Bluma: Paxil and mirtazapine

[Bluma]

Hi All

i am finally down to Paxil and Mirtazapine.  My doctor plans to taper me off 15 mg of Mirtazapi me.   I’ve been taking it for about 8 months.  I’ve been on 60 Paxil for 3 months.  That’s the next to go.  

[Gridley]

Hello, Bluma, and welcome to SA.  Before you do any tapering (including based on your doctor's suggestions), please read the following links.  Please be aware that doctors have little, if any, idea about psychiatric drug withdrawal or slow tapering and will, almost invariably, set you on a too-fast taper that will not work.

 

Thanks for doing your signature.  That is very helpful to us.

 

I'm going to give you several links to read.  Please take your time and don't be overwhelmed.  First off, at Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.
  

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine)

 

Here are some tips for talking to your doctor, who, as I've said, may not be up-to-steam on what's best for you in going off these drugs.

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?
 
What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

 

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2018 by Gridley

[Bluma]

Hi Gridley

 

This information is really scary.  

[Bluma]

Are you off everything?

[Bluma]

Hi Again

 

I had been on Luvox for about 23 years.  It stopped working about 15 months ago.  The doctor tried to put me on different medications without success.  She realized that I was going through withdrawal from Luvox or fluvoxatine.  I was taking 150 mg per day.   When she realized I was going through withdrawal she reinstated 50 mg.  In December 2017.  I tapered off and took my last dose March 15th 2018.  I was also taking .50 mg of clonazepam two times per day for the past 6 months.  I started weaning off of that doseage on April 16, 2018 and completed the taper on May 17,2018.  

 

Im currently on 60 mg of Paxil and 15 mg of Remeron.  I’m having stomach pain, light headed, bloated stomach and frequent bowel movements per day.  Now the doctor wants me to introduce 50 mg of Pristiq and reduce Paxil to 50 mg.  She wants to cross taper Pristiq for Paxil.  Paxil not working.  I’ve been on Paxil for 3 months and Remeron for about 8 months.  

 

I dont know what what to do.  Please help.  

Edited May 31, 2018 by Dan998
merged with existing topic

[Bluma]

I meant Fluvoxamine

[ChessieCat]

5 hours ago, Bluma said:

I had been on Luvox for about 23 years.  It stopped working about 15 months ago.  The doctor tried to put me on different medications without success.  She realized that I was going through withdrawal from Luvox or fluvoxatine.  I was taking 150 mg per day.

 

Please add the dates and dose details of Luvox/Fluvoxamine to your drug signature.  It's important that we can see your full drug history at a glance.  Thank youi.  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 

5 hours ago, Bluma said:

She wants to cross taper Pristiq for Paxil.

 

 

It's a good idea to check Drug Interactions Checker for current drugs and also proposed drugs changes.  You could end up going from the frying pan into the fire.  The following is the interaction Remeron & Pristiq.

 

If you check your current drug combo you will see that there is a different major interaction.

 

 

Interactions between your drugs

Major

mirtazapine  desvenlafaxine

Applies to: Remeron (mirtazapine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)

Using mirtazapine together with desvenlafaxine can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases may result in coma and even death.

 

 

Edited June 1, 2018 by ChessieCat
changed drug name to correct drug name

[ChessieCat]

5 hours ago, Bluma said:

withdrawal from Luvox or fluvoxatine.  I was taking 150 mg per day.   When she realized I was going through withdrawal she reinstated 50 mg.  In December 2017.  I tapered off and took my last dose March 15th 2018.

 

5 hours ago, Bluma said:

I’m having stomach pain, light headed, bloated stomach and frequent bowel movements per day.

 

These symptoms may be withdrawal symptoms from having gone off the Luvox so quickly.

 

5 hours ago, Bluma said:

 Now the doctor wants me to introduce 50 mg of Pristiq and reduce Paxil to 50 mg.

 

I would be very concerned about the risk of serotonin syndrome