remeron / mirtazapine withdrawal - timespan - CrazyBoards

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#21 Guest_Christina_*

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Posted 23 December 2009 - 09:07 PM

Hi all.... I have been on Mirtazipine (Avanza in Austalia) for about 2 years, 30mg and then 15mg, for insomnia, depression and lack of appetitie ..

I have tried to wean myself off it a couple of times in the past 6 months, but as you have all mentioned it is hard..

I am sufferring severe loss of appetite and nausea, I am currently off work because the nausea is that bad and I am losing weight quickly.. some people might love this, but I have always been underweight and mirtazipine actually helped me put on weight and i felt alot better with the extra weight on me !!

I am coming off it as I am convinced it is causing hair loss, I would be interested if anyone else has experienced this side effect.. ? Initially my hair became weak, started splitting and knotting alot, static electricty, then it just started gradually falling out, straight from the root, initially only from one side of my head but then it started thinning on the otherside too, the doctors say female pattern hair loss/alopecia, but I am suspicious as it all started a couple of months after beginning the mirtazipine.

Has anyone else experienced hair loss...? apart from that possiblity, I loved mirtazipine, it made me calm, helped me sleep and increased my poor appetite.. but yeah, losing your hair is a major thing and I was not coping with it.. Although now that I am experiencing all these withdrawal symptoms I am not so sure Ive made the right decision.

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#22 Guest_Christina_*

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Posted 23 December 2009 - 09:09 PM

Oh if anyone wants to email me to discuss my comment please do ... .. Christina

This post has been edited by Velvet Elvis: 24 December 2009 - 03:11 AM
Reason for edit: Email removed to protect privacy

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#23 Guest_AuntieKathryn_*

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Posted 03 January 2010 - 05:36 PM

Nancy, on 22 December 2009 - 02:06 PM, said:

I've been tapering off Remeron now for a few months and stopped taking it completely about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Sleep has been restless but also started getting the itchiness mentioned before. I'm glad to see I'm not crazy and someone else had it too. My doc of course said it is absolutely not related to going off meds. (Why do they always deny everything??!!) My doc is also the type who insists that I must stay on AD's for the rest of my life. I don't want to give in to that. Spoke to our pharmacist and told her about itchiness and right away she said it is because of the meds reduction and maybe I should go off more slowly and klonopin and benedryl can help. The other night I woke up unbearably itchy all over my whole body. I jumped out of bed and started running around the house as if I could exercise the itchiness out of me. Reminded me of years ago when I would wake with spontaneous panic attacks in the middle of the night and I would start running up and down the stairs to wear myself out. Took a Klonopin and immediately the itchiness went away and I was able to fall right back to sleep. The next day, was itchy again but not as bad so I tried Benedryl and that helped right away too. So I am going to go back to taking 7.5 mg of Remeron every other day for a week or so and then reduce to 3.75 mg and so on. I am also working with a homeopath taking remedies which seem to be helping. I haven't felt much of my anxiety return and none of my overwhelming dizzy spells which is why they originally put me on Remeron 7 years ago.

The itchiness is so definately remeron. What a joke that doctor is! I smothered myself in moisturiser which didnt help... im on 15/7.5 at the moment and im itching. When i reached the 3 week mark with 0mg i got hit with insomnia and extreme nausea that was so bad i went back up to 15 for a few days. I will definately try the benedryl if i get problems with the incredibly slow withdrawal method im doing (15/7.5 alternating for two weeks, then eliminating one of my 15mg per week and holding each new dose for 2 weeks). This is ridiculous someone has to raise awareness of antidepressants CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY WERE PRESCRIBED TO TREAT! If i ever get through the withdrawal i will do just that!

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#24 Guest_MariaGrace_*

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Posted 05 January 2010 - 06:10 PM

Hi AuntieKathryn, I had read on a post you wrote on Dec 21st, that you were going to try and follow a system for withdrawl of

7.5mg for 4 weeks
7.5mg one day and 3.5mg the next alternating for 4 weeks
Then 3.5mg for 4 weeks
Then 3.5 one day and 0 the next alternating for 4 weeks
Then 0mg

Did that not work for you? I am currently taking 15mg and want to get off of it myself so I was going to try that, but now I read this post from you on Jan 3rd that you are having problems. Did you follow the above system? Hang in there, it's gotta get better.

Maria

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#25 Guest_Bobman_*

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Posted 19 January 2010 - 12:22 AM

Christina,

I'm in Australia too and getting off it. I've also noticed more hairs on my pillow and hair brush than usual. This drug is way too much sedating for me to function normally during the day. It seems your email was removed though, perhaps mods will allow Facebook links to discuss with other users?

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#26 lavender

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Posted 19 January 2010 - 12:41 AM

This past week I managed to skip my Remeron/mirtazapine 2 nights in a row. Mistake! I could not stay awake the following day, even after 13 hours of sleep. Felt I was coming down with something, headache, chills, no appetite, and of course- brain zaps, which finally zapped my brain into remembering the skipped medication. I took it immediately and felt about half better by the next day, then completely well after the following dose. I wouldn't recommend going cold turkey on this one either. Am happy to report I've successfully completed the Zoloft taper/discontinue regimen. Been off it completely now for over a month and no problems. Was on it for over 10 years so was a bit apprehensive, but it went off without a hitch.

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, Fukitol, etc, etc, etc...

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#27 Guest_warbird_*

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Posted 13 March 2010 - 04:12 PM

lavender, on 19 January 2010 - 12:41 AM, said:

Any updates from the posters who did the really slow withdrawls?

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#28 Guest_warbirdwf_*

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Posted 13 March 2010 - 04:18 PM

Wow..this Remeron drug is something! I was on 15mg for four months to help me sleep and with calming my anxiety. I am also on 30mg of Paxil. I started weaning down by going to 10mg for 4 days, then to 7.5mg for 4 days then 3.75 for one day, then stopped. The day at 3.75, my anxiety levels were certainly higher but eased up in the afternoon. That night, I took 0mg and feel asleep ok. I woke up 3 hours later and tossed and turned. Fell asleep for 2 more hours then repeated. Finally, I slept another 2 hours. When I woke up, my anxiety was at a very high level! I couldn't believe how high it was after only one day not being on this drug! I caved in and took 7.5mg and after 3-4 hours, my anxiety calmed down again. Wow...I'm not feeling real comfortable with how I'm going to discontinue this drug?? It causes insomnia and high anxiety when discontinuing it??

Sorry for the long post but would love to hear some success stories!

Thanks!

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#29 Guest_Christina_*

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Posted 12 May 2010 - 10:59 PM

Bobman, on 19 January 2010 - 12:22 AM, said:

Hi Bobman... yeah not sure how the whole privacy thing works, I agree it would be good to be able to discuss, I really want more feedback on this hairloss thing as Im sure its causing it. I went off it for a couple of months but prob not long enough for my hair to recover, so hard to tell, Am back on it now cause i wasnt sleeping without it and i lost my appetite.. Im already noticing my hair changing, so I want off the meds, but aside from hair loss they are fabulous for me !! I am going to discuss it in length with a dermatologist in a few weeks when i see them. Im on facebook () if you want to find me ? maybe we can make an "avanza discussion' group ?

This post has been edited by null0trooper: 12 May 2010 - 11:20 PM
Reason for edit: We really do discourage "complete disclosure" - part of this is explained in "The Rules" (see link above)

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#30 null0trooper

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Posted 12 May 2010 - 11:18 PM

Christina, on 12 May 2010 - 10:59 PM, said:

Hi Bobman... yeah not sure how the whole privacy thing works,

Registered users can exchange personal messages (PM) through the board software at their own risk. PM functions are not set up for the "guest" account and are unlikely to ever be set up.

You would be surprised how little information is needed for a complete stranger to track you down from your online information. You might be unpleasantly surprised if discussion of your current mental health issues showed up in the background check packet for your next interview.

Proof once again that we are the only adventurers for whom the letters "AD&D" stand for "Attention Deficit Disorder" - Roy Greenhilt, Order of the Stick

Rule your own nation at Cyber Nations, A nation simulation game! Yes, I do ~~waste~~ spend a lot of time on it, especially the Viridian Entente's alliance boards.

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#31 Guest_Guest_*

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Posted 25 May 2010 - 06:58 AM

Guest, on 25 May 2010 - 06:53 AM, said:

AuntieKathryn, on 21 December 2009 - 09:31 AM, said:

Velvet Elvis, on 03 December 2009 - 03:40 PM, said:

Seriously, if you search around the site here you'll find a lot of people, or at least a few reporting the Remeron is easier to come off of than almost any other pmed. I got off of 30mgs by doing two days 15 mgs and then stopping. No side effects, no brain zaps, and I had bezos to deal with any rebound anxiety.

The benzos is probably the reason you didnt have effects. Although I too dont know what people mean by "brain zaps" but unlike you i had really bad withdrawal. I cant use benzos because i had to withdraw from those too using much the same method i describe above. The withdrawal from benzos was no way near as bad as the mirtazapine withdrawal. I hope to god youre not still using them. They are mega addictive.

Are you serious? 'The withdrawal from benzos was no way near as bad as the mirtazapine' which benzoes did you exactly taper from? Let me tell you if you want to know what hell is like? It's Benzo Withdrawal.

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#32 null0trooper

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Joined: 26-May 05

Posted 25 May 2010 - 08:27 PM

Guest, on 25 May 2010 - 06:58 AM, said:

There are very good reasons why a person is usually tapered off benzos instead of being cut off cold turkey. That's one of them. That doesn't mean that other people may not have difficulty coming off other medications.

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#33 Guest_Mark_*

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 03:47 PM

I appreciate your post, thanks for sharing. I am currently on the 15mg reduce by 1/4 every 10 days path, I use a pill cutter, and your post confirms what I was thinking might work that I'm doing. I tried a faster path, and the insomnia got me after 3 days in a severe pain flare up and I had to resume the med. I even tried increasing benzos but too but it didn't work and I got my hand slapped by the pharmacy who refused then to refill my benzos because of overuse. So far the insomnia hasn't occured with the gradual pace, only slightly when I first do a gradual decrease I may wake early. Thanks again.

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#34 Guest_Christina_*

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Posted 14 June 2010 - 11:17 PM

Helli, Back again.

Well, altho I am still convinced that Mirtazapine (Avanza, Remeron) has been causing my hair loss I am going back on it. Its been about 3 weeks since Ive totally been off it and Ive never been so sick or emotional, I am obviously not in the right place in my life to be giving them up.

Ive totally lost my appetite, constant nausea so I'm losing weight fast, night sweats, having trouble sleeping again and crying at the drop of a hat... has anyone else experienced this after completely stopping Avanza ? I just want to feel happy again *cry* and altho my hair was falling out at least I was coping better when I was on the meds. Best to stay on them while I make the necessary life changes I need to get myself into a more happier place.

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#35 Guest_Charles E._*

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Posted 02 July 2010 - 08:53 AM

I was on Mitazapine for 1 month and my withdrawl plan was from 30mg to 15 for 1 week, 7.5 for 1 week, then none. the withdrwal side effects could deff. be felt on week 1-2; but they were not that serious, just Vidid/Weird Dreams. Week 0 and week -1(was on Wellbutrin 150 once in the morning)is when i completly went off of it i had a social stressor that took place and it seemed to really flare the withdrawl; startied having more nightmares, Rebound Depression, Rebound Anxiety, Nausea, Overly emotional, crying spells(oddly out of the blue). Restless sleeping. i also take klonopin for anxiety and it helps a little with the symptoms; could be just the anxiety flaring up from the major social stressor along with the tapering. I am still not 100% sure the symptoms are due to the mirtazapine withdrawl. at the moment i had seriuously injured my foot ( the Stressor) and am taking lortab 7.5 as needed for pain(1 every six hours). this drug is a CNS Depressent and could very well bring a side effect of depression. i am curently in week -2 taking once daily welbutrin now 300mg, week -1 was a lower dose of welbutrin. thanks for reading, good to know its not only me.