guearyt: Remeron / mirtazapine terror

[guearyt]

I have been on Prozac since 1998 max dose. It began to not do it's job. so 2 months ago I was switched to Remeron 15mg. After 1 month on Remeron I began having terrible anxiety and terrors. I never had this before so my doctor increased Remeron to 30mgs. Stayed on 30mgs 2 weeks with no change. So I asked my doctor to put me back on Prozac and quit Remeron. He did but only 10mgs. This is when major anxiety and terrors began so after 5 days I got back on Remeron with Prozac. The symptoms decreased maybe 25% but are still unbearable. I began to read and read. I realized I induced Remeron withdrawal symptoms. It has been about a week and symptoms persist. I began GABA, passionflower, niacin, B complex, Ltheanine, out of desperacy and I read these could help ease the symptoms. I am in desperate need of help. My doctor is in the dark on this.

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by ChessieCat
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[guearyt]

Thank you.

[Sunnyday]

Hi @guearyt and welcome,

 

I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. Hopefully you can find some support and helpful information on here. 

 

If you could write your signature more according to these guidelines that would be helpful, since knowing about more recent reductions and reinstatements is important for the moderators to be able to give the best advice. Any other substances should preferably be included as well:

How to write your signature

 

I'm thinking a good thing can be to hold off on most supplements for now, since these things can affect us a lot more than we think while our bodies are in such a sensitive state, and can sometimes worsen the situation. Omega-3 and magnesium are the only two we generally recommend, I can see you're already taking one of them. Here is more information if you're interested:

Omega-3

 

Magnesium

 

I encourage reading this, it's a very good approach to have throughout this situation, and can help to avoid more setbacks than necessary:

The rule of 3KIS: Keept it simple. Keep it slow. Keep it stable.

 

I thought I'd also share what I did back when I experienced a lot of fear and dread. I started using the same things to comfort myself that I had resorted to as a child, and it was helpful at times.

It could be things like resting in bed with a plushy (or even better, a pet), or watching disney movies that gave me a positive nostalgic feeling. It could also be wrapping myself in a blanket. It might sound a bit silly, but I think anything that works is worth mentioning. I also couldn't sleep in the dark anymore so I kept the lights on, for example. Anything that makes us feel safer. This is very different for each individual, but I'm mentioning it as an example of looking at possible options to comfort ourselves that we maybe aren't used to resort to.

Here is a topic with more advice and input regarding anxiety and terror:

Sudden fear, terror, panic, anxiety, or sensory overload from withdrawal

 

There is a lot of information and it can be overwhelming, so feel free to ask questions. 
Do you have any ways of coping right now?

 

Take care, and please keep us updated.

 

Edited November 15, 2020 by Sunnyday

[Gridley]

@guearyt

 

Welcome from me too.  As Sunnyday suggested, please use the link she provided to give us more information about your recent dose and drug changes of Prozac and Remeron, including dates and dosages.  This information is in your post, but your signature appears beneath all your post and is a big help to the moderators.

 

Looking at your signature, it appears that you had an adverse reaction reaction to the Remeron after a month.  An adverse reaction means the drug is incompatible with your system.  Increasing dosage generally worsens an adverse reaction.  Some of your symptoms are very likely due to your cold turkey of the Prozac (substituting a new drug doesn't necessarily protect you from withdrawal symptoms from the discontinued drug.)  The rest is likely due to destabilization from switching drugs and dosages so many times.  Symptom of an adverse reaction are very similar to those of withdrawal.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain the healing process really well.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

What time do you take the Remeron and the Prozac?  What we need now from you is a daily symptoms list to see how the Remeron and Prozac affect you.

Please use this format and post the list in 24-hour segments for three days.  Then we'll be in a better position to offer assistance.  Here' the general format:

 

6 a.m. Woke with anxiety
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Stomach is upset
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Feel a bit better
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Feeling dizzy
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke but got back to sleep

 

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.