timhorton: I'm trying to quit mirtazapine

[timhorton]

Hello, I recently made a breakthrough with my GAD and want desperately to get off of remeron (mirtazapine). I have been successful in quitting for up to 10 days. I have not been able to sleep well during this time and have had to go back to remeron to get sleep. I am sure that I would have successfully quit cold turkey if I had a way around the insomnia. Any suggestions?

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

Welcome to the site and we are sure you will find helpful information here.

 

I must first ask you that if that is your real name you have used as you may not want it associated with the site as all of your posts (except in our private forums for benzos and 'off topic') are visible to anyone and are indexed by the major search engines. All you have to do to change it is to say so in your topic and the information on what you would like it changed to will be seen by the administrator and it will be done.

 

We never recommend anyone try to quit these powerful drugs cold turkey as they can cause a very uncomfortable 'withdrawal syndrome' one symptom of which is insomnia (as you have seen). We always recommend coming off slowly in no larger than 10% or less of the current dose increments no oftener than every 4-6 weeks and only if you are 'stable'. One of the worst things that can happen is that the insomnia becomes 'intractable' (means can't be relieved) by going back up in the dose. The nervous system does not like rapid changes of drugs like mirtazapine. These links have a lot of good information on the wisdom of tapering slowly:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Why taper? Paper demonstrates importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

So what dose are you taking now and for how long? Put this information and any other drugs you are taking (such as over the counters and supplements) in a 'signature' like this:

 

http://survivinganti...your-signature/

 

Here is our topic on how to reduce remeron:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5301-tips-for-tapering-off-remeron-mirtazapine/

[ten0275]

TH, hey.

 

First off, if you are THE Canadian Tim Horton, you serve some damned good coffee at your fine establishments.

 

In terms of the MIrt, I have weaned myself down to 1.9mg from 30mg. As you know from being on it yourself, it makes eating and sleeping possible in many cases when people are suffering intense anxiety, especially at the lower doses. That is why when people try to discontinue, they often have trouble with lack of appetite and insomnia as you are experiencing with the latter.

 

I don't think cold turkey is a good idea for anyone on these things because of the risk of withdrawal syndrome, and therefore think a slower taper would be a good idea. Just saying. You may find that you won't suffer the insomnia if you slowly wean yourself. I have yet to experience any degree of serious insomnia.

 

It'd be helpful to know where you are starting from. 15mg? 7.5mg? Are you on anything else.

 

Hang in there.

 

Dave

[timhorton]

Yeah my real name is not tim Horton. I did work at one for many years, yes in Canada. I understand that it is not recommended to go cold turkey on mirtazapine. However I have become strongly convinced that antidepressants are really bad. They probably should only be prescribed to 1/10  of the people who are currently on them. I require a more proactive plan than the 10 percent decrease per month.

 

I have been on 15 mg for just under a year and a half. I recently was able to go cold turkey for 10 days and only went back because of trouble with sleep. I wonder if I found the right vitamin or something if that would help? I have done meditation for over a year on a daily basis (for up to 3 hours in one day) and it has not helped with sleep. I have gone back to 7.5 mg because of the insomnia issue.

[dalsaan]

Hi TimHorton

 

I agree with you on the 1/10 thing but there is only one thing worse than being on antidepressants and that is coming off them too fast. If you believe that they negatively impact your brain, as I do, then don't exacerbate this by crashing your system through withdrawal.

 

I've been there

 

I am on remeron. I tried the push through strategy. I lasted 3 months. 3 months of dizziness, nausea and extreme insomnia. I had to stop driving, had visual disturbances through lack of sleep and couldn't think. Like you, I thought the insomnia would go away. It didn't And nothing helped. I tried supplements, acupuncture, meditation, even sleeping tablets. Nothing helped. Not even a little bit. I had test after test trying to work out what was happening. No answer. Then I worked out it was withdrawal and luckily I was successful in reinstating.

 

In deep withdrawal, the insomnia is relentless. It stops you from functioning, markedly reduces your well being and crashes your mental health

 

I am now a slow taper convert. I'm not off them yet but am at a real low dose and I have got my life back.

 

That's the key point and outcome of a conservative approach to tapering - getting your life back