Ripley Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 Thank you for your reply @Altostrata and ibuprofen tip. I'll start tapering shortly and update down the line. ▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T ▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T ▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep ▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T ▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg. ▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan ▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg ▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg ▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg ▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold ▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg. Link to comment
Malbec37 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 @RipleyJust wanted to stop by and wish you the very best with starting your taper! I think it's amazing that you're now at this place and, whilst the road ahead will inevitably have challenges, you can very much do this one step at a time....with you all the way. Malbec x Malbec37 Introduction: Diagnosis of Recurrent Depressive Disorder 2005 Sertraline 2003 - 2004 then switched to Citalopram 2004 - 2014 20mg then up to 40mg then switched to Mirtazapine 30mg 2014 - 2020 Began taper off Mirtazapine Aug 2019 - 2 months at 22.5mg, 3 months at 15mg, 10 days at 11.25mg then updosed to 13mg after constant WD...40 days on 13 and then updose to 15 as of 13/2/20...holding for now and stabilised. Resumed taper from 15mg in July 2021 - 14mg in July 21, 13mg in August 21, 12mg in Sept 21 and 11 mg in Nov 21, made it down to 9mg in Mar 22 but crashed and reinstated to 15mg Apr 22 Currently holding on 15mg Link to comment
marie123 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Hi Ripley. Sounds like you're in a good spot to start your taper. Just go slowly and you'll be fine. Be well. Marie. 10/13--10/14 Ambien. Started tapering 1/14 Jumped 10/14. Done. 3/14 7.5 Remeron still taking this. 2/14 75 Trazodone - Tapered by dry cutting all the way down. 1/16 4 mg Trazodone - Jumped. Bad mistake. Got hit with late withdrawal 6 weeks later. Reinstated. 4/16 Reinstated 1 mg, updose to 2 mg Trazodone 2/19 .04 Trazodone. Walked off. Done. 10/3/19 Started 7.5 Mirtazapine taper cut to .073 gram weight, pill weighs .076 4/5/20 New Mirtazapine Taper - Compound Liquid 7.35 mg April '20, 7.25 mg May, 7.05 mg June, 6.99 mg June, 6.78 mg July, 6.57 mg Aug, Sept 6.35 mg, Sept 6.24 mg, Sept 6.21 mg, Oct 5.99 mg, Oct 5.90 mg, Oct 5.70 mg. 1/11/21 6.05 mg Messed up taper due to syringe change. Must remember the 1 ml syringe contains 1.5mg! 1/16/21 5.99 mg 2/21 5.75 mg, 3/21 5.6 mg, 4/7 5.45, 4/14 5.30, 5/12 5.15, 5/25/21 4.99 mg, 6/29 4.87 mg, 7/14/21 4.74 mg, 8/5 4.62 mg 8/17 4.5 mg, 8/30 4.38 mg,9/16 4.26 mg,10/9 4.14 mg, 10/23 4.05 mg, 11/6 3.96 mg,11/17 3.87mg.***Jan 22 Liquid was changed/couldn't tolerate***Changed back to pills. Feb 22/3.9 mg, 2/17/22 3.8 mg, 3/23 3.7 mg, 4/7 3.6 mg, 5/10 3.5mg,6/10/22 3.4 mg, 7/4 3.3 mg, 7/25 3.2 mg, 8/20/22 3.1 mg, 9/15 3 mg, 10/8/22 2.9 mg., 12/15 2.8 mg, 1/6/23 2.7 mg, 2/16/23 2.6 mg, 3/9 2.5 mg, 4/4 2.4 mg, 4/29/23 2.3 mg, 5/26 2.2 mg, 6/22/23 2.1 mg, 10/14 2 mg, 11/12 1.9 mg, 11/28 1.8 mg , 12/14/23 1.7, 12/31/23 1.6 mg, 1/20 1.5 mg, 2/6/24 1.4 mg, 2/12 updose 1.5 mg, 3/27/24 1.4 mg. Taking multi-vitamin, vit. D, cholestoff, psyllium husk, and fish oil. Link to comment
Ripley Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 Hi @Malbec37 thank you for your very kind message. I also wish you well when you start tapering again. I see you've almost reduced by a third which is great. Thanks @marie123 slow it will be! I hope your crossover progresses smoothly. X ▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T ▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T ▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep ▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T ▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg. ▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan ▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg ▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg ▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg ▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold ▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted September 3, 2022 Administrator Share Posted September 3, 2022 Hello, @Ripley, how are you doing? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Ripley Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 Hello @Altostrata My apologies for not replying sooner. Around the time of your message, an incredibly stressful period began where things went haywire for a time. I was waiting for things to settle down a bit again. Prior to this, my taper was going ok albeit very slowly. I was only reducing by 0.15mg and holding for several weeks at a time. I reduced by 0.75mg over about 7 months to 5.85mg. The first few reductions I certainly felt but the most recent ones seemed a lot easier and I was hoping I could pick up the pace a little bit. The main symptom for me is always insomnia to some degree on various days but I also noticed constipation hitting about a week after a drop. Luckily it only lasted a day or two but it amazed me that such a small reduction could have these effects. I also had itchiness on my right shoulder and shin. Right now I'm just waiting for my sleep to get stable again before I resume. The one good thing to result from my stressful period is that I lost weight. Prior to mirt. I was always just under 9 stone (5ft 8). After my reinstatement I gained 20lbs but I'm now back to just over 9st again. I'm hoping it will stay off if I'm careful. In terms of physical activity, getting about day to day isn't a problem. I recently managed a 2 hour walk in the morning and another hour in the afternoon and slept OK. But I also did a long walk the other day and had insomnia. So I'm not sure if it's still a bit up and down or perhaps it was stress that kept me awake that night. I hate to remember how bad things were and this memory will keep me tapering very slowly in future. I hope you're doing OK altostrata and keeping well. ▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T ▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T ▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep ▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T ▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg. ▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan ▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg ▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg ▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg ▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold ▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 13, 2022 Administrator Share Posted October 13, 2022 Thank you, I am well enough. That does sound difficult, but you've come a long way. All you can do is keep chipping away at the mirtazapine. Interesting about that pattern after you make a reduction. Do those symptoms last only a few days? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Ripley Posted October 20, 2022 Author Share Posted October 20, 2022 Hi @Altostrata I was feeling a reduction (of just 0.15mg) the same night and would perhaps only get 3hrs sleep. And then I would lose some sleep perhaps around day 10 and then day 15 and then around day 25 after a reduction. Apart from these 'spikes' my sleep was generally very good with 7 or 8 hrs a night. This spiky pattern seemed to suggest to me that I need to hold at least the full 28 days unfortunately and I'm wary of increasing the reduction too. I can only double it to 0.3mg without diluting it which I'd like to avoid if possible. With my last reduction, the spikes were minimal after the first night, which was encouraging. As you know, I'm holding for now as I'm in a stressful period and I also now have a bad dose of Covid. This is my second Covid infection and a lot worse than my first unfortunately. Perhaps it has been made worse by the stress. Anyway, I'd like to resume chipping away as soon as I can. I'm just not sure when that will be yet. It feels like I have a long road ahead of me still and I'm so over it! ▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T ▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T ▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep ▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T ▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg. ▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan ▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg ▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg ▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg ▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold ▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 20, 2022 Administrator Share Posted October 20, 2022 Covid can indeed complicate tapering. If I were you, I would not make a drug change until you're recovered from the virus. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Ripley Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 Hello @altostrata Yesterday night, I managed to NOT take my 5.7mg dose of mirtazapine. I'd gone to bed quite late and was very distracted but only realised this morning I'd not taken it. I'm thinking that I just take it again tonight as normal and hope for the best? Surprisingly, I managed to get a few hours sleep! And I put my lack of normal sleep down to my stressful evening. A week ago I'd resumed my taper and reduced from 5.85mg to 5.7mg and not really felt it which is good. I'm cross and quite surprised with myself for this mistake and hope it isn't a big one. ▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T ▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T ▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep ▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T ▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg. ▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan ▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg ▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg ▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg ▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold ▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg. Link to comment
Hibari Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Hi @Ripley I'm sure you will hear from a moderator on your skipped dose but I wanted to offer some reassurance. I have accidentally skipped doses kn the past and was advised to just take the next dose at the normal times. Most times I wouldn't feel thr missed dose and Mirt does have a longish half life. This is only my experience but it usually has not been an issue. I'm wishing you well. Hibari 9/2013-4/2014: After moms death, was prescribed a series of meds for short periods of time that didn't work. Zoloft, Lexapro, Nortriptyline, Liquid Prozac, Cymbalta. 1/2014-9/2014. Clonzapam: Given Lamictal, stopped Clonzapam at .125mgs 1/2015-4 2017 Remeron: 41.25 -0.025mgs 7/2015-11/2018 Lamictal: 200mgs-0.05 mgs Had paradoxical reaction to Lamictal wd, broke my heart to take a benzo but wasn't sleeping. 3/28/2019 -2/5/ 2021 Clonazapam: 0.625mgs-.00115 Med Free July 27th, 2022**Severe Setback due to surgery/ anesthesia. 9/7/22-10/4/22 Trazadone 50-100mgs for sleep, 10/13/22-11/13/22 Trazadone 1 mg to stabilize 10/4/22-11/20/22 Remeron 7.5mgs (for sleep doesn't work) 11/20/22 7.3 - 12/31/22 6.3 2023: 1/18/23 6.1 - 6/6/23 3.6 6/16 3.4 6/28 3.0 7/12 2.7 7/28 2.5 8/11 2.2 8/23 2.0 9/5 1.8 9/16 1.6 9/30 1.4 10/13 1.2 10/26 1.0 11/9 0.8 11/22 0.6 12/6 0.4 12/23 0.2. 2024 1/4/24 Remeron/Mirtazapine free Additional Support: Armour Thyroid 75mgs, Magnesium Glycinate 300-500mgs, L-theanine Link to comment
Ripley Posted January 24, 2023 Author Share Posted January 24, 2023 Hi @Hibari Many thanks for the reassurance. Like you, I've also found that I've barely felt my missed dose which I can hardly believe but am obviously very pleased about! If anything, it has made me feel that I can perhaps try larger reductions than the 0.15mg I've been doing so far. How are you getting along? How's your sleep these days? Wishing you well. ▪︎2000 - Seroxat (25mg?) 6 months C/T ▪︎2015 - 7.5mg Zopiclone 1 month C/T ▪︎ 2016 - 2018 - Diazapam and Phenergan occasionally for sleep ▪︎2017 June to Oct - Mirtazapine 7.5mg C/T ▪︎2018 April - 2019 Oct Mirtazapine 7.5mg tapered to 1.5mg. ▪︎2019 October - Mirtazapine 1.5mg (Skipped alternate doses on doctor's advice then stopped - Insomnia.) Phenergan ▪︎2020 Jan 6th - Mirtazapine 1.5mg ▪︎2020 Jan 13th - Mirtazapine 7.5mg ▪︎2020 - Feb - May, holding 7.5mg ▪︎2020 1st June, 7.35mg. 27 June, 7.2mg. 7 July, 7.05mg. 18 July, 6.9mg. 28 July, 6.75mg. 27 Aug, 6.6mg. 7 Sep, 6.45mg. 17 Sep, 6.6mg. Crash/Hold ▪︎2022 - 4 Feb, 6.45mg. 24 Mar, 6.3mg. 13 May, 6.15mg. 13 July, 6mg. 10 Aug, 5.85mg. Link to comment
Hibari Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 On 1/24/2023 at 11:42 AM, Ripley said: Hi @Hibari Many thanks for the reassurance. Like you, I've also found that I've barely felt my missed dose which I can hardly believe but am obviously very pleased about! If anything, it has made me feel that I can perhaps try larger reductions than the 0.15mg I've been doing so far. How are you getting along? How's your sleep these days? Wishing you well. Hi @Ripley Glad you did not feel anything with the missed dose. My sleep is still poor but it's primarily due to my setback and not tapering the Mirt. I also inching my way off the Mirt and mainly end up feeling weepy and down for a few days after I cut. It doesn’t help me sleep so I take it early on the morning. Hoping to increase my percentage of cutting as well as I get lower. What dose are you are now? There seems to be a handful of us tapering Mirt now and we are all getting lower. That is good news. Take care, Hibari 9/2013-4/2014: After moms death, was prescribed a series of meds for short periods of time that didn't work. Zoloft, Lexapro, Nortriptyline, Liquid Prozac, Cymbalta. 1/2014-9/2014. Clonzapam: Given Lamictal, stopped Clonzapam at .125mgs 1/2015-4 2017 Remeron: 41.25 -0.025mgs 7/2015-11/2018 Lamictal: 200mgs-0.05 mgs Had paradoxical reaction to Lamictal wd, broke my heart to take a benzo but wasn't sleeping. 3/28/2019 -2/5/ 2021 Clonazapam: 0.625mgs-.00115 Med Free July 27th, 2022**Severe Setback due to surgery/ anesthesia. 9/7/22-10/4/22 Trazadone 50-100mgs for sleep, 10/13/22-11/13/22 Trazadone 1 mg to stabilize 10/4/22-11/20/22 Remeron 7.5mgs (for sleep doesn't work) 11/20/22 7.3 - 12/31/22 6.3 2023: 1/18/23 6.1 - 6/6/23 3.6 6/16 3.4 6/28 3.0 7/12 2.7 7/28 2.5 8/11 2.2 8/23 2.0 9/5 1.8 9/16 1.6 9/30 1.4 10/13 1.2 10/26 1.0 11/9 0.8 11/22 0.6 12/6 0.4 12/23 0.2. 2024 1/4/24 Remeron/Mirtazapine free Additional Support: Armour Thyroid 75mgs, Magnesium Glycinate 300-500mgs, L-theanine Link to comment
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