Crazy insomnia - Mirtazapine withdrawal

[MrsGlum]

I’m on day 25 of withdrawal from Mirtazapine.

The insomnia is killing me! I haven’t been able to sleep for nearly a month. I have some sleeping tablets but really don’t like using those on a regular basis.

Has anyone out there experienced insomnia while going through through a mirtazapine withdrawal and if so how long did it last?

I really regret ever going on this medication. It’s totally messed up my life.

Hopeful bump for the morning crowd who did actually get some sleep 😴

I'm not sure if I'm going through it - certainly not sleeping well and feel quite hyper but was only on small dose of Mirt for sleep, and only for a couple of months.

Not sure what the answer is. Mirt made me constantly hungry. It's nice not to have that.
I have sleeping pills too but they only add 2-3 hours of not very restful sleep. But at least I have a few (rationed by the doc).

I'm so sorry OP. I am terrified of coming off it for the same reasons. After a few years of use, I'm almost stuck with it for life now I think. How long were you on them for?

Some people withdraw slower and slower, using crushed tablets to ever so slowly taper off, but I can't see how that's a good idea as the pills I use have a tiny yellow film around them, and surely you shouldn't break them up then?

@Spookytooth it sounds like you may have some insomnia. Like you I was on a small dose for around 2 months for sleep problems caused by health worries but came off cold turkey because it gave me terrible joint pain and I felt really depressed on it.
You’re right about the sleeping tablets - they don’t really give enough time and I don’t even think of it as real sleep. It literally just feels being anaesthetised.
Various other forums I’ve read say it can take months for the insomnia to subside after stopping the meds. That really scares me!

@tackling I was only on for a couple of months at 15mg. I did do cold turkey because I couldn’t bear the side effects of it any longer.
As for cutting up your tablets I’m not sure what the answer is. My 15mg ones could be cut in half or smaller.Maybe the tablet style differs depending on the dose. Could you get a different dose and cut the tablets to get your usual dose initially and reduce from there? Not a medical recommendation by the way just a suggestion.

Bumping for any others’ experiences?

I came of mirtzapine cold turkey from 15mg and I had restless sleep for around a week. After that my sleeping was normal. I don't usually have problems with my sleep either.

@guineapigs
Hi, I remember you from another of my threads on this and it sounds like you had a relatively easy time of it compared to me. I’m very envious
I suppose we all process drugs differently and some get side effects going onto them and others not, so presumably that principle may well work in reverse.

@guineapigs
Sorry forget to ask, how long were you on them for?

I take sertraline all year round and mirtzapine as a top up during winter months. I take it probably five months at a time.

@guineapigs
That’s interesting I didn’t know it could be used like that. So essentially you do a cold turkey off it every five months? You must have a strong constitution
Given how I feel right now withdrawing after only 2 months on it, that regime would probably finish me off! I think I must be super sensitive to it. It’s done me no good at all - I developed sore joints, a very low mood and just felt thoroughly miserable on it. Obviously not the right med for me

I stopped 30mg cold turkey a couple of years ago, after several years on it, and it went very badly. (Bad insomnia, hallucinations, nightmare anxiety, the works). Had to go back on them. I'm now working up to trying again but very slowly. Honestly very scared, though. I'm not willing to personally go on a different antidepressant or sleeping pills (been on loads, no good experiences), so I'm just trying to mentally prepare here.

@WayshrineNotFound
Your experience sounds very similar to mine, it’s awful isn’t it! I cannot go back onto it though because it has caused such awful side effects (suddenly developed severe all over joint pain) so I’m having to ride it out. I’ve got this far so I’ll have to see it through
It’s a really horrible drug! Wish I’d never touched it.
Like you I’m determined not to go on a different AD.
I’m trying to avoid using sleeping tablets but sometimes I get so desperate I just give in!
Given your last experience I don’t blame you for being scared to try again. I hope you have a better experience doing a slow taper and get off it successfully without too many issues.

Melatonin off piping rock.com. Dh cut his in half when he went down from 45mg.

I came off mirtazapine about six months ago. I use magnesium glycinate to help with the insomnia and this mostly works although I still have bad nights when I use Nytol. I was really helped by a Facebook support group that specifically deals with mirtazapine withdrawal. There are loads of other suggestions in the group on how to deal with the insomnia - it's where I found out about magnesium. Good luck. I've been through this so I understand what you are going through.

@Fluffycloudland77 Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll look into that.

@Airfixkitwidow
I’m not actually on FB but may have to join just for that! May try your suggestion of magnesium glycinate too. I don’t find Nytol very effective but have had some success with Night Nurse (+ a glass of wine!)

@MrsGlum I'll be armed with more information and support this time around, and I'm trying to plan ahead for various problems that might crop up. (Boring old coping mechanisms and all that.)

I don't really know how to prepare for the insomnia, unfortunately. I've got some melatonin and antihistamins, should I want to try them, but never had success with them in the past, and right now I'd rather not keep adding more meds into my system! I think I need a certain amount of acceptance that it's just going to be shit for a while, and I'm going to be sleep deprived and probably not very functional all the time.

@WayshrineNotFound I’m at that point right now. Totally not functioning. I only got the 3 1/2 hours of sleep I did because I got so distraught by 2:00am I ended up taking half a sleeping tablet. But just like clockwork I’m wide awake again at 5:30am. It’s been like this for a month already and I’m not sure how much longer I can go on this way.
I will spend the day like a zombie dreading the bedtime.
I also discovered yesterday that I’ve developed bursitis in both my ankles as well as an inflamed toe joint and peroneal tendinitis all most likely caused by the Mirtazapine. (All listed side effects)
My shoulders, wrists and hips are also painful so there’s probably something similar going on in those joints too. I’m a mess.
I rue the day I ever took that first tablet.
It’s a horrible medication which has had a severely negative impact on my life.
GPs should be more aware of the devastating impact this drug they dish out so easily can have on people.

One thing you can try is meditation. If you read any self help info meditation is the cure all for anxiey, memory problems etc
I've no reason not to believe this. I don't think it's the same as sleep but it is relaxing (if you can relax enough to do it - sometimes my brain won't calm down) so you can do your best to find time to meditate through the day and it will be calming your fraught brain which must be good.

@Spookytooth
Thanks I’ll give it a try. A friend also wants me to try hypnotherapy.

Are you withdrawing from this under medical supervision out of interest?

@OrlandointheWilderness I told my GP I wanted to stop it because of the unbearable side effects and he said it would be ok because I’d only been on it for around 2 months and on low dose 15mg.

Good. If you are having issues with the side effects of withdrawal then do go and see your gp.

@OrlandointheWilderness thanks I will do. If I can ever get an appointment that is!

Yes we have the same issue here. A gp is a mythical creature in our surgery 😂