AddyA: 3.75mg Mirtazapine taper

[AddyA]

Let me introduce myself. I am relatively new to the forums and I also don’t have years of experience of using antidepressants. It all began in Jan 21 with stomach flu/diverticulitis which put me on bed with swollen tummy and 0 sleep for 2 months. Only confirming after my colonoscopy that I don’t have cancer the doctor gave me antibiotics which I took and all my tummy symptoms were gone in March. But by then it was too late as my sleep was completely ruined by Amitriptyline/zolpidem and I was having anxiety/panic attacks every moment and I can tell you it was so bad that I was thinking that I am going to die all the time. After trying for one whole month to sleep on my own with no sleep aid (and no sleep in March) I was thinking of dying from Insomnia and accepted the fact that I need some medical help although I was quite reluctant. I had to take Mirtazapine as it has sedating side effect and my doctor thought it would be good for me as I lost 13 Kg. The doctor gave me 15mg but I started with 3.75mg(quarter dose) and I felt all the side effects for 8 wks but persevered on the same dose even after being asked by my doctor to increase the dosage and take Escitalopram during the day as well to cope with all the symptoms. Now I am used to Mirtz 3.75mg and the dosage and the anxiety/panic attack symptoms frequency has also been reduced but not gone completely. I do sleep now but it is drug induced and only give me 4-5 hrs with some very awful sleepless nights so I am trying to look for ways to sort out my Insomnia without increasing the dose and get rid of this horrible antidepressant business. Can somebody please suggest the accurate measurements for 3.75mg Mirtz taper? I’ll be really grateful. At the moment I am sleeping better and my doctor wants me to take the drug until September but I am scared that within 3 months how would I manage.

 

Currently on

 

Mirtazapine - 3.75mg orodispersible tab since 26 Mar 21, consistently sleeping through the nights for the past 1 wk but having all sorts of issues during the day. Fatigue, tiredness, shaky hands, headache, racing heartbeat occasionally, shortness of breath sometimes, weakness and body pains esp back and neck. I only take prebiotics and herbal Saffron elixir for health.

Edited June 21, 2021 by Gridley

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, AddyA.

 

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.  You can simply copy the following information from your post:

 

Mirtazapine - 3.75mg orodispersible tab since 26 Mar 2021

 

Use this link and press "save."  You'll need to use a computer rather than a phone.  Here's the link:

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

To taper your 3.75mg Mirtazapone, we recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

There are several methods you can use to get the small, non-standard doses you'll need for your taper.  The following link contains information describing these methods.  Tapering with a prescription liquid is a convenient, accurate way to taper.  According to our information,  in the UK, mirtazapine liquid is available from Rosemont Pharmaceuticals in Leeds.  You can check to see if this is available.  Other methods described in the link include using a compounding pharmacy and weighing doses using a digital scale such as the Gemini-20 scale, available on Amazon.  

 

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 are 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.

 

 

[AddyA]

Lets see my signature changes or not.

[AddyA]

Good it does. Gridley I need help as last night I converted the orodisp tab 3.75mg Into a liquid(water) mixture by drawing 3.75ml water with a syringe and putting it in a container but some of the powder got stuck when I mixed the tab and redraw the solution in the same syringe. My CNS has detected that there is some change last night and I woke up at 4, couldn’t go back to sleep and feeling really worse (than previous wk) today. Since morning I am nauseous and really feeling tired. During the night I was having palpitations and shortness of breath whilst lying down after 4(usual but it hasn’t happened since I stabilised). Should I continue with this method or should there be any other equipment i need to make sure that the powder particles that are left behind in the container should not be left behind.

[AddyA]

Hi, 

Really need somebody to help me. I switched from Mirtazapine tablets to liquid from Rosemont pharma which is 1ml eq. to 15mg on 8 Aug. As I was taking 3.75mg I started with .25ml(3.75mg) and every week I have been reducing a drop without much trouble. I did have tingling and headaches as well as severe back and neck pain when I dropped to 4 drops but I managed somehow. Now for the past 2 days I am on 3 drops(.3ml or .75mg approx). My sleep has become limited to 4-5hrs. The trouble is I couldn’t go to sleep without any medicine. So I lie down at 11 and wait to fall asleep but by 1-1.30 if I am still awake I take the medicine and within half hr I start snoring(deep sleep). Another trouble is I wake up with severe headache (almost swollen head) and feel nauseated as well as constipated. But the body ache and pain goes on during the day with full intensity. I have read that the intensity should decrease with decreasing dosage but in my case its increasing as I slowly and gradually decreasing the dose. I know I am following a weekly drop but I am managing well and listening to my body and felt comfortable that way as my daytime headache was getting lower and lower and ear ringing was also getting better. Its only when I hit 4 drops the real trouble began. Now I am shaken internally that when I reach on 1 drop my aches and pains would become 3 fold. Please somebody advice what should I do as I am planning to hold for a moment and then drop in a few weeks time. Also is there a way possible where I can dilute a liquid drop of Mirtazapine(~.25mg) further so that I can go on with my tapering like .20mg, .15mg, .1mg, .05mg and reduce even further or stop.

Thanks. 

[AddyA]

Hi all

 

Undergoing withdrawal after stopping Mirt on 3 Nov 2021. Need advise on weird headache/very heavy head everyday as well as stiff neck as well as cramps/spasms all around the body(hands and legs). Body weakness and pain is really debilitating at times. Not a single day of relief since stopping this nasty poison. I am not taking any more meds for that. Just want to know how I should manage as working from home and sometimes the suffering takes over the brain and can’t sit down to work at all peacefully. Any good words would be more than welcome.

 

Thanks

 

[Mario77]

Hang in there. I am on mirt, too, beside 2 other drugs. It will pass.

[slowphie]

@AddyACongrats for tapering off Mirtazapine. I’m sorry to read that the withdrawal is so unpleasant. I hope you’re feeling better. 

[AddyA]

Not really Slowphie. I am still getting up with a very heavy head in the morning (feels like my head has been used as a football during sleep). i feel terrible with head pressure and neck pain. The physio last week suspected I have developed occipital neuralgia. I am not sure how long it’s going to go on. Please stop taking Mirt by slowly tapering it. I am not sure how you feel on it, but for me it was a poison.

[slowphie]

@AddyA Ouch! I’m so sorry. 😞 I started tapering Mirt after 3 months of use. Wish I would have started off down at 3.75mg like you. 🥲 Unfortunately from 15mg, it’s going to easily take me over a year to taper off. 

[AddyA]

Thats true. Get the liquid if you can, that will help. I am not sure in Germany whether its available. Keep in touch if you need any help.

[slowphie]

@AddyAthanks so much! Unfortunately I can’t get liquid in Germany, but my husband is helping me shave down the pills with a razor and it’s going okay so far. In my 5th week of tapering currently. 

[AddyA]

OK. Find a pill cutter if you can. I had 15mg tablets which I use to cut in quarters. Using just a razor is not very accurate. As I said I was very sensitive to any changes thats why i used to have precise pills. I dont know how sensitive you are.

[slowphie]

@AddyA thanks for the suggestion! I forgot to mention, we also have a scale… so we’re not just guessing. 😊 Did you have any withdrawal during your taper, or only after you stopped?

[AddyA]

I had terrible almost debilitating symptoms during taper mainly because of severe headache, nausea, cramps and constipation from day 1 but I persevered as I haven’t slept for 3 months. I had terrible cognitive issues as well where I was loosing my speech and unable to focus or concentrate on daily activities such as opening my laptop and do some work. I also developed having anxiety as well. When I started to sleep for 2-3 hours I started my taper as I knew I couldn’t bear the side effects. But after I stopped taking Mirt, first 8 weeks were OK where I was trying to improve my sleep (which is now 4-5 hrs at most) despite severe morning sickness and headaches. After 8 weeks I have started having all sorts of aches and pains including severe headache (i feel the backside of the skull has become brittle or cracked) and neck stiffness. Anxiety is also there but the intensity has reduced a bit. My body is still a complete mess. I also had physiological issues as well where I used to feel numb emotionally and physically detached from my own body (at times I could not believe how much pain and suffering my body was going through every single day). Everybody is different so you might not have what I had but at the end of the day it is an unnecessary chemical in your body and sooner or later you will feel its effect. If you are young then you might not care. I am an adult of working age. And my condition was unexpected and made so severe because of medication. I just got away by the fact that I am allowed to wfh otherwise I might have got to resign or face a sack.

[slowphie]

@AddyA I’m so sorry for what you’ve had to endure, and wish you a recovery that is as swift as possible.

 

I’m 31… so I’m definitely terrified of what Mirt could be doing to my body, and I’ve already experienced a hellish benzo withdrawal that left me with double vision, so I can’t work atm - I’m a designer.  

 

Hoping I can avoid such a disastrous Mirt withdrawal by tapering a loooot slower. 

Thanks for sharing, and once again, I’m so sorry. 

[AddyA]

I think your doctor has advised you to double your dose just after 10 days from 7.5 to 15mg.  It is not a good advise, in my opinion. Well whatever is done, it’s done now. But  please beware and do not fall into a trap of polypharmacy. Whilst you are on Mirt and believe me when you stop after your taper, you might feel like your symptoms are coming back again and again. Please do not go to the doctor asking for a different med for your life’s sake. You’ll be drugged for your life as the doctors these days have no real sense of duty of care towards patients. They are legal drug dealers literally. Even my doctor tried to give me Ecitalopram and asked me to up my dose to 45mg (can you believe it from 3.75 to 45mg) several times.

[slowphie]

@AddyAyes, unfortunately my psychiatrist really pushed me to increase to 15mg.. of course I wish I had remained at 7.5mg. I was also encouraged to go up to 30mg but refused. I’m doing my absolute best to avoid taking any other drug. I’ll just continue to slowly taper off. Thanks for sharing your concern.