Gigi68: introduction

[Gigi68]

@mariamisery I wouldn't say that WD is over for me but so far it has been tolerable, no worse than tapering which was always very unpleasant. I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time. Hopefully since you were on it such a short time, your windows will increase soon. Hang in there.

[mariamisery]

The worst part is  awful uncomfortable feelings. tiredness and very emotional.  Thinking it is my central nervous system. I hope it ends soon.  Thank you. 

[Mcat]

Hi @Gigi68 - great to hear you're done with the taper and doing okay. Are you able to refer me to any threads by people going harder once below 1mg? I'd love to be done sooner rather than later (currently at about 2.25mg, so there is a ways to go), but I heard the taper got harder in that last leg, and what you're saying suggests it gets easier for some. Or is it just that people bite the bullet to get off it sooner. I'm also wondering what people jump off at. 

[Gigi68]

Hi @Mcat, I can’t really think of anyone on SA going harder below 1mg. I started doing shorter holds at about 1.25mg. When I got down to .4mg I really increased the % of my drops. I set a goal to be off by my birthday which required bigger drops, shorter holds. There are some people in various Facebook groups who did big drops from 1mg down. Some got away with it. Some didn’t and had to reinstate. Also a woman named Erin Green did some YouTube videos about her taper including one about the end. She went quickly but successfully at the end. There is a new Facebook group I would recommend where you are free to discuss tapering differently than the 10%/month model. It’s called Mirtazapine  Warriors. 

[Mcat]

Thanks, Gigi. I'll probably play it pretty safe unless I find it's very smooth sailing as I get further down. I was just curious to read about various kinds of experience - and I have a health issue in play that I'm almost certain is made worse by the Mirt, so I'm feeling a bit antsy about getting off. 

[Gigi68]

Week 4 Update from the Promised Land – Waiting for the Miracle to Come
It has been one month since I parted ways with Mirtazapine. I seem to be experiencing classic windows and waves. The windows are fabulous and last for many hours, even all day. I feel better than I have in the past three years. The waves consist of some bad insomnia and fatigue. Looking back at my notes, I see there were three nights of insomnia, one of them a basically sleepless night. The other two not so bad – only awake for 2 to 3 hours. I’ve been extra tired for 4 of the days, probably caused by the insomnia. 

 

Otherwise, I still have tinnitus and my ears are plugged. It’s affecting my hearing, but not painful. I started taking quercetin with bromelain to see if that will help. I’m also considering trying a B complex to see if it might help the fatigue. I tried it a year ago, but it revved me up too much. if anyone has any insight into B vitamins, please let me know. I’ve also felt very emotional this week. Many tears when I think about the ordeal I and all of you are having to endure. I’ve had a cough for the past several months. I assume it’s withdrawal related  but don’t know for sure. At any rate, it has improved a lot, nearly gone. This week, I’ve also had three sores in my mouth, similar to canker sores, but not painful. I’ve had canker sores in my life, but not often and never more than one at a time. Another mirt mystery. All are gone now. Lastly I’ve been out for some walks this past week and was able to enjoy them. I think I’ve had some issues with heat intolerance for a while, but haven’t noticed it this week. No more weight loss either, but the belly continues to shrink. Despite the fatigue, I feel much more present and aware. 

 

My conclusion is that things are improving, but of course at a slower pace than I would like. I am very grateful that all of these withdrawal symptoms are relatively mild compared to what many people go through.

 

Thank you everyone for all the support over the past three years. I couldn’t have survived this without all of you!

[mariamisery]

Hi, have you had any feelings like you can not take a full breath after stopping mirtazapine and tiredness?. Symptoms just keep changing. Hope you are doing well.  Thank you for your time. 

[Gigi68]

@mariamiseryYes, I have the feeling of not being able to take a full breath along with a dry cough. I think it’s called air hunger. It comes and goes. I have fatigue much of the time especially if I don’t sleep well the night before. I think both are common in WD. 

[Gigi68]

Week 5 Update- After 5 weeks there doesn't seem to be much change. Still have the following symptoms: insomnia tinnitus, fatigue, sometimes dry nose lips, eyes, plugged up ears internal tremors (less frequent and only at night). The cough I had earlier is back along with air hunger. This and the full ears are the only symptoms that are newer. They started a couple of months before I quit Mirtazapine. 

 

I have been taking a half dose of Quercitin with Bromelain before breakfast and dinner and sometimes stinging nettle tincture between meals. I think it's helping the the full ears and definitely with the cough and air hunger. 

 

During my taper, I often used CBD:CBN to help with sleep but I've tried to stay away from it now that I'm off. Friday night, I was so frustrated at being awake again at 2:30 a.m., I took a half dose of the most potent gummy I have. It knocked me out for 3 hours. I woke up very groggy and needed a good nap the next day, but by afternoon I felt great. Saturday night I slept 6+ hours, was awake briefly and then slept 2 more hours. 

 

Finally, I haven't lost anymore weight. I have 10 pound yet to lose. However, I started a new weight lifting program 5 months ago and am progressively lifting heavier weights. I weigh the same 5 months ago as I do now. Using the free app Me Three Sixty, I have lost 1+ inches from my chest, waist, stomach and hips. My body fat is down 1.3%, lean body mass is up 2.6 pounds. I'm very happy with all of that so will be patient about the weight loss. 

 

While I definitely have suffered through some WD, this has been a piece of cake compared to how I felt when I started taking Mirtazapine and throughout most of my taper. When I started, I was sleeping only 1-2 hours/night, startled awakde with a jerk, had RLS. I think I had just about every side effect (including SI and extreme anxiety) there is except headaches and brain zaps. So the few things I have now are very mild in comparison. 

 

Now It's just a waiting game. I hope this brings you some hope that one day you'll be free too. If you are tapering, I recommend the low hyperbolic route. It was 3 years for me from 7.5mg. Also there is a new FB group I highly recommend called Mirtazapine Warriors. It is very supportive with lots of people experienced in tapering and knowledgeable about Mirtazapine. 

 

[mariamisery]

Glad you are doing ok. I have  researched to see if air hunger goes away after withdrawal is complete?  I  found a few that said it does but not a lot of information about WD symptoms for mirt.  You are the only recent person that took mirtazapine about the same as me. Thanks for your updates.

[Hibari]

1 hour ago, Gigi68 said:

Week 5 Update- After 5 weeks there doesn't seem to be much change. Still have the following symptoms: insomnia tinnitus, fatigue, sometimes dry nose lips, eyes, plugged up ears internal tremors (less frequent and only at night). The cough I had earlier is back along with air hunger. This and the full ears are the only symptoms that are newer. They started a couple of months before I quit Mirtazapine. 

 

I have been taking a half dose of Quercitin with Bromelain before breakfast and dinner and sometimes stinging nettle tincture between meals. I think it's helping the the full ears and definitely with the cough and air hunger. 

 

During my taper, I often used CBD:CBN to help with sleep but I've tried to stay away from it now that I'm off. Friday night, I was so frustrated at being awake again at 2:30 a.m., I took a half dose of the most potent gummy I have. It knocked me out for 3 hours. I woke up very groggy and needed a good nap the next day, but by afternoon I felt great. Saturday night I slept 6+ hours, was awake briefly and then slept 2 more hours. 

 

Finally, I haven't lost anymore weight. I have 10 pound yet to lose. However, I started a new weight lifting program 5 months ago and am progressively lifting heavier weights. I weigh the same 5 months ago as I do now. Using the free app Me Three Sixty, I have lost 1+ inches from my chest, waist, stomach and hips. My body fat is down 1.3%, lean body mass is up 2.6 pounds. I'm very happy with all of that so will be patient about the weight loss. 

 

While I definitely have suffered through some WD, this has been a piece of cake compared to how I felt when I started taking Mirtazapine and throughout most of my taper. When I started, I was sleeping only 1-2 hours/night, startled awakde with a jerk, had RLS. I think I had just about every side effect (including SI and extreme anxiety) there is except headaches and brain zaps. So the few things I have now are very mild in comparison. 

 

Now It's just a waiting game. I hope this brings you some hope that one day you'll be free too. If you are tapering, I recommend the low hyperbolic route. It was 3 years for me from 7.5mg. Also there is a new FB group I highly recommend called Mirtazapine Warriors. It is very supportive with lots of people experienced in tapering and knowledgeable about Mirtazapine. 

 

Always great to hear your updates @Gigi68.  You have been a calm voice of reason on this site. 

 

From how you're doing, I believe you will be feeling better as the months go on. All these wacky symptoms will start to drop away. 

 

Hibari 

 

 

[Gigi68]

Week 6 update- I've now been off Mirtazapine for 6 weeks. This past week has been similar to week 5 but there are some subtle signs of improvement. I took quercitin with bomelain and occasional stinging nettle for 10 days to help with a dry cough and air hunger. I haven't taken any for the past 3 days. Those symptoms ate gone at least for now. I also had been sneezing 3-5 times a day but have only sneezed a couple of times in the past few days. Lots of pollen in the air here right now so I'm doing well there. My ears are still plugged up for much of the day but there are periods when they are clear. Sleep wise, I had two back to back nights of really good sleep. I was hoping that was the new normal but unfortunately the past two nights have not been so good. I wish there was some way to predict which nights will be bad, but I can't find any patterns. Otherwise I experienced a few days of extreme fatigue. Many days though, I feel great, much like the old me. I am able to go on longer hikes and am still lifting weights. Still have tinnitus and haven't lost any more weight (lost 20# but gained back 30). It's been a very slow process but I'm optimistic that things will continue to improve. 

[Gigi68]

Week 7 Update   Last Monday I overdid it. I went on a 3 1/2 hour hike. The hike wasn't difficult; we were just exploring a new area. We walked about 4 miles with 450' of elevation gain. Afterward we went to lunch so I was out and about for almost 6 hours which included some driving time. I was just exhausted when I got home and had a very difficult time sleeping that night. Took it easy the next day and felt better. Thursday into Friday were great- a 30 hour window and a good (for me) night's sleep. Here are a few things that are noticeably better: clarity (no more leaving a gas burner on or writing a check incorrectly), cough and air hunger gone, nighttime internal tremors less frequent, less sneezing, ear fullness improving, morning wake up much more pleasant, nicer dreams, shorter naps. Tinnitus continues but may be quieting down some (fingers crossed). Weight is unchanged. I went on another 4 mile hike Sunday with 800' elevation gain followed by lunch. I felt much better this time. Sleep is still often difficult. I'm ready for it to improve. 

[Gigi68]

Week 8 Update  My ear fullness issue is almost completely resolved. A couple of weeks ago, I could barely hear with my right ear. I almost made a dr. appt but then I realized he would just tell me to take an antihistamine. That's not happening! My hearing is back to what it was before and my ears are usually clear. The bad thing about last week was some incredible fatigue most days. However, one day I forgot to take my fish oil supplement. No fatigue but when I took it the next two days the fatigue was bad again. I was curious about fish oil and fatigue. A goole search found a number of sites saying fish oil can cause fatigue. I have tested that the past two days and the fatigue is much less. Mirt WD sure requires constant questioning and investigation that unfortunately medical personnel are not equipped to understand let alone deal with. Now I'm faced with the decision to CT fish oil or taper off just in case. I've decided I will take 2 capsules instead of the 3 I was taking. Also, I used to take it in the morning but will now take it at night. Maybe it will even help with sleep. I am sleeping about 7 hours a night but with usually a 1 /12 hour to 2 hours of awake time in the night. I'm getting lots of reading done and often listen to a Yoga Nidra. If the fatigue resolves now, I'll be down to insomnia (manageable) and tinnitus. The tinnitus sometimes seems better, sometimes not. Other good news- I've lost another pound so down 3# now.