Anay: Mirtazapine withdrawal after being on for only a short time.

[Anay]

Hi there, I've bolded my questions in my story for clarity.

 

I started on mirtazapine 6 weeks ago at 15mg to help with sleep and anxiety from recently acquired tinnitus. 

 

It helped with sleep onset but I would still wake up and stay awake early on, perhaps it was getting me a couple extra hours a night overall. I have actually just started sleep restriction to try and fix my sleep waking up as I was feeling less anxious so there should be less reason for waking up like that.

 

However 3 weeks ago I decided to stop it as I developed visual snow, I do notice that about half an hour after taking it I get flashes of light in my closed eyes as well.

 

I went on 7.5 for two weeks then down to 3.75 the last week, then stopped Friday.

 

I actually felt best overall the last week I was on 3.75, was noticing tinnitus less and felt more engaged with life. So clearly felt ok stopping.

 

However two days after stopping I have started getting heart palpitations, more noticeable tinnitus, and gastro intestinal upset. Last night I felt so bad I took 3.75 again.

 

I am wondering if I was on it such a short time it is worth it to tough out the withdrawal or go back on and taper? Am I just asking for a worse WD if I stay on longer?

 

If I didn't have the visual snow I would still take it.

I am hoping that my tinnitus was better due to the passage of time and not the remeron, and it is just feeling worse due to the withdrawal spike. I am also hoping that sleep gets better with the restriction therapy.

 

For the visual snow is there a chance it could go away from stopping the remeron? It is possible it was triggered by insomnia and stress, and the remeron just impacts it, so I'm not sure. If the visual snow won't get better it makes stopping less attractive (I don't care about the flashing lights right after taking it as I go to sleep anyway).

 

Is there a risk in it not working as well if I decide to tough out the WD, see if visual snow improves or tinnitus worsens, then restart? I am tempted to go back to 7.5, considering it's only been less than two weeks since I was on that dose, and hopefully feel as good as I did last week, I was on 3.75 last week (I felt the best right at the end of that), but it could be I was feeling the effects from when I was on 7.5 but delayed.

Many thanks for the help!

Regards,

Andrew

Edited October 5, 2021 by Anay
more info

[Anay]

I don't think  I can edit the original post, so I am commenting below, as the questions I asked are not relevant. 
 

I've decided to go back on at 7.5 (took 3.75 the last two nights) starting tonight, and let things settle and after a while of feeling better (may take some time) I'm going to taper off very slowly.

Even after taking 3.75 the last two nights I still have heart palpitations that started 3 days ago. I hope it goes away and the three missed nights (or reduction for a week prior from 7.5 to 3.75) haven't given me long term issues. 

Lots of great information on this board, I really appreciate it. 

[Anay]

I apologize for the second update but my visual symptoms are still worse (not sure how both going on and then trying to get off can cause it to be worse)

I want to taper off as soon as possible but I am not sure if I should stabilize at 3.75 or 7.5, I would think 3.75 would be best? 

No more heart problems today so it was certainly a WD symptom, I wish the visuals would get better though.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  You have come to the right place.  The brain becomes dependent on psych meds after only one month of being on them.  It sounds to me like you developed side effects from being on the drug (visual snow), but then tapered off too fast, and developed withdrawal symptoms.  

 

Thank for providing your drug history in your signature.  

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.   This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper so slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

 Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Mirtazapine

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

Considerations About Stability - Stop Jumping Around

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I think it's a good thing you did a reinstatement, and that you did it very soon after stopping the drug.  You can do either 3.75 or 7.5. Whichever you choose, please stick with that exact dose, and don't vary or change your dose again.  Please don't jump back and forth between different doses.  Take it at the same time each day.  Stay on this dose for a while, as in at least several months.  Allow your nervous system to heal stabilize - wait until your symptoms are mild to none.  Then, you can resume a very cautious, gradual taper as described in the links above. 

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

Edited October 8, 2021 by getofflex

[Santino]

Hi Anay

I was also a short time user of MIrtazapine but the taper for me took almost 2 years in order to be free from it. Anyway my case was complicated from other meds as well but now i am doing fine.

In case you are courious you can read my topic as well as my success story in here for a reference my friend. You will be good.

All the best

Santino

[Anay]

Thanks for all the helpful advice and support, lots to read over for sure. I really appreciate it.

It's crazy how short a time it takes to become dependent on something, I'm upset that I have gotten the visual problems from it but can't just get off. It's hard taking it at night knowing I'm going to get the strobing in my vision and when I think of it as basically poison, and worry about it damaging my vision more.

Also annoyed how I decided to not take ativan for more than two weeks as I wanted to avoid problems, even though it gave me better sleep than the remeron. I just hope I haven't picked up a lifeline visual problem for just trying to get some sleep with the tinnitus that was already hard enough. I try to do my research and it just doesn't work out. If I worked on mindfulness more and didn't run from drug to drug looking for a band-aid I would be much better off right now. 

Anyway sorry I just needed to vent. I'm going to read through these materials, thank you very much for sending them along.