AndyC: reinstating mirtazapine after stopping for a week

[AndyC]

Hi. I’m after some advice/support.

 

I have been taking Mirtazapine prescribed for anxiety and insomnia for a total of 4 months. I started on 15gm and stayed on that dose for 6 weeks. I then increased my dosage to 22.5mg do to a stressful life event. I stayed on that dose for another 6weeks and then increased again to 30mg which I only took for 4 nights as I started getting heart palpitations. I assumed it was a side effect from the Mirtazapine but later realised it may be from the Valium that I had taken once or twice which coincided with when the palpitations started. 

Over the course of the next 3 weeks I tapered back to 7.5mg and then stopped completely for total of a week. 

the palpitations kept happening and the doctors said it’s most likely not the Mirtazapine so I reinstated at 7.5mg. 

Is that ok As I was only off it for a week?

during the week off my sleep wasn’t great and my doctor prescribed me Belsomra which I took for 5 nights. My anxiety crept back in and sleep suffered so decided to reinstate Mirtazapine at 7.5mg.

 

id like to go back to 15mg as that was helping my anxiety and sleep. At 7.5mg my sleep is not bad but anxiety is still there.

 

I’m wanting to know if I should go straight back to 15mg from 7.5 or if I should increase slowly or not at all?

 

Anxiety is quite high at times and low mood/energy. 

Not sure if increasing the dosage will help me feel better or make things worse. Do I need to stabilise first on this dose before increasing? 

thanks

 

Edited October 26, 2022 by ChessieCat
added spacing

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.

 

Is your goal for coming to our site to eventually get off drugs?  

On 10/25/2022 at 9:46 PM, AndyC said:

increased again to 30mg which I only took for 4 nights as I started getting heart palpitations. I assumed it was a side effect from the Mirtazapine but later realised it may be from the Valium that I had taken once or twice which coincided with when the palpitations started. 

It may be that you took too high a dose of mirtazapine for your system, and this may have destabilized your nervous system.  

 

And, there is a moderate interaction between mirtazapine and valium according to drugs.com: 

 

oderate

diazePAM  mirtazapine

Applies to: Valium (diazepam), mirtazapine

Using diazePAM together with mirtazapine may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you.

 

However, that doesn't include heart palpitations.  Have the palpitations resolved now that you have reinstated to 7.5 mg of mirtazapine?  

 

This is a forum for getting off drugs, so I cannot advise you on how to increase your dose to 15.0 mg mirtazapine. That is your doctors job - please discuss that with him/her.  

Edited October 31, 2022 by getofflex