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orangedog - withdrawing from mirtazapine


orangedog

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Hi

 

I started withdrawing from mirtazapine 15mg at the end of March 2016, reducing by 5% every two weeks.  I've been grinding the tablets and making a liquid.  Now down to 11mg but the last couple of weeks have been feeling extremely tired and unmotivated and very low and anxious.

 

I'm not sure whether just to go back up to 15mg and stabilise on that dose again and then try withdrawing again in a few months time?

 

Thanks

 

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi orangedog and welcome to the forum.

 

Good to hear that you've been taking such a cautious approach to your taper. Each of us needs to fine tune the percentage we reduce and the time between reductions based on our symptoms. It looks as if your central nervous system (CNS) is giving you some clear signs about your tapering plan to date. It could be the % is too much, or the time between cuts is too short, or both.

 

A couple of thoughts

  • Sometimes people absorb the liquid more quickly than a tablet. Did you spend any time taking 15 mg mirt as a liquid or did you make your first 5% cut with the liquid?
  • Have you taken any time longer than 2 weeks at a given dose?  Some members here find that a longer hold helps withdrawal symptoms reduce/become more manageable. The hypothesis behind this is that making no changes for 4-6 weeks or longer gives the CNS time to readjust to the lowered dose.  
Have you read this topic in the tapering forum: Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapene)

 

Another suggestion: It helps the moderators if they can quickly see your withdrawal history. Our best tool for that is the signature that appears below every post.  Be sure to include all medications -- even non-psych drugs -- and supplements you're taking. Here's how to create yours: Please put your withdrawal history in signature

 

And a tip so that you'll be notified by email when anyone posts here in your intro thread:

  • Click on the light grey box "Follow this thread" in the upper right of this page (directly to the right of the thread title).

    Result: A dialog box appears

  • Pick a "Receive notification" option such as  "instantly" or "only when offline."
  • Click the charcoal/black "follow this topic" button.
In the next few hours, one of the moderators will see that you -- a new member -- have a question, and will post. Before making any changes to your mirtazapine dose, I'd recommend waiting to read and consider that response.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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Hi

 

Thanks for your reply. 

 

I didn't spend any time taking 15mg mirt as a liquid, just went straight from a 15mg tablet to a 14.25 as a liquid.  Have then reduced by 5% every two weeks so from 14.25 to 13.5 to 12.75 to 12 and then 11.  In the past week I have been taking a 7.5mg tablet and 3.5 as a liquid so I'm now thinking that this might have screwed things up?? 

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Administrator

Welcome, orangedog.

 

Seems to me you've done a good job with your taper. Were you taking your entire dose as a liquid, then changed to a tablet plus a liquid? When did you do this?

 

You might want to hold off tapering for now and let your nervous system settle down.

 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

A lot of people find them helpful. Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.
 

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.

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I was taking a 15mg tablet and then changed straight away to a liquid when I started tapering.  For the last week I've taken a 7.5mg tablet along with 3.5mg liquid.

 

Thanks for the info re. fish oil and magnesium, I'll take a look.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Have you experienced any change in your symptoms since switching to tablet plus liquid?

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.

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Yes I've certainly felt much more tired and more depressed.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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I'm wondering whether it's best just to go back to 15mg and attempt withdrawal again in a few months time?

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Orangedog, 

 

I would not go all the way back up to 15 if you are feeling the need to updose.  How long have these symptoms been with you?  How long after the cut did they appear?

 

I am at 11.8 and feel very fatigued upon waking, very thick-headed, takes awhile to shake it off.  Motivation very low as well, energy low.  I don't have anxiety and depression, though.  It may be this part of the taper that is tough this way, since I've read other peoples' accounts of feeling very fatigued at this stage.

 

You can either hold and see if it settles out, using the Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms, or updose to your last dose.  Going back to 15 would undo all the gains you have made, and going to the last dose or even partway to the last dose, might do the trick to fix you up.  

 

Definitely investigate that topic, because we need to have coping skills in place, self-care, to help us out when things get a little rockier than we might like  As we get lower, there may be times where bigger withdrawal symptoms come up than we'd like to endure, in which case we may need to do a small up-dose and then proceed with even smaller cuts.  Reading by Braille, so to speak!

 

SG

Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac.  Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002
Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history.  Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots!
Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off.  Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep.

June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened!  Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015.

Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month.

12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 

Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18:  2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor

 

My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, orangedog.

 

I noticed you have sertraline listed in your signature and it was added and then increased while you've been on mirtazapine. Did your doctor add this because the mirtazapine wasn't working for your depression? Can you tell us a bit more about the sertraline? 

 

 

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Mirtazapine was only started to help with sleep. The sertraline was introduced for depression.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

How is your sleep now, orangedog? I'm concerned that coming off the mirtazapine first may make your insomnia much worse, especially when you start your sertraline taper. Mirtazapene actually becomes more sedating at lower doses because of its affinity for histamine receptors, and I'm afraid if you come off the mirtazapine, you'll be left on sertraline, which many people report to be a "stimulating" medication that can increase insomnia.

 

Many people fail at coming off these drugs due to insomnia, so this is something to take into consideration. Please see the thread Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapene) for more information on mirtazapene's sedative properties at lower doses. 

 

I'm going to ask the other moderators to weigh in on this and give you some more feedback. In the meantime, here are some more links to read over:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline)

 

What is withdrawal syndrome? 

 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Wishing you much luck and healing. I'm glad you found our forum. 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey O-dog - It's late here, I don't have much to add, other than to ask why are you tapering the mirtazapine?

 

Do you intend to stay on the sertraline when you are done with mirtazapine taper?

 

Would you consider reducing your sertraline before coming off mirtazapine entirely?

 

The mirtazapine appears to have been prescribed in response to side effects from the sertraline (induced insomnia).  

 

Shep gave you all the links I would - I would like to know more about your thinking, and what your long term plans are here.

 

Congratulations on using the slow taper.  Be thankful that you have done the gradual thing - you still have a good deal of control over your situation here, and for that, I am thankful too.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey O-dog - It's late here, I don't have much to add, other than to ask why are you tapering the mirtazapine?

 

Do you intend to stay on the sertraline when you are done with mirtazapine taper?

 

Would you consider reducing your sertraline before coming off mirtazapine entirely?

 

The mirtazapine appears to have been prescribed in response to side effects from the sertraline (induced insomnia).  

 

Shep gave you all the links I would - I would like to know more about your thinking, and what your long term plans are here.

 

Congratulations on using the slow taper.  Be thankful that you have done the gradual thing - you still have a good deal of control over your situation here, and for that, I am thankful too.

Hi everyone

 

Sorry for the late reply.

 

I've been really struggling with the withdrawal recently - very fatigued, unmotivated, dodgy tummy, very low and anxious.  I'm really not sure if this is the best idea and whether I should just go back to 15mg of mirtazapine.

 

I probably should give a bit more background.  I saw a pyschiatrist about 18 months ago who suggested I start taking 15mg mirtazapine (to help with sleep) and sertraline (to help with depression)  They were meant to be started at the same time but I started on the mirtazapine first.  This helped with sleep but I was still feeling low a few months later so the sertraline was introduced.

 

My main reason for wanting to withdraw from mirtazapine was because of the weight gain, the morning grogginess and I definitely feel as though it was hindering my running.  So I thought if I could withdraw from this, or at least reduce down to a very low amount, I could lose weight, etc.  To be honest when I started to taper the mirtazapine I still wasn't feeling great within myself.

 

At the moment I don't have any intention of coming off sertraline, just the mirtazapine.

 

Thanks for reading.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

orangedog, sorry to hear that withdrawal symptoms have shown up for you. We didn't give them your address, I promise. 

 

Are you taking 11 mg mirtazapine now?  If not how much and when did you start taking that dose?

 

Increasing dose to 15 mg, stabilizing for several months and tapering slowly from there is one option.  It's been a while since you were at that dose, though. If you wanted to test the waters, an intermediate dose, one before the symptoms arose, could give you relief from symptoms.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

I'm currently on 10mg - to be honest I just want to get off the mirtazapine so I guess it's best to just keep going.  I'm hoping that if I can get down to 7.5mg then I can maybe stay on that dose for a while - if that dose isn't affecting my running as much and I can lose weight while on 7.5mg.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

It will probably help to stay at a given dose for longer than 2 weeks, or perhaps a pattern of cut 5% of current dose, hold 2 weeks, cut 5% of current dose, hold 4 weeks. That way you give your brain and central nervous system a bit of time to catch up.

 

As someone who runs, you may be familiar with a key principle of strength training: rest days are as important as the work-out. During the rest day, muscles rebuild after being broken down by the stress of the lifting. Same idea with psych drug tapering: cutting the dose is the workout, the hold period is the rest day where the stressed system rebuilds. 

 

We all want to lower our doses and/or get off the drugs: the "side" effects, the idea of taking a drug.  Withdrawal symptoms are a communication from the central nervous system:  OVERLOAD OF CHANGES! UNDER RENOVATION!  Ignoring these "messages" and plowing ahead risks further destabilization as well as new worsening symptoms.

 

Food for thought: More than a few SA members have tapered very rapidly without symptoms and almost to a person, have suffered severe withdrawal symptoms. They've had to reinstate at doses and hold there to stabilize for months, in the end taking much longer to get off the drug and suffering more and longer than they might have going slowly.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

I'm seriously thinking now of just going back up to 15mg and staying on that dose for a few months.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

To best answer your question, please track and record your symptoms.  A daily timeline of doses and symptoms could look like:

 

8:00 am 150 mg sertraline with breakfast

8:30 am nausea

2:30 pm lightheaded for about an hour

7:00 pm sudden anxiety, about a 6 out of 10

9:45 pm 10 mg mirtazapine

10: 30 pm bed, restlessness, didn't sleep until about 11:30

3:00 am couldn't get back to sleep

 

Updosing to your starting point of 15 mg is one option and is not a sure-fire fix for the w/d you're experiencing. It poses some risk because it is a dramatic change (50% increase of current dose) after a series of dose reductions that, while well thought out and consistent with our 10%/month recommendation, turned out to be too fast for you.

 

The 15 mg might resolve your symptoms, it might not. Nobody can predict what will happen for you.

 

Other options:

  1. Probably lowest risk:
    Hold where you are at 10 mg and let your nervous system catch up. It could take a few months.  You will experience withdrawal symptoms. Observe and record them on paper so. No changes to the mirt or the sert.
     
  2. Probably lower risk than updose to 15 mg:
    You could also try going to a dose between where you are and 15 mg. Possible doses: the last dose at which you had no symptoms, or halfway = 12.5 mg.  Updose to that, observe and record your symptoms.

Edit: My earlier suggestions (below) are *NOT* worth your consideration. Multiple changes over a short period would create more CNS instability and likely cause more problems than you have now.

If symptoms reduce, terrific.  Hold there for a couple of months.  If symptoms continue at same level of "intolerability", then go up to 13.75  mg and observe for 1 week; If symptoms are still intolerable, updose to 15 mg.

 

A critical component of any of these 3 options is tracking your symptoms. Record them on paper - what time they occurred or changed in intensity. This will become an "owner's' handbook" for your central nervous system in withdrawal.

Edited by scallywag
strike-out bad idea

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

Hi.  I've been having a really really rough time tapering mirtazapine - went straight from 15mg tablet to liquid that I made up myself (reducing by 5% every 2 weeks) - feeling really low, anxious, racing thoughts, upset stomach, dizziness and awful fatigue.  So tired all the time. 

 

I'm currently at 10mg but am so tempted to go back up to 15mg and take a tablet again and then stay on this for a few months to try and stabilise....

 

OR

 

...would it help if I started to take a 7.5mg tablet and 2.5mg as a liquid?

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment

Thanks Scallywag, really appreciate your help.

 

Do you think it would help if I started to take 7.5mg in tablet form and then the other 2.5mg as liquid?  Ever since starting to taper I've been taking the full dose in liquid form.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Administrator

orangedog, how's your sleep?

 

If your stomach has become upset by reducing mirtazapine, if I were you, I'd stop tapering for the time being and let your nervous system settle down.

 

Have you been calculating your reduction on the last dose? For example, reducing 10% from your current 10mg would be a reduction of 1mg.

 

Please keep daily notes about your symptom pattern, we need to see it to determine which drug is doing what. Also, please put ALL the drugs you take in the Drug Interactions Checker http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html
and copy and paste the results in this topic.
 

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.

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Sleep is OK.  Within an hour or so of taking the mirtazapine I fall asleep easily and usually then sleep for 7/8 hours, maybe more.  But I wake up feeling tired and feel tired most of the day.

 

Yes I've been calculating the reduction based on the last dose - so two weeks ago I went from 11mg to 10mg.

 

I'm only taking 10mg mirtazapine (liquid) and 150mg sertraline, nothing else.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Seriously thinking of going back to 15mg and then staying there for a few months.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

o'dog: What are your symptoms?  Please post a few recent days from your notes, including the times when you take the mirt and any other meds or supplements, and when you notice your symptoms appear, increase, decrease or disapper.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

To be honest I was still depressed before starting the tapering. I just wanted to see how I was off the mirtazapine and solely on sertraline (150mg) Although 15mg mirtazapine really helps with sleep I wake up feeling groggy after even 9 hours sleep and don't like the side effects of weight gain and the fact it really hampers my running. So I think tapering has just made my state of mind worse, along with all the other side effects - fatigue, dodgy belly, nausea, etc.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Your symptoms are:

  • low mood (depression)
  • groggy upon waking
  • weight gain (occurred after starting mirtazapine) in and of itself as well as how it interferes with running
  • worsened state of mind
  • fatigue
  • dodgy belly
  • nausea.

Many, but not alll, people find that their weight returns to pre-Remeron levels without too much effort once they are fully off the drug.

 

Would you keep track of how these symptoms come and go, intensify and weaken during the day for the next few days?

 

Would you update your signature so that it's easy to see what your current dose is?  (Right now I had to scroll up to see that you're at 10 mg.)

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

I've updated my signature

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks for updating your sig.

 

How have your symptoms been on a daily basis, orangedog?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

No energy, no motivation, no appetite, very low mood, very anxious.

Feb 2015 - started on 15mg mirtazapine

July 2015 - started on 50mg sertraline

Nov 2015 - increased sertraline to 150mg

Mar 2015 - started mirtazapine withdrawal

28/03/2016 - 14.25mg (for 2 weeks)

11/04/2016 - 13.5mg (for 2 weeks)

25/04/2016 - 12.75mg (for 2 weeks)

09/05/2016 - 12mg (for 2 weeks)

23/05/2016 - 11mg (for 3 weeks)

13/06/2016 - 10mg (for 3 weeks)

04/07/2016 - 9mg (for 3 weeks)

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

orangedog, would you keep track of and post the daily time pattern of your symptoms? A daily timeline of doses and symptoms could look like:

 

8:00 am 150 mg sertraline with breakfast

8:30 am nausea

2:30 pm lightheaded for about an hour

7:00 pm sudden anxiety, about a 6 out of 10

9:45 pm 10 mg mirtazapine

10: 30 pm bed, restlessness, didn't sleep until about 11:30

3:00 am couldn't get back to sleep

 

This information will be very helpful in identifying what's your best bet for a next step.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

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