remeron / mirtazapine withdrawal - timespan

[Dipsy Doodle]

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

[Sunshine]

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?).

[Dipsy Doodle]

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?).

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!

cheers

[Guest stephanie]

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

[Guest Lesley]

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

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!

[r2mnot]

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

Why do you want to discontinue Remeron?

[Velvet Elvis]

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.

[Guest Lesley]

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,

[lavender]

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.

[Guest lesley]

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.

[lavender]

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.

[r2mnot]

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.

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.

[Guest Lesley]

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.

[Guest Lesley]

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.

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.

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.

[Guest kookyk]

Hi,

I have been on Remeron for 9 months. I want to go off. I tried stopping all together for 2 days in a row, and found now I am crying, argumentative, and agitated. So I took Remeron again for 2 days and did not last night. I woke up this morning though, agitated and crying again. Originally, I started Remeron not so much because of depression, but because of anxiety, agitation, aggression. Remeron helped calm me down tremendously and has had a positive effect on my relationships. But, I am so tired of sleeping so much, and spending every morning feeling dizzy and slow as if I have taken a sleeping pill. I don't want to stay on Remeron forever, and I hope that I am not just a different (more calm rather than anxious and irritable) person solely because of the drug. It is scary to have my personality change, and I don't know if going off the Remeron means withdrawal symptoms, or am I just back to what I was feeling before Remeron? Are withdrawal symptoms common? Anyone had any success going off Remeron? Any good advice out there?

Thanks!

[Guest ryan]

I have been decreasing my dosage of remeron for a couple of months. From 30 mg to 22.5 to 15 to 7.5 to 3.75 and now none. I have tried quiting before without tapering and i could not sleep at all, I had really bad itching all over, hot spells, sweating, and blushing. I still suffered all these symptoms as I gradually reduced my dose this time but atleast it was manageable. This was not a return of symptoms because I had none of these symptoms before taking remeron. Personally, I am sick of taking pills, the side effects seem to pile up to the point where you are taking pills to treat the side effects of other pills. The insomnia eventually goes away (week or two) if you exercise, go to bed at the same time each night and dont take naps. I dont have the link but I have read in several places that Dr's who specialize in this recommend reducing dose by no more than 10% every two weeks. Remeron isnt available in that small of doses but you can be reasonably close by dividing 15mg into quarters. I have been on several other drugs including ativan, seroquel, xanax, paxil, zoloft and remeron is by far the worst to get off. So despite what others may say, for some people Remeron has very bad withdrawal effects. Being off medications is worth the trouble, as I now have a regular appetite again (not binges after taking remeron at night), sleep normally (not being knocked out for 10 hrs), and have energy during the day.

[Velvet Elvis]

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.

[Guest AuntieKathryn]

For anyone struggling with side effects on the lower doses I am thinking of using this method because ive experienced the severe withdrawal effects some people have described (not all of course) when i went from 7.5mg for 4 weeks to 0mg.

Such severe effects being: The relentless insomnia, extreme nausea, dysphoria (unshakeable feeling of doom) and of course the anxiety and panic attacks.

Is anyone sure you cant get a solution form of mirtazapine? Because I have been told by a UK psychiatrist you can.

I have been advised by this experienced psychiatrist friend of mine to do this slow withdrawal plan:

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

I am hoping this might stop me from having the insomnia side effect as bad. It was the one effect of the withdrawal i really couldnt hack the first time.

Im going to put this into practice after christmas 2009 and if it works you will find me pasting this method all over the internet for people! There is a serious lack of useful information on the web, and loads that make you terrified when it shouldnt be terrifying it should reassure people without you having to pay £70-185 an hour to see a trained but inexperienced psychiatrist.

However, im very happy for people that are off the drug and are feeling normal, it gives me hope because the biggest mistake people sometimes make when coming off these medications is they think the withdrawal effects are their illness underneath the medication and due to the inexperience of most doctors they agree with you for you to go back on them and actually encourage you to.

It is clear from looking at these forums online that the effects of withdrawal from mirtazipine can be very severe for some people on the smaller doses and some people are not affected by it at all! I envy the latter group!!

Good luck everyone

[Guest AuntieKathryn]

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.

[Guest Nancy]

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.

[Guest Christina]

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.

[Guest Christina]

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

[Guest AuntieKathryn]

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!

[Guest MariaGrace]

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

[Guest Bobman]

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?

[lavender]

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.

[Guest warbird]

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.

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

[Guest warbirdwf]

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!

[Guest Christina]

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?

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 ?

[null0trooper]

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.

[Guest Guest]

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.

[null0trooper]

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.

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.

[Guest Mark]

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.

[Guest Christina]

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.

[Guest Charles E.]

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.

[Guest wolfhir@gmail.com]

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.

i have been taking remeron for about 5to6 years now and also find if i stop taking it about third nite im wide awake dont reallt know what to do i need my sleep and lunesta is to expensif.help me thank you wolf

[SandDune]

I've been tapering off Remeron now for a few months and stopped taking it completely about 1 1/2 weeks ago.

It's weird how variable the response is to meds between people. I went to max dose on remeron and noticed no effect. A couple months later I tapered off and noticed... nothing. Could of been sugar pills for all the difference it made to me.

The only one that has done something vaguely positive for me is venlafaxine.

[Guest warbirdwf]

I've been tapering off Remeron now for a few months and stopped taking it completely about 1 1/2 weeks ago.

It's weird how variable the response is to meds between people. I went to max dose on remeron and noticed no effect. A couple months later I tapered off and noticed... nothing. Could of been sugar pills for all the difference it made to me.

The only one that has done something vaguely positive for me is venlafaxine.

[Guest warbirdwf]

I thought I'd update my last post. I've been off the Remeron since April. I have to tell you, it wasn't easy. I weaned down a couple of different times to 3.6mg, the insomnia and anxiety was pretty intense. I finally bit the bullet and stopped taking it. I had about 30-45 days of higher anxiety, serious issues sleeping and sadness. It eased up after that and I'm feeling much better now. I sleep ok but still wake 2-3 times each night to urinate.

Doctors are idiots. They say, just stop taking it.. No worries! Yea right!

You can quit this. Just get mentally ready for a month of increased anxiety and insomnia. After that, it's all down hill.

[Guest bullotsky]

Oh my god. I'm so so glad other people are experiencing the itching (well not glad because it sux, just glad to hear I'm not alone).

I was told by the doctor to go from 30 to 15 to 15 to 7.5 to 7.5 to noting alternating the higher dosage to lower dosage every other day. So after a week of 7.5 to nothing alternating, I quit for 3 days. Haven't slept a wink except when I got really drunk last night. Today, itching itching itching. All over. Inside my eyelids, on my actual private parts, to the inner canal of my ear. It hurts when I eat as my gums have been affected too. Broke down and cut 7.5 in half. Hopefully that helps. I've scratched my whole body raw. Hopefully the nausea never sets in.

Antidepressants have their merits but I don't think this one has ever worked. I just never had the gumption to get off of it because, like most people, I have to function as I have a stressful and high level of skill profession. I take venlafaxine (effexor) and I've had zap symptoms from withdrawal but not itchiness like others have reported. Yet, I know others that have gone off of mirtazapine quite easily. To make a long story short, I'm happy with the job venlafaxine is doing and if you are depressed and your medicine is actually working, I wouldn't go off of it. Just my opinion. However, like I said, I don't think Remeron has ever really done anything for my depression and the side effects were terrible. Sleeping 14 to 22 hours a day. I once slept for 36 hours. Extreme grogginess. Nothing ever felt visceral or looked visceral.

Thanks to all before me for sharing their wonderful stories. Now I know what I'm up against. I may stop in for some support or to complain about my withdrawal symptoms as it helps take my mind off of it a bit.

The weirdest thing is that the itching travels from spot to spot. It will manifest in certain areas and travel around. A minute ago it was my ear canals. Then it traveled from that to my outer ear, to my neck and now my thumb. So strange.

[Guest Heather]

I don't know if folks are still posting on this, but I'm trying to go off Remeron and am finding it difficult. I went on it several months ago to help with insomnia, which I've struggled with for years (I tried some other medications which I didn't like and which seemed to cause more morning stupor and/or slightly noticeable cognitive effects). I was on a low dose (15mg) of Remeron then went to 7.5mg due to the constant drowsiness and beginning weight gain. I then went to about 5mg (creative cutting of the 15mg dose) and now I've been on 3.75 for about a month which works most nights. I've been trying to take less and it's been difficult so far (I sleep 3 hours the first night I don't take 3.75 mg)...good to hear from others that discontinuing may be possible, and that this 3 hour sleep thing is hopefully a withdrawal effect (I seem to be very sensitive to meds - wish I weren't). I've also noticed that I've felt very irritable when taking less than the 3.75 dose - is that a side effect others notice? how long does the rebound insomnia last?

thanks.

[olga]

Heather, you will get more responses to your post if you 1) Join Crazyboards and 2) Start a thread with your question in the title. Very few people check these old topics out.

Be sure to put your topic in the appropriate forum.

Good luck!

olga

[Guest Nancy]

I posted back in December and wanted to give an update. I went back on Remeron in December and weaned down again, down to 3 mg a day for a few weeks and then off completely in February. Itchiness came right back around day 6. Went to about 6 doctors so far and no one knows why this is happening. I’m still itchy now 8 months later. The last dermatologist I went to is saying that I must have developed this itchiness problem while I was on Remeron and the Remeron was suppressing it. He says he uses low doses of anti-depressants to help with unexplained itchiness. I don’t really agree with this explanation, I mean why would I just get itchy out of nowhere? And now I see others are becoming itchy too! I wish I had better news to report but I have succumbed to being on anti-histamines (Zyrtec works best for me) for possibly a very long time. Oh, I also had a few other skin problems that happened when I went off the meds: grew tons of skin tags, some of my moles got flaky and dry and fell off, got hives mostly around my mouth, my ears would feel like they were on fire most of the time. All those things have now gone away. But it was all skin related. I do still take a very, very small cut up dose of Remeron (probably equates to about 1 mg) every few weeks and that takes the itchiness away for about 4 days compared to Zyrtec taking it away for 2 days. But I get really tired and groggy with the Remeron, last time I slept for about 12 hours and laid on the couch the rest of day barely able to move. The good news is, I don’t think I needed to be on anti-depressants anymore and probably didn’t need to be for a long time. I feel fine other than my occasional dizziness which comes from my anxiety and sleep hasn’t been fantastic but it’s good enough.

[Guest Nancy]

I don't know if folks are still posting on this, but I'm trying to go off Remeron and am finding it difficult. I went on it several months ago to help with insomnia, which I've struggled with for years (I tried some other medications which I didn't like and which seemed to cause more morning stupor and/or slightly noticeable cognitive effects). I was on a low dose (15mg) of Remeron then went to 7.5mg due to the constant drowsiness and beginning weight gain. I then went to about 5mg (creative cutting of the 15mg dose) and now I've been on 3.75 for about a month which works most nights. I've been trying to take less and it's been difficult so far (I sleep 3 hours the first night I don't take 3.75 mg)...good to hear from others that discontinuing may be possible, and that this 3 hour sleep thing is hopefully a withdrawal effect (I seem to be very sensitive to meds - wish I weren't). I've also noticed that I've felt very irritable when taking less than the 3.75 dose - is that a side effect others notice? how long does the rebound insomnia last?

thanks.

Heather - I did have problems with insomnia for a few weeks after stopping Remeron so I did alot of natural alternatives: try Rescue Remedy spray on your tongue, I tried taking a pill with GABA, valerian, melatonin in it, I listened to a relaxation tape as I lay in bed. My irritability actually went away when I went off Remeron. Being on it was starting to make me cranky and irritable and I was very angry at my husband all the time. Now I feel better off it and happier and the silly things he does do not bother me anymore!

[Guest Taylor]

I have been on mirtazpine for almost 2 months for severe depression. I am only 19 and i'm married and have a 16 month old. DO NOT TAKE THIS MED! I have been trying to come off of it and let me tell you i've been sick. Nausea is constant i am so depressed i dont even want to move. I've been taking anti nausea meds but am still feeling like i want to throw my guts up. My doctor told me to just stop taking it all together and i would be fine i told him heck no i've been taking a pill every other day and have felt like this how would i feel just completly stopping? Anyone else having this problem? I Was also on zoloft for a month before that. had to get off that as well

[Guest Aj]

i have been taking mirtaz for a few months now and i feeling heart palpitations.. So i decided to taper myself ...i read a lot of you post about the hair loss and me too Iwas on 30mg and this week i hae went down to 15 getting those brain zap as you call them but also Im so achey like Im going to get sick or something my neck back shoulders and ribs feel like they are being aqeezed to death..don't worry already got the heart checked and they said nothing was wrong with that.. bu tim just not liking this stuff the onl benifit I had from it was a bit a weight i gained that I needed

[Guest nathan]

I've been on 45mg mirt for about 6 months. I caught seasonal flu last week and decided the quit the mirt. Palpitations and flu symptoms but as this coincides with flu i don't mind so much. Just need a cure for flu now. I must add the mirtazapine was causing me problems swallowing.

[Anna]

What the hell, guesties? Is this a flood from ask a patient or patients like me or whatever the hell website it is where people go just to bitch about meds? Or something? I forget the name of the website, damned klonopin, though admit to checking it out occasionally for the info/at times pure crazy contained therein.

The really anti med site where everyone can get on and rant about how the drug ruined their lives. That site.

I notice it's always the guests who are bitching about s.e.'s. Join and get some education and then maybe you will find a good med that a) lets you treat the bitchyness 2) has less side effects 3) you can treat some side effects, anyway.

Anna

[Guest nathan]

What a sad rant. Do you think that actually helps anybody at all? I think you should take more of your medication

[Anna]

Thank you, guest nathan. I will do that when my doctor tells me to do so, not some random idiot on the interet, however.

Anna

[Pamito]

Thank you, guest nathan. I will do that when my doctor tells me to do so, not some random idiot on the interet, however.

Anna

LOL. Anna FTW

[Guest laura]

I take pamelor and remeron and have for years. I keep going in out of depression . I also take ativan. would like to try a different medication, but have tried to get off pamelor with no sucess. Im afraid to go off these without a backup plan afraid of the depression and anxiety. I still get anxiety even with the ativan. scared to move forward and suggestions.

[Soccer_dude]

This is a very old post, but I thought I'd post something anyway.

I was on remeron for about 2 months. Mostly at 7.5mg, although I was on 15mg for about 2 weeks when first starting, then went back to 7.5mg for most of the time, then did 2 weeks at 15mg again, then decided to come off. I did 7.5mg for 1 week, then 3.75 for 5 days. Then I started feeling ill. My appetite was gone, felt nausea all day, insomnia, etc....Then a few days later I felt more depressed. Some of the nausea has lifted slightly, but I still have insomnia and feel very low. I didn't have any problems starting Remeron. It helped me sleep at first but then those effects wore off. I just want to feel better.

Soccer

[Guest]

Soccer,

You really will get more replies if you start your own topic rather than piggy back off an old one.