Pedro: mirtazapine withdrawal

[Pedro1933]

So I've been on many meds for a long time (since 2004) for bipolar + addiction, and have been SLOWLY decreasing them because I had a complete panic attack inability to do anything after a too quick reduction in 2012.

 

I have been bipolar stable since 2005, when I stupidly stopped taking my Lithium.

 

2004 doses:

250 Lithium, three a day

600 Carbamazepine at night

60mg Mirtazapine at night

 

I started reducing Carbamazepine and Mirtazapine again in 2016 because I have two small children and I couldn't sleep as much as I used too, and had been stable for a long timer (all with my psychiatrist, who is really awesome). The goal was only the Lithium by the end of this summer (2019,  child 3 is on the way in September :). I don't really plan on ever stopping the Lithium.

 

As of January 2019, I was at 

250 Lithium, twice a day

100mg Carbamazepine

7.5 Remeron

 

I recently (3 weeks ago) went from 7.5 to no Mirtazapine and I can survive the psych and physical side effects--I have Xanax as needed, so I can force sleep when I need to (I've had the Rx for a while and don't take it every day and am intimately familiar with addiction from my life 1996-2004, so don't worry on that front) but have really annoying twitching in my right upper ab muscle. Has anyone else had this?

 

For me, 2 weeks and 4 weeks are always the sticking points. 

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Pedro

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Pedro.

 

It sounds like your most recent drug change was going off mirtazapine 3 weeks ago and your sleep has been affected? What is your sleep pattern? How has it changed over the last 3 weeks?

 

Aside from that, the muscle twitching is your worst symptom? Has that changed over the last 3 weeks?

 

A lot of people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see
https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

On 6/19/2019 at 8:13 AM, Pedro1933 said:

For me, 2 weeks and 4 weeks are always the sticking points. 

What does this mean?

 

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

[laydefish]

Hi @Pedro1933 & Welcome to the Group!  Congratulations on tapering your Meds!  If you need any support, please don't hesitate to contact me, Good Luck - Laydefish

[Carmie]

Hi Pedro, 

 

How are you doing?💚