remeron / mirtazapine withdrawal - timespan

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#1 Dipsy Doodle

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Posted 08 March 2007 - 04:12 PM

Hi all,

after being on mirtazapine for 3 months, reduced from 30mg per night, to 15mg per night, over a period of a month; then 15mg every other night for a fortnight - I've learn by experience to take things slowly when withdraw from ADs, otherwise I get SEVERE agitation, nausea, etc., etc..

Last dose 24th feb. (more than 1 1/2 weeks ago now), but still having moderate agitation (DH is the best - just bought me a mini trampoleen to try & help!); I'm also have having problems with temperature regulation - get too hot & I go frantic; I find that codeine & lyrica take the edge off it. All like when I was coming off amitriptyline.

Any ideas if this might still be due to withdrawal?

appreciate any feedback

#2 Sunshine

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Posted 08 March 2007 - 08:53 PM

It's possible, but it shouldn't be. Remeron is one of the few crazy meds that you don't usually need to titrate (up or down) with... especially at lower doses (30 mg is less than the typical therapeutic dose). It's more likely that your symptoms are the return of depression or psychosomatic (could the anxiety be from knowing you are off the med?).

Diagnonsenses: Major Depressive Disorder (recurrent, in remission), ADD (inattentive type), Chronic Insomnia, Migraines, mild Anxiety Disorder (NOS), and a broken heart (also in remission!).
Current Cocktail (as of 3/30/08):
~Morning: 20 mg Adderall XR, and 1 mg Xanax XR
~Bedtime: 8 mg Rozerem, 5-10 mg Ambien, and Yasmin (birth control for PMDD and migraine)
~PRN: 2.5 mg Amerge (for migraines) and .25 mg IR Xanax
Previous meds: See profile.

#3 Dipsy Doodle

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Posted 09 March 2007 - 05:58 AM

Sunshine, on Mar 9 2007, 01:53 AM, said:

thanks for your comments Sunshine.

I did try just stoping remeron (as it was a relatively small dose), but didn't sleep a single wink for 3 nights & sank into catatonic depression, which is why I reduced gradually (I asked the GP & pdoc about the possible effects of coming off it, who both advised gradually reducing the dose or frequency).

I stopped it as I found it didn't seem to help the depression - if anything made it worse. It also induced wicked mania - I was glad to be off it, so I don't think that it's anxiety from being off the med. I do have GAD anyway - maybe it's anxiety, as you suggest, though: I was very recently put on Depakote to control my usual hypomania + depression, which I was worried about, as I knew it would be likely to agravate my stomach problems - I've also had to stop, due to these. I'll try going back on Lyrica, whilst I'm not taking Depakote, as this can help my GAD - thanks for reminding me about this possibility!

NB - since I stopped remeron (less than 2 weeks), I've lost 8 lbs: it obviously caused LOTS of fluid retention - much of the time my ankles & feet were swollen so much that I couldn't get my shoes on, & it was so painful walking down the stairs in the morning. Very glad to be off it! :rolleyes:

cheers

#4 Guest_stephanie_*

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Posted 07 September 2009 - 12:36 PM

Dipsy Doodle, on 08 March 2007 - 04:12 PM, said:

#5 Guest_Lesley_*

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Posted 05 November 2009 - 03:06 PM

stephanie, on 07 September 2009 - 12:36 PM, said:

Dipsy Doodle, on 08 March 2007 - 04:12 PM, said:

Hi Stephanie, how is did the tapering of remeron go? I too have been taking it for 3 months and I am starting the journing to quiting remeron. I started taking it after having a baby and started suffering from insomnia/depression. I have reduced my dosage from 30mg to 15mg, and want to make the big leap to no more remeron. I am just scared to suffer from insomnia again. Just need some support!

#6 r2mnot

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Posted 05 November 2009 - 05:53 PM

Lesley, this is a pretty old thread, so the people who posted on it may not reply.

Why do you want to discontinue Remeron?

#7 Velvet Elvis

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Posted 05 November 2009 - 05:58 PM

FWIW, you can come off Remeron pretty quickly. It doesn't have the negative discontinuation effects of the SSRIs.

If you have insomnia you can always start taking it again.

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#8 Guest_Lesley_*

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 10:19 AM

r2mnot, on 05 November 2009 - 05:53 PM, said:

Lesley, this is a pretty old thread, so the people who posted on it may not reply.

Why do you want to discontinue Remeron?

Thanks for the support, I guess I want to stop remeron because I have shame in taking medications? I don't know why that is but I am judging myself. I know others that have taken antidepressants and I have never thought any less of them. I am being pretty hard on myself. I have been on remeron for three months and I want to stop now rather than wait another six months because I will be going back to work in april 2010.

Right now I am trying to remain positive and live in the moment and enjoy my children. I am scared to suffer insomnia again. I have to remind myself it is temporary, and I have managed to come down from 30mg and 15mg in two weeks.

Anyone have any suggestions on tapering off? I asked my doctor for help and he was only willing to fill my prescription. Man, it seems doctors are quick to give you drugs and not help with the support to stop taking them.

Thanks again for responding I really need the support,

#9 lavender

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 11:25 AM

Hi Lesley, I'm the opposite... would never get a night's sleep without remeron, which would sure cause a problem for me in maintaining any type of employment. However, if you've made the decision to stop it and want to taper off...go with 15mg every other night for a few days, then every 3rd night for a few, then go 4, etc. if you want a gradual tapering off. I've no plans to stop taking remeron myself, but am currently tapering off zoloft in this manner, and as others have mentioned, you can always take it again if needed.

Dx: Bipolar Disorder, rapid cycling
Meds: Lamictal, Remeron, Ranitidine, Lipitor, Ativan as needed

Past Rx: Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Buspar, Celexa, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperidol, Xanax, Klonopin, Trazadone, Serzone, Lithium, Triavil, Tofranil, Haldol, Cogentin, Sinequan, Elavil, Valium, Desiprimine, etc, etc, etc...

#10 Guest_lesley_*

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 12:39 PM

Thank you Lavender. I am like you I am scared that I will not be able to sleep without remeron, and with two young kids I need some sleep. I am currently at 15mg and have noticed that my appetite is much lower than at 30mg and I have some extra anxiety but I think that is because I am anxious to off medications. I guess I am scared to make the big leap to not taking anything. Is there any slower methods of tapering say at 7.5mg? I heard that the lower doses are more sedating. I guess I want to do a slow taper and watch how I feel and see how my body manages the adjustment.

#11 lavender

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 02:15 PM

Sure, you could cut the pills (30mg cut into quarters, 15mg cut in half) and just see how you respond. I've been cutting 100mg zoloft into quarters lately...the doc gave me an Rx for 25mg's to make things easier, but I'll probably stick with what I'm doing. I use a strong paring knife to cut 'em up.

#12 r2mnot

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 02:28 PM

Quote

Sorry about the shame thing. I think we all tend to be harder on ourselves than we are on others.

Are you in therapy? That might help you enough to not need medication, although it's not enough for most of us here.

#13 Guest_Lesley_*

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 02:36 PM

Thanks Lavender;

Good Luck with your weaning off Zoloft. Sometime just having a plan on how to taper off and a little support helps you with the end result. Also, your doctor sounds supportive in your process. I kind of prefer the slower pace since I have a 3 year and 6 month old baby to take care of. I have 30 mg pills that split easy into 15mg but not so much into 7.5mg. I will wait a little longer at the 15mg and see how it goes.

I appreciate all the responses since I have felt like nobody around me understands the challenges of stoping medications.

#14 Guest_Lesley_*

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 03:20 PM

r2mnot, on 06 November 2009 - 02:28 PM, said:

Quote

Thank you, I have went to a therapist a few times, and it has helped. I have another appointment on November 23 but I think it is the last. The therapist want to pass me on to my family doctor. My problem all started with insomnia when my baby turned two months old. I got so agitated about sleep that I could not sleep without medications. I guess I had suffered a mommy burnout. But now I am feeling 100% and just ashamed of myself, and scared to be that seriously sleep deprivated.