Jack37: Hello everyone, I need some help with Remeron / mirtazapine

[Jack37]

11 minutes ago, Tyler84 said:

Hello Jack . How was it for you last night ? Feeling any better today ? Or worse ? 

So the .5 mg dose went the same way the first .25 dose went. Very heavy for the first hour. Symptoms starting intensifying for about 20 minutes right before they disappeared slightly after the hour mark. Then I once again ate like an animal. I was so tired but had to fight through to take advantage of the appetite and then about 2 hours after the dose I laid down to sleep and could not. After an hour I took 3 mg of melatonin and then slept through the night. I woke up with some minor burning and akathisia which has been my norm in this withdrawal. But today it did not intensify as bad as it normally does. Both today and yesterday I have been able to function. I cleaned the entire house top to bottom. Today I mowed the lawn which physically a miracle compared to where I was before reinstatement. I’ve been playing guitar and doing laundry since. A lot of burning skin but it has gone from can’t live anymore to moderate to severe discomfort which crazy enough is a huge improvement. I also ate more so far today. It’s too soon to call but I think things are improving. They certainly have improved and I hope they continue. I even drove to the store today and felt completely alert and safe. My DP/DR has stopped since reinstating. 

[Tyler84]

21 minutes ago, Jack37 said:

So the .5 mg dose went the same way the first .25 dose went. Very heavy for the first hour. Symptoms starting intensifying for about 20 minutes right before they disappeared slightly after the hour mark. Then I once again ate like an animal. I was so tired but had to fight through to take advantage of the appetite and then about 2 hours after the dose I laid down to sleep and could not. After an hour I took 3 mg of melatonin and then slept through the night. I woke up with some minor burning and akathisia which has been my norm in this withdrawal. But today it did not intensify as bad as it normally does. Both today and yesterday I have been able to function. I cleaned the entire house top to bottom. Today I mowed the lawn which physically a miracle compared to where I was before reinstatement. I’ve been playing guitar and doing laundry since. A lot of burning skin but it has gone from can’t live anymore to moderate to severe discomfort which crazy enough is a huge improvement. I also ate more so far today. It’s too soon to call but I think things are improving. They certainly have improved and I hope they continue. I even drove to the store today and felt completely alert and safe. My DP/DR has stopped since reinstating. 

 Awesome ! I hope all continues to go well . I’m going to reinstate .5 tonight after being off 3.5 months .  I’m really hoping i don’t freak out but i can’t handle the burning and crazy thoughts .   Fingers crossed ! 

[Jack37]

So things were improving. I was getting better everyday. Then I ate 2 hard boiled eggs and had another bad reaction. The other day when I had the  vitamin d I also ate 2 hard boiled eggs at the same time. Now I think I am reacting to eggs and not the vitamin even though I will not be trying the vitamin again to find out. My skin has been on FIRE since the eggs. I am completely miserable. I am hoping I get relief at my dose tonight. I am not sure why eggs would cause me so much pain. This sucks. I am praying to get back on track soon. I was making so much progress.

[Tyler84]

Just now, Jack37 said:

So things were improving. I was getting better everyday. Then I ate 2 hard boiled eggs and had another bad reaction. The other day when I had the  vitamin d I also ate 2 hard boiled eggs at the same time. Now I think I am reacting to eggs and not the vitamin even though I will not be trying the vitamin again to find out. My skin has been on FIRE since the eggs. I am completely miserable. I am hoping I get relief at my dose tonight. I am not sure why eggs would cause me so much pain. This sucks. I am praying to get back on track soon. I was making so much progress.

Hey bud are you not following a low histamine diet ? That’s like the main thing that will help all of this .   Anytime i eat high histamine foods i get very sick and my skin burns and i have panic attacks and dizziness .    I’m 3.5 months off and still have histamine intolerances .  I know people off years and still have issues eating high histamines 

[Jack37]

16 minutes ago, Tyler84 said:

Hey bud are you not following a low histamine diet ? That’s like the main thing that will help all of this .   Anytime i eat high histamine foods i get very sick and my skin burns and i have panic attacks and dizziness .    I’m 3.5 months off and still have histamine intolerances .  I know people off years and still have issues eating high histamines 

I thought eggs are allowed. Are they not? I hear conflicting info on this. Do you have problems with eggs?

[Tyler84]

Just now, Jack37 said:

I thought eggs are allowed. Are they not? I hear conflicting info on this. Do you have problems with eggs?

I thought they were too but i sometimes have issues . I think it’s the yolks .  And do you eat bread and gluten or tomatoes and cheese and all that ? The histamine builds up over time and overflows causing all the issues .  It takes a coil with weeks to get it back down . I hate it . I’ve lost 60 lbs in the last three months from not being able to eat right .  

[Jack37]

3 minutes ago, Tyler84 said:

I thought they were too but i sometimes have issues . I think it’s the yolks .  And do you eat bread and gluten or tomatoes and cheese and all that ? The histamine builds up over time and overflows causing all the issues .  It takes a coil with weeks to get it back down . I hate it . I’ve lost 60 lbs in the last three months from not being able to eat right .  

I eat a lot of bread but not tomatoes or cheese

[Tyler84]

Just now, Jack37 said:

I eat a lot of bread but not tomatoes or cheese

That’s prob why your skin is burning … bread is no good for histamine intolerance 

[Jack37]

Just now, Tyler84 said:

That’s prob why your skin is burning … bread is no good for histamine intolerance 

Thanks so much. The reinstatement is definitely helping me but when I eat the burning gets crazy. Now I know why the mirt keeps my symptoms down at night but not during the day. At night I eat white rice, a small amount of fresh cooked chicken and some broccoli and carrots. I guess because I don’t eat gluten at dinner. The rest of the day bread is a staple for me. I’ll cut it out.

[Tyler84]

Just now, Jack37 said:

Thanks so much. The reinstatement is definitely helping me but when I eat the burning gets crazy. Now I know why the mirt keeps my symptoms down at night but not during the day. At night I eat white rice, a small amount of fresh cooked chicken and some broccoli and carrots. I guess because I don’t eat gluten at dinner. The rest of the day bread is a staple for me. I’ll cut it out.

Same thing i had to do and i love bread !!! Yes try it out for a week or two and see if it helps .  

[Jack37]

33 minutes ago, Tyler84 said:

Same thing i had to do and i love bread !!! Yes try it out for a week or two and see if it helps .  

Curious. Do you eat a lot of meat or is meat too high in histamine?

[Tyler84]

Just now, Jack37 said:

Curious. Do you eat a lot of meat or is meat too high in histamine?

I have to eat tons of meat and rice . And potatoes i have to to stay somewhat healthy  .   Just no processed meats .  No cured meats like bacon or sausage .  Just steak , chicken stuff like that 

[Tyler84]

23 hours ago, Jack37 said:

I eat a lot of bread but not tomatoes or cheese

That’s prob why your skin is burning … bread is no good for histamine intolerance 

 

23 hours ago, Tyler84 said:

I have to eat tons of meat and rice . And potatoes i have to to stay somewhat healthy  .   Just no processed meats .  No cured meats like bacon or sausage .  Just steak , chicken stuff like that 

How are you feeling today Jack . I still haven’t reinstated but i really want to . Or take the Xanax I’m prescribed too . I have to get rid of this manic depressive **** 

[Jack37]

12 minutes ago, Tyler84 said:

That’s prob why your skin is burning … bread is no good for histamine intolerance 

 

How are you feeling today Jack . I still haven’t reinstated but i really want to . Or take the Xanax I’m prescribed too . I have to get rid of this manic depressive **** 

I’m still in rough shape. I’m doing the potato-rice thing trying to reduce histamine levels. I am still doing well when I dose. I get like a 12 hour window when I take the Remeron. I think it’s going to have to build up in my blood before it really starts to make a big difference during the day. Still crossing my fingers. I was doing really a lot better until I slipped on the diet stuff. Hopefully things settle down as I continue to build up more Remeron and stick with low histamine foods.

[Altostrata]

13 minutes ago, Jack37 said:

I get like a 12 hour window when I take the Remeron.

 

You get a 12-hour window after you take Remeron? Symptoms return in the evening?

 

When did you reinstate a regular 0.50mg/day? Please update your signature.

 

How do you feel after you take your dose now?

[Tyler84]

23 minutes ago, Jack37 said:

I’m still in rough shape. I’m doing the potato-rice thing trying to reduce histamine levels. I am still doing well when I dose. I get like a 12 hour window when I take the Remeron. I think it’s going to have to build up in my blood before it really starts to make a big difference during the day. Still crossing my fingers. I was doing really a lot better until I slipped on the diet stuff. Hopefully things settle down as I continue to build up more Remeron and stick with low histamine foods.

I hope so  ! Keep me updated .  Good luck 

[Tyler84]

Just now, Tyler84 said:

I hope so  ! Keep me updated .  Good luck 

Stay on the low histamine as much as possible . I’ve been slipping too 

[Jack37]

29 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

You get a 12-hour window after you take Remeron? Symptoms return in the evening?

 

When did you reinstate a regular 0.50mg/day? Please update your signature.

 

How do you feel after you take your dose now?

I have taken .5 mg for 4 nights now. I have very little symptoms overnight and then about 12 hours later symptoms return and ramp up. I had a couple of really decent days and then the last two days have been rough with the skin burning? Do you think this will go away with time at this dose? I feel fine after I take my dose.

[Altostrata]

My guess is that small dose of mirtazapine is getting metabolized quickly. You might want to add 0.25mg, it may last longer.

 

Please continue to let us know how you're doing.

[Jack37]

@Altostrata

Last night was kinda rough. The last couple of days have been really rough. I seem to be having histamine issues caused by coming off of the Remeron. Aside from the body temperature issues like fever from walking around doing thing I am having severe burning on my skin. Most concerning is the burning inside my nose and throat and tongue almost like an allergic reaction and it is making my life completely unlivable. The burning is the most torturous thing I have ever felt. After reinstatement I was getting significant relief from this symptom which is by far my worst one. That was until I ate 2 eggs on Friday and then the burning came back with a vengeance and has yet to settle down. I still get relief when I dose at night but not complete relief like before. When I took 5 mg of Zyrtec before reinstatement I got nearly 24 hours of complete relief from the burning. I am eating as clean as possible but the burning is relentless. I do not want to take an antihistamine because I want to let things settle. Remeron is an antihistamine but I am afraid at this low dose it is not strong enough to make this burning go away. The Remeron is helping but just not enough yet and I am still completely non functional. I had two days of functionality after reinstatement ate a couple of bad things and straight back to hell. I took .5 mg last night and slept a few hours but woke up burning again then got your message so I took another .25 which stopped the burning again and I fell back asleep. Today the burning is just non stop since around 10 am. I’m beat.

[Jack37]

More and more I am wishing I would have just started taking an antihistamine. This is just awful. I need relief.

[Altostrata]

Hmmmm, this is the clearest demonstration yet that burning sensations in mirtazapine withdrawal are a histaminic rebound.

 

Why are you taking Zyrtec? How often do you take it?

 

You may have developed histamine intolerance, a food sensitivity. See 

 

Eating as an activating factor

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

Histamine intolerance

[Jack37]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

Hmmmm, this is the clearest demonstration yet that burning sensations in mirtazapine withdrawal are a histaminic rebound.

 

Why are you taking Zyrtec? How often do you take it?

 

You may have developed histamine intolerance, a food sensitivity. See 

 

Eating as an activating factor

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

Histamine intolerance

I am not taking it. I took it one time at 5 mg (childrens dose) a few days before I reinstated. It gave me a significant amount of relief. However, this is beyond food sensitivity. I am reacting to just about everything. Every time I eat it burns. Some days it just burns non stop whether I eat or not. My Remeron dose gives me a little relief. The one time I took Zyrtec it gave me a lot of relief. My question is if the histaminic rebound will resolve as I stabilize. That is my concern. I am afraid I just got myself back on Remeron for nothing. I guess I just expected a lot more relief than this by day 5. Maybe I am expecting too much. I am considering taking an antihistamine for relief because this is just unbearable. If I could get back to where I was before the egg incident I could bear it but this is just too much.

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, Jack37 said:

My question is if the histaminic rebound will resolve as I stabilize.

 

Yes.

 

Low-dose reinstatement of mirtazapine will help you stabilize. It is literally a crutch for your system.

 

(Egg whites are high histamine.)

[HLH44]

I have updosed from 1.6 to 2.2 over the last few weeks. Its keeping the Akathisia only just barely tolerable. I really really do not want to updose any more, but voices in my head are telling me that my quality of life is so poor right now and I am one stop away from not being functional. I run a business and a household with no help right now and I just cannot go MIA. Part of me feels like throwing in the towel and just taking 3.75.....its what I did 2 years ago when this happened. I became functional again. Ran my company, did yoga, had a life. Im so torn.

[HLH44]

and by the way, I've noticed this pattern with Mirt...it helps right away for a few days...then stops...in the past I always panicked and raised it again. Trying to hold out this time and see if I can stay at 2.2. Good for you for even being on such a low dose. I know its frustrating. This is my second time round doing this with MIrt. I tapered off 2 years ago but 3 months later became so severely compromised I reinstated at 3.75 and had to start all over. I was doing pretty well at 1.6 ...even having some good days, when the Akathisia hit out of the blue. Pacing 8 hours a nite, no sleep, chemical terror. And I am alone. I could not take it. I was terrified. Thats why I updosed to 2.2

[Tyler84]

On 10/9/2021 at 6:25 PM, Tyler84 said:

I hope so  ! Keep me updated .  Good luck 

Stay on the low histamine as much as possible . I’ve been slipping too 

 

 

feeling any better yet jack ? I still haven’t reinstated I’m so scared to start this process all over again .  So stuck 

[HLH44]

I feel the same, Tyler. I’ve updosed to 2.2 but still having severe symptoms 

[Jack37]

@Altostrata

 

So I updosed another .25 mg 4 nights ago and things have improved a little but I am still suffering. I am considering updosing another .25 mg tonight. I continue to have this burning skin. Even during my night windows it comes though sometimes. Last night the burning came through a lot. This morning my skin is burning pretty significantly. I am considering moving up another .25 tonight to 1 mg. I am still not sleeping without melatonin. I am sleeping better than before reinstatement but still very broken. My appetite has improved but is still poor. I have waves of anxiety. The burning skin is my most unsettling symptom. This makes me have to go pace around or walk around because it is just too uncomfortable to sit still or lie down. I also don't like seeing myself lose weight like this. For the most part my weight has stabilized since reinstatement but I am still unable to eat breakfast everyday. What do you think?

[Altostrata]

You're doing a good job of observing the effects of updoses.

 

Yes, you might increase by 0.25mg. The effective amount of reinstatement cannot be predicted, starting low and gradually titrating up is the way to do it. Keep in mind mirtazapine effect will increase over a week.

[Tyler84]

On 10/12/2021 at 8:56 PM, HLH44 said:

I feel the same, Tyler. I’ve updosed to 2.2 but still having severe symptoms 

Damn man so sorry . How are you doing tonight ? 

[timetofeelgood]

Hi Jack,  

 

I’m currently tapering Mirtazapine and also experience severe skin burning.  It’s my worst physical symptom and started while taking and before tapering.  Interestingly, Zyrtec and Pepcid AC are the two OTC medications that’s help keep the burning tolerable.  So, although probably not advised, I am currently taking them while I make my way off of Mirtazapine.  I know that I will need to taper those after I get through Mirtazapine, but they don’t affect as many receptors as Mirtazapine so I’m ok with this decision.  I’ve even held at a Mirtazapine dose for 6 months and the burning did not resolve.

[Jack37]

On 10/13/2021 at 2:37 PM, Altostrata said:

You're doing a good job of observing the effects of updoses.

 

Yes, you might increase by 0.25mg. The effective amount of reinstatement cannot be predicted, starting low and gradually titrating up is the way to do it. Keep in mind mirtazapine effect will increase over a week.

Thanks Alto. So it has been a week now since I updosed to 1 mg. I felt good for a few days and had some of my best days so far in there where I even did some work out in the garage but then it started to fall apart again. Today was miserable and I took a children’s Claritin just for some relief. It helps with the histamine stuff. I just need to sleep tonight without being woken up with flushing at 3 am and then can’t fall back asleep. I regret the way I tapered because I never allowed myself to stabilize too often and suffered most of the way through the 2 years. Nonetheless I took very good notes of my taper. I stopped being able to sleep without melatonin at about 3.5 mg. I believe that is around where my taper outpaced my healing. I have a feeling that stabilization is somewhere around that dose for me. I would love to just take 3 mg and hope to feel better but I am sure you would not agree with that. Should I just keep increasing as I have been until I find the right dose. I am scared I will never stabilize. I just know right now that my dose is too low. The suffering is still pretty brutal even after 2 weeks into this reinstatement and 1 week on 1 mg. Is it bad that I start to stabilize after an updose and then go backwards again. Does this mean I won’t stabilize? Sorry, I’m just a little scared. And by a little I mean a lot. I really want my life back. I miss my life and my family. Also, I still can’t work and I need to get back to work. I can’t lose this job. It’s a once in a lifetime job. I’m so scared. I want to be able to take care of my family again. Anyway, what do you think about updosing and stabilizing?

[HLH44]

going through this exact same thing, Jack. I have updosed from 1.6 to 3.75 and still hurting. Im so scared also. I feel like Im on the outside looking in at my life, like Im already gone and everyones going on without me. I wake up 1 am, pace all night with brain on fire, every moment of every day in agony. Its just terrifying.

[Jack37]

2 minutes ago, HLH44 said:

going through this exact same thing, Jack. I have updosed from 1.6 to 3.75 and still hurting. Im so scared also. I feel like Im on the outside looking in at my life, like Im already gone and everyones going on without me. I wake up 1 am, pace all night with brain on fire, every moment of every day in agony. Its just terrifying.

I hear you. I really hope I stabilize. I am

praying. How long since you went up

to 3.75 mg?

 

[HLH44]

6 days. Worked at first. Slept through the nite, no pacing...still bad during the day but not as unbearable. Then woke up at 1 am Friday nite. Got so desperate not to pace all nite that I took 2.5 mg of valium. Have never even taken Valium. But I felt it was life or death. But fell back asleep peacefully and had a good day Saturday. Thought I was on the upswing. Then Sunday night, BOOM. Brain just completely froze. Comatose. Frozen in terror. Pacing. Been horrific since then. I actually talked to my friends brother who runs the psych ward at a NY hospital....I truly despise drs. but he called me at her request because she saw me suffering so much. He said he also hates meds and tries to get people OFF. His recommendation was to take the Valium for 5 days. Obviously Im terrified to do that. And I know that no one here would recommend that. But its getting critical. I just don't know what to do.