hardy86: Severe fatigue 24/7 Mirtazapine hell

[hardy86]

Hi leahy

 

Thank you so much for this advice do you know where I can purchase these wrist bands? just don't wanna buy wrong 1 that doesn't work. I hope your ankle gets better soon. I pray for u.

 

Thanks a lot

[leahy]

I bought the bands at CVS pharmacy. It was a CVS brand. People often buy them to prevent seasickness before a cruise or boat trip. They are not expensive. I'm sure you could find them at any pharmacy.

 

I hope this helps a little bit.

 

Leahy

[Hopefull]

Hi Hardy86,

 

I had really bad depression post Zoloft.

I felt really horrible.

I felt like I was in the Ground Hog Day , film.

No break, every day is the same.

With all the set backs, I am better then I was at the beginning.

You will get better too.

It is extremely hard, your patience runs thin, you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

You have to be patient.

You have to learn to be patient.

Joy will return to your heart.

Get through each day, one at the time.

See a psychologist, someone that can help you.

You will work one day, take care of your self now.

Your feelings will return, it will take time.

Take care, Hopefull.

[SquirrellyGirl]

Hi hardy86, 

 

I'm sorry that you are suffering so badly; it sounds awful! I think the thing that has helped me the most is reminding myself that my WD symptoms are a sign that my brain and nervous system are healing.  You must be kind to yourself and try not to agonize over your suffering;  the more you think about it, the more you suffer.  My husband had two levels of fusion in his neck and was in such pain after the surgery, as much as before, and he complained of the pain often and declared that he wished he had never had the surgery.  Then, a few years later, I commented that he never talked about his neck hurting anymore, and was the pain that much better?  He said, no, it still hurts, but I find that it hurts more when I think about it.  :-)

 

Your neurons are trying to adapt to the change in level of drug, whether that means increasing or decreasing receptors, I don't know, but these changes take time, don't happen over night.  I don't know what it is about mirt that people have such a rough time coming off; the doctors should be required to take it themselves and then suffer through withdrawal before ever prescribing it to someone! 

 

I was put on the lowest dose, 7.5 mg, mid April, quickly went up to 37.5 mg by six weeks later, and you would think that being on it for only six weeks would make coming off easy - NOT!  My doc cut my dose by 20% and I was having burning and numbness of my lips, tongue and skin.  I learned about doing the 10% method and even those cuts lead to WD symptoms.  When you cut from 5.5 to 4.5 mg, though it seemed small, it was a 20% reduction.  I have read many stories of people having the worst time at the lowest doses.  So, doing a liquid and taking 10% of the previous dosage is the golden rule, and even then it is too much for some.  5% may be more appropriate.

 

So, try  not to despair over how badly you are feeling; acceptance and kindness to yourself are crucial.  Try to remember that these symptoms are a sign of HEALING, and then find ways to distract yourself while you calmly wait for time to pass.  I know, it is rough, but it is all we can do.  You might find Baylissa Frederick's website Recovery Road comforting.  She has a very positive attitude about WD.

 

Perhaps Emotional Freedom Techniques (tapping) might be helpful.  i know it has helped me fall asleep.  Google that and you will find youtube videos about it.

 

We are all here for you; you are not alone!

 

SG

[hardy86]

Hi leahy, hopefull, squirrellygirl

Everyone again who has commented on my page. Thank you again.

I wanna give warming hugs to use all I can't believe that I have found support like this. I would love to shout use dinner one day to show my appreciation.

 

Thanks

[hardy86]

Hi leahy, hopefull, squirrellygirl

Everyone again who has commented on my page. Thank you again.

I wanna give warming hugs to use all I can't believe that I have found support like this. I would love to shout use dinner one day to show my appreciation.

 

Thanks

[hardy86]

Hi leahy, hopefull, squirrellygirl

Everyone again who has commented on my page. Thank you again.

I wanna give warming hugs to use all I can't believe that I have found support like this. I would love to shout use dinner one day to show my appreciation.

 

Thanks

[hardy86]

Hi squirrellygirl

 

When should I start liquid? And how do I do this I live in Australia and not sure if I can get hold of this. And will it be the same brand, company aspen make my drug mirtizpine. I go funny changing brands before. Sorry for all the questions.

 

Cheers

[dalsaan]

Hi Hardy

 

Liquid is a very accurate technique so it would be good to start when you can because it gives you greater control over small dose reductions. I get my mirtazapine compounded but in don't actually know what they use.

 

You could do an experiment and try just leaving one of your tablets in a glass of water to see how well it dissolves. If it dissolves well you could try that and see how it goes. That way you are not changing what you are using

 

Dalsaan

[leahy]

Good question about liquid, Hardy. My pdoc is not knowledgeable enough to order liquid from a compounding pharmacy. I asked her today and my insurance doesn't cover compounding costs so we agreed on trying the soltabs to make my own liquid. The soltabs apparently dissolve more easily. I don't know anyone who has tried this, though. It seems like I should be able to dissolve a 30 mg, take what I need and discard the remainder. No storgae issues that way. My pharmacy had to order the soltabs so we shall see.

 

My pdoc does not believe my body knows the difference between 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.5. Annoying to say the least. It's very frustrating trying to educate people who won't even consider this possibility. This makes my headache worse.

 

I have such a bad headache today it's hard to write. Difficult.  But I am not dizzy so that's an improvement that you remind me not to forget. Thank you, Hardy.  I hope you feel a bit better today.

 

L

[hardy86]

Hi leahy

 

Ok I will give this a try put my tablets in water. I swear doc make me sick. I have learnt so much in the past 1.5 years of having this illness. I can't believe 99% if doctors don't know nothing about antidpressants it is so wrong they just prescribe it. I was shocked even more I had a specialist doc tell me when I knew nothing about withdrawal to drop from 30mg to 15mg in a week then stop completely. I can't believe it so many people will suffer like this and listen to the doc thinking they are right. I almost died after a few weeks later and had to start again and work simple things out myself ask peoples help. This really needs to stop what doc are doing it so wrong. I thought they study for years especially the psychiatrist. People need to get together in big numbers and voice there concern about this it's so dangerous. People will commit suicide stoping drugs like this. Drs need to go back and study how to come of drugs. Or take it themselves and understand what it's all about.

 

Thanks again

[hardy86]

Hi dalsaan

 

Thank you again for yr Information.

[hardy86]

* post moved from tapering section 

 

Please help me I already been suffering major depression anxiety and have not settle since u tried my last dose reduction to 4.5. Been back at 5.5 and unsettle now for 2 months and out of no where never experienced this symptom of flu, really tired, very weak, feel sick, and now
Can't even exercise no energy normally I can exercise hard but now this flu, virus all on top of me suffering depression anxiety already. I'm not sure is this just the flu or virus as it's been going around or it's mirtizpine causing this? All I want to do is mostly bed rest as I have to. I have never had this before and making things worst. Please help if you have an idea thanks.I'm hoping it's just the flu and virus and it will past. At least if I have bad depression anxiety I can go to the gym and feel better now I can't even do that in the last 4 days. I'm terribly worried this won't go away. Would really appreciate some advice

[bubble]

Hello Hardy.

 

I've moved your post from the tapering section to put t in the context of your story. We all know how dreadful withdrawal anxiety can be. But not being able to exercise for some time is not the end of the world. Can you accept that for a while you will not be able to function as you are used to?

 

It will go away for sure but pressing for this outcome will just make things wrong and ultimately make them last longer.

 

Withdrawal is an exercise in patience, acceptance and endurance. Don't let your neuroemotions control you. It's just a symptom. Whenever I felt horrible I would go to that thread to soothe myself. All our stories are so similar. I'm sure you will find many posts that will talk about you and to you: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9809-neuro-emotions/

 

Also go back to what Dalsaan has written for you:

 

Hi Hardy

Welcome to the forum from another Aussie and another mirtazapine user. I'm sorry to hear you have been struggling.

It sounds to me like psychiatric drugs haven't worked so well for you. I recommend you avoid them. There are non drug ways of dealing with anxiety and depressive symptoms. This usually means a whole of life approach - good diet, exercise, fish oil, perhaps magnesium, some mindfulness practice, avoiding stressors, indulging in things that bring you Joy, sleep.

I encourage you to listen to your body. It's telling you that at the moment it needs more sleep, smaller meals more often, less strenuous exercise, distractions from anxiety and depression and ways to feel calmer. For the latter you might like to try some qigong exercises

 

 

It's possible that it's not just your last cut that is making things hard for you but the cumulative effect of your previous cuts. It happens very often. That's why holding even when you don't have symptoms is so very important. Regardless of the cause, things will get better. Last time it took me 2 months to get better after I rushed my taper.

 

If you are more tired than usually it means your brain is using a lot of energy to recover. Allow it that.

[hardy86]

Hi bubble

 

Thank you very much for your reply.

[starburst]

 

 

I continue to wish you the best on your journey. You can do it!

[hardy86]

Hi starburst

 

That's so sweet thank you for yr kind message.

Means a lot to me.

[hardy86]

Hi everyone

 

Is it ok to take ativan when I really really need it let's say 1 a week or even 2? Taking only 0.5 mg I just don't want it to cause any problems in me settling down as I'm still in a wreck the last 2 months.

 

Thanks

[Fresh]

Hi Hardy ,    sorry that you've had such a dreadful 2 months.  It really should improve , this isn't a permanent thing.

 

Try not to take ativan more than 2/3 days in a row because it is so addictive.   You may find just that tiny dose does

the trick , and if that gives you a few hours of relief that's wonderful.

 

Best wishes ,  Fresh

[hardy86]

Hi fresh

I have been using it maybe like 6 times in 1 year but this is the worst I've been unsettle. Are you coming of mirt as well fresh? Did you use any benzo to help at bad stages?

 

Cheers

[Fresh]

Hi Hardy , I'm tapering Pristiq.   (You can see everyone's summary at the bottom of their posts).

It doesn't matter which ssri you've been taking , w/d symptoms are the same across the board.  The different

symptoms are attributable to withdrawing from all of them.

 

I've used ativan for two three day periods in the past 6 months , when my sleep was becoming disrupted.

I have 1mg tabs , which I broke in half.  Then I divided the 1/2 into 3 , and found that was enough to make a

significant difference.  When our systems are so sensitized , we only need a tiny bit.  

It's like being a cheap drunk .

 

[hardy86]

Hi fresh

 

Was it easy just to stop taking Ativan after 6 months even at that small dose for u? Or you haven't tried stopping. Not many people in this forum mention benzo use as a help. But im thinking if you use it here and there it's ok. Fresh I spoke to a few pharmacist on the phone and I ask them is this flu/ virus coming from mirtizipine or just another symptom. They told me its probably just the cold and not from med causing this because I have been withdrawing 10 months already I didn't get the flu before and my last drop of dose was 2 months ago and increased back dose 1 month ago

5.5mg to 4.5mg back to 5.5mg and staying here for a good few months ( I wanna settle )

 

Cheers

[hardy86]

Hi fresh

 

And everyone in my house has got the flu/ virus. Having depression/ anxiety bad and worst when u have another thing added it kills or your energy just have to be bed rest sux.

[Fresh]

Yup , the flu sux at the best of times.

 

I didn't explain my ativan use very well , sorry.

A couple of weeks ago I took the tiny dose (1/6 of a mg) for 3 nights in a row , and it brought my sleep

back on track.

I did the same thing about 4 months ago . . . took a tiny dose for 3 consecutive days.   That's all.

 

There is a Members Only Benzo Forum . . . look for it on the Home page.

Benzos can be useful for short spurts when things are at a crisis , but for many they just stop working so are

not generally recommended on this site.

 

Also , flu' like symptoms are a recognized w/d symptom. Try not to worry too much , it will pass.

[hardy86]

Hi fresh

 

Thanks a lot for your help. Ativan works for me abit I guess take the edge of but only here and there I have used it. Been so scared to use it cause they say addictive and I carried it on me along time and refused even through hell. But now I realised myself here and there it seems fine.

 

Cheers

[hardy86]

Hi everyone

Thought I'll ask this friendly forum for advice or any ideas. I'm currently taking 2 antidepressants

Mirtazapine 5.5mg and roboxetine 8mg. The reason I'm taking 2 antidepressants is due 2 the doctors not knowing how to withdrawal of my first drug mirt. Trying to stop my dose of 30mg to 15mg in a week and stop completely. When I was of mirt completely it was hell. Therefore doctors reinstated mirt and started mixing roboxetine in January this year. I believe I have a while to stay on mirt to slowly come off it and the same time roboxetine seems to be not really working as I still have been through severe hell depression anxiety, and continue still to have problems. Would it be wise to still take roboxetine the whole time while coming of mirt. I understand normally you should do 1 drug first. Just unsure it's hard to know what.

 

Thanks for you kind help everyone.

[Skyler]

Hi again Andy... I merged your question about tapering when on 2 antidepressants with your introduction thread as this is part of your journey and best kept in one place, and more people will read your post here. Please be mindful and only post questions to your personal thread until you get used to the way the site works.  This is the 4th thread I've merged in the last two days.  

 

Many of the people on SA are on two antidepressants at the same time.  It's best to only taper one at once and keep to the 10% off the previous month reduction rate or lower.  It's very common to have a second AD prescribed to treat WD symptoms from the first, often with no good effect..  Sounds like you need one of the AD mods to weigh in on how best to handle the recent updose of roboxetine...

[brassmonkey]

Hi Hardy-- being on two meds is pretty common here, sometimes a lot more. It is usually best to taper them one at a time so you can keep track of how you are reacting to the reductions, this thread may help you to decide which to taper first:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

Mirt is a very tricky one to taper especially at the lower doses, it must be done very slowly and methodically;

 

Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine)

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

[hardy86]

Hi skyler

Sorry I understand now to put all my infor in my page. Thanks for the help.

[hardy86]

Hi brassmonky

 

Thanks for your help.

[Hopefull]

Hi Hardy86,

You can tapper off Mirtazapine using Soltab tablets.

I have been tappering off Mirtazapine using Soltab 15mg tablets.

It is very easy.

You dissolve 15mg tablet in 15mls of water and take out what you need.

I normally pour the amount into another

medicine cup.

Ask your doctor.

It is much cheaper to tapper off Mirtazapine, using this method.

Compounding is expensive and it might not agree with you.

Stick with Rameron, Soltab and not generic brand.

Ask for the original script.

As you have found out, CT-ing Mitrazapine or any other AD'S is not easy and not a good idea , no matter what the doctors recommend.

I have tried to CT Mitrazapine last year in June, and that didn't go down very well.

 

You will get better. You will get through this hurdle.

You sound like a really nice and sweet person.

Don't loose hope. Keep going.

Be patient. Look after your self.

Best wishes, Hopefull.

[hardy86]

Hi hopefull

 

Firstly I would like to say thank you for yr kind help. I'm confuse a little sorry, so should I cut my doses to 5.5mg still as I'm doing and measuring on the digital scale?

I'm getting rob of my energy lately always feeling tired. Normally if feeling very depressed anxiety I hit the gym then feel good, but lately hit gym and feel stuffed no energy hurts I normally have a feel good period after gym. I did all my blood test all good. I did B vitamin test showed all good but my Naturalpath said to take b vitamins would I still need it? Then she wanted me to try turmeric later as well what do you reckon I read good things on turmeric.

How are you feeling? I been 2 months and 7 days of being not fully settled but depression eased a little it's hell. Did you have a long period like this and could never see hope of settling it's pain 24/7 and u start to wonder so much. I never felt good on AD but worst now I'm stuck. Cause I'm taking 2 AD roboxetine as well and just a long road ahead as I have another to come of. I see 2 years at a slow pace. I can't imagine suffering this long I don't mind coming of as long as it takes but just being bearable/ settle a little would be heaven.

 

Thanks hopefull your very kind to me.

[Fresh]

Hi Hardy ,   I think Hopefull means you can put a 15mg tablet in 15 mls of water , then draw up your 5.5mls

in a syringe.

B vitamins may energize your body , but at the same time energize your anxiety.   

 

Come in and check out the Australia room and say HI , it's in the Relationships section.

There is a class action law suit being prepared that you may wish to be involved with.

The details of who to contact are there.

 

I had it bad too Hardy , and I've recovered.  You will too.   Lesson learned for next time about

tapering too fast.  You're going to get past this in time.

[hardy86]

Hi hopefull

 

Thought I say just finish doc again and I didn't know learnt something new most doc test mainly only B12 not others like B5, B6 etc. so might just try taking a b supplement and see how I go. Took it before and seem good but stopped.

 

Thanks

[hardy86]

Hi fresh

 

It's people like you that I just keep going. You mean a lot to my recovery.

[hardy86]

Hi fresh

 

For the last 2.5 months I have not been fully settle makes life so hard cause before the big drop of around 18% from 5.5 to 4.5 I was feeling settle. Now 2.5 months later getting bad chronic fatigue here and there. And of cause depression and the rest. Did you have periods like mine that have lasted 2.5 months of hell? It just seems it never ends and I look at all my brothers and sisters and they are all happy and inside me it's all pain. I'm cutting my pills still at dose of 5.5mg is this fine to do still? It seems at least another year to go getting of this mirtizpine, then another AD after this. What dose are you on fresh? Hope your well fresh.

 

Thanks fresh