Planningforsuccess: Remeron taper

[Planningforsuccess]

Hello,

 

I have had a rough year that all started with me just looking for help with sleep and was eventually prescribed Zeprexa, which I foolishly took for 5 months.  I then went to a psychiatrist to get off them.  She prescribed Klonipin, which I took for 2 months at 1mg, have not taken them for 17 days now.  Still taking Buspar, which will be tapered completely tomorrow and Remeron for last two months at 15mg.  I'd like advise on Remeron taper as my Dr wants me to lower to 7.5 mg to start, suggestions?

[hayduke]

Hello and welcome to SA @Planningforsuccess

 

Please start by listing your drug history in your signature.  Dates, amounts and changes will help us see your drug history more clearly and provide better assistance.

 

When you changed between all these drugs, did you just stop taking one and start the other, or cross taper?  

[Faure]

My psychiatrist said to just go from 15mg to 7.5 in one go, stay there for a week and then stop. I tried this twice. It doesn’t work. Raging insomnia within days and I reinstated immediately, fortunately with no problems.  Then I got into big trouble skipping days - don’t do this!  Now I am doing the BrassMonkey slide which is very smooth for me. Well done for coming here for advice, do be sure to do all your research first ☺️

[Planningforsuccess]

I tapered from one to the other and now just have the remeron left.  I've only been on it 2 months and it's hard to imagine a taper that will take double that time or more.  How long were you taking it before you tried cutting to 7.5 and then zero?

[Kiasofia]

After a month your brain will have adapted to the drug, but it's very individual how much it will have adapted and how fast you can taper. We advise decreasing by no more than 10% of current dose every 4 weeks. Some can taper faster and some must go slower.

 

I found this post helpful to understand what is going on and why healing takes time:

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

Here are some links about tapering:

 

Tips for tapering off mirtazapine (Remeron)

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

Why taper? Importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

Coming off these drugs can cause many different withdrawal symptoms, often leading to doctors thinking the original condition is returning or that another mental illness has emerged.

What is withdrawal syndrome?

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

The search function on this site doesn't work very well.  The best way to search this site for specific information is to use your favorite search engine. Type in survivingantidepressants.org then the symptom, treatment, supplement or information you wish to search for.

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature following these instructions:

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

To make sure someone sees your post write @ and then start typing their username so it becomes blue.

[Faure]

On 11/13/2021 at 3:01 PM, Planningforsuccess said:

I tapered from one to the other and now just have the remeron left.  I've only been on it 2 months and it's hard to imagine a taper that will take double that time or more.  How long were you taking it before you tried cutting to 7.5 and then zero?

About 3 months. Tried again after about 2 more months. Finally skipped days - got very unstable. Returned to 15mg but it was v difficult, it took about 3 -4 months for my body to adjust to the dose and I was exhausted & unstable throughout, unable to work. Pandemic started & I was able to return to small amounts of work. Took over a year to stabilise emotionally. After another 7 months I started the BrassMonkey taper which is going so well I can’t quite believe it. I’m still working only very part time but am gradually able to do more as the dose reduces. 

[Planningforsuccess]

Advice needed

 

Hello, I just met with my psychiatrist and advised how Mirtz is impacting me negatively.  On 15 mg for last 3 months and she said to stop today and start taking fluvoxamine 50 mg. 

 

Should I be concerned about stopping abruptly and starting a new one?  I'm trying to stop these meds.

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

As requested by hayduke and  Kiasofia above, please create your drug signature following these instructions:

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

Your drug signature allows the staff to see your drug history at a glance and saves them time because they do not have read back through your posts to get the information.  Please update it whenever you make a change.

 

I will let the other mods know that you need assistance.

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Planningforsuccess We'd like to know more about your drug history and whether you have withdrawal symptoms from any of the drugs you've gone off so far. In general, we don't advise changing another drug when you already have withdrawal symptoms.

 

If you don't care to supply that information, you can do it yourself without counseling from the staff, see Tips for tapering off mirtazapine (Remeron)