Cakeloverhubby - W/D Remeron(Mirtazapine). Others remain.

[Cakeloverhubby]

Starting withdrawal of Remeron from 30mg after taking for 9 months.  Remaining on Effexor XR 300mg, Wellbutrin 300mg, and others.

 

Have felt like parts of my head, face, and neck have seized up (like muscular stiffness) off and on over last few months.  For the longest while thought it was psychosomatic.  Then noticed I hadn't felt these sensations prior to Remeron, and that there were not thoughts or emotion associated with the tension spells.  Subsequently, I have begun to suspect Remeron as possible culprit. 

 

Intend to withdraw slowly and keep a journal.  Also intend to work with psychiatrist as a team throughout withdrawal.

 

May note that I am nearing end of 36-session TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).  My mood seems much better than it was during the psychiatric hospitalizations I had ~1 year ago, which precipitated the medication cocktail I am on today.  At present, biggest problem is muscular rigidity from shoulders up that I am unable to relax.  Psychiatrist has given me a muscle relaxant (methocarbamol 500mg as needed) which seems to help, but only a little.

 

Will try to stay active on this post during my taper process so others may benefit from my experiences.

 

No real questions at moment, but I did recently encounter an individual in Emotions Anonymous who said after being bipolar for 40 years and having 10 hospitalizations he has gone off all his med's.  Said he did it by following a neuroplasticity program prescribed by Caroline Leaf (it probably took many years).  If anyone has followed her guidance, please share.  I am considering buying her books and giving it a try.

[nz11]

Welcome CLH

I am so glad you found sa.

That is one truck load of chemicals you are on ..im amazed that you can actually get out of bed in the mornings on that...and there is even more ..'and others' !!

What on earth was the reason for these prescriptions at these dosages??

 

First things first i would run ALL the drugs you are taking through the drugs interaction checker then copy and paste the results into this thread

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

 

Secondly would you be so kind so as to do a drug sig 

 Please put your withdrawal history in your signature to help the moderators.

 

Your friends story sounds interesting i wonder if they would like to share it with sa?

 

I hope you do stay active on this thread and keep us updated.

[SquirrellyGirl]

Welcome, cakeloverhubby!

 

We have lots of people on SA who are on cocktails and in the process of tapering.

 

Are you ultimately hoping to come off all your meds?  The writing is on the wall now with regards to treatment resistant depression being CAUSED by psych meds, so it is very possible to come off the meds very slowly and actually be able to live drug free.  Read through the Success Stories to see that it is possible!

 

Here's info for Mirtazapine, one I happen to be tapering:  Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine)

 

I am using the SolTabs to make a 1 mg/ml solution that I can then dose with an oral syringe, but I started by dry cutting with a jeweler's milligram scale.  Was up at 37.5 mg and now down to 11.8 mg.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

It makes sense to work on Mirtazapine first since it seems to have a direct correlation with the side effect you are experiencing, but for the future:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

If you could fill in your sig block as nz11 so kindly suggested, that would be very helpful.  Please include all the drugs you take, Rx and OTC with dosages.  And please copy and paste the results of your drug interaction check-up here in your thread so that we can see if anything screams at us about if another drug should go first, second, third, etc.

 

Read up on those links and come back with questions!

SG