still working on what makes it worse i.e. the food I’ve eaten and mind thought. [Look out for what you ate when times are bad].

      I progressed away from my doctor who also says withdrawals don’t last that long. Amazed they can prescribe such a drug to damage some people [I hope not permanent] and not admit responsibility for it. I’m still progressing forward if slow at times, diet changes are avoid stimulants. No alcohol caffeine, lower sugar intake and been gluten free for 4 months, some nights I wake 4 times, good times are 7 hrs sleep, all improving.

      I think to diet change. I see a private nutritionist and am hoping to get some feedback in a weeks time re my DNA/MTHFR report which definitely shows toxification and neurotransmitter pathway problems. Unfortunately I did not do this before I took mirtazapine or I would have had a reference of the before and after but certain parts of my blood tests are defiantly different before drug and after. On a positive note, my weight is back to where I was without bloating.

      I’ll keep trying to at least make life a little more how it use to be with time and I think you’re far from crazy or a hypochondriac. Believe in yourself and take the rough times on the chin as tomorrow will be better. And the best thing is you’re not taking the drug anymore. No mean feat by anyone who has been there and still fighting its effects. Good luck, forward thinking and we’ll all get better soon.

      Reply
      • Thanks Chris for the reassurance and encouragement. The worst part of all this – the anxiety itself and then the withdrawal – is that it has completely destroyed my confidence. I have always considered myself to be a really strong person and I was involved in all sorts of things outside the home. No-one was more surprised than I when all this happened to me.

        These days I often have to really force myself to get past the front door. Thank goodness for the encouragement of my husband of 46 years and my family, or I would probably be a hermit by now. I think I am slowly improving but it’s a very slow process. Thanks again for your support. Cheers.

        Reply
        • Hi Helga, just a quick thought on your anxiety and confidence. I was similar around the 4 months off the drug. Whilst I was reducing the dose months previously I went with some friends on a short plane flight where I had a panic attack, managed to control it but put flying at the back of my priority list. It wasn’t really the flight but the people/noise and the not being in control that caused it, normally flying is the better part of traveling to me.

          Anyway to cut a long story short we had a dream holiday booked for my wife’s birthday [6months off the drug] I was dreading it, instead of looking forward to it, people airports etc. – felt obliged to go for her. The holiday turned out to be good, not many issues, put my iPod in my ears and ignored people, kept away from queues etc. [My wife’s a rock] also gave me confidence for achieving it.

          So if it helps you at all, you may have only have a short time till it eases, whilst like yourself, I stayed at home a lot and lead the quiet life. Depending on your circumstances let your body tell you weather you want to do something or if not don’t do it, [hard when you were once strong] but your confidence will come back. When I think about it I have improved a lot from 4 to 9 months.

          I’ve seen a private therapist, holistic nutritionist, have a very supportive family whilst being ill and have had far better results than taking this drug. My motto is I don’t listen to the people who put me on it in the first place but that’s not everyone’s choice. Hope this is of some help and stay strong, you will beat it.

          Reply
          • Hi Chris, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences. It really helps to share with others who have been through this horrible experience. I have had five good days this week, so hopefully that is a good sign that I’m getting better as it’s the first time I’ve had so many good days consecutively.

            Like you, I have given up listening to my doctor about this – his advice is just go back on that drug or a different one – and I’m doing what feels right for me. I’m setting my sights on Christmas and telling myself I will be over the worst of it by then. I’m glad you’re doing well, and hopefully it won’t be long until I am too.

  11. Hi, I was only taking 15mg mirtazapine for 2 months and that was bad enough. The symptoms I was feeling when taking them were unbearable. I could not even think straight and walked around like a zombie. I was going back to work after six weeks and thought this is ridiculous. I am front line staff in a hospital and took it upon myself to half the tablets. Within a few days I could function better and felt I could cope with work.

    It has been 3 weeks now since I stopped taking them. It has been very mentally challenging but the worst thing is the feeling sick all of the time and the diarrhea. My head is still foggy and have headaches. I finally went to the doctors yesterday and he gave me omeprazole so I hope to feel better soon. At present I only work three days and it still is a newish job so that makes it hard as well, but I plan to stick with it.

    Reply
  12. Hi from Finland, glad to find this forum. I used Remeron over a ten years, dosing was not big, but I used it constantly every evening to get sleep – with other sleep pills. I tried to stop Remeron a year ago, because of mental side effects, but got so terrible symptoms I had to go to hospital. Then I started to use again.

    Now been over month without and doing it cold turkey. Symptoms are horrible but mostly typical. The worst is insomnia and burning pain in back and testicles. It was so bad that doctor took laboratory tests and x-ray, because symptoms could have mean prostate cancer or something else that kind. Generally symptoms remind like very tough allergy with other symptoms like cramps. It is very stressing and also scary if you are not sure of the reason.

    Anyway the good news is I have been feeling little better gradually. I feel still sick, but there are also almost normal days too. Alcohol and other medicine make symptoms worse, at least next day, so better to be careful. For insomnia I take sleep pills, and if dosing is small the side effects are tolerable compared to not sleeping enough.

    Excercice makes very good. I cycle sometimes 2-3 ours, play badminton etc. It is also comforting to realize that you are fit and physically capable although you may feel sick like hell. When pain starts I get depressed, but the more good moments there are the the more optimistic I became. I feel now I am recovering, and I will not stop to withdrawal.

    So keep fighting you too. Withdrawal is hell, but it won’t last forever.

    Reply
  13. I’ve slowly taken myself off the drug, did this over 3 weeks, as I was sick of gaining weight which was making me more depressed, also my life is good! Also after 16 years I wanted to see how I would feel coming off it and how I would function without any type of antidepressant… (Mirt for 10 years) Apart from the itching (thought it was allergies) and lack of sleep, I feel great, happier, loving, not so irritable or short tempered.

    I’m going to keep at it. I think making the positive decision to come off it and to see how I would feel excited me, which has helped! Be strong my friends and I hope it goes well! I would go back on it if I needed to which does not scare me, as it helped me when I needed it!

    Reply
  14. Hi from New Zealand, Thank you for making this available on the web. Really informative about mirtazapine. I read that the best way to get off mirtazapine, is by reducing by 10% of your dose and stay on the reduced dose for 10 to 30 days. So for example if someone is on the low dose of 15mg and keep reducing by 10% every month, it will take 26 months to reach the minimal 1mg dose!!

    That is extremely slow and hopefully very few side effects. Nevertheless if you are planning to do something like that, talk to your doctor first. Has anyone tried a very slow tapper like that? So if someone is on 15 mg they can go down to 13.5mg for one month, then cut another 10% and go to 12.15mg for a month etc.

    If someone is on 45mg daily can go 10% down to 40.5mg for a month then down to 36.45 mg for a month etc. I just tried cutting down from 15mg to 13.5mg for one week now and I had very mild symptoms of diarrhea and some burning sensation on my feet. If such a tiny reduction creates symptoms, this medication is too strong. Any one else trying a slow tapering off?

    Reply
  15. So glad I found this. I tried tapering from 45mg to 30mg after being on 45mg for 1 year. I was so irritable that after a month I went back up to 45mg. Now, several months later I am tapering off again from 45 to 30, then 1 week later from 30 to 15. I have been having panic attacks and irritability, difficulty sleeping (severe insomnia is why I went on it in the first place) even with melatonin.

    I just started Ashwagandha and Rhodiola for the anxiety and energy, will see if that helps. Omega-3’s and magnesium are good ones too. Planning to try 5HTP once I have weaned off completely.

    Reply
  16. I was on 45 mg Mirtazapine for four years. This helped control debilitating OCD. At some point I knew I needed to stop this med. I wasn’t happy about ingesting toxic chemicals from large pharma. I was, however, forced to stop taking Mirtazapine when the brand I was taking became unavailable and the generic proved ineffective.

    I likely withdrew over a two plus week period. I split the tablets in half. Some days I missed doses. I feel that my sleep, mood and anxiety are OK. This is four weeks after stopping. I have had a lot of visual migraines though.

    My head doesn’t feel fantastic but I am hopeful that this will improve in time. Dr Kelly Brogan has written a book, questioning the role and need for antidepressants. It could be worth Googling her and her book.

    Reply
  17. I’ve been on Mirtazapine now for about 10 months. I started tapering off a few months ago, because I am sick of how tired it makes me. An hour after taking the pill I am literally passing out, and in the morning it’s incredibly difficult to wake up. This has meant that for the last year I have gone to bed at 9:30pm so that waking up by 7am is at least possible (albeit still incredibly difficult).

    That is a really constricting schedule to keep while I work full time, complete a masters thesis, work out three times a week, and try to have a social life/boyfriend. I was at 45 mg, dropped down to 30 mg, but then unintentionally went cold turkey a week (kept forgetting to take it). I then discovered how terrible the withdrawal symptoms can be. My scalp got really itchy, then I had extreme nausea, fevers and chills, diarrhea, and was really distressed.

    After that I made sure to continue tapering off of it. I eventually went from 30 mg to 15 mg, but after a few days began suffering withdrawal symptoms again. So I bumped back up to 22.5 mg. After three weeks on that, dropped to 15 mg, two weeks on that then dropped to 7.5 mg. After a week at 7.5 mg, I decided to try and stop altogether because I am just so bloody sick of taking this drug.

    I am now on my 4th day without it and the itchiness has begun. I am becoming very anxious about the nausea and mood swings and everything else that will surely follow in the coming days, if not the coming hours. But I just don’t want to have to start taking it again. These last few days I’ve been able to stay up until 10:30, have a great sleep, and wake up feeling so refreshed by 6am!

    I will finally be a morning person again! But I’m sitting at work feeling all the symptoms coming on (nausea, dizziness, etc.) and I don’t know if I should just push through the withdrawal, or if I should try doing 4 mg for a while. I feel like even if I do that for 2/3 weeks that when stop I’ll still go through these withdrawal symptoms anyways.

    So should I just suffer now instead of suffering later? I know I’m tapering off a lot more quickly than most people here, but I just want my life back. Thanks for reading.

    Reply
  18. I have been taking Remeron for a year and I’m now taking 7.5 mg to taper off (I cut the 15 mg. pill in half) I began a Qi Gong meditation practice a few weeks ago and I think that might be helping me. I do 15 minutes in the morning and then 15 minutes at night, the same meditation with the recorded guidance of a teacher.

    Look for Sifu Anthony in Gainesville Florida (google it). He has an online academy plus he offers a beginners class live also online. I also am going to start exercising, and in three months will get the 7.5 pill (more expensive than the 15 mg. pill!) and cut it in half, and three months after that I plan on not taking it anymore. I think with the Qi Gong, exercise, eating right, and prayer, going to church, socializing, etc., I’ll get better.

    Reply
  19. Hello. The comments here have been incredibly helpful. Thank you for all the personal comments and experiences related to Mirtazapine/Remeron WD. I am looking for some advice for my circumstances, please. My husband was hospitalized in Oct of 2015 because of many months of not sleeping. It was a chain of events, starting with an overactive bladder, which led to Insomnia and Anxiety.

    He was put on Ativan and Remeron in the hospital. The drugs worked, but he knew he couldn’t stay on them long term. After many months of painful withdrawal, my husbands last dose of Ativan was about 10 days ago. Now, he has been trying to come off the Remeron – he was up to 45mg. Within 1 week, he went from 45mg to 3.75mg. He didn’t notice severe withdrawal symptoms with each cut, so he went quickly.

    We thought it would be easier to come off Remeron, than Ativan. He got down to 7.5mg for a few nights, then went down to 3.75mg for a few nights, and then to 0. (Night 1 off Remeron) He took a herbal sleep aid called “Redormin” – which is a blend of Valerian and Hops. He was able to sleep from 10pm until midnight. After midnight, he had insomnia (almost like a semi-conscious state).

    (Night 2) He realized that he was withdrawing from Remeron too quickly, so he took Redormin and then an hour later, he took 7.5mg of Remeron. He didn’t feel sedated from it, as usual. His overactive bladder returned with a vengeance with many trips to the bathroom and very poor sleep. (Night 3) He took 7.5mg Remeron, waited to feel sedation and then took 2 of the Redormin tablets.

    He woke up at midnight, feeling very uncomfortable mentally, but he went back to sleep again. He surmised it was because he took the Redormin too soon after the Remeron. (Night 4) Last night, he doubled the dose of Remeron to 15mg, and did not take any Redormin. He went to bed an hour later than normal, hoping he would be exhausted when he hit the pillow.

    Unfortunately, it took over 2 hours before he could fall asleep. He had very brief moments of sleep the rest of the night. He also describes a feeling of “shock” or “jolt” of anxiety the minute he starts to nod off to sleep. Questions/Advice: It is now important to get back into a sleep cycle, which now is damaged again.

    Does anyone know of problems mixing Redormin and Remeron? Dosage: What dosage of Remeron should he start back on? Can he stay off the Remeron (since it’s not helping anymore)? If so, how long will the drug take to leave his system so he can get “normal” sleep again? Many thanks!!!!

    Reply
    • Hi Tiffany, my experience of withdrawing from the drug had to be slow, as I have said in a previous post I was prescribed with mirtazapine for 10months including taper after a 9 weeks on citalopram which damaged my sleep pattern hence the doctor changed me to it. Previous to this I had not had any other drug other than the odd course of antibiotics and paracetamol.

      I can’t therefore help with other drugs taken with mirtazapine or there effects but in my case some withdrawals don’t hit you till 3 weeks or a month later so I would go very carefully on 45mg down to 0, [ouch] maybe the other drug may support him, I hope. My sleep pattern is still no where near as good as 18 months ago before I took anything and I stopped the drug 7.5 months ago. It is better than first stopping, but I’m still lucky to get 6 hours of solid sleep with all the dreams and active brain the drug passes onto you still happening.

      Detoxing the body of the drug can take along time and diet changes help but certain foods do make your mind more active than others since taking the drug hence affecting sleep. Hope this helps and remember this is only my experience and we are all different but slow tapering is a wise option, which I originally learned from this forum. The drug withdrawal affects the body in lots of different ways and sleep is only one of them. It can be very cruel so be careful and go steady.

      Reply
  20. Been on mirt for 6 weeks and the anxiety and dizziness are so bad I’ve started to taper off – worked wonderfully for a couple days a week ago then stopped. I’m tapering off about 6mgs per week. I wish I had never started it.

    Reply
  21. Been taking 15mg mirtazapine for 6 months due to extreme anxiety and depression, decided to come off due to side effects, mainly weight gain, loss of emotions and increased level of grogginess. My doctor advised me to skip a pill every other night, did this for 4 days and had quite bad symptoms such as anxiety and dizziness. I have now decided to halve my 15mg pill and take this every night.

    The key I think is to accept that there will be some side effects whilst the body detoxifies itself. I keep focusing on the end result, whereby I will no longer need to rely on this medication. I am currently still in full time employment which is a challenge whilst going through this process but I am managing to get through the day, I have noticed that once I keep myself busy I forget about the symptoms.

    Reply
  22. My GP prescribed 15 mg of Mirtazapine at the end of October 2015 to help with the insomnia and regular nausea I was experiencing that she believed was a side effect of the Wellbutrin I’ve been taking without issue since 2012. I was quite foggy the first few days, but felt amazing around the three day mark. I was falling asleep easily and slept through the night and no longer had constant nausea – quite the opposite in fact, as I started eating everything in sight.

    I was insatiable and constantly craved sugar and carbs. I could polish off five chocolate bars in one sitting or four large cinnamon buns in a row and would still be hungry. As a result, I’ve put on between 25-30 lbs in the last five months. Because of the rapid weight gain, I made the decision to stop taking the drug and have been slowly weening off since mid-January. I’ve been cutting out 1/4 of the dose at a time every three weeks and took my last 3.75mg dose a week ago.

    The first two days after stopping I felt fine, but since the third day, I’ve had a horrible headache that lasts all day and waves of nausea. Thankfully my sleep hasn’t been affected, as I’ve been taking Gravol at bedtime. I’m glad to be off the drug, but worried that the withdrawal period is going to be a lot longer than I had hoped.

    Reply
  23. Me again. I am now at my 106th day off mirt. I am, at the request of my GI doctor, taking Wellbutrin, which I am tapering up to 150 mg, and it seems to be helping with everything except the significant abdominal cramps. Anyone had abdominal cramps, and other GI symptoms, like constipation, diarrhea, churning bowels, bloating, etc.?

    If so, how long before the symptoms were relieved. After 3 & 1/2 months I would have thought that they would be gone. This is my third time going off this drug, and was back on it for 6 weeks last November, and while on it I had no GI symptoms. But, after having to stop because of side effects, the painful spasms slowly returned. It is mostly on the right and left sides just under my ribs.

    I was at the ER March 17th for this, and they gave me Morphine and Phenergan for the pain, and a prescription for Percocet. I don’t want to get used to using the Percocet, as it is habit forming. I have used a heating pad which helped. Any response is appreciated.

    Reply
    • Hi David, Wellbutrin was a miracle drug for me, until recently. The constipation you’re experiencing could possibly be a result of the Wellbutrin, as it is a common side effect, along with stomach pain, nausea, and insomnia (all side effects I experienced).

      I wish I could offer a solution – Mirtazapine unfortunately was my GP’s solution to these side effects! All said, Wellbutrin is still a far better drug than Mirtazapine in my experience. Perhaps give it some time to level out in your system and see how you’re feeling at that time. Best of luck.

      Reply
  24. Me again. I am now at my 106th day off mirt. I am, at the request of my GI doctor, taking Wellbutrin, which I am tapering up to 150 mg, and it seems to be helping with everything except the significant abdominal cramps. Anyone had abdominal cramps, and other GI symptoms, like constipation, diarrhea, churning bowels, bloating, etc.? If so, how long before the symptoms were relieved.

    After 3 & 1/2 months I would have thought that they would be gone. This is my third time going off this drug, and was back on it for 6 weeks last November, and while on it I had no GI symptoms. But, after having to stop because of side effects, the painful spasms slowly returned. It is mostly on the right and left sides just under my ribs.

    I was at the ER March 17th for this, and they gave me Morphine and Phenergan for the pain, and a prescription for Percocet. I don’t want to get used to using the Percocet, as it is habit forming. I have used a heating pad which helped. Any response is appreciated.

    Reply
  25. My psych. doc put me on Mirtazapine 17 years ago during our divorce and my subsequent depression. Sometimes up to 90 mg. QD dose! usually 45-30 mg dose. I tapered on of course, but 17 years is a very long time! I have with his approval and advice tapered slowly, carefully off; my last small dose early January 2016. So 3+ months ago. I have terrible itching still, difficulty falling and staying asleep, Lichen Planus and gingivitis in mouth which means painful sores in my mouth always.

    I am hypothyroid and so take Levothyroxine daily for thyroid, which may have caused lichen planus and high LDL cholesterol but Mirt. has not helped. I have intense, disturbing dreams, and am more hyper than usual. Dreams are revealing and interesting but can also upsetting! They seem different than usual too. My doc NEVER mentioned how hard it is to get off this drug.

    He wanted me to stay forever on it, but he agreed when I begged to taper and go off it. In doing my research I now wish I had gone off it earlier. 17 years is a long time so withdrawal will take longer for me. I wonder how many months it will take to feel good again. I am 64 years old. I read that most symptoms are gone after 3 mos. Sigh~

    Aging is hard enough without these unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately I am in good health and I work at it so this is a big plus. I do not feel depressed, thankfully. The itching is terrible, mostly on fatty areas like buttocks and waist. (I am slender) Wonder what is happening under my skin. And in my brain. This drug needs to be better explained to patients!

    Had I known this part of treatment I would have toughed it out and gotten thru the down time which did pass. They usually do. I wish docs were not so quick to prescribe drugs during hard times. Yoga, meditation being in Nature, and exercise have helped me more than this drug has. Live and Learn.

    Reply
  26. One of the psychiatrists had put me on remeron for depression and insomnia that I experienced after my daughter was born. I took 15 mg of remeron for 3 months and 7.5 mg for a month. I was told to take it for 9 months but I took it only for 4 months because I was aware of the long term side effects of this medicine. Coming off this medicine was a brutal process. I have experienced anxiety, mood swings at night time, insomnia, was never able to sleep or wake up after every half to one hour.

    It’s been 5 weeks since I am completely off this medicine and I have seen a big improvement in my anxiety, there is no depression looming and I started sleeping every night without waking up ten times each night. My quality of sleep has also improved. I was sleeping 3 to 5 hours in the first 4 months and now sleeping 6 to 8 hours. I have also work so hard in order to see the improvement. I did cardio exercise for 30 minutes to one hour in the afternoon everyday whether I slept or not the last day.

    I took herbs but no medicine in the withdraw phase. Some of these herbs are : ashwagandha for stress, multivitamins, and calcium, magnesium glycerol, and zinc at night. Half mg of melatonin and only took valerian if I have running thoughts at night. I have firm belief in God, and therefore,I prayed to God every day to make me well so I could enjoy this life with my daughter and husband. I also do mantra for 30 minutes before I slept.

    This mantra was my prayer to God. I also stopped thinking negatively as it only reinforce anxiety and depression. I went to my Indian church every Sunday. I only have to say to people who are withdrawing from this this medicine that is a hope. Just don’t think negative, no matter how bad the situation is. You will see improvement with the time.

    Reply
  27. I have tried pulling myself off Remeron several times. I have been on 60mg @ night since 1995. I get to around 45 & it throws me into Benzo & opiate WD. I have several failed Lumbar fusions & M.S. Any help besides the 10% per month? I have been trying too fast I think. Thanks, Robert B.

    Reply
    • Hi Robert, Can you give some more information? When have the attempts been to reduce Remeron? And in those attempts, did you reduce by 10% or more? 10% is sometimes too much for people and they find it necessary to decrease by 5% or even less. Most important is to make sure your nervous system is as stable as possible before making any further changes. You might also try taking longer periods between reductions. 60 mg. is a high dose and you’ve been on it a long time. It can also be very helpful to explore ways to support yourself physically and emotionally though the process–using non-drug means. Meditation, yoga, gentle exercise, tai chi, listening to relaxing music, etc.

      Reply
  28. Today makes 87 days off mirt, third attempt. I still feel awful. Having abdominal cramps, nausea, allergy symptoms, headaches, bloating, fatigue, weak, generally sick. My pulmonary doctor told me yesterday to stop taking Lipitor, that it can cause aches in the area of the pain, and my GI doc scheduled a colonoscopy for April 11. I came off 3.75.

    Should I still be having symptoms, and should the cramps, nausea, and other symptoms start to diminish? This site says re-evaluate your symptoms at 90 days. Any suggestions? I want to feel better, and it was only 3.75 this time. I was on 45 for 8 years, then 7.5 for a year, then cold turkey stop for 8 months, back on 3.75 for 1.5 months, then off almost 3 months for keeps due to heart rhythm side effects – doctor’s orders.

    Feeling really bad as I write this. Bowels churning, cramps, generally sick. Had complete bloodwork in January. In a bad place right now. Doctor wants me to try Wellbutrin, but I am afraid of ADs right now, as mirtazapine put me here.

    Reply
    • Hi David, Please read my reply to your last post. I don’t know if you’ll get an alert, but there may be some information there that’s helpful to you. Wishing you the best, MadMuppet. Sorry – one more thought. What you’re going through might also be a combination of Ativan tolerance withdrawal and mirtazapine withdrawal – or the mirtazapine withdrawal could be worsened by the presence of Ativan in your system or could be precipitating the Ativan tolerance withdrawal (your body is missing one thing so it wants more of the other). It’s hard to know how these things interact, but, again, more information should help you discern what’s happening.

      Reply
    • David, I had digestive issues for a year after coming off. And I still do, if I eat anything high in histamine or as a reaction to increased life stress. Acupuncture has helped a good deal with digestion, as have all the other practices that I do.

      The nervous system can become very sensitized from antidepressants and withdrawal from them, for some of us. It’s therefore, important to be careful with diet, supplements, other medications, stress, etc. What things are you doing for self-care?

      Reply
      • Judy, I have been on a strict health food diet for years, and watching histamine for a while as well. I only drink water. I can’t have caffeine, high acid foods, lactose intolerant, and take probiotics. I am starting Tuesday seeing a psychologist. I live in the US, and we don’t license the holistic doctors in Virginia. I use a heating pad for pain, and try to walk daily.

        I listen to meditation mood music, and sleep on my back halfway sitting for reflux control. The only real problem that I have left, that is causing / contributing to my other issues; anxiety, stress, sleep issues, is the abdominal painful cramps. Abdominal cramps are listed as a WD symptom, and I am doing all that I know to0 do, and hope that time will help. I have had IBS as far back as I can remember, but it has only been mild, sometimes diarrhea from stress, almost never had constipation.

        I am doing all that I know to do. I would rather not be sitting up in be crying in the middle of the night, keeping my wife awake and worrying. I would do anything that would work to get relief, but I can’t just take any supplement that someone says might work, or worked for their cousin, as I am sensitive to that type of thing. That is why I eat such a strict diet. I have lost 40 pounds in the last 13 months since a cold turkey jump from 7.5.

        I had to go back on 3.75 for some relief in November, and it helped for a month until my cardiologist took me back off for heart rhythm side effects. Judy, I sincerely thank you for your concern and taking the time to reply. I have told you all that I know to tell you. One of my doctors took me of statin drugs because he said that they can cause cramps, and I take Flecainide for Atrial Tachycardia and Atenolol for Pre Atrial Contractions, and have to be careful what I mix with these. Judy, Thank you again, Regards, David

        Reply
        • Hi David, I’m sorry you’re suffering so much. Coming off these drugs can be a brutal process. I didn’t realize you’d been taking Ativan long-term and this could be compounding things…as could the other medications you’ve been on. Some of us become really sensitive to meds and find they either don’t work or even become paradoxical. It’s all part and parcel of the changes to the nervous system.

          Its sounds like you’re doing a lot of other things to help yourself and that’s great. They will help you over the long-term. Are you sleeping okay? I wasn’t able to take any supplements at the beginning and had to wait until things settled from changing my diet. I’ve also been very sensitive to those kinds of things throughout my life and even more so, in WD.

          If histamine is in fact an issue with you, the probiotics could also be problematic. Though it’s an excellent thing for health overall, they can increase histamine. It was quite awhile before I could tolerate those. I hope you have some relief soon. Would you consider acupuncture? I know a few people who’ve also found it very helpful through withdrawal.

          Reply
  29. Help! been off Mirtazapine 13 weeks today and can safely say this has been complete and utter hell. Was on Mirtazapine for about 8 months at 15mgs. Came off slowly over 4 months finishing on 3.25 mgs at Christmas 2015. Been to my GP 4 times saying that I feel terrible. No energy, headaches, waves of seriously debilitating dizziness.

    Muscle aches, lower back pain, upset stomachs. Had an MRI scan for headaches – all normal. Saw an ENT consultant privately about the dizziness – he diagnosed me with stress. GP dismissed my symptoms and said it sounded like I had a virus…! Mentioned withdrawal from mirtazapine and he dismissed that as well.

    The problem is that some days I feel fine and other day like poo!! Did think I was making some progress but feel like I am on a rollercoaster, some days good, then some day right back to square one. I would have thought the withdrawal would be over by week 13 but obviously not. Is there anyone out there at 13 weeks like me who is still suffering. Would be good to know I am not alone. :(

    Reply
    • Claire, you are not alone. I am on my third attempt, and this time was coming off 3.75 mg. It has been 12.5 weeks for me, and I am having all the symptoms you are plus awful abdominal cramps. The only difference is that you are having good and bad days, I haven’t had the good days yet. I, too am in hell. I wish us both a recovery soon! I am sorry that you are hurting. Look at the next post, it is mine. All the best, David

      Reply
    • Hi Claire, I’m 26 weeks [6months] off the drug, you’re not alone. I took mirtazapine for about 10 months including taper, I am progressing forward but improvements are steady, as I have said in previous posts I have changed my diet and try to be proactive against the bad days, got to say I’ve had a run of 6 days stable but far from the old me which is pretty good thinking about it!

      [Oh and the wonderful shooting pains in my hands at 5 o’clock in the morning] take each day/week as it comes and the gaps get bigger. My own personal view is the drug changes your brain chemistry affecting most of the body functions you use to have go out of the window, some foods you eat, medicines you take use to be fine, now they cause problems. It’s a hard learning curve, but time and changes to diet help. [Reduce sugar spikes/natural high protein foods help with fatigue as well as sleep patterns, probiotics to help your gut.]

      Everyone is different and I’m amazed at people feeling fine after a couple of weeks of stopping the drug when some side effects don’t rear there nasty heads till months later. I’ve had nausea on and off for 16 weeks now, didn’t have it for the first 10 weeks after stopping, the list is endless with things I’ve gained since taking the drug including a irregular heart beat, increased anxiety, back ache etc. etc., but a fair few are subsiding with time.

      I’ve had all the tests [Blood, MRI scans, ECG’s] and my main improvements to mind and body in withdrawal have come from diet change. Hope this helps and keep up the good work by staying off the stuff. -Chris

      Reply
    • Hi Claire, You are not alone. If you read some of the posts on here, you’ll see lots of people who have symptoms well after the 3 month mark. I’ve been off 19 months and still am dealing with WD–but am doing much better than I was in the first months. The days of feeling better alternating with feeling worse could be considered the waves and windows pattern of healing.

      That’s normal too. I still experience that as well, but the waves are much less (difficult days) and the windows (better days) are becoming longer and stronger all the time. Everyone is different in this…some people have little problem withdrawing, while others have a lot. Do the best you can to take care of your nervous system.

      Clean diet, gentle exercise, relaxation practices, staying away from alcohol, sugar, stimulants and reducing stress wherever possible. Also, many people end up reacting to supplements and other medications, so go carefully with those things.

      Reply
      • Dear All, I’ve been on mirtazapine for 3 years for depression and anxiety, only 1/4 of the least dose (15mg). I’ve stopped taking it for 2 months, because I suffered hard from the side effects, but I am still feeling awful. I stopped the medication step by step, even if I only took 1/4 originally, I managed to cut it into really tiny pieces and came off of the drug completely in 2 weeks.

        Ever since, itching is unbearable, I have a strange feeling all over my skin as if hundreds of thousands of needles were stubbing me. Does anyone feel something similar? The skin on my head itches the most, I am really ashamed of it, I look like someone who has lice, since I can’t stop scratching it… I am constantly tired, anxiety is making me crazy. I had the flu symptoms as well, really, everything I’ve just read above…

        Returning headaches, cramps, sudden pain in muscles, swinging mood are other things that’s been regular part of my days… After a month of withdrawal I thought I started to get better, but it lasted for like a week. I really don’t know what to do, I am desperate and really started losing all my hopes… I am just sure of one thing: I regret the day when I agreed on taking antidepressants.

        I simply can not imagine that I will ever feel okay again. I am sorry for my bad English, I am not native, I was just searching for answers for my problems, since I am afraid every day that these aren’t side effects but I have some other illnesses. I guess I am really going crazy… for those who still don’t know whether to start mirtazapine or not, I can tell that this is POISON, and literally makes you realize what mental illness is really about.

        Because you truly experience it when you stop taking this drug… I wish you all strength and faith!

        Reply
  30. I went cold turkey from using 45mg mirtazapine two weeks backs. I felt a bit sick for two days and had the runs for one day but that was all. I feel fine and glad I came off. I needed the medicine for about 4 years but I felt ready to come off. Like the website says, different people will experience different withdrawal symptoms.

    Reply
    • Hello Lynn, pleased you had minimal withdrawal symptoms, it is good to get a balance of reports. Maybe people who do not experience withdrawal effects google and find posts like this? I read responses to this blog before going cold turkey from Mirtazipine. I expected to have a hard time as most of the people posting unfortunately appear to have debilitating withdrawal symptoms.

      Like yourself, I felt nauseous, on and off for about a week after going cold turkey. It has definitely effected my appetite, I have dropped a bra size in a week and my clothes feel looser. Fingers crossed it continues! Betty

      Reply
  31. I was prescribed 15mg Mirtazapine approx 9 months ago for insomnia and weight loss. I have a small hiatus hernia which causes me some GI upset, mainly acid reflux and resulting lack of appetite. Because of the side effects, I cut my tablets in half and took 7.5mg for approx 5-6 weeks. Appetite improved and I gorged on any sugar I could find. Sleep was restored too so, feeling 100% better, I quit over a period of a week or two.

    I had no WD symptoms that I could definitely associate with the Mirtazapine, but did have my normal acid reflux/hernia problems still, so they could have been present but masked. About 3 months ago I re-instated the 7.5mg nightly dose. I did this as my sleep began to become interrupted again and a little bit of anxiety raised its head. I am now thinking that this may have been delayed WD but, as I came off it with little problem, dismissed it.

    Anyway, just over a week ago I missed a nightly dose due to being out socializing. I just took the normal dose the following night. Two days after the missed dose I began suffering terrible upper back ache, constant headache, nervousness (minor), dry mouth and dizziness. These symptoms have now been joined by stomach pain, not too bad, just niggling. My question is, could the one missed dose have kicked in the withdrawal process?

    Was the fact that I have been on such a low dose a contributor to this if so? Why has it not settled back down in the week following considering I have resumed a normal pattern? I’ll be honest, I’m struggling to come up with an explanation so am considering starting a reduction program to get off it for good. My thinking being, if I cut it out completely then I will know if the Mirtazapine was the culprit or not.

    I take 15mg Lansoprazole each morning which, at higher doses, causes me dizziness. Because of that, I can’t fully rule out that being partly responsible either. I’ve come to the conclusion I’m sensitive to most medications! Also, one last question, because cutting tablets beyond 7.5/3.25 is difficult, is there any thoughts on taking doses on alternate days in order to WD or does this compound problems?

    Thanks for any replies and apologies for asking so many questions!

    Reply
    • Hi Andy, It’s likely that the stopping and starting again of mirt has affected your nervous system. Once this happens, small things can set it off, resulting in more symptoms. The anxiety and poor sleep you were experiencing after coming off were very likely WD effects–they are very common ones. When you were socializing, did you have any alcohol?

      If so, that too, may be part of the wave you’re experiencing. The best thing you could do for yourself is to stabilize on the dose you’re on now. Changing it again could end up disrupting your nervous system even more. Finding some healthy, non-drug ways of relaxing can be very helpful. Things like yoga, tai chi, walks in nature, meditation, listening to quiet music, etc.

      You might also try reducing or eliminating caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and other stimulating things. Don’t even think about tapering until things have been stable for a matter of months. When you are stable and in a position to reduce, go by 10% reduction of current dose about every month. Also, taking doses every other day is a huge mistake. It’s like going cold turkey every other day.

      Reply
      • Thanks Judy, everything you say makes sense and I do think I have knocked my nervous system out of sync. When I was socializing I did have one alcoholic drink which, recently, has been something I have stopped having. I went down the ‘one day on, one day off’ route as I thought it would be okay to do this. I based this decision on the fact that it takes mirtazapine some days to work and therefore would not have any great effect over a 24 hour missed dose, I now realize I was naive.

        Because I took the regular dose for the week after my missed dose and it did not get me back on track, I am stuck with a decision to either stop and ride out the WD or to go back on 7.5mg for a month or two and taper more slowly. I worry though that I will be unable to reduce the dose beyond 3.75mg as cutting pills becomes too difficult and unreliable on dose size. I have just had a colonoscopy for stomach and bowel worries and have a thoracic spine X-ray booked for a few days time to check for damage in that area.

        By far my biggest discomfort is from that area and, as we all know, it radiates into the shoulders, neck etc and produces headaches and nausea. I also get the terrible burn across my upper back which the Dr says sounds nerve related. Of course, as is the case generally, he dismisses the mirtazapine as being connected. Easy to say but, like many of us here, had I known that I would end up in this place then I would never have set off down this road. My original problems were a minor irritation compared to this.

        Reply
        • Hi Andy, You could actually reinstate at a lower dose… and in fact, that most likely would be a better option. There are some resources on how to make a liquid from the pills or get a scale and weigh them. If you google “tapering Remeron” some more detailed information will come up. There are probably many of us who tapered in ways we thought were fine, and then found out later. That’s what happened to me as well.

          You were on it for a shorter time, so hopefully, that will work in your favor–in terms of a shorter time of WD symptoms. No guarantees unfortunately. I’ve had nerve pain in my back for a very long time. It started while I was tapering and was severe at times. Have worked with a chiropractor and acupuncturist and think both things have helped.

          My x-ray showed nothing and the doctor was unwilling to do any other testing… Even though I ranked the pain as an 8 or 9 out of 10, and had weakness in my arms. Over the past few months, it has finally started to lessen. It was there for almost 2 years. Also, your reflux could be increased as a result of withdrawal. Mine was at times, but a month or so after I stopped Remeron, I was able to come off the reflux med. I’d also radically changed my diet, which made a big difference as well.

          Hang in there… it does get better in time.

          Reply
  32. Question? I went off 7.5 cold turkey, Feb 27, last year. I had all the symptoms, and they were severe, particularly abdominal cramping, nausea, and weight loss. I started to feel better about 4 months out, and then woke one morning like it was all starting over. Horrible. Protracted withdrawal?

    Anyway about the middle of October, still having bad symptoms, my GI doc told me that I was having no quality of life, why didn’t I try a small dose to see if I could get some relief. I thought it over, and gave it a shot. Within 3 days I was much better, and continued to improve. Then the side effects began, particularly heart rhythm problems.

    My cardiologist looked at my EKG and told me to stop taking them, which I did. And, the WD symptoms gradually started to return. Today makes 12 weeks since going off the last time. Since I was still having symptoms when I went on the 3.75 in November, and only stayed on them for a month, how would that figure into the WD that I am having since getting off the last time?

    I wish that I had never went back on them, but, I felt so bad I thought that I was dying. During the past year, due to the symptoms being so bad, I went to the ER several times and had a battery of tests, all coming back normal. Right now I am weak, fatigued, still having a hard time maintaining my weight, and am still having epigastric abdominal pains.

    Did I hit the reset button in November, and am starting over, with possibly some luggage from the last time? I am going on 3 months since my last dose. Any suggestions or opinions will be appreciated. Thanks, David

    Reply
    • Hi David, I have been steadily tapering off of mirtazapine for the 14 months, and I occasionally visit this site just to get some reassurance about my withdrawal symptoms. Ironically, I started taking mirtazapine to help me withdraw from benzodiazepines, which I inadvertently developed a dependence on after taking for 5 weeks. Benzos include drugs like Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and Ativan (lorazepam).

      All of the “am” drugs are benzos. For sensitive systems, benzos are powerfully dependence-forming, and that makes withdrawal a several-year struggle for many. More importantly for you, benzodiazepines can lead to something called “tolerance withdrawal.” Again, for those of us who are sensitive, our bodies grow to adapt to whatever dose of benzo we’re taking and then begin to need more for the same effect.

      You can actually go into withdrawal without even changing your dose. For me, this happened within two weeks of taking Xanax – it’s such a short-acting drug, that I was having extreme withdrawal symptoms between doses, which I mistook for illness. Miraculously, I’d pop a Xanax and all the symptoms would go away within 15 minutes. It took me about 5 weeks of trying to stop taking Xanax before I realized I was in withdrawal.

      I noticed that you mentioned you’ve been taking Ativan for years for IBS. I mention this now because I’m beginning to wonder if your GI symptoms are actually caused by being in tolerance withdrawal from Ativan? I’d strongly encourage you to research this. Google “the Ashton Manual,” written by a well respected British doctor named Heather Ashton who did ground-breaking longitudinal studies about benzos, and look for a website called BenzoBuddies.

      These resources have saved my sanity and most probably my life. I’ve been suffering for three years between these two drugs, but at least I know I am on a path to healing. You might find some answers there, too. Finally, I’ll mention “kindling.” You’re concerned about whether your multiple attempts at withdrawal might have reset the withdrawal experience. Your may not be that far off.

      There’s an emerging consensus that, with each withdrawal experience, we actually oversensitive our nervous systems – our systems gets “kindled” and each subsequent withdrawal is even more difficult. It’s like our nervous systems become hypersensitive, and each new attempt just exacerbates the problem even more. I don’t mean to make you nervous. I’m so sorry you’ve been suffering for so long.

      I would just encourage to read about benzodiazepines. Read the Ashton Manual, particularly the parts that describes tolerance withdrawal and withdrawal symptoms. Maybe this is what you’re going through? Maybe not. But if it is, it might give you some peace of mind and way out. If nothing else, I have found the withdrawal experience for benzos to be quite similar to my experience with mirtazapine, and reading about benzo withdrawal might give you some helpful tools. Best Wishes, MadMuppet

      Reply
  33. I tried stopping cold turkey after taking Remeron 15mg for over 2 years for sleep and I I woke up after my second night of not taking it so sick. I was incredibly achy and was miserable but I had to go to work so I took half a pill and my symptoms were gone an hour later. I was on a strict diet and working out everyday for over a month ands didn’t lose 1 pound.

    When I did some research and saw how much weight you can gain on this medication and how it’s pretty much impossible to lose it which is why I decided I didn’t want to take it anymore. So over the next 2 weeks I tapered myself. I took half a pill which is 7.5 mg then cut that in half for 5 days and stopped. Does anyone know how long until this drug is completely out of my body so I can go back to trying to lose weight?

    I gained 25lbs and the weight is making me self conscious and I can’t stand how fat I got.

    Reply
  34. I didn’t read all the comments, but I’m surprised that memory problems were not mentioned in the article (only one person mentioned it in the comments). I have been using mirtazapine for sleep problems about 5 years, sometimes even 60mg or even more (which I shouldn’t have done, but luckily only shorter time periods).

    Now I have tried quitting this medication, and the symptoms I have noticed are sleep problems (of course) but the more troubling ones are cognitive problems like poor working memory, poorer reading speed and spelling mistakes (by the way English is not my native language). I have little doubt that these issues are related to mirtazapine in some way, since when I start taking the medication again the symptoms go away and if I stop using it the symptoms come back within a day or two (I have done this multiple times).

    I never had any of these symptoms before and I’m fairly young so I doubt that it is dementia (which of course I can’t rule out with certainty). It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has experienced similar problems and if the symptoms did go away eventually.

    Reply
  35. Feeling rather positive about coming off 30 mg of Mirtazipine. Further to a previous post I made in this blog, I have gone cold turkey from Mirtazipine 15 mg for 5 days now. I do not appear to be suffering from the debilitating withdrawal symptoms many people have documented. I am aware this could change having read the posts above. I have noticeable more energy and feel rather cheerful, not hypo manic though!

    The biggest change is difficulty in getting off to sleep. I usually take 30mg of Mirtazipine at night about 9pm, am usually asleep by 10 and nothing will wake me up! Am groggy and grumpy in the morning. Since stopping, I took hours to get to sleep, listening to my husband snoring and woke at 6am, boom! Maybe will just have to do the old routine of lavender bath, hot milky drink and book to bed to stop the mind racing.

    Reply
  36. I was prescribed Mirtazapine (15mg) a little over 8 months ago for Anxiety and Depression symptoms of PTSD. This was after having some pretty hardcore reactions to Sertraline and Venlafaxine (akin to serotonin shock syndrome). I tolerated it well and it helped me to resume a normal sleep pattern and made my mind less busy – which was great, so it really did help me. Following weeks of EMDR treatment I started to feel human again so a couple of months ago I halved my dose for 3 weeks and then stopped taking it.

    Insomnia immediately set in so I went back to half dose (7.5mg) as it wasn’t a good time although I still wanted to stop taking Mirtazapine as it did have a sedative effect during the day. just over a week ago I stopped again, but this time I mentally prepared myself and bought some Sominex (Benadryl in the US and Canada, I believe) to help sleep. After a few days I did start to feel a little anxious and had some depression like low moods and Disassociation, but after reading up on forums about withdrawal I reckoned this was par for the course and fought through it.

    These feelings have started to lift now and hopefully I am through the worst of it. I have also got a 7 day supply of Zopiclone from my GP to help with sleep, but I am also trying to go a night or two without so I don’t become reliant on these too. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the Allergy symptoms and constant itching. Can’t stop scratching!

    In fact it started when my wife and I went for a night out in a hotel as a treat and I nearly accused the hotel of having bed bugs – luckily I looked online first and discovered it was a classic symptom – phew! I am lucky so far that I haven’t had the stomach pains and nausea and in comparison to some of the poor folk on these forums my symptoms are quite mild – So far!

    Reading some of the extreme physical symptoms on this and other websites they do seem to tie in very much with a sensitivity to histamine (see below) – which apparently many antidepressants have an anti-histamine effect – and cessation after prolonged use will leave the body hypersensitive until brain chemistry returns to normal. I probably haven’t done myself any favors as a lot of the stuff I have been eating and drinking – thinking it was healthy are naturally very high in histamine so I will be revisiting my diet over the next few weeks and maybe taking an over the counter antihistamine hay fever treatment for a while.

    I hope those who are trying to come off Mirtazapine do so without too much pain. Good luck and mental well being for the future. Foods and drinks that are particularly high in vasoactive amines include:

    Champagne, wine, beer, cider
    Coffee, cocoa, chocolate
    Fermented soya products including miso and tempeh
    Blue cheeses, parmesan cheese, camembert, emmental, old gouda, cheddar and other hard cheeses, fresh and hard sheep and goat cheeses
    Cured meat especially pork products e.g. sausages and other processed meats (ham, salami, pepperoni, bacon)
    Fresh or canned tuna, sardines, mackerel, salmon, herring, processed fish products e.g fish pastes, smoked or dried pickled fish
    Tomatoes, pickled cabbage (sauerkraut), broad beans, aubergine, spinach
    Peanuts, tree nuts
    Oranges, tangerines, bananas, pineapple, grapes, strawberries

    I hope this helps!

    Reply
    • In relation to my last post, I can comment that an over the counter (supermarket purchased) anti-histamine (Cetrizine Hydrochloride) at a couple of pound for 14 tablets helped considerably with the itching and sneezing withdrawal symptoms. Nearly two weeks on and I am almost symptom free. If Sominex is used to assist with sleep then, of course, this is itself an anti-histamine so should help and should probably not be used in conjunction with any other Anti-H – I am not qualified to comment on that. I wish you all well.

      Reply
  37. I am currently taking 100mg Sertraline after starting suffering from anxiety crisis 4 month ago. Two months ago, my doctor advised me to take 7.5mg of mirtazapine before going bed to help with sleeping. It really helped and allowed me to get rid of the Xanax as sleeping pill. I recently decreased the Mirt dose to 3.75mg for a week and then stopped.

    I am now almost 3 weeks off of Mirt but carries on taking the 100mg sertraline. First week was ok except diarrhea. During the second week I experienced mood swings (depressed), anxiety was up, I felt angry, had varying sleep quality (4 to 8 hours) and started to sweat during the night. The third week, I experienced less mood swings but all the other symptoms are still present with the addition of heart palpitation.

    I just wonder if all these symptoms are really due to the Mirt withdrawal and brain balance adaptation? Does anyone had already similar experience?

    Reply
  38. I have been taking Mirtazapine 30mg for a year now and found it to be really effective in managing my depression. My doctor has advised me to continue for 2 years as I have had recurrent episodes of depression. However, now I’m feeling much better in my mood, the side effects of weight gain and feeling like a tired slug are beginning to be an issue. I reduced my 30mg dose at night to 15mg for two months, now I’m taking 15 mg every other night. So far, no withdrawal symptoms, fingers crossed!

    Reply
  39. I had been on mirtazapine for 2 and a half years (45mg for most of that time) the doc tapered me off the drug at 45/30 then 15 over a four week period. I however decided to make the process a little longer, I went from 45 to 30mg for two weeks, then to 22.50 (halved the remaining 45mg tablets) for another two weeks and finished off on 15mg for 2 weeks. All in all my withdrawal symptoms have been minimal.

    I’ve had an increase in appetite for fatty/sugary foods, I am extremely tired, struggling to get to sleep and I’m experiencing nightmares and have been doing for the 6 weeks (3 days without medication) the nightmares are horrendous and I get around 3 each night which keeps me awake then so I’m only getting 4/5hrs sleep max a night. My body also hurts a bit like when having the flu but it’s the awful dreams that I’m struggling with the most.

    Sounds pretty bad but in all honesty it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I only suffered with mood swings and lots of tears for around 2 weeks. My mood is already elevated and I’m feeling great! (Apart from the sleep deprivation of course). Good luck everybody!

    Reply
  40. Hi, Hope this post helps those who wish to withdraw from Mirtazapine. I was given this drug for appetite loss from a major life shock, which switched my appetite messages completely off. Thee drug worked for stimulating my appetite and reducing nervous stomach. I did need to gain a bit of weight anyway, which I did in a few months, got back to my usual, healthy weight.

    Decided to come off the drug as it did make me feel very slow and unemotional, lost my sense of humor completely when I was taking this drug. Was taking 15mg for three months, did the ‘Cold Turkey’ method, first three to five days had a few nightmares, which subsided quickly. Other side-effects included night sweats, managed to get to sleep easy enough, although if I woke up, found difficulty falling asleep again.

    Secondly, woke up around 5am-6am every morning and did not get back to sleep, although didn’t feel tired during the day. This has been for 4 weeks now, hoping things settle down in time. Appetite back to normal within two weeks, no more sugar cravings in the evenings. Which is making me feel much better in myself. Had a few bouts of crying for a few weeks, not too bad though, seems manageable.

    Otherwise, I would not want to try this drug again, and took the decision to withdraw as I felt very unenergetic on this medication and don’t like dealing with side-effects. Hope this has been helpful for people who were prescribed the medication for appetite loss, as this was a problem for me and I had never experienced this before and it was frightening as I lost 6kgs in one month, due to the life shock I experienced.

    Was described to me by my GP as Trauma/Shock which induced nervous stomach and in turn switched my appetite receptors off. Not ideal when you are a light weight normally. Thanks for reading.

    Reply
  41. I was initially prescribed Mirtazapine 15 mg/day about 12 months ago and had been taking this dose until November 2015 – It was used to treat fibromyalgia and I was switched from Effexor 37.5 mg/day, which I used successfully for more than 20 years. In Nov 2015 I suffered a medical accident when a hormone injection was wrongly injected into my sciatic nerve and I’m still suffering from the effects.

    A G.P. decided to double the 15 mg to help with pain relief but due to a ‘prescribing error’, I received 45 mg x 2 (90 mg/day ) for over
    a month. When I went for a repeat prescription a new G.P. spotted the problem and I was sent direct to the Emergency Unit at my local hospital. After 6 hours of blood and other tests I was discharged without medication.

    On my 6th day without Mirtazapine I was so bad I required a visit from my G.P, who gave me two options, her 1st being quit the drug and go ‘cold turkey’ or be put back on 45 mg and be weaned off it over months. I chose option 1 but now 5 weeks in, feel I’ve made the wrong decision. I’m suffering most of the symptoms described by users on this excellent forum but now wonder if it’s time to reintroduce them.

    Since stopping the drug, two other independent G.P.’s have suggested I do this and to quote the words of one, “It’s cruel to subject your body to such harsh treatment”. I have a very strong Christian faith, which is being sorely tested so would appreciate your thoughts and prayers… Robbo

    Reply
    • Robbo, I pretty much did what you did, and my worse WD symptom was abdominal spasms / cramps / pain. After 8 months of pure hell, I went back on a low dose, and felt 100% better in 3 days. However, I started having side effects that was causing heart rhythm problems, so I am off again and today is 76 days since going off again, and once again, I am in hell with abdominal pains being the most prominent symptom.

      Were it not for the side effects I would happily stayed on them. After all, it is about feeling better. All my main trouble started with a cold turkey jump from 7.5, after being on 45 for over 8 years. I wish you godspeed my friend!

      Reply
  42. I am now over 2 months past my last dose of mirt. I am still having significant abdominal cramps, spasms, pain, bloating, anxiety – as a result of these, sleeping problems, allergy like symptoms, weight loss. I started last year, Feb 27th, and got significantly better in May, and then woke up one morning with protracted withdrawals, back at square one. Then, at the first of October, at the advice of my GI specialist, went back on 3.75.

    I felt great within 3 days, and it lasted about 1.5 months, pooped out, and I started having heart rhythm side effects and had to get off them for good! So now I am concerned that the 8 months prior to going back hadn’t completely run its course, and that may be a part of it. The abdominal issues were the primary reason for going back on the mirt, and the symptoms quickly subsided when I started back.

    And now that they no longer have the mirt, they are coming back, and it seems like they are daily getting worse. Anyone having, or had significant GI symptoms? If so, what area of your abdomen seemed to be the worse, and how long before you got any relief. The last time I was almost there, and then out of nowhere I was back at the starting line, and am so afraid that will happen again.

    What I had last time that I haven’t had so far this time is vertigo, severe nausea, severe fatigue, headaches, up during the night crying, and awful dreams. I didn’t mention this time that I feel generally sick all the time. When I went back on it in October, and felt so go, I told my wife that if things stayed like they were, I would take the stuff for the rest of my life.

    Any replies will be appreciated. Any suggestions for a replacement AD that doesn’t have the histamine block? I think that it should be unlawful to prescribe Remeron unless it is a refill for patients who are doing well on it, or the prescribing doctor has evidence hanging on his office wall that he has had training in withdrawals for any drug that he prescribes that may have them. My 2 cents worth.

    Reply
    • David, Trying another AD could prove very problematic. Your nervous system is most likely sensitized, because of Remeron and your several attempts coming off and then going back on. It could be risky to try another drug, as you could make your current withdrawal worse and/or add in a new set of symptoms. I’m almost 19 months off and almost never take any kind of drug now.

      The few times I’ve taken anything in the past, even something like Advil, produced miserable effects. You’re never responded to suggestions around reducing histamine in your diet. Not only was it a major improvement for me around GI symptoms, allergies, sleep, mood, etc… but it has done the same for a number of people I know of.

      I highly recommend finding non-drug ways of dealing with symptoms. Meditation, gentle exercise, acupuncture, massage, listening to soft music, whatever it is that helps with relaxation. Without everything I’ve done, I would not have been able to come through this. If you haven’t read Anatomy of an Epidemic, I highly recommend that too. Remeron is not the only antidepressant or psych med that causes serious problems… just one of many.

      Reply
      • Judy, how do I find a low histamine diet? I will try to Google it. Also, I don’t want to be on another AD, but the only time that I have felt decent in the last year was when I went back on the mirt in November, but then had to get off because of heart related side effects. My cardiologist took me off them, for good. Today makes exactly one year since going off Mirt 7.5 cold turkey.

        I remember thinking last year that “next year at this time I will be off this stuff and feeling better”! Now it is a year later, and the abdominal symptoms are my main issue, and it is causing anxiety, and sleeping problems. I have been off 76 days this time. I had a complete abdominal workup last June 22, x-rays, and 2 abdominal CT scans, one with contrast, and one without, and full blood work, and the doctor also did a hands on exam as well.

        When finished he told me that he had no idea why I was having the pain, so I went home from the ER no better than when I went there, symptom wise. I am fortunate that this time I am not having all the symptoms that I had the last time – dry heaves from nausea, vertigo, dizziness, severe fatigue, headaches, and all the others that go with Mirt WD. Judy, you are a smart lady with a good heart, and I appreciate you taking the time and interest in my suffering.

        God bless you. Since the abdominal stuff had gone when I went back on that small dose, 3.75, I was hoping it wouldn’t come back quite this, but day by day it has. Today is 76 days since my last jump from 3.75. Thank You, David

        Reply
  43. Hi. I’m a 28 y/o female. I started taking 15 mg 8 days ago and immediately felt confusion, foggy, tired but unable to sleep, dissociation, rigid thoughts, and very hungry all the time. With each day, the side effects are getting worse. My muscles are ridged and sore, especially in my neck and back. My body shakes constantly, I’ve had a fever, my mouth keeps getting sores, I’m winded anytime I move, and the list goes on.

    I decided after almost fainting at work and having obvious tremors that I am not taking my nightly dose (this is the 5th antidepressant I’ve been on In the last year). Hopefully since I have only been on it a little over a week, the withdrawal will be short. Did anyone else have negative side effects from the very start? It’s gotten worse every day.

    Reply
  44. Hello, I am kara and I took 15 mg remeron for 3 months and 1 week and 7.5 mg for 1 month. I stopped taking this medicine in December 27 and had experienced insomnia and anxiety ever since. I had broken 3 to 5 hours of sleep in good days and then 0 sleep in some days. The anxiety I experienced after stopping this medicine was 10 times worst from the time I initially started the medicine.

    I was so exhausted from not sleeping for 15 days in one month and therefore started taking 15 mg for 2 days and 7.5 mg for 1 day and 6 mg for 7 days for sleeping and then stop taking it all together. It is 5 days since I have not taken it and started experiencing insomnia and anxiety again. After reading all the comments I feel sorry for everyone who had to take this poison.

    I now feel regret over taking it. I had mild depression due to not sleeping after 16 months having my beautiful daughter. I always resist taking any medication but I took this medicine because it was really helping me sleep. I know these are only the withdraw symptoms and I am praying to God that they pass quickly as I am not feeling well due to not sleeping.

    I don’t have any other symptoms yet and I am thankful to God for that. For quick recovery I am putting my faith in a God, eating well, exercising, had one session of acupuncture and taking ashwagandha that really help me feel good during the day.

    Reply
  45. Hello, I am now over 7 weeks off the 3.75, And still having GI issues; cramps, bloating, bowels churning, abdominal pain, anxiety, headaches, and sleep problems. My main problem right now is the abdominal pain from the cramps, as it is part of what is interrupting my sleep. Anyone else with similar issues? Godspeed to you all! David

    Reply
  46. Hi everyone, I was on Mirtazapine for about 4 years at 45mg. I was stupid and didn’t really think or read about side effects and decided to go cold turkey. I was fine for a about a week but I have been really ill for nearly a month now. I’m in constant pain (rib and back like some others) and have had a lot of trouble eating and with flu like symptoms.

    I went to the doctor and was given antibiotics for a throat infection but he couldn’t link the other symptoms. I didn’t mention coming off the drug as I didn’t realise it was relevant at the time. For others that have come off – would you suggest I just keep powering through as I’ve now been dealing with cold turkey for a month? Or do you think I should talk to my GP about going back on a lower dose?

    Still not sure if some of my symptoms are just illness (I do get sick a lot) but reading all these comments it seems like there must be some correlation to the withdrawal. To add, I don’t really feel like I’m having any mental side effects – depression hasn’t been an issue really or anxiety. I’m just naturally upset at not being well!

    Reply
    • SK, you can always go back and do a long taper. That doesn’t mean that you will definitely get the results that you want, but it would be worth a try, depending on what you are capable of dealing with. Curious, where is your rib pain? Not the back, but the ribs. Good Luck, David

      Reply
  47. I tapered very slowly from 30 mg to 0 mg in one year time (with liquid remeron). Took my last dose 7 weeks ago and now I am suffering from very severe panic attacks, anxiety and nervousness. I am wondering how long can it still last. Anyone has some ideas? It is hell. Please respond to my email address. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Wim, just like it says in the opening information on this site. There are some many variables, due to no two human bodies being the same, and other factors, there can’t be an accurate answer to your question. I, like you, would like to know when the pain will ease. But, I am in my third attempt, a little over 7 weeks off, and all three have been different with one exception, they have all been hell.

      Today is 58 days since my last pill, which was only 3.75 that I had only been on for a short while, a couple of months, and had to go off because of heart rhythm side effects. I wish you a short trip to the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you are only having the symptoms that you have listed, based on what most people go through, you are fortunate.

      You did a good job at tapering, so you have done all that you can to make things as bearable as they will be. I know that you have already heard this, but one day at a time. You can always visit a doctor for possible help, but chances are you will come out with another chemical dependency. I am sorry that I can’t be more helpful. I am sorry that I can’t help myself. Take care and be as kind to yourself as you can. David

      Reply
  48. Checking back in – despite 17 years on the drug, I seem to be doing better on my withdrawal plan. I have been on 3.75 to 1 mg daily since having withdrawal issues back in October when I tried to cut out the drug completely from 7.5 mg to 0. I will likely buy a digital scale at some point because it’s hard for me to break up the pills small enough with accuracy.

    My sleep has been great lately – it’s hard to believe because that was the toughest part for me. I probably don’t sleep as much as I did while on the drug, but there has definitely been a return to sleeping through the night and sleeping well – it has been about 3 months now at the lighter doses. I generally go to bed around 10 or 10:30 and get up around 7:30 or earlier, depending on my schedule.

    I read my Kindle at night to make myself drowsy. I may get a headache once / week or so, but that is not unusual for me and these are not the debilitating ones that I had several months ago when completely off the pill. If I get a headache, I take care to increase my nightly dose slightly to a larger chunk of pill that night to be on the safe side. I never have a headache that lasts more than one day, and these headaches are helped by acetaminophen.

    I have been trying to lead a healthy lifestyle – I eat well for the most part, I have been exercising several times / week, and I take a multivitamin. I watch my wine consumption because I feel like the sulfites may impact how I feel.

    Reply
  49. Hi folks, I have been reading all the interesting comments about coming off mitrazapine. I have been on 30mg since 17th December & 15mg before that since 5th Oct so not that long really in comparison. I have reduced 8 days ago to 22.5 and yes getting a few of the symptoms you all mention, dizzy & tummy gurgling, that only started today, seems the best option we all have is to just go slowly! I plan to reduce very small amounts every 3-4 weeks so will keep you posted.

    Reply
  50. Since going off the 3.75 this last time, today has been the worst. Anxiety caused by pain from cramps / spasms / bloating / and bowels churning. I have always had IBS, since childhood, but it has always just been an inconvenience. The thing is, I was put on 45 mg over 8 years ago to try to help with the IBS. I had never heard of Remeron and had no idea what I was getting into.

    Shortly afterward, I started feeling sick, and the doctor that prescribed it, had left town, and my PCP said that he would continue to fill it, thinking that it had been given for anxiety. My quality of life started to go down hill, and I had to retire from a job that I loved. It was 8 years later when a doctor finally figured it out, and this is my third attempt, but this won’t be an attempt, as my cardiologist says that it is too dangerous for me to continue.

    So, today, right now, I am in hell, and feel like there is no way out. If you are a Christian, I ask for your prayers, and if not, for your well wishes. And the low dose, 3.75, makes me wonder just how powerful this stuff is. God bless you all and take care!

    Reply
    • Hi David, I would second a lot of what Chris has offered in his post. I too, have had very wonky blood sugar throughout tapering and getting off the drug. I have diabetes, most likely due to the Remeron. I’ve struggled much more with extremely low blood sugar throughout this process. In fact, I’m in another round of it. Diet changes and nutritional supplements as I’ve said, made a huge improvement for me.

      I worked with a naturopath around adrenal fatigue before I started tapering. Perhaps that helped me through the process. I continued to see him and still do on occasion. It was also a very important piece of healing for me. I’ve observed that people who are more proactive in their healing seem to recover better from the drugs.

      What that entails is different for everyone, depending on what’s needed, personality differences and so on. But rather than staying victimized by the drugs, doing something different proves helpful. I know some folks just wait for it all to pass, but that would never have worked for me. I needed to be an active part of healing, as part of moving beyond the person I was that ever agreed to drugs in the first place.

      Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.