Onemoreday Tapering mirtazapine and now I have Neuralgia?

[Onemoreday]

Hello, 

 

I apologize if there’s any mistake in my writing, English is not my first language.

 

I started taking 7.5 mg January 11 of 2023, I’ve had experience a lot of anxiety and OCD symptoms, I wasn’t able to sleep and that made me anxious. After one week, my GP told me to take 15 mg of mirtazapine. And, at the end of January I started taking clonazepam because I was still too anxious and unable to sleep. I never knew how much I was taking, I just knew I would take 6 drops of clonazapem all nights. This went on for like about a month. Then, I read those were addictive so I asked my GP to lower them, I was instructed to lower 1 drop every week. I was extremely anxious, I had some panic attacks and for 2 months afterward I felt strange, like there was something bad about to happen, I was afraid. I didn’t know what was happening, but it went ways eventually. 
 

After taking mirtazapine for a little bit more than 3 months. Afterwards, I didn’t want to take it anymore. My GP didn’t agree with me but i had already made my mind. 
 

 

Starting dose: 15 mg 

May 2023: 13.5 mg

June 2023: 12 mg

July 2023: 11 mg 

 

On may, I started having headaches, sore throat, nasal congestion. I was a 100% this was caused by mirtazapine, but one day I woke up and I had tonsillitis (was it caused by lowering my dose? I don’t know if that’s possible), but I had to take amoxicillin for 7 days. After stopping the antibiotics I started having some strange pain in my ear, the same side that was more affected during the tonsillitis. And after a week, I started having horrible digestive issues (Caused by mirtazapine or anitibiotics? Who knows), I had to take probiotics, anti-acids and antispasmodics for 6 weeks. I’m better now with my digestive issues, but the ear pain has become unbearable. I went to a specialist and everything is fine… I went to another doctor who said I maybe had a neuralgia, he sent me anti-inflammatories and pregabalin or even Gabapentin. I was scared to death so I said no to the second one. I’ve taken them for 7 days with no improvement. If I open my mouth, my ear hurts, it also happens if I move my neck or when I feel the pressure in my head. It throbs. 

 

is it possible that this is caused by the mirtazapine? Or could this be caused by the tonsillitis. Anyway, I’ve read tons and I’m loosing hope since it semana neuralgia isn’t curable. The only solution is to take antidepressants. Which is ironic, I’ve been trying to stop something and now I have a horrible pain that can be only treated by that thing I’m trying to get rid of.

 

I don’t know what to do with this nerve pain, does anyone has suggestions? Has this happened to anyone?

 

I really don't wan to take pregalagin, Gabapentin or any of those, since I know I’ll have to taper too. But also, the pain is SO strong, it’s nerve pain.

 

Thank you in advance for your help

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Onemoreday

 

When did you last take clonazepam? How much mirtazapine are you taking now? Please do not change your mirtazapine dosing for now.

 

On 7/25/2023 at 9:08 PM, Onemoreday said:

one day I woke up and I had tonsillitis (was it caused by lowering my dose? I don’t know if that’s possible), but I had to take amoxicillin for 7 days. After stopping the antibiotics I started having some strange pain in my ear, the same side that was more affected during the tonsillitis. And after a week, I started having horrible digestive issues (Caused by mirtazapine or anitibiotics? Who knows), I had to take probiotics, anti-acids and antispasmodics for 6 weeks. I’m better now with my digestive issues, but the ear pain has become unbearable.

 

Has an ear infection been ruled out?

 

We have seen people with histories of going on and off psychiatric drugs having bad reactions to antibiotics (and drinking alcohol).

 

On 7/25/2023 at 9:08 PM, Onemoreday said:

I’ve taken them for 7 days with no improvement.

 

What drugs are you taking?

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Onemoreday]

Hello,

 

Thank you for your answer. I took clonazepam through April. As I mentioned, I never knew how much I was taking, I just knew how many “drops”, it was called rivtoril 2.5 mg. After that, I spent 2 months with some strange paranoia / feeling, like something wasn’t right and I didn’t want to go out or anything. One day I just woke up and it was all gone, completely normal. 
 

Unfortunately I started dropping my mirtazapine yesterday 😞 I get them in a compound pharmacy so can’t go back up. I’m currently taking 10.5 mg of mirtazapine.

 

Yes, my ear is completely normal, no infection. The pain is horrendous, I can’t concentrate or do anything, it’s like if I had million of knifes. Some doctor said it was neuralgia, but I’m not completely sure so I’ll go to a neurologist. However, I’m pretty sure he’ll send me some other kind of antidepressants or anticonvulsant, like Gabapentin or pregabalin.

 

What im currently taking is 10.5 mg of mirtazapine, free histamine probiotics (that have helped so much with my gut issues after the antibiotics), Nucleo C.M.P forte, Ilacox 15 mg and an antiacid. I’ve tried so many painkillers but nothing works… 😞

 

I’m losing all hope 

[Altostrata]

@Onemoreday if the ear symptom is caused by withdrawal and you cannot adjust your mirtazapine taper, it's likely you will continue to have the ear pain. We can't do anything for a problem you're causing yourself.

 

You could put the 10.5mg capsules aside for use later and get new capsules made.