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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.

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

  1. I have probably taken Remeron probably longer than any of your posts. 30mg continuously for over 25 years, and it works as promised i.e. better sleep, weight gain, improved mood. HOWEVER GETTING OFF IT WAS THE MOST DREADFUL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! I lost 30lbs and felt sick to my stomach for a year, I got no help from the medical community (shame on them).

    In a weak moment after being off for a year I got back on 15mg (for sleep)… I slept better, gained 20lbs and generally felt better. However my muscles were extremely stiff and painful. I got off it again, this time in 7 days. I’m dizzy like you read about, losing weight, can’t sleep. I will get through this… I did once before! BUT I WILL NEVER TAKE REMERON AGAIN!!!

    Reply
    • Steve, I was on Mirt for 8 years at 45 mg. I went back on it as you did, and then off again. Dec 11 will be a year since my last dose, and I too am still having abdominal/epigastric pain and nausea. Remeron was the worse thing that I have ever done to myself. The first attempt at getting off it was 2 years ago, and I tried three times, and had to stay off due to it was causing heart problems. Good luck.

      Reply
    • Steve, As I posted, Dec 11 will be a year since my last dose. Did you have abdominal cramps with your stomach upset for the year?

      Reply
  2. I have been on mirt 30mg for approx. 6 mos or so. I made the decision to reduce the dosages of most of the meds I have been taking: lamictal 100 mg to 50 mg, trazodone 100 mg to 50 mg, mirt 30 mg to 15 mg, venlafaxine 75 mg to 37.5 mg, Ativan 4 mg to 1 mg. Did not consult my doctor.

    I have experienced vomiting, diarrhea, sweating during sleep, balance problems, extreme fatigue, lethargy and weakness, loss of appetite, shakiness. Reducing all these meds at once was a careless and potentially dangerous decision. I have no way of knowing which meds are causing which side effects. Don’t know how to handle this now.

    I’m functioning but the side effects are certainly problematic and a bit scary. Don’t know what damage I am causing my body and brain. Pls advise, I’d appreciate your feedback. FYI, I am 66 yrs old. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  3. Hi all, I wish I could say that I am recovered 100 percent after 9 months off of the drug remeron but unfortunately that is not the case. I am still having some issues with sleep, allergy like symptoms, headaches, and palpitations. I am still paying the price today with my health for something that I took for only four months.

    Reply
  4. 9 months off mirtazapine and I think I am finally improving, but progress is very slow. Still not sleeping well and I continue to have problems with body aches, muscle weakness and extreme tiredness. I still have some problems with anxiety although it is much better than a few months ago. A few other problems but only minor things. Overall I can see improvement but still have a way to go I think. So to everyone going through this – stay strong and persevere, it does get better with time.

    Reply
  5. Hi everybody, I wrote here at spring few times, because I had all the same withdrawal symptoms as you. I told later that, after about three months hell, I was doing much much better. So I just want to update this to encourage you. I took Remeron for 15 years, stop it cold turkey -stupidly so I have to say! – and dropped to the nightmare.

    But it is all over now. I am physically and mentally in a great condition. I still have some sleeping problems as during my life, but I can cope with that, although it is far from comfortable sometimes. Anyway my life is pretty normal and better than in years. I do not have any symptoms left. So don’t lose the faith. You will recover too.

    Reply
  6. I get so sick of Doctors putting their patients on these types of medications without telling them what will happen if they want to stop them. I am on Mirtazapine 45 mg, clonazepam 1 mg, and Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I have decided that I am tired of feeling like a zombie and the only reasons for the meds are these: Mirtazapine – help with sleeping, and anxiety, clonazepam for anxiety and the Wellbutrin for seasonal affective disorder. I am not a manic-depressive or severely depressed, I just have some anxiety and now I am on all this garbage.

    I had a liver transplant 7 years ago and I doubt that all this garbage will help my new liver to last as long as it could. So I am starting to get off the meds one at a time and I started with the Mirtazapine, then I will do the Wellbutrin and lastly the clonazepam if possible. I have his blessing and he will be prescribing all my meds as we taper off them.

    So that is a plus. I already got off Gabapentin that did nothing for my neuropathy but it just made me want to sleep all day with all this other garbage. I think all Doctors have a duty to let their patients know that many medications will cause withdrawal symptoms prior to starting them. It might keep the amount of medications we take to a minimum.

    I never knew about Gabapentin withdrawals until I looked it up prior to coming off of it. The Gabapentin was easy, I only was on it for a month before I knew it was worse than the pain I have in me feet. So time to get some of this other garbage out of me and live a real life!

    Reply
  7. For a couple of months I was thinking about coming off Mirtazapine (again) 45 mg which I’ve been on for 4 years About 3 weeks ago, I ran out of pills and it was a week away from my scheduled doctor appointment. To reduce the withdrawals I took Citalopram 10mg, 2 propranolol 10mg 3 times a day and a Nytol at night and it helped. Now I’m not taking any medication whatsoever, and I’m starting to feel more human each day. It also feels great to naturally feel sleepy and tired at night and sleeping all night without problems.

    I have lost my appetite, (lost about 8lbs in 3 weeks) and my tongue feels really sensitive to everything but water. I’ve also been extremely tired during the day and non stop yawning all day but find when I’m up and doing stuff I don’t yawn and can’t stop till everything’s done. I’ve also woke up in a puddle of sweat a lot and one minute I’ll be roasting and sweating from places I didn’t think was possible then the next absolutely teeth chattering cold.

    But TBH the withdrawals this time aren’t anywhere near as bad as what I’ve been hit with in the past, paranoia was the worst one. I stopped these cold turkey and was on 45mgs for 4 years. Yes, some days it was hard, but we are all strong enough to get off this drug, just have to believe that you are.

    Don’t think about the withdrawals you’re going through – it will only make it worse. Also get up at a decent time and stay awake all day. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

    Reply
  8. Hi Everyone! I was on Mirtazapine 15 mg for 2 years, although my doc had said it is non addictive and does not have withdrawal symptoms but after I did little research I found adverse side effects. I have left it cold turkey 2 weeks before, withdrawal symptoms are showing up but few things are helping me a lot to coupe up with symptoms.

    For anxiety, I take Risik in day time and it has no withdrawal symptoms as I have used it before over a long time. For sleep, Xanax or sleeping aid of less potency is also helpful. Of course with a lot of exercise it is becoming easier to deal with all that. Numbness, fuzziness, distant feeling still there but vanish quite quickly after these aids.

    Reply
  9. Hi. I jumped off 3.75mg of Mirtazapine 16 days ago having been on them for approximately 10-12 weeks. They were prescribed for insomnia and weight loss, although I also had the faint signs of anxiety in the background (tense shoulders, slight tremors and raised heart rate at times). I took 7.5mg for a week before reducing to 3.75mg where I remained throughout the rest of the course.

    Having sorted out the appetite, and restoring sleep to somewhere more acceptable, I decided to quit. Being unable to cut the tablets any smaller, I considered my low dose to be ok and didn’t anticipate any problems. How wrong I was! Within 3 days I began to suffer. I was aware that I was clamping my jaws tight (Bruxism) and that aches and pains were beginning to appear in my left arm and chest area. I also became much more anxious.

    I have endured these ever since but am relatively happy in my mind that they are withdrawal symptoms and will pass in time. My problem, and the reason for writing, is the body aches and physical symptoms. I have a headache from hell but anticipated that together with elevated anxiety. However, I have muscular and joint pain in both arms, particularly left elbow, shoulders, chest muscles and now spreading into my legs.

    I didn’t anticipate these pains so am wondering if I have something going on in the background such as an infection or something? Does withdrawal give you these problems and, if so, why? I am hoping I can ride these symptoms out. Having lasted over 2 weeks, I am reluctant to reinstate as I might be need the ‘end’. That said, if these pains progress then I will have no choice.

    I would be grateful for some advice, even if just to reassure me I am ok. Many thanks.

    Reply
    • Just an update – I reinstated 3.75mg three days ago as there was no improvement. I am suffering badly from pain in my major joints – elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles. All the other side effects wore off after two weeks, apart from the headache which has remained and is being stubborn to treatment with paracetamol.

      Am hoping that the reinstatement will kick in soon and stabilise me. If not, I will go up to 7.5mg but no further. Once I am happy I am stable I will give it a week or two and then start a much more gradual taper by ‘liquifying’ the tablets.

      Still interested in anyones views about the joint pain, is it something others have experienced or is is a totally separate side issue. I need to know because if it comes on again when I withdraw next time then I will be forewarned and able to deal with it better.

      Reply
      • Hi Andy, Yes I’ve heard about severe joint pain with withdrawals off Mirtazapine, so rest assured it’s all related and not a separate thing. I know how easy it is thinking you’re developing another illness. Hang in there, you’ll get through it.

        Reply
      • Hi Andy, Yes, pain is a very common symptom of withdrawal. I’ve had severe muscle and joint pain at times. After 2 years, it is significantly less than it was, but still one of my prominent symptoms. It is mostly muscle pain now. I don’t think anyone knows the exact reason for each of the individual symptoms, but it is most likely a result of having a destabilized nervous system.

        3.75 might have been too high a dose to reinstate. Usually, when the nervous system has been sensitized, a smaller dose would be more recommended. It can take some time to stabilize, even up to a few weeks. I’d avoid going up, given you were mostly on the 3.75 dose.

        Also, it would be better to give your nervous system a lot more than 2 weeks, from stability to begin tapering again. You’ve already seen some effects from going too quickly, but believe me, it can get a whole lot worse. I didn’t realize that I was tapering too fast and for long periods of time, was hardly able to function. And I mean just basics like taking a shower, buying groceries, or cleaning the house.

        Work would have been out of the question. Going slowly is the best way to reduce the impact on your nervous system and potential long-term symptoms.

        Reply
        • Thanks for your comments, I am reassured that this joint and muscle pain is down to the meds and not a separate issue. I’ve continued on 3.75mg and am finally seeing some stability. The joint pain has lessened a little but I do have ‘good and bad’ days where the degree of discomfort varies. I shall hold here for a little while longer before thinking about lowering the dose really gradually – 10% at a time is what I am considering.

          Now I know how to liquify my tablets it makes it a lot easier to calculate correct doses. I am currently on 15mg of Lansoprazole each day which, as I no longer have acid reflux issues and am concerned about long term side effects of taking PPi’s, I am going to taper off also. I am thinking of doing this now before I do anything about the Remeron as I can’t deal with tapering both at the same time. Wish me luck!

          Reply
  10. I am 7-8 weeks into cold turkey mirtazapine withdrawal. I was on it for many years at 45mg. I don’t know why I was this stupid. Feels like I’ve been going crazy this entire time! I am finally starting to get sleep back. I slept 4 hours last night. I can finally eat again. I can’t eat much when I do eat, but at least I can eat solids now. I lived on protein shakes for about 6 weeks because I couldn’t eat.

    That was the strangest symptom I’ve gone through in life. I would love to be able to put that sensation into words, but it is incredibly difficult. I was starving every minute of every day, but when I picked up a piece of food, I could not eat it as my whole body would reject the idea of food. I wasn’t nauseous and I never had vomiting, but the diarrhea was fun for about a month.

    Now is where it is really getting interesting. I had to go to the ER a few weeks ago for massive panic attacks and paranoia. I was clinically exhausted as well from insomnia. This is where I truly started to believe that I was going crazy. They put me on ativan and that helped a tiny bit. I still have the paranoid anxiety that I almost can’t tolerate. It feels like I’m insane. I still take the ativan and yet, here I am. It would be great if my doctor would up the ativan dosage, but I used to be on a ton of benzos at once.

    I didn’t think I had a pill problem because I went literally to a psychiatrist who is known in a few different countries and he would just prescribe and insist on how necessary it is to be on 17 psych meds at once and it may have been more. When he busted out the 20mg xanax/day on me on top of 5 other benzos, I asked for 2 weeks how necessary it was and then if he could help me come off of it and he surely reassured me it was necessary and he would help me off of them as easily as I went on them. What a liar.

    When I woke up to what was really going on, I stopped seeing my psychiatrist last year. I have come off every med he put me on, over the last year and a half. Sure, all of the withdrawals were difficult for a few weeks, but I’d never felt better or more positive in my whole life. I wish anyone in hell had told me benzo withdrawal was easier and I would have chosen to come off of those last (and luckily, I’ve not missed the benzos until now). However, because doctors see my chart and assume I was an addict instead of a confused patient, they freak out over prescribing anxiety medication and won’t up my ativan dosage.

    It’s been an interesting catch 22. Is there anyone with experience who can tell me when I’ll stop feeling crazy? I’ve had a seriously panicky week, I’ve had random tearful moments that last for a few hours since the beginning as well, but I swear, if I don’t get my brain back in my head soon… The only other medication I’m taking now is gabapentin and benadryl.

    I’m now just taking ativan, gabapentin and benadryl because it was hard as hell to come off the meds and I am so proud of me. I don’t want to backtrack and lose that, especially being 2 months into withdrawal. The only other med I’ve taken that has worse than benzos or mirtazapine is gabapentin (I recently was out of that for a week because of a pharmacy hiccup and holy wow!). Seriously, quitting 6 benzos at once was an absolute BREEZE which is why I was happier to accept ativan than go back on mirtazapine.

    Sorry I’m rambling. I’m a writer and when my anxiety is horrible, it’s what I do. How much longer am I in for and has anyone had success with supplements?? To anyone else struggling, yea… my post sounds doom and gloom. I’m so sorry. Know you’re not alone. Also know… I came off of 15 psychiatric meds already and I’ve been so much better for it. If I did it, I know it can be done so please hang in there. Things eventually do get a LOT better!

    Reply
  11. I thought I’d give my story as everyone’s accounts are different so it may help someone. I’m 46. I was on 15mg Mirtazapine since mid-February for anxiety, agoraphobia and especially social anxiety. Twice during that time I tried to up it to 22.5 but couldn’t because of my stomach. I’ve always had a very nervy tummy, especially acid indigestion, though never pain or reflux.

    Towards the end of August I realized the drug wasn’t helping. While I hadn’t had the weight gain and I was fine with sleeping (never had a problem with sleeping, still don’t) I still felt incredible nervousness doing very small things out my home, I still wasn’t working and still spent most of the time alone. So I spent 2.5 weeks very slowly chipping away at a tablet until I got down to half.

    At that point I noticed my appetite rocketed for rubbish and I did put on some weight which I didn’t want. Really without doing proper research four weeks ago today I took my last bit of Mirtazapine, went cold turkey. The first week I was great (it coincided with a heatwave so I couldn’t do a lot but was amazed I was fine). I had a brain zap but it was so small I hardly noticed it.

    The second week for a couple of days I was into cold like symptoms and reduced appetite, but didn’t even take a single paracetamol. I noticed then that I was able to do a few things that I’d had mental blocks about. I’d read something on here someone said they’d developed phobias being on it and I can relate to that. But for the past 2 weeks I’ve had awful acid, really quite debilitating, the only thing that clears it is crying!

    Strangely I can run further in the morning than I can walk in the day when feeling like this. Even now at home I don’t feel great. So I’m hoping the tummy calms. I’ve had no other symptoms to speak of except crying. I’m not taking any other pills, going it alone. I hope others have had similar experiences and can tell me I’ll be back to ‘normal’ soon. Good luck everyone, it’s a horrid thing to have.

    Reply
    • I am 8 weeks in. I was on it for many years at 45mg and went cold turkey. I don’t think our experience will be the same and obviously mine is much more extreme given time and dosage, but I wanted to just tell you… it gets better Josie.

      I got food back. I can’t eat much (last night I tolerated half a piece of pizza), but thank God that comes back. Also, I never got nauseous, I just could NOT eat. The diarrhea was not cool, but I want to say it was gone by week 5 or 6. I’m still going through the crying and the panic and the emotions. That’s where I found this thread. However, I managed to sleep 4 hours last night which has been major progress.

      My point is, I CAN tell you, things get better. The fact that food and sleep are restored and I finally get along with my stomach now. I don’t remember all that happened to me during which week (should have kept a journal), but I can tell you, for the most part, my physical body has started to heal… so the mind must be next. Take deep breaths. If you were in this alone, I wouldn’t be posting. Just wanted to tell you that.

      Reply
      • Hi Librarian, Thanks so much for responding so thoughtfully. Our recoveries won’t be the same but it’s reassuring that you say you were pretty much over the worst by the end of week 6. I’ve done really well, but still struggling with an acidy nausea which is getting worse in a way but eating helps and so does relaxing. At the end of this week I’ll be at the end of the sixth week so am really hoping that marks the end.

        I’m fine with sleeping, though I did notice slightly worsened sleep a while ago, though I never had insomnia. I really do think my 20 mins of mindfulness everyday has been a life saver. As with all these things you have to stick at it for a few weeks to get any benefit – no immediate cure unfortunately. But really hoping all the best for you. 45mg cold turkey does sound vicious, but it sounds like you’re getting there! Thanks again.

        Reply
  12. Was only on 7.5mg of Remeron for six weeks or so. Put on 12lbs in that time! 2lbs. per week? That’s just unacceptable. And, I slept through the night, but woke up exhausted with dark rings under my eyes. Chemical sleep… not good. My doc said to cut the med cold turkey as it wasn’t that much, but after two weeks, I’m still feeling terrible. My anxiety is spiking, I’m feeling depressed, I have a near-constant headache, and quite bad brain fog. I really wished I had read this page before submitting to this medication. It is some nasty sh-t.

    Reply
    • Almost a month later and I’m still not sleeping well. The headaches have stopped and brain fog has mostly gone away… well, that’s hard to parse out with not getting good sleep at all. I’m also still hungrier than normal, this drug must really mess with whatever controls your hunger sensations.

      I’m eating cleanly, working out regularly, and just want this out of my system.

      Reply
  13. Hi David, This is Karamjit. I have known you from your previous posts. I know that you have been suffering severely from protracted withdrawal syndrome. I am sorry to hear that you are still having a difficulty with some of the problems associated with protracted withdrawal syndrome. David, basically any psychiatrist medicine be it antidepressants, benzo or psychotropic medicines are highly toxic.

    They do more harm than good to our body. Antidepressants were studied on the people for only six to eight weeks. And the pharmaceutical companies never studied after effects of the medicine and took a FDA approval from the government in order to make large profits. David, human brain is very complex and no doctor or scientist in this world has fully understood the brain’s functions.

    So now how can one make any safe medicine for the brain without fully understanding the brain functions? Any way the scientist who have made the first antidepressant were actually researching this medicine for some other cause and by accidentally he developed this product… Now to sell antidepressants they created a theory about serotonin. They say if you are depressed, it is more likely that you have low serotonin.

    This is a false statement made by the Scientist to sell the drugs. Doctors have no clue about this and neither do they believe in protracted withdrawal syndrome. They went to the medical schools and learned. The stuff about serotonin, the false theory written by pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical companies have hidden the important information from doctors about the dangerous after effect on the body.

    This is one of the main reason that when patients complains about the numerous problems after stopping, doctor often put them on the same medication thinking that their original problems are coming back. David, doctors are ignorant about this issue and handling the the psychiatric drugs like candies. Withdrawal protracted syndrome is a iatrogenic injury to the brain. The longer you are on the psych medicine, the more severe your injury will be.

    The good news is that our brain can heal from this brain injury. It’s just a matter of time. The healing process doesn’t happen in a linear way. It happens in a waves and windows fashion. A lot of people have irritable bowel syndrome or stomach issues when coming off A.D. I can make two suggestions enzymes and probiotics – both may help the issues. Don’t go overboard with probiotics.

    Also go gluten free and diary free. Try to stick on the low histamine diet for a month to see if this improves your problem. Try to be stress free, being stress free will fasten your recovery. I know its hard to be stress free especially when you are going through the withdrawal but you should think this situation as a temporary situation.

    I will also recommend acupuncture regularly for once a week for the next two months. And see if everything that I wrote here could makes a difference into your life. I took the same drug for four months and ten days and Now after eight months, I feel like I am 75 percent recovered. You will also recovered with time.

    Reply
    • Hi David and everybody else out there, I would second everything Karamjit has put in her reply, most of what she has written has been my mind thought for the past 18 months, Doctors/drugs [I’ll be polite] but in my eyes they now very little how the body works and mental illness, CFS and many other illnesses have no classification in conventional medicine. Wish I’d realized that before I took this prescribed drug and them poisoning me.

      Wikipedia what the drug blocks and affects through your nervous system and you can make a picture up of why your major organs and digestion are not working properly, causing problems in your mitochondrial system amongst a lot of other things. As time has gone by I am moving away from supplements as I have found my body wont accept them, maybe if you are taking them lengthen the time between doses as your body gets saturated with even normal doses so you think you are doing the correct thing and making matters worse.

      I stumbled on this by having some tests done which I had to stop taking supplements and felt better not taking them, I took a vit B complex for 21 years and now they upset me. I’ve said in previous posts I have checked my Genes/MTHFR etc. I Know this is a can of worms and doesn’t prove disease but it’s coincidental that I have SNPs on genes that relate to my side effects, basically they’re switched on and should be off [switching them off is the hard bit] I try to eat the natural food to help the enzymes etc., probiotics make me nauseous.

      I think histamine is a massive issue on withdrawal of this drug as Judy has said in a lot of earlier posts. I think the brain will take as long as it takes to repair but helping it naturally is the way forward and not chemically. Hopefully in years to come more research in genes and the biological way the body works will help people from getting into our position.

      Reply
      • Hi Karamjit, I’m new to this board and have read everything from this post forward and everyone has been SO helpful. I’ve been tapering down to crumbs after being on 45 mgs for 2+ years and am scared to jump. Last year I went cold turkey off of Rexulti and thought I was going to die.

        I would beg my husband every day not to put me in a mental institution (fortunately he knew I was in withdrawal and thank God he managed to get me through it.) I’m getting scared reading about the itching, and am wondering what a low-histamine diet is and how does one ingest it if you have no appetite?

        Also what vitamins do you suggest? I hope you are still around… your posts are so helpful! Thank You, Beth

        P.S. Anyone else with input please feel free to suggest things! Thank you!

        Reply
    • God bless you Karamjit. I’m 8 weeks in, and you have it down pat. My psychiatrist was known in several countries and owns his medical corporation. I deeply trusted him. He put me on 17 psych meds. I was on 6 benzos at once, being assured that they were absolutely necessary.

      I was going through cancer at the time (stage IV pulmonary leiomyoma. I beat it!), so I was trying to beat my odds of surviving and wasn’t concerned about meds then and believed every word my psychiatrist said. One day I was sitting in the waiting room looking for my keys before I left, he didn’t know I was in there, and a drug rep walked in. Yup! He’d invested in pharmaceutical companies. I woke up, waited til I was through cancer and am off almost every med now… taking ativan for some SERIOUS anxiety, panic and paranoia, but I came off of 45mg cold turkey after taking it for close to a decade.

      This has been interesting. Changed my view ENTIRELY of doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the whole psychiatry industry. Haven’t seen my psychiatrist in a year and a half now though he kept refilling. That’s how I was able to choose which meds to come off of, when. I’m 1 year and 2 months free of benzos. Wish anyone had told me they were easier. I only picked up ativan because mirtazapine withdrawal has a special flavor to it and benzos were easier to kick, so I can get rid of that ativan again.

      Thank you for the comment about it coming in waves. I do fine for a minute, and then… paranoia, panic, crying, irritability… BOOM. I was hospitalized for it almost a month ago because of panic, they kept me for a night and that’s where ativan became necessary. It comes in waves, guys. It does. I thought I was going crazy, or was misdiagnosed as bipolar (I’m PTSD, anxiety and insomnia) and it was an underlying issue. It’s not. I’m not going crazy and thanks for that!

      I write this to let anyone going through this know… you’re not crazy, it gets better and you’ll get your brain back. I’ve now been through 15 withdrawals from psych meds and I’m telling you, I got through every single one and have never felt so much like myself and like an actual capable person. The pharmaceutical industry is a greedy and ruthless one. Learned that first hand sitting in my psychiatrist’s office.

      Spoken as a patient who has had her right lung and entire airway rebuilt… prescriptions are out of hand! I have had 4 surgeries, they went through my back ribs to get to my lung and airway and I’d take extra physical therapy and alternative meds to pain pills at all cost now! Chronic pain now doesn’t hold a candle to what the meds did to me.

      Reply
  14. It has now been about 2 years. I went off mirtazapine after 8 years at the maximum dose, 45 mg. I went through absolute hell with withdrawals. It was so bad that I tried going back on it twice, but the last time it interfered with heart rhythm problems, and my cardiologist took me off them, period! That was 12/11/2015, my last pill. My worst, by far, WD symptom was abdominal spasms/pain. The other symptoms, about all those listed above, have gotten better, but not so the abdominal spasms, vertigo, and nausea.

    I have been to the ER several times, had 3 abdominal CT scans, a colonoscopy, an EGD (upper endoscopy), stool samples, blood work, a thyroid workup, and an acute abdomen x-ray. So far, no explanation for the pain. My question is simply has anyone else had extended abdominal cramps/pain after going off the mirt. I have been told that I may be having protracted withdrawals. I don’t know a lot about what that is, but from what I have read, it pretty much means that your body is more than normally sensitive to drugs, and withdrawals can have extended symptoms far beyond what would be considered normal.

    Any and every response will be deeply appreciated. I would hate to think that the rest of my life, I will be 63 October 2nd. Thank You, David

    (Continued) I would hate think that the rest of my life will be like it is now. If anyone has had this happen to you, or someone you know, please let me know. And, if you are familiar with protracted withdrawal I would like to know more about it. This is depressing as I see no end to it. Thank You! David

    Reply
    • Hi David, I’m sorry to hear that things have not yet improved for you on those issues. Protracted withdrawal is a real thing, though doctors are still incredibly ignorant about it. We aren’t allowed to post websites on here, but if you do a search for “protracted withdrawal from antidepressants”, some interesting sites should come up for you. One site has a community of people who are dealing with WD from these medications.

      I had abdominal pains, cramping and such for quite awhile. The low histamine diet, a few supplements, and acupuncture have helped with those and I rarely get them anymore. However, I have my own set of things that are persisting, though I am over 2 years off the drug. For me, it is histamine issues primarily, as well as pain and tension in muscles.

      Some people have noted that WD seems to exacerbate physical or psychological issues that we had before going on antidepressants. I’ve found that to be the case too. It’s required of me a willingness to go more deeply into those things–through meditation and other spiritual practices. For me, there are embedded issues from my childhood. The physical part through diet, acupuncture, qi gong, exercise, etc is only one level. I’m having to address the emotional part underneath.

      For some people, therapy is helpful in that regard. For me, it wasn’t–so I need to do this on my own. Perhaps there is something emotional underlying the physical issues you are having too? I know there are times it feels impossible that things will ever get better, but I’ve found that they do. There’s a long list of symptoms I used to have, but don’t anymore. I’m able to live life more normally than I was, even 6 months ago.

      I still get very frustrated with the limitations at times, but do my best to let go. Using my energy fighting against what is only depletes me further. I’ve found a great deal of letting go and acceptance helps, along with doing whatever steps I can to take good care of myself. There are days when self-care is the only thing I do.

      Reply
  15. I started having difficulty sleeping in Dec 2014. Looking back it appears to have been stress & anxiety. I was put on 15mg mirtazapine Oct 15 and took this until around May 16. I was getting back/abdominal pain and the tablets were no longer helping me sleep. The weight that I initially gained (6kg) just dropped away and my anxiety was going through the roof.

    I was told to up the dose 30mg but was reluctant to do so after hearing about withdrawal symptoms. In the end I tried it but the insomnia/anxiety was even worse so stopped and went back to 15mg. Did that for a fortnight then to 7.5mg and now I’m on 3.75mg. I tried stopping once and was too hard with overwhelming anxiety so this time I’m tapering off. I need to come off this.

    Initially the drug helped but now I wish I’d never taken it. I have aches and pains, my tongue is dry, itching and extreme anxiety at night. I wake every 1-2 hours and have racing thoughts (dreams) constantly. Doctors have done about every test and say I’m fit and healthy. I have an appointment at a sleep clinic next week though and hoping they can help.

    I’ve tried exercise, change of diet, meditation and nothing seems to help with anxiety. I know I need to come off these tablets though as I don’t feel like the same person anymore on them. I’m currently off work returning in a fortnight, been off for a month. It’s even more difficult because those that aren’t experiencing what we’re going through simply can’t understand how it affects your life.

    Also, I have just started CBT with a psychotherapist so will see if that helps. I find at night when my body sleeps my brain comes alive more so than through the day

    Reply
  16. Almost 8 months off this drug, and I was starting to think I was getting better. I had a couple of fairly good weeks, anxiety almost non-existent, although my sleep hasn’t improved. But the last few days have been hell again – dreadful body aches, headaches, nausea and extreme tiredness, and my anxiety has been really bad.

    I know I’ll get through it again as I have before, but it seems that every time I think I’m getting well again the withdrawal symptoms come back and bite me again. I know this could go on for a long time yet, but I really wish I could speed up the recovery. One day at a time I guess, and I know I’ve said it before, but thank goodness for this forum. Coming back to everyone’s comments and withdrawal experiences is really reassuring.

    Reply
  17. This blog has been a godsend for me. I have read and re-read it countless times. I started reducing my dose on May 31st. The past almost four months have been absolute hell. I’ve had all the withdrawal symptoms listed here but the worse it gets the stronger my resolve. I just want this terrible poison out of my system.

    I’ve been on many many different medications in the past 15 years and by far this one has had the worst side effects and even worse withdrawal symptoms then I’ve ever experienced. I was on the highest prescribed dose of Paxil for 4 years and getting off that was a cake walk in comparison. I’ve been on this med for about a year an have made several attempts to quit. I always went to fast with it either trying cold turkey or going down to many mg.

    I’m down to 3.75 now and I plan on quitting completely in a couple days. Right now the worst is the dizziness, extreme anxiety and insomnia. I also can’t eat anything at all without my belly swelling up and getting horrific stomach cramps. My stomach makes loud noises like I’ve never heard. I gained about 35 pounds which the first 20 were great as I couldn’t eat due to my depression but the weight gain didn’t stop.

    I was eating the same amount I had before this drug but gaining crazy weight. It definitely affects your bodies physiology. I know there is an end in sight and I will get there someday. I’m still in the eye of the storm withdrawal symptom wise but I will never ever go back. Being on this medication had made me literally terrified of pharmaceuticals in general. I take a lot of vitamins, eat as cleans as I can and exercise regularly and I think that has helped immensely.

    I also have a strong support system. Getting off this drug is not for the weak of heart but it can be done! I just have to regularly tell myself this is temporary. Thank you to everyone who had commented on this. Being able to read other people’s experiences and see I’m not alone has given me so much strength.

    I wanted to add I was taking 45 milligrams before my first taper.

    Reply
  18. I took 15mg for 6 months for poor sleep. Tapered off gradually over about a month when I started to experience eye pain and dry eyes. 3 months later and I have dry burning eyes and can’t sleep at all. It stops me getting to sleep and wakes me up as soon as I nod off. This drug has ruined my life and I implore anybody to not take it.

    Reply
  19. I took 7.5 mg mirtazapine (Remergil here in Germany) every late evening as a sleeping aid for more than 10 years. In the last half year before I recently stopped taking it, I was suffering from severe depressions with suicidal thoughts nearly every early morning which, however, usually vanished within an hour or so. I discontinued taking the drug by cutting the dose in half for about one week, and then quit taking it altogether (now for a couple of weeks).

    The ‘positive’ symptom I am experiencing is a mild hypomania that is currently making me incredibly productive and energetic. Most disturbing I find my sleep problems; while I fall asleep relatively easily, I weak up at 3 a.m., experiencing anxiety, which is manageable but keeps me from falling asleep again. Also, there has been some more hay fever since I stopped taking the drug. So far there are no other symptoms.

    Reply
  20. I’ve been on 20mg of fluoxetine for about 2 years (I was on 40mg for about 7 years prior). My anxiety got really bad in April this year and I was put on mirtazapine (15mg), which I’ve started to try to taper off. I was doing really well, down to 7.5mg every couple of nights, then I tried to go longer and found I could do about 6 – 7 days without but then the insomnia would start again and I’d take another 7.5mg.

    So I did that for a couple of weeks and then stopped completely. I’ve been off mirtazapine for 3 weeks now and the last 4 days have been gradually getting worse – bad insomnia, itching, loss of appetite, increasing anxiety to the point of suicidal thoughts yesterday. I took 7.5mg last night and already feel a bit better today. I had hoped I could just push through the withdrawal but I can’t go through that again.

    I’ve ordered a pill cutter and am going to try going down to 3.75mg every other day and see how I get on. I’d really like to come off but I’m scared I’ll go right back to where I started without this drug. The weight gain (and spots!) are awful but I’d rather that than be a suicidal maniac (which is what I turn into without it). Is it possible to get the liquid form in the UK? I’d like to taper really gradually but can’t cut the pills small enough!

    Reply
    • Hi Kim, my GP wasn’t keen of prescribing liquid, I think it costs quite a bit more than tablets, budgets and such like, NHS. I used oral dispersible tablets which you dissolve under the tongue and reduced there size gradually to reduce the dose. I’d try to stick on same dose rather than alternating up and down, stick with that dose and reduce again after 4 weeks or so, jump to quick and it hurts with a delayed reaction weeks later.

      Let your body and mind be the judge. Maybe go gluten free as well, this was a big factor for me with the Michelin man feeling and weight loss + better overall. The drug affects histamine and you will notice as you reduce off it allergy’s start appearing. [Hence gluten free]. Also this drug gave me suicide thoughts and planning whilst on it and reducing it so it could be the drug cause and not you. [It’s known for it if you research].

      I hope all goes well for you and stay positive, but this drug can affect some of us for years after only taking for a short time. Good luck and hope it’s a quick withdrawal for you.

      Reply
    • HI KIM. I am so sorry to hear you are suffering with Mirtazapine taper. The rule of thumb among many taperers is that you reduce by 10% every 3-4 weeks. The jumps you have made are big and most probably are taking their toll on you. Be careful with Mirtazapine. In case you feel ok after every 10% taper than you can go faster by listening to your body.

      You do not need to play with the pills with the pill cutter. You can make your own liquid. Mix hard coated tablets or solubles tablet with water 15Mg Mirt to 15 Ml water so in this way you have a 1 to 1 ratio. Mix it well in order not to have leftovers and than draw with a syringe how much you want to take.

      In this way you will control the amounts better as it seems you are sensitive to the Mirtazapine. I am doing it my self since July. I started Mirt at 15 Mg by the mid of May but I had very bad experience with it so started tapering in July. Right now I am at 10Mg and will continue to go slow by preserving stability.

      You can do it. It is not difficult. Just be careful with the amounts you deduct.

      Reply
  21. I had been taking Remeron for over 8 months when my whole symptoms became better. After being permitted by Doctor, I am allowed to stop using this drug. It seemed to be a good kind of Antidepressant that I’ve ever try since it make me gain weight (from 53kg to 63kg), good in mind, feel more better than before. I started with 7,5 mg Remeron dose in 7 month continuously, the final month tapered down 3.75mg.

    This is over a week I withdraw this drug. You know, everything are likely to disorder form last dose: my metal and physical body, Appetite decrease (the terrible thing to me), something like no light in the corner by far. All of things listed above, I am almost suffering it now. I try to eat healthy, some supplementary food, go swimming aimed to struggle with this side effects. Hopefully, day by day my brain will be recovered.

    Reply
  22. Hi Chris, I know you was not on the remeron for more than a year so you will definitely recover 100 percent. I currently saw a very very expensive psychiatrist in NYC who deals with withdrawal patients on everyday basis and according to her most people find 80 percent recovery within two to four years, depending on how long they used the antidepressant. I also have so many withdrawal symptoms posted on this website except nausea, panic attacks and anxiety.

    They are all mild and come and go on a daily basis. Headache is usually mild and come after every week for an hour or two, allergy like symptoms and itching comes almost every day but its short-lived and mild and I have painful sores on my tongue that comes after every week and stays with me for a day and two but again its mild. Depression like feeling comes after every three days and I feel it for few hours, mild anxiety comes when I get stressed about withdrawal in general, mild tinnitus also comes on a daily basis, or mild shooting pain in two of my right fingers also comes.

    Even though I escaped joint and muscle pain maybe due to not taking this drug for more than four months and ten days but still feel that this drug has definitely given me arthritis in my knees and I feel it when I exercise. I can deal with all of the symptoms because they are mild and do not interfere with my life significantly. My problem is mainly broken sleep.

    I did not even slept one day without waking up at least four to five times and its been 8 months since I last took the remeron. I feel sorry for the people who took this drug for longer and can imagine what they must be going through. All I can say is that we have to have a patience and time will heal most of us.

    Reply
  23. My pdoc took me off 30 mg remeron and straight on to Valdoxan 4 weeks ago. Have been having a lot of the withdrawal symptoms of remeron and am feeling quite sick. Rang doctor last night for some advice and suggested that I was suffering withdrawal symptoms which he denied quite strongly. Said that it was probably the anxiety symptoms coming back. I see him in his practice in a couple of days time. He’s tried a couple of other meds on me all without a desired effect. What to do? I really am feeling I can’t take much more of this.( was having some of the withdrawal symptoms even while on the remeron and it’s been going on for over 15 months) any wisdom appreciated.

    Reply
  24. Hi Everyone, I suffered a really bad concussion last year which led to post concussion syndrome. I started having panic attacks and horrible anxiety. I started taking Mirtazapine (15mg) in January of this year along with Gabapentin. My psychiatrist prescribed it to me because I couldn’t sleep. After three months I started having really bad tinnitus.

    I immediately cut the gabapentin in half and it was much better. I then stopped taking gabapentin altogether. From reading these websites about how horrible the withdrawal is from mirtazapine I cut that to 7.5mg. After a month on 7.5mg, I started to get a Charlie horse in the back of my head. It was really bad pain so I decided to slowly taper off mirtazapine.

    I think I did 3.25 for a month and then completely stopped. My last dose was on April 24th. It’s been about four months for me since I stopped taking mirt. The first three months I had a pain in the back of my neck and the sleeping was the same as if I was still on mirtazapine. Then after three months the pain in the back was more tolerable but then my sleeping got worse.

    I have very unusual side effects from withdrawal. My senses got wiped out.

    -I can’t tell if I’m tired.
    -I can’t tell if I am hungry.
    -I can’t tell if I am full after eating.
    -My acid reflux has gotten bad. I can’t even drink carbonated beverages anymore.
    -Watching TV or driving now makes me really dizzy/naseau and I get bad headaches. (This is common)
    -Still have tinnitus

    Some helpful tips for those recovering from this drug.

    -If you have pain in the back of your head. Physical therapy helped me a lot. I learned a lot of stretches for my neck.
    -If you have trouble sleeping 5htp worked for me but made my acid reflux bad.
    -Marijuana helps with pain and also with sleeping. So if you are in a legal state I would recommend using that to help with your recovery.

    I’m just waiting for the day that my senses return. Surprisingly my anxiety is okay but sleeping is still choppy.

    Reply
  25. Hi I was taking 30mg mirtazapine for 2 years and 7 months for severe clinical depression, PTSD, social phobia and insomnia after having a complete breakdown. I’ve throughout the course of treatment gotten strong and healthy and made the decision 6 days ago to discontinue my meds. So far I have had some mild flu like symptoms, a bit of a crampy stomach and last night did not sleep due to restless legs sweats etc.

    I do however feel as though I’m getting along a little bit to easy (I’m taking a multi vitamin, codliver oil, drinking green tea, eating a healthy diet and exercising for 40 mins a day. Am I missing something are things going to get worse or am I just lucky with my withdrawal?

    Reply
  26. I am in week 4 of discontinuation of remeron after tapering from 30 mg to 7.5 mg over the past 7 months. I have been on the drug for 3 years. Up until the past 4 weeks I was doing fine, but once I stopped it completely it has been a huge challenge.

    I am unable to fall asleep without melatonin, and then wake every 2 hours. I do experience itching, generally on my arms. Happily, my appetite has decreased and I hope to lose the 15 pounds I gained while on it. Had I known it would be this difficult to discontinue I would never have begun taking it.

    Reply
    • Njacacia, If you jumped at 7.5 that is not good. You still need to taper up to very low levels in order to be sure not to have much withdrawal. If I was you… I would start a small dose of maybe 3 – 4Mg which ensures my sleep and when stable would taper from there. Below I am explaining how I am doing it currently.

      The way to do it is mix 15Mg Mirt with 15 Ml of water. You can buy in pharmacy some syringes. Mix it well until no mirt dust remains undissolved. After take out with the syringe how many Ml you want to taper and drink the rest. So let’s say you want to taper by 1 Mg you take out of the mixture 1Ml and drink the rest. It is not difficult. For me it is working Ok up to now. If you have Soltab mirtazapine which is soluble in water is better but you can also do this with the hard tablet. I am doing with the hard tablet myself.

      Reply
  27. Hi all, it’s been 3 nights I couldn’t sleep again at all. I am going to the bed at the same time as usual and being stress free about whether sleep comes or not. But unfortunately because of the withdrawal I have been a wide awake. I don’t seem to get tired at all. I spent the half night crying instead of sleeping because I don’t have hope to recover from this nightmare.

    One of the primary care I met yesterday thinks that I am suffering because I tapered off the remeron at 7.5 mg. I used 15 mg for only three months and four days when the psychiatrist told me to do 7.5 mg for 27 days, because according to him I was not on 15 mg for a long time. Whatever it is I am very angry at my psychiatrist who fist prescribed me this medication and never told me about its withdrawal effect.

    I think it was a part of his job to tell me that there are 50 percent of chances that I could go through this nightmare I am going through right now. So in this way I would have thought twice to start taking the pill.I really believe that psychiatrists are criminal who are prescribing the poison to make people disabled physically and emotionally. Studies over studies showing that antidepressants are not more effective than placebo.

    The pharmaceuticals company who manufactured this drug took the FDA approval by studying this drug for six weeks on people and didn’t study the ceasing of these drugs. People who even took this drugs for continuously six weeks are prone to withdrawal syndrome for many many years. I took this poison for only four months and spent the last eight months in the hell. I had the most beautiful life without any health problems for 33 years of my life and I got this medicine after suffering for two months only from low mood and sleeping problem after the birth of my daughter.

    It’s called postpartum depression and its very common in women after giving birth and they could be treated by psychologist counseling. No doctor ever told me to try counseling first or try to use other natural approaches before trying this powerful brain changing chemicals that gives you cancer, arthritis and so many other things when you stay on them for a long run and withdrawal syndrome when you quit them. There are so many people stuck on them forever because of its bitty withdrawal symptoms And make there life more disable in the long run.

    If given chance by a God I will become a full time activist to save more people who are innocently believing in their doctors and start taking them blindly. Few of the most famous psychiatrist such as Kelly Brogan, James Healy, peter are already speaking about this and saying that one should not touch this medicine and should able to treat their symptoms by holistic ways.

    Reply
    • HI Karamjit, You are really right. Psychiatry today is in a very very low place. They have become simply pill pushers and they do not care what they inflict into people. I have been using Mirtazapine myself from May as I was suffering some sleepless nights and anxiety induced but three weeks of xanax use in March and the stupid doctor gave me antidepressants as well as other benzos to treat my “natural depression” as she called it.

      Of course the whole thing backfired and I have lived almost 5 months in pure hell. I started mirtazapine in the middle of May and after one month and a half with no changes I started withdrawing slowly. I am currently into 11Mg per day and I am lowering 1Mg each 10 days. I think in case you feel very very bad, you can start a very low dose of mirtazapine maybe 3 mg just to ensure a good sleep and get stable and then start tapering with small increments from there. Or hang on some more time until it gets good for you. All the best.

      Reply
    • Hi Karamjit. If it helps you at all I agree with everything you have written, 30 years ago my mother worked in a uk GP practice where it was common for drug representative to call and take practice managers and GP’s out for a paid lunch, sure it must have an influence on drugs prescribed. Big money in Pharmaceuticals and clever people who make them so as you cannot live without keep taking them especially psychotic drugs, keeps the profits up!

      I wonder if it still happens today? Hey next week it’s 52 weeks since my last mirtazapine. Life is far from perfect, sleep is an issue, massive joint pain and nausea with the joys of more allergy’s than you can shake a stick at, but I’m working on the dopamine side of my brain which I have low production from the tests I’ve had. Seemingly 40% of people find SSRI’s don’t work because it’s not serotonin they are lacking in.

      Oh yes my doctor worked all this out before prescribing [Not]. I do wonder if this was some of my original problem or mirtazapine damaging that side of my system, I think more the latter worth a bit of research though. Although balance of getting better days and affecting sleep is an issue. Obviously I won’t be getting help from any prescribed drugs, once bitten twice shy. Nice to see we are on the same wavelength and keep your chin up, Chris

      Reply
    • Hi Karamjit, I too have been off this drug for 7 months, and like you I am still having problems. The main problem for me is dreadful body aches, and as I also have severe arthritis this makes me really miserable. I also have a lot of headaches, occasional nausea and loss of appetite, lack of energy and extreme tiredness. I also have broken sleep, although at my age of 65 this is not so unusual.

      I still have some problems with anxiety and panic, although I am finding it easier to control the panic these days. I know I am definitely feeling better than I was 3 or 4 months ago, and I keep telling myself every day that I will eventually get past this, but I think it is going to be a very long process. We have both made it through 7 months, and I am certain that we will both eventually get past this if we stay positive and try to be strong.

      I am determined never to take any antidepressant medication again. Good luck, keep going.

      Reply
  28. Trying to come down from 7.5mg by cutting small pieces. Only three days in I have massive anxiety which has had to be controlled by diazepam, then disturbed sleep with sweats and now nausea. Anyone help me with ideas on how to stay with it and not increase? It seems brutal at moment.

    Reply
  29. I have been on this drug for years, probably over 10 years now, for depression and anxiety. My regular dosage in the past several years has been 30 mg. I notice that if I skip one night, then I experience severe insomnia and very little and very poor sleep (when I do get it), and the next day I feel very ill physically; nausea, heart palpitations, tightness in chest, general exhaustion, fogginess, shakiness, major crankiness, headache, pressure in my head…

    But the difference that I am experiencing, despite all those symptoms, is that I somehow feel like my mind is clearer than when I am on the drug. There’s something about my general experience during the day when I’m on my regular dosage that makes me feel more anxious, less clear headed, more emotional, less focused and tired/drowsy. I feel like I am more productive and give less of a sh-t about my usual anxieties when I am sleep deprived and exhausted and experiencing withdrawals off the drug, than when I am on the drug regularly.

    I’m not sure, perhaps it’s just some sort of disassociation that I feel due to the lack of proper sleep and exhaustion that basically takes me a few steps away from my regular intense emotions… but in a way, it feels better in that particular sense than when I am on the drug and sleep relatively better (or at least am able to fall asleep faster because the drug tends to knock me out… minus the weird dreams). A few months ago I attempted to try to quit by lowering my dosage to 15 mg (half a pill).

    I did that for a week, and it was pretty horrible. That physical illness that I described above pretty much remained during the entire week, and I actually felt like I was going to collapse at some point because it felt like I wasn’t getting ANY sleep at all, even though I slept some hours every night and took naps during the day. It was pretty bad. I still want to try to quit, though. And this idea of lowering the dosage by %10 each month sounds like it might work for me better. I hope.

    I am so dependent on this drug for sleep, I can’t sleep without it, and it really bothers me. I want to be able to achieve normal, restful sleep without drugs, and I want to not be dependent on this drug anymore. I just hope I don’t end up getting a heart attack from severe withdrawal symptoms. :) I am thinking perhaps mediation every night and continuing regular exercise might help.

    I have a question: How do you lower the dosage by %10 with a pill? Do I just attempt to cut it to 10 equal pieces and every month take one piece less? Do I just mesh it into powder and measure it somehow and snort it (just kidding, I definitely don’t want to snort anything). Any input would help. Thanks.

    Reply
    • HI Danielle, I am tapering mirtazapine by let’s say 10% model. I am lowering 1Mg every 10 days. I have gone from 15Mg to 11Mg currently and will have the next cut after 5-6 days. The way to do it is mix 15Mg Mirt with 15 Ml of water. You can buy in pharmacy some syringes. Mix it well until no mirt dust remains undissolved.

      After take out with the syringe how many Ml you want to taper and drink the rest. So let’s say you want to taper by 1 Mg you take out of the mixture 1Ml and drink the rest. It is not difficult. For me it is working Ok up to now. If you have Soltab mirtazapine which is soluble in water is better but you can also do this with the hard tablet. I am doing with the hard tablet myself.

      Reply
  30. What a relief it is to find this site! I was on Remeron for 10 months, 5 of them at 45mg. I spent 2 – 3 months titrating down to 30, 15, and a bit at 7.5, but I think from what I see I went too fast. Symptoms are horrid: digestive issues (cramping, etc..), tinnitus, frequent urination, bad insomnia, racing thoughts, to name a few.

    I’ve been off the drug for 4 – 5 months, but its like the real difficulty didn’t start until 2.5 months ago. Question for the forum: if I were to go back on a small (i.e. 3.7mg / day) dose, would that be a decent starting point to titrate down at a slower level? Or, have I been without the drug for so long that my nervous system has “rebooted” and it would accomplish nothing? Many thanks to all in advance!

    Reply
  31. I stopped Remeron 6-7 days ago mainly due to the dreams and poor sleep. This is the worst I’ve felt in years. Anxiety, stomach issues, racing thoughts in the middle of the night and a return of panic attacks. Is there any end to this? I would never have begun usage if I knew withdrawal would be horrible.

    Reply
  32. Its been seven months since I last took 7.5 mg of remeron and I am still suffering from the prolonged withdrawal syndrome. I was really at the worst for the first 3 to 4 months and now feel better compare to before. But I still suffer largely from the interrupted sleep. I don’t sleep more than two hours or an hour at a time. It takes two hours to fall asleep again. I sleep for 5 hours of interrupted sleep.

    Ever since I stopped taking this bloody medicine. I never had any difficulty in sleeping before prior to this medicine. I am also having heart beat problems that I feel mostly at night .It feels like my heart is pounding extra hard. I have had canker sores on my tongue on and off since I quit the medicine and have dry and itchy nose and eyes that happened in the first month and now the same symptom came back after 7 months.

    I feel hopeless at this point because I have never thought that it will take more than seven months to see the 100 percent improvement, and it will be a miracle even if I ever improve. I was on remeron for four months only. I took 15 mg for three months and four days and 7.5 mg for 27 days. I wish I knew that what I was getting into before putting the poison in my body for continuously for four months. I regret it the day I took this medicine because I don’t feel good without having a good night sleep.

    I know I can’t change whatever have happened to me but at least I helped three women in the last seven months in quitting the medicine. I showed them this website to see what they might experience after quitting the SSRI. And thankfully they all were on the medicine for less than six weeks. I really want to here from other folks who quit the medicine for a long time now. I want to have a hope for the future.

    Reply
  33. I have been taking 60 MG of Mirtazapine for 5 years and my cholesterol is through the roof. I have fibromyalgia so I cannot take the statin drugs. I also have anxiety and PTSD. It looks like I am in for a really bumpy ride withdrawing from this medication. For the last 4 days I have been taking only 30 MG of the med. Now I dread this because I have a major job working with the public and hope I don’t lose control!

    Reply
  34. If you suffer from heart palpitations I strongly recommend the herb Motherwort. It was the first thing that calmed me down allowing me to finally feel that I can sleep again after stopping Remeron (was only on 15mg for a few months). I also think Kali phosphoricum 6X will work well for calming your body.

    Reply
  35. I was on Mirtazapine for around 6 years, initially at 7.5mg then upped to 15mg, purely to aid sleep. It did help me sleep longer, unless I was particularly anxious about something, but it did also encourage me to sleep for too long at times. It wasn’t a medication that put me straight to sleep though, unlike Temazepam or similar.

    I also had the increased appetite and weight gain common side effects as well as some digestion problems. On balance I kept taking it as I liked the improved duration sleeps and when I ran out I started to get some problems so I’d soon start taking it again. However I recently ran out and wasn’t able to get the repeat prescription for a week and didn’t notice much difference in that time apart from shorter sleeps and some increased sweating.

    I thought it was a good time to try coming off it for good as I don’t want to take it forever. I had 2 days at 7.5mg when I realised I was going to run out of tablets and then that was it I stopped cold turkey. I didn’t have the tablets in the house so couldn’t be tempted to start taking them again. Week 2 it hit me, bad headaches, cold sweats, soaking my bed, flu like symptoms, nausea, appetite diminished.

    End of week 2 felt like I had full blown flu but then the next day it would improve and then a few days later get worse again! Constant feeling like I needed to Sneeze and head full of catarrh, eyes watering like hay fever which I’ve never really had before. I know it was too abrupt to stop like that but if I had the tablets I would have started them again in week 2 of withdrawal and probably never properly come off.

    I’m now at 3 weeks and 3 days since I last took it and still struggling – my doctor wants me to stay medication free for a month then reevaluate it then, he didn’t think I would have too many problems withdrawing since I was only taking 15mg which he said was the lowest dose! (Although a different doctor started me on 7.5mg initially i.e. half a tablet).

    I had no idea it would be this hard and partly wish I’d stayed at 7.5mg for at least a month then every other day, once a week, etc. before stopping but I think you can only judge it once properly stopped not merely taking a reduced dose.

    Reply
  36. Could someone please tell me how you can reduce a 30mg pill by 10 %? I am on 30 mg and tried tapering down over a few weeks with disastrous results and just had to give up and go back on the 30 mg. I want to get off this lousy stuff that I am addicted to, as I cannot sleep without it. But how do you reduce the dose at the rate of 3 mg per month? Cut it in quarters and then cut that tiny piece in half and then eliminate that tiny piece and take the remaining pieces? Really?

    Reply
    • Hi Joni, I couldn’t figure it out either, so I cut down by one-quarter of a tablet at a time, and did this every four weeks. It wasn’t too bad while I was doing this – it was a couple of weeks after I had stopped completely that life became hell. I’ve been completely off them now for 6 months, and while I’m having more good days, the going still gets very rough at times.

      Just knowing that I’m improving, albeit slowly, is enough to keep me going. Good luck with your withdrawal – hope you’re one of the lucky ones and it all goes smoothly for you.

      Reply
    • Hi Joni, If you google, “tips for tapering Remeron”, a site will come up that explains how to do this. Some people buy a scale and weigh…while others make a liquid from the pills and reduce that way. You need to reduce by 10% of the current dose, not 10% of the original dose. It means you’re going down by smaller and smaller increments. It’s really important to do it that way, to avoid the horrible WD that can go on for months or years for some people.

      Reply
  37. I was in the hospital last week with severe bleeding from colon issues. (It’s a messy story so I’ll leave it at that). Discovered Remeron/Mirtazipine was possibly part of the colon bleed. Stopped taking them on July 23 and have been experiencing dizzy and low blood pressure episodes. Just found this site and had no clue there would be withdrawal symptoms. Started taking them in 2005 at 15 mg per night as I was told it was a sleep medication. HA! I never bothered to look up side-effects or now, withdrawal symptoms. So, I will call my physician tomorrow and develop a plan to get off the stuff.

    Reply
  38. Has anyone been on this medication for a long time and then found that it stopped working or caused some unwanted side effects? I have been on this medication for about 10 years. It still helps me get to sleep and mostly my sleep hasn’t been disturbed too much. However, of late I’m waking earlier than normal. Sometimes 4 am or 5am.

    I have been experiencing tingling in my body for over a year now – mainly in arms & hands, legs & feet. Also becoming more emotional. Other depression meds haven’t helped ease these symptoms so I’m wondering if it’s this med. Does anyone have any experience of this or any wisdom to give? Am seeing my Dr again later this week to see what the next step might be. Thanks.

    Reply
  39. Hi everyone, I wrote here few times. I have had ten good days where I felt emotionally and physically myself and slept-well. I was so happy and thought that all of the withdrawal symptoms from remeron are finally gone after seven months. I was now making future plans about starting the job and everything else that I wasn’t able to do because the lack of sleep and emotionally not feeling myself.

    And all of sudden Insomnia came back. It either take long time to sleep back and then waking up after only hour and then not being able to sleep back until morning. I don’t know if I will ever improve 100 percent after taking the remeron for four months. Even though I have been seven months of off the medicine.

    Reply
    • It’s good that you had those 10 days, though I know the return of symptoms can be very distressing. Where there any stressful events that happened during that time? This is the way healing occurs from WD; it’s described as waves and windows. You had a 10 day window of little or no symptoms and then a wave with return of them.

      All we can do is practice good self-care and try not to add upset to the symptoms. Eventually, the windows become longer and the waves are less intense and less often. Your nervous system is healing–it just doesn’t happen in a linear way. Sorry things got so difficult again. Are you finding any things that help during those times?

      Reply
  40. I was on 45mg for about 3 months. Week 4 now of cold turkey from them and feel the withdrawal symptoms are subsiding a bit but still not out of the woods. Was a bit anxious and teary the first week then it settles. For the past 2 weeks had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach like someone is holding it inside me. It is starting to ease.

    Latest is I feel I have poor concentration and feel tired. Have felt a bit spaced out. Hoping it all settles soon. My sleep continues to be disrupted. I am still waking up in the middle of the night. I manage to get back to sleep eventually. Generally feeling much better as each week passes but desperate to feel back to normal but not there yet.

    I would not recommend this drug to anyone and if I need antidepressants again I will avoid this one like the plague. It’s not right how much it has affected me. Made all my depression and anxiety symptoms worse when I started taking it and hellish when I stopped taking it.

    Reply
  41. I’m 27, was prescribed 15mg for sleep issues (I was only sleeping 5 hours a night). First few days I took it, I wanted to sleep 12+ hours. That seemed a little excessive to me. I also was snacking/craving carbs&sugar like crazy, I thought it might have been the Lexapro I started 3 weeks ago but now I realize it’s probably the remeron. Also was having super vivid but stressful dreams.

    Decided to trash the pills only after taking them for 6 days, it’s only been one night since trashing them and I didn’t sleep at all. Really hope I don’t get the nausea you guys are talking about. Going to try to do some cardio today to stimulate appetite/maybe get some sleep tonight. Will try to update again in a week or so. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  42. I have been on mirtazapine for 18 months (on 30mg) and I have been cutting down 15mg every couple of weeks due to my doctors suggestions. I have been off mirtazapine completely for about a week and I haven’t slept more than 4 hours for about 2 and a 1/2 weeks, and I haven’t slept at all for almost 2 days now. I am due to go to Scotland in 17 days for selection course (Project Trust) and I am terrified that I will not be able to get enough sleep, or oversleep and destroy my opportunity to volunteer overseas, which is something I have always wanted to do.

    I was put on mirtazapine for depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep problems, and to assist my recovery from anorexia, but as I was in a psychiatric children’s hospital at the time, detained under form 10 of the mental health order. I had no choice in what I was being given, and I was not told the full extent of the side effects and withdrawal symptoms. If I had of been told these, I would have fought a lot harder to not be put on this horrible medication.

    If anybody has any suggestions on how to reduce the itchiness, insomnia, and lack of energy, I would sincerely appreciate it. I am no longer taking any medications, including chlorpromazine and melatonin, due to the fact that I hate feeling like I cannot cope without medication, although I know that sometimes, it is necessary. Should I take a low dose of melatonin again to get my sleeping pattern fixed?

    Or are there any other medications, even over the counter medications, that I could take, without feeling exhausted and zombied? Thank you and I wish you all well.

    Reply
    • Hi Amy, Unfortunately, your doctor recommended a far too fast taper. That’s most likely the source of the symptoms you’re suffering now. You probably don’t want to hear this, but reinstating a small amount might be the best choice to make. That’s especially given what you’ve said about things in your current life. If you google, “about reinstating and stabilizing to reduce symptoms”, a site will come up that talks more about this.

      Other than that, supplements can sometimes help, but it’s often tricky when your nervous system is so sensitized. If you’ve read any of the posts above, you’ll see that some people have difficulty stopping Remeron because of it’s antihistamine properties. Once of it, the allergy-like symptoms are intense, because the body is attempting to rebalance itself. For some of us, a low histamine diet has proved helpful.

      I wasn’t able to tolerate much in the way of supplements at first, but eventually, Vitamin C, Tart Cherry, and Bromelain proved very beneficial. But, only try 1 thing at a time, with a very tiny dose to begin with. When the body is sensitized in this way, other drugs are often not tolerated either. I tried antihistamines, which would help temporarily–but the rebound from them was horrendous.

      I’d suggest some non-drug ways to help with sleep if you can–meditation, yoga, gentle exercise. Some people find magnesium in the form of epsom salts baths to be calming too. Best of luck.

      Reply
  43. Hi all, it’s been six and half months since I last took remeron, 15 mg for three months and four days and 7.5 mg for 27 days. I have had every withdrawal symptom described here on this website including anxiety, running thoughts, depressed mood, joint pain, flu like symptoms, severe headaches, crying spells and insomnia the entire time after quitting the remeron.

    I found some relief from most of these symptoms except insomnia after 4 months. It’s been now 20 days since insomnia got better but I still wake up at least two to three times at night but find easy to go back to sleep. And now it’s been few days since I feel emotionally flat, but I can easily manage the symptom by exercising and talking to the family members.

    I know I feel much better than before I first quit the medicine but I am surprised that the symptoms are still lingering after all this time. I can’t wait for my brain to heal completely from this rotten drug that I never took more than four months. I warn everyone who ever take any antidepressants that they are poison and please stop taking them. Please take care of your physical and mental health by holistic ways.

    Reply
  44. I came of this horrid drug after a tapering process by the GP. My final dose was about a week and a half ago. Initially I was fine but then the insomnia started and I LITERALLY had no sleep. This cranked the anxiety and depression up and major panic attacks. Then the migraines and headaches started and it’s been a week of them, nothing works. My normal meds for them don’t work.

    I read about a pillow spray called sleep plus plot spray, it’s £25.00, but I was so tired I’d have paid triple that. the reviews were excellent and since using it for the last five days I’ve had sleep. I’ve passed through the “runs” stage mainly I think because I’m so nauseous I don’t want to eat and often I am sick. I cannot wait for this to pass. This really is the pits.

    Reply
    • Hi Lisa-Marie, the drug affects us differently on withdrawal, but reading your story I would be dubious with your GP’s tapering process although you haven’t said how quick and by how much you tapered off the drug. I personally suffered massively when dropping the dose too quickly on withdrawal, i.e. your symptoms. It has now been a longer time now since my last dose than the total time I took the drug for and still suffer with numerous problems although I am a lot better than 10+ months ago when I stopped taking the drug.

      My conclusion is whether right or wrong, we take the drug orally into our gut through our endocrine set up to affect the brain, hence it can make a lot changes to the body before it gets to the point it’s supposed to work or doesn’t work. Trouble is when we stop taking it the body changes can still be there, hormone changes, histamine allergies, liver toxins, thyroid and altered blood sugar etc. and can take along time to detox and heal. They may show ok at the GP blood tests etc. but have changed levels since taking the drug and change your function ability, and remember all these still affect our brain.

      In my learning curve I’d be dubious of taking any prescribed drug and even paracetamol, etc. as the body uses some of the same ways to break them down into our bodies, and hence if these parts are already struggling after mirtazapine toxins, then why prolong the agony by giving it more to do? Hence there will be meds and food you use to take before the drug are now a definite no go. {Research thyroid /adrenal/blood sugar diets] they do help.

      Even now certain foods I eat make me into the Michelin man over night, make my joints ache and generally feel rough just like when I was taking the drug. I have had several test done from urine to DNA, blood, all privately and only use my GP for tests when I have to support this. [Maybe not all of them but a lot are a world apart from prescribing and being on the receiving end of taking this drug let alone tapering off it].

      The private test have highlighted my problems and given me some focus [and made my wallet a lot lighter]. Again this is only my story… I’m proactively tying to fix my problems quicker and the devastation this drug has caused to my body. We are all different and I hope you recover quickly but if it helps and if you suffer to long, think about a slower taper. Best wishes and keep your chin up.

      Reply
  45. Hi everyone, I wrote here few times, last time a month ago. I just want you to here that I am close to finish my recovery program, if there won´t be any major step backs. I still have some small symptoms like dizziness sometimes, but that does not bother me almost at all. It is so much better than last time I wrote.

    I still use benzos for sleeping, but just very tiny doses, diazepam 1-2 mg:s at night, and I may get out of it too later. So I am now almost clean. I started tapering from pretty high levels. The pains have gone. I sleep pretty good, much better than in years, and I took medication just for sleeping. I still wake up at nights sometimes, but not every night as before. It is a great comfort.

    And sleeping was really hellish just about a bit more than month ago. I am in a great condition physically, and mentally better than for a long time. So do not loose faith you too, recovery is possible and it happens sooner or later. And I have been fighting out of mirtazapine, benzos and alcohol after decades of using them too much. No one is hopeless.

    Reply
  46. I’ve now been off mirtazapine for 5 months. Good days are becoming more frequent, but the bad days in between are hell. The body aches are still really bad most of the time, and I’m still having periods of muscle weakness and periods of sudden overwhelming tiredness, even though I am sleeping quite well.

    My anxiety levels are better, with panic attacks less severe and less frequent, and I’m finally starting to regain some degree of confidence.
    I know I am improving slowly, but it’s been one hell of a battle. At least now I think I can see the light at the end of a very long tunnel.

    Thank goodness for this forum – I’ve lost count of the number of times I have returned to it to reassure myself that I’m not going crazy.

    Reply
  47. I was on Mirtazapine for 3 years after a terrible bout of anxiety caused by stress at work. Started on 15mg then after a few weeks upped to 30 mg. I stayed on this dose for about a year and must admit it was a lifesaver, anxiety disappeared completely and I could sleep again. I then cut back to 22.5mg for a few months, then 15mg for about another 6 months.

    I then made a decision to get off them altogether as I was feeling so much better. Again I cut down to 7.5mg, then 3.5mg then eventually 2mg. It took about a year to get off them completely. I took my last dose 2 weeks ago and yes my sleep pattern has been cut to about 6-7 hours a night and I’ve been feeling a bit nauseous.

    I’m sure that I will feel back to my old self soon, it’s been a long journey and Mirtazapine did really help me. I will keep you posted how I get on over the next few weeks but onward and upward now. I hope this has helped someone.

    Reply
  48. Thanks Judy, I really appreciate your help. I’ve started the low histamine diet to see if it could work for me. I had sores on my tongue in the beginning of quitting the remeron and now I see it again after five and half months off the medicine, the headache comes and goes. I don’t know how long my body will take to be completely fine. I know you are doing miles better than in the beginning but still not fully recovered. I hope God speed up your recovery as well, so you could enjoy your health.

    Reply
    • I appreciate your good wishes Karamjit. I’m nearly 2 years since taking the last pill. Never imagined it would be such a long journey. Let us know how you do with the lower histamine diet. It can take some tweaking to find out what works for you. But it can be good for other people to see if it helps or not too… even though we are all different. I hope you’re doing a little better.

      Reply
  49. I was on mirtazapine for over 6 months, and I was on 45mgs at the end of it. I stopped pretty much cold turkey and have not noticed any side effects except back to up and down moods and also really bad loss of concentration. Probably was not a good idea to go cold turkey while I was in the middle of my final assessments for semester. So don’t do that. Otherwise I have nothing to report. Basically zero withdrawal symptoms. Nothing like coming off SSRIs thankfully.

    Reply

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