glina Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 hello . . . glad to have found you. i've put my medicine information in my signature. i've been withdrawing from mirtazapine (remeron) VERY SLOWLY since 2013. i count myself very very fortunate that the physician's assistant overseeing this medicine is mostly supportive of me withdrawing (about 90% supportive, 10% skeptical). he has a caring, flexible, consistent disposition and listens, takes my seriously, and seems to mostly have faith in me. this support from a medical professional is extremely rare;--and the first time i have really experienced such support--i value it completely and it is going a long way toward my reducing and perhaps even withdrawing from mirtazapine altogether. withdrawing has been extremely difficult for me (but, for sure, i don't have to tell anyone else here that) and i need to add peer support to the support from my physician's assistant. (for me, as with so many others, there is no support from family and to ask for it would be disastrous . . . and friends, well i'm afraid even their best efforts would amount to stress (not a criticism of them, just a reality--i've accepted it). so here i am . . . and glad you'll have me. my approach to withdrawing has been to reduce 7.5mgs from one day's dose only and hold there until withdrawal symptoms settle down and I am ready to reduce again, then begin the next reduction on a day that isn't back-to-back with the last one. for example: mon 15mgs tues 7.5mgs wed-sun 15mgs then: mon 15mgs tues 7.5mgs wed-thur 15mgs fri 7.5mgs sat-sun 15mgs and, so on. as with so many others, i'm experiencing the ugly, the bad, and the good of withdrawal . . . i'd like to put more about that in another post . . . right now i'm pooped for having typed this introduction. again . . . so glad you are here "surviving . . . " . . . thank you so much. mirtazapine (remeron) since 2000 (15 years); withdrawing VERY SLOWLY since 2013; current dose withdrawing from: 15mgs/day (from 2013 top dose of 45mgs/day); various other "mind" medications prescribed 2000-2012--have withdrawn from those prescribed long term, had quite bad reactions to the others early on and they were stopped soon enough that withdrawal was difficult but limited. "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill Link to comment
Hudgens Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Not really sure what your tapering schedule is. But if you're going up and down from one day to the next, you're doing something potentially very destabilizing to your nervous system. What you should do is make a drop of no more than 10% of your current dose, then wait until you feel stabilized-(one month, 2,3 however long it takes), before making another drop. You can't avoid some withdrawal no matter how ideal a taper, but this way you can avoid a lot of unnecessary suffering. Sept 12th 1992-began taking Imipramine (50mgs) for panic attacks. Stopped Imipramine after 4 months (cold turkey). 7 months later experienced "mysterious" bad flu-like symptoms, although, without upper respiratory problems or fever. Because of this and a day of panic attacks, was put on Prozac (20mgs?) for 2 months and then, when that didn't work-was put back on Imipramine, plus Xanax 1 mg (4Xdaily)-October 1993. March 1999-switched from Imipramine (50mgs) to Celexa. 2008-switched to Pristiq for 3 months, then back to Effexor XR (after bad reaction to the Pristiq). Sept 1st 2010-Switched from Effexor XR (75mgs) to Effexor Generic (solid form) in preparation for taper. Nov 15th 2010-Began tapering from 75mgs Effexor Generic. January 13th 2014-.06mgs April 17th 2014- .03mgs May 11th 2014- .02mgs Ended taper October 31st 2014 Oct 4th 2015-11 months post taper and completely back to normal! Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ten0275 Posted March 4, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 4, 2015 glina, hey.welcome to the forum. very cool of you to put your drug history in your signature straightaway.you've written a very informative introduction. thank you for that. i too am withdrawing from mirtazapine. i have been on it for slightly longer than you, with a cold turkey and reinstatement thrown in just prior to the time you started (wisely) tapering very slowly. i tapered from 30mg down to my current 1.9mg. i am glad you have a supportive health care professional you feel comfortable with. that can be a huge asset. i have seen the alternating dose method you are using. i can't recall where. i will need to do some research. but i do question whether this is advisable as a mirtazapine dose reduction is typically not felt until one to two weeks after a cut is made. how is it working for you thus far?it's great to have you here, though i am sorry for the circumstances that brought you. i will be following your progress with interest.hang in there.dave 1996 - .5mg Ativan as needed, 7.5mg Remeron daily2008 - .5mg Xanax, Ativan discontinued, Remeron continued2012 - .5mg Xanax, .25mg Ativan 3x daily, Remeron continued2/2012 - Jumped from Remeron, continued .5mg Xanax .25mg Ativan 3x daily4/2012 - Began rapid taper of .5mg Xanax .25mg Ativan 3x daily6/2012 - Jumped from Xanax and Ativan, voluntary hospitalization followed7/2012 - 2nd voluntary hospitalization, reinstated Remeron, bumped to 30mg, also given risperidone.8/2012 - discontinued risperidone, tried gabapentin, dicontinued gabapentin, Remeron 30mg continued10/2012 to current - tapered Remeron 10% every 4 to 6 weeks (sometimes more time) using liquid compound12/2014 - 2mg Remeron 1/16/2015 - 1.9mg Remeron 8/1/2015 -1.6mg Remeron - 03/1/2016 - 1.5mg Remeron - 1/2/2017 1.3mg - 5/7/2017 1.2mg - 5/13/2017 - syringe size change - 6/8/2017 - 1.1mg - 7/10/2017 - 1mg - 9/1/2017 - 0.9mg - 10/22/2017 - 0.8mg - 11/22/2017 - 0.7mg - 2/2/2018 - 0.6mg - 3/13/2018 - new compound pharmacy - 5/20/2018 - 0.5mg - 8/31/2018 - 0.4mg - 11/16/2018 - 0.3mg - 12/24/2018 - 0.2mg - 4/1/2019 - 0.1mg - 5/1/2019 - .05mg - 0mg achieved 2019-06-15. 🤞 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 4, 2015 Administrator Share Posted March 4, 2015 Welcome, glina. For people who are sensitive to dosage changes, as you are, going up and down in dosage may cause problems, particularly at lower dosages. We advise slow and steady rather than slow and erratic. Please read this topic Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine) This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus dalsaan Posted March 5, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 5, 2015 Hi glina, First of all, congratulations on having the courage and determination to come off and for getting down from 45 to 15. Clearly, your strategy has done ok for you so far, athough I dont know how ugly things have got at times and whether a more steady plan might have avoided that. I will say that the further down you go the harder it gets and so I wouldn't assume that what has been ok in the past will be ok in the future. I have had to have longer holds between drops and have had to decrease my drops by minute amounts. Read the link provided by Alto and come back and share your thoughts/questions etc. I'm always delighted to see another mirtazapine hostage kicking it to the curb! Dalsaan Please note - I am not a medical practitioner and I do not give medical advice. I offer an opinion based on my own experiences, reading and discussion with others.On Effexor for 2 months at the start of 2005. Had extreme insomnia as an adverse reaction. Changed to mirtazapine. Have been trying to get off since mid 2008 with numerous failures including CTs and slow (but not slow enough tapers)Have slow tapered at 10 per cent or less for years. I have liquid mirtazapine made at a compounding chemist. Was on 1.6 ml as at 19 March 2014. Dropped to 1.5 ml 7 June 2014. Dropped to 1.4 in about September. Dropped to 1.3 on 20 December 2014. Dropped to 1.2 in mid Jan 2015. Dropped to 1 ml in late Feb 2015. I think my old medication had run out of puff so I tried 1ml when I got the new stuff and it seems to be going ok. Sleep has been good over the last week (as of 13/3/15). Dropped to 1/2 ml 14/11/15 Fatigue still there as are memory and cognition problems. Sleep is patchy but liveable compared to what it has been in the past. DRUG FREE - as at 1st May 2017 >My intro post is here - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2250-dalsaan Link to comment
glina Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 hudgen, ten, altostrata, dalsaan, thanks so much for your kindnesses . . . they go a long way. also . . . congratulations on your struggles and successes withdrawing . . . you've earned your stripes, and then some, for sure. peace. mirtazapine (remeron) since 2000 (15 years); withdrawing VERY SLOWLY since 2013; current dose withdrawing from: 15mgs/day (from 2013 top dose of 45mgs/day); various other "mind" medications prescribed 2000-2012--have withdrawn from those prescribed long term, had quite bad reactions to the others early on and they were stopped soon enough that withdrawal was difficult but limited. "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill Link to comment
glina Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 some of the reasons why reducing (and perhaps eventually stopping) mirtazapine is right for me: suicidal thoughts are decreasing (perhaps eventually they will completely, or mostly, cease) range and depth of emotions are increasing (this is nice . . . good . . . hopeful) "medicine hangover" in the morning, and generally during the day, is decreasing--still fatigued but a bit less so constant "automatic" sense of always needing to eat is decreasing and some "medicine pounds" have come off without a lot of effort peace as best you may have it. glina mirtazapine (remeron) since 2000 (15 years); withdrawing VERY SLOWLY since 2013; current dose withdrawing from: 15mgs/day (from 2013 top dose of 45mgs/day); various other "mind" medications prescribed 2000-2012--have withdrawn from those prescribed long term, had quite bad reactions to the others early on and they were stopped soon enough that withdrawal was difficult but limited. "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill Link to comment
glina Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 currently: mon 15mgs tues 7.5gms wed 15mgs thur 15 mgs fri 7.5mgs (most recent reduction) sat 15mgs sun 15mgs have been on this schedule for about 3 weeks. various unpleasant (that's an understatement) withdrawal symptoms--physical head-to-toe; cognitive; emotional--have come, crested, and now seem to be slowly decreasing (so far akin to what i have experienced with previous reductions). i will stay on this schedule until withdrawal symptoms are gone--or at least low enough--and i feel recuperated enough and have energy enough for the next reduction. i know that i am approaching reductions differently than what is generally recommended. extraordinary (very bad) circumstances, not of my making and far beyond my ability to change, make this the least worst approach for me. I have had to accept this and move ahead as best i can. i have three previous complete "mind medicine" withdrawals under my belt. i cannot say i have gotten used to the difficulties of reducing/withdrawal--how does one ever really do that--just that some of the lesson of first withdrawal have helped with the second . . . and so on. another reason why reducing (and perhaps eventually stopping) mirtazapine in right for me: a bit more able to tell what are symptoms of the medical conditions mirtazapine is supposed to help and what are mirtazapine side effects--this is helping me care for the medical conditions a little better. peace, glina mirtazapine (remeron) since 2000 (15 years); withdrawing VERY SLOWLY since 2013; current dose withdrawing from: 15mgs/day (from 2013 top dose of 45mgs/day); various other "mind" medications prescribed 2000-2012--have withdrawn from those prescribed long term, had quite bad reactions to the others early on and they were stopped soon enough that withdrawal was difficult but limited. "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill Link to comment
glina Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 some things that sometimes help me a bit with withdrawal symptoms: accepting them for what they are . . . trying not to feel upset about feeling upset . . . and reminding myself that they may eventually pass patience . . . lots and lots and lots of patience mild exercise when tolerated other distractions when possible simple foods/meals heating pad on low seating for some of the muscle aches something that might help during the next dose reduction: making some simple meals and freezing them so will only need to thaw and heat them mirtazapine (remeron) since 2000 (15 years); withdrawing VERY SLOWLY since 2013; current dose withdrawing from: 15mgs/day (from 2013 top dose of 45mgs/day); various other "mind" medications prescribed 2000-2012--have withdrawn from those prescribed long term, had quite bad reactions to the others early on and they were stopped soon enough that withdrawal was difficult but limited. "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill Link to comment
leahy Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 15 horrible years on Remeron and I want off this med so badly! I began to reduce remeron from 45 to 30 on February 14 and requested by my Psych/doctor. (I was taking 90 mg at one time - it's all a blur) After my March 13 appointment I was to told to hold at 30. Not knowing about wd I decided to stop completely for 2 days. Then because of sleep issues reinstated the 30. I also had a migraine that wouldn't quit. I felt so ill - nauseous and severe migraine for WEEKS nonstop. After 14 days I sought medical attention from my internist. She prescribed Fiorocet and that I see a nuerologist because she could find nothing wrong with me. All this led me here searching for answers/help/any tip at all. So thank you for being here. I too am trying Glinda's method. I figure I always fell terrible anyway I might as well accomplish something while I am suffering. This month I went back to 30 for a while, then to 15 for 2 days. In the middle of the thied night I had to get up and take the second 15 to get back to sleep. so 15, 15, 30, 22.5, 22.5. I'm hoping this woks. Its the terrible awakenings that are the most difficult. I can't think straight, feel confused, randomly lost my train of thought mid sentence. For now, I live for your postings. You are all I have. Oh my, that sounded depressed. I am not. I'm just feeling sick and want to get well and get my mind back. God bless all of you. ~Leahy 2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg 2015 Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April Rem 22.5, May Rem 30 xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 2016 Jan Rem 20 xanax 2, Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg Link to comment
leahy Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I wrote that incorrectly. Sorry. I went from 60 mg in Feb. To 45 in March. Then to 30 in April. Here I am trying to compromise at 22.5. I don't want to take 18 months or years even to get off this evil drug. Leahy 2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg 2015 Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April Rem 22.5, May Rem 30 xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 2016 Jan Rem 20 xanax 2, Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg Link to comment
Ginger Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Welcome aboard glina. Your list of things you find helpful in withdrawal is excellent. 40 mg Paxil for 2.5 years Quit cold turkey March 2006 WIthdrawal painful but gradually felt better after a year or so. Now, ten years out, life has its problems because life is life But I am so happy and grateful for my life. Link to comment
Hopefull Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Hi Glina, I am also coming of Mitrazapine. Welcome and I hope that we can all support each other, while getting of Mitrazapine. It can be tough and testing at times. But there is a happy ending in sight. DRUG HISTORY: November 2013- Zoloft, ( Bad reaction). January 2014 - March 2014 Seroquel.( Quit Cold Turkey). January2014- Mirtazapine, I was taking 15mg at one stage, reduced to 7.5mg, Pgad reactions to Mirtazapine. Doctor kept increasing it to 37.5mg, until July 2014. No improvement, experiencing panic attacks, on 37.5 mg. I had enough by October 2014. Began tapering. October 2014- Started tapering Mirtazapine from 37.5mg. September 2015- Down to 4mg of Mirtazapine. Crashed. September 16th- Up dosed to 5mg. Held this dose for almost 5 months. Stabilised. February 2016- Began tapering again. From 5mg to 4.5mg of Mirtazapine. (Rocking the boat, again)! Lol. Link to comment
Ginger Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Glina, I quit ct because I didn't know better--We need all the breaks we can get when we get off these meds, ct throws obstacles in a rough road to victory but you are on your way. Your list really is inspiring. It's natural to look for complicated solutions when simple is not only better it is all we can handle when we are messed up in wd. Use your list, add to it when you find something that works. 40 mg Paxil for 2.5 years Quit cold turkey March 2006 WIthdrawal painful but gradually felt better after a year or so. Now, ten years out, life has its problems because life is life But I am so happy and grateful for my life. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted April 13, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 13, 2015 Hi Glina, I am just catching up as I haven't been around much recently. I have to ask you to consider holding your 15mg dose for a few weeks to give your brain and nervous system a chance to stabilise, then restart your taper when there are no more signs of withdrawal. We do not recommend this kind of taper here because it is destabilising and you are feeling withdrawal symptoms. Tapering slowly and consistently means that you can be free with little discomfort. This topic is 'why taper 10%' http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/ Some people need to go very, very slowly with very tiny cuts http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2364-the-slowness-of-slow-tapers/ And some prefer the micro taper of 5% cuts more often http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2878-micro-taper-instead-of-10-or-5-decreases/ **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 13, 2015 Administrator Share Posted April 13, 2015 glina and leahy -- please do NOT follow a pattern of inconsistent dosing to taper. Rather, very gradually reduce your dosage in a smooth pattern. Please read the links we post for you, the methods are explained there. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
leahy Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thank you, Alto. I intend to do a slow taper as you suggested. I am waiting to re-stabilize on 30mg and taper from there when I feel well. 2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg 2015 Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April Rem 22.5, May Rem 30 xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 2016 Jan Rem 20 xanax 2, Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg Link to comment
glina Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 been thinking about this for a while . . . i'm approaching dose reductions in a way that is not generally recommended. very extraordinary (that is very bad) circumstances make it so i have to approach reducing this way. it's not ideal . . . i just have to make the best of it and move forward as best i can. my circumstances aren't really appropriate for the forum . . . what i mean is, i don't want to inadvertently encourage anyone else to try the approach that i'm using. so, with some sadness, i'm going to step back from posting. it's been nice getting to know some folks here a bit. thanks for your kindness and encouragement . . . it goes a long way. here's to all of us feeling better over time. peace as best you may know it, glina mirtazapine (remeron) since 2000 (15 years); withdrawing VERY SLOWLY since 2013; current dose withdrawing from: 15mgs/day (from 2013 top dose of 45mgs/day); various other "mind" medications prescribed 2000-2012--have withdrawn from those prescribed long term, had quite bad reactions to the others early on and they were stopped soon enough that withdrawal was difficult but limited. "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill Link to comment
leahy Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 All the best to you, Glina. I wish you a good and speedy recovery. Thanks for letting me know. :-) 2001-2007 Rem 90 mg, xanax 2 mg synthroid 112mcg - 2007-2014 Rem 60 mg xanax 3-4 mg 2015 Feb Rem 45 mg xanax 2 mg, March Rem 30 xanax 2, April Rem 22.5, May Rem 30 xanax .25x4 hrs, June Rem 26 xanax 2-3, July Rem 22.5 xanax 2, Aug Rem 15 xanax 2, Sept Rem 22 xanax 2, Oct Rem 18 mg xanax .25 mg /4 hrs, Nov Rem 23 mg xanax .5mg, Dec Rem 24 xanax 2 2016 Jan Rem 20 xanax 2, Feb Rem 18 mg xanax 1.5, Feb Rem 14 12 mg xanax 1 mg, March Rem 10 9 mg xanax 1-2 mg Rem 7.3 8 xanax 1-2, April Rem 10 12 mg xanax 2 mg, May Rem 11 xanax 1 .75mg Nov Rem 10mg Xanax 2mg 2017 May Rem 10.25 Xanax 1 mg, November Xanax 1mg Link to comment
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