Tell me about long term mirtazapine use

[again2020]

I've been on mirtazapine just shy of a year. For anxiety at night, poor sleep and panic attacks.
It worked so well initially. After 3 months I went up to 30mg from 15mg. Over time the 7-8 hours sleep became 6 hours, which was still ok.
Occasionally I'd have the odd night of taking ages to drop off but it was always followed by good nights.
Not sure why but the last few nights have been poor. Last night I eventually fell asleep at 2:30am, woke up at 4ish, slept til 6 then dozed until 7 🙈
I know I am due a review before my next prescription. They will probably want me to be off after being on a year. I'm a little scared of coming off but if they aren't working for me any more I might aswell?

Does anyone take mirtazapine long term? Have you experienced this?
Also, what did you do to come off it and how did it go?
Many thanks.

Bump

I’ve been taking Mirtazapine for coming up to 3 years now. I did come off if it for a few months a couple of years ago, which was fine, but I’m back on it now. I was only on 15mg when I came off it. I gradually took smaller doses of it over the space of a few weeks, if can’t remember how exactly now. I didn’t get any side effects from reducing.
I know it seems scary to stay on longer, I wasn’t expecting to still be on them 3 years later but I know that at the moment it is the right decision.

I haven’t had any pressure from the Dr to come off them, they have been very good at discussing things and we have talked things through. I would think through things before your appointment and think about what you want from it. It doesn’t sound like the Mirtazapine is perhaps doing what you want it do and addressing your sleep and panic attacks at the moment and see what they suggest. They might talk about adjusting the dose (There is one more step you can up, I think, to 45mg) or to change to something else, or try something else to try and find the cause.
I would try not to worry about it, they will want to help. I know that’s easy for me to say though!