Durga: Need to wean off Mirtazapan Remeron after 1 month

[Durga]

Hello, I have been on Remeron for 1 month and need to wean off due to side effects of stiff joints and headaches.  I am on 7.5mg. What is the best way to get off this drug after 1 month? Psychiatrist says there won't be any withdrawal -- I don't buy that.  I don't want to be left unstable.  Please help me understand possible taper for 1 month use.  I have pills only. No liquid.  Thank you~

Edited March 6, 2021 by Karma
Updated name

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Durga.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

A person is at risk of withdrawal symptoms after one month's use of psychiatric drugs, so you are right on the line.  Our general recommendation is to taper by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.  Side effects often lessen as you lower your dose.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

This link is specifically about tapering remeron.  It includes information about making the small nonstandard doses needed for a taper.  It's possible that due to the short time you've been on the drug you could split your 7.5mg dose into quarters of 1.875 and taper by one quarter every four weeks.  If you experience withdrawal symptoms, you should hold until they pass then taper with the 10% method.  For this, as explained in the link, you'd need a digital scale or would need to make your own liquid.

 

Tips for tapering off mirtazapine (Remeron)

 

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that ae single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2021 by Karma
Name update

[Durga]

I forgot to mention that in the prior month, I was on hydroxyzine 25mg that helped me wean off of klonipin which I had been on for 2 months. I'm wondering if it will be hard to wean off of remeron now since technically, I was on sedating antihistamines for 2 months? So far, I cut the remeron dose frim 7.5 mg to about 5.6mg ( 3/4 of the pill.) I thought I would try that for a little and then go to 3.75mg which is 1/2 of the pill? This isn't 10%. Do folks think this might be too fast? Or since it has not been that long, I might be ok? It took me 2 weeks to wean off of 2 months on klonopin benzos but I had hydroxyzine to fall back on. Should I fall back on klonopin while I wean off of remeron/mirtazapan.

 

[Gridley]

On 3/3/2021 at 5:39 PM, ramarawal said:

So far, I cut the remeron dose frim 7.5 mg to about 5.6mg ( 3/4 of the pill.) I thought I would try that for a little and then go to 3.75mg which is 1/2 of the pill? This isn't 10%. Do folks think this might be too fast? Or since it has not been that long, I might be ok?

It might be too fast or it might be okay.  There is no way to tell.  As I said, you are right on the line at one month where you are at risk of withdrawal.  How are you doing on 3/4 of the pill? As I said, see how you do with 3/4.  If you notice withdrawal symptoms, I'd recommend holding until you stabilize then do a 10% taper.

 

We do not recommend starting other drugs, like klonopin, to help with withdrawal.

[Altostrata]

Hello, is it possible these symptoms are from benzo withdrawal? Are you feeling any benefit from Remeron?

[Durga]

When I tapered I started getting light itching and a small rash on 3/4 of mirtazapan 7.5mg pill and waking with fast heart.  I also started getting more headaches.  So I use Buteyko breathing to slow down the racing heart in the morning and taking 1 feverfew supplement capsule to take care of the headaches otherwise I would have to pop like 3 iboprofens a day, everyday.  It worked so far so after a few a days, I went down to 3.75mg and I am staying here until I can talk to a doctor.  I am sleeping less now on this dose. The itching is still there but controllable.

 

I have no idea what could be withdrawal from benzos and what could be from mirt.  I was only on 1/4 of a .5mg Klonopin for 2 months, but it could still wreak havoc I guess.  I still take it very rarely if I get too anxious, so far, that has only been like 2 x a month.

I want off of mirtazapan because the headaches seem to be from certain foods -- like I'm suddenly allergic to high histmine foods like avocados, honey, yogurt and spices like cardamum and cinnamin.  

My thighs were starting to get numb sometimes on mirt when I was on 7.5mg and now that has stopped. I was also getting pins and needs and numbness in my hands.

 

I'm worried about not being able to sleep if I get off mirtazapan, but what to do?  I have considered cannibas and or traditional kava root -- not from the U.S. and learn how to prepare it traditionally.  I have friends who are from Samoa who have been using it for anxiety and sleep for years -- I really don't know what will work.

 

I was under the care of an Ayurvedic Practitioner last year and he put me on 1500mg of ashwangandha and other supplements.  It worked, it helped me with my air hunger issue (shortness of breath) but then I suddenly became enraged after 3 months of use and then suicidal.  So I weaned myself off quickly and faced SEVERE withdrawals and I am still feeling them  -- I was never this anxious and never had insomnia until ashwangandha withdrawal so YES, CORRECT TAPERING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

 

Thanks for having this space for folks to connect regarding this matter ❤️

[Durga]

Hi,

I want to taper off of 3.75mg mirtazapan- 10% every 3-4 weeks. I can't get get syrup so I have 7.5mg tablets. I don't wanna make syrup because I have become allergic to many things due to mirtazapan. Can I crush the pills and weigh and put in gel capsules? Will I be able to metabolize in the same way? How can I get answers to these questions? Doctors and psychiatrist not helping. They say drug is non addictive but I feel every drop. Please help me get answers.

[ChessieCat]

  

31 minutes ago, Durga said:

Hi,

I want to taper off of 3.75mg mirtazapan- 10% every 3-4 weeks. I can't get get syrup so I have 7.5mg tablets. I don't wanna make syrup because I have become allergic to many things due to mirtazapan. Can I crush the pills and weigh and put in gel capsules? Will I be able to metabolize in the same way? How can I get answers to these questions? Doctors and psychiatrist not helping. They say drug is non addictive but I feel every drop. Please help me get answers.

 

Please see post #1 of this topic.  Gridley provided this link at the beginning of March in response to your first post.  There is information in this post with links about how to make your own liquid and also about weighing tablets:

 

Tips for tapering off mirtazapine (Remeron)

[ChessieCat]

Durga please create your drug signature following these instructions.  Include all drugs and supplements previous and current and include name, dates when you made a change in dose and doses.  The drug signature will appear below every post you make and will allow us to see your drug history at a glance.  Thank you.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

[getofflex]

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24389-durga-need-to-wean-off-mirtazapan-remeron-after-1-month/?do=findComment&comment=526904

 

Quoted post moved from ChessieCat: so I'm not the only one (Pristiq/desvenlafaxine)