Help! Mirtazapine cold turkey withdrawal

[MrsGlum]

Can anyone help?

I’ve been off Mirtazapine 15mg for 17 days now. Had to come off cold turkey due to severe side effects that developed after being on it for around 8 weeks. GP knows I’ve done it and the reason why.

I’ve been feeling pretty rubbish since coming off it but today I feel absolutely shocking - dizzy, nauseous, stomach ache, anxiety, acid indigestion, shakiness, stiff burning muscles, buzzy ears, fuzzy head - basically the most unwell I’ve ever felt in my entire life!

Has anyone else had this experience of going cold turkey (or even a tapered withdrawal) off mirtazapine and if so how long did it last for you and did you get through it ok?

Never been on any AD meds before and I’m just in need some encouragement and reassurance that I will be ok and this isn’t going to kill me!

I'd really speak to your GP again. The withdrawal itself isn't dangerous (the only forms of withdrawal that are potentially fatal are from alcohol and benzos, so don't panic!), but I know it feels like hell, so try to make an appointment to see if a short taper is an option.

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm

Thanks for your reply.

I have actually spoken to my GP today and he is firmly of the opinion that my symptoms are more to do with my underlying anxiety than withdrawal from the mirtazapine so I didn’t get much reassurance from him. I think if he could feel what I’m currently experiencing he might think again!

I really don’t want to go back onto it even for a short taper because it gave me horrendous joint pain and made me feel really low and depressed.

Looks like I just have to ride this out and hope for the best.

Ugh, so he was dismissive - I find that a lot with male GPs, as a woman. Obviously it's all in our heads! 🙄🙄

Withdrawal from any substance tends to be misery for a few days, but it WILL pass. In the meantime, stay hydrated, eat as best you can, and try to sleep. You could try taking promethazine (available OTC as Phenergan, it's an antihistamine) for the anxiety, it's harmless and will also help you sleep.

I did cold turkey from 30mg. The only withdrawal symptom I got was that my sleep was restless for a while.

Thanks @BeautyGoesToBenidorm.

Your advice is really reassuring and it’s good to know that someone out there understands as I feel so vulnerable right now especially as I know my GP just has me labelled as a neurotic mess and won’t acknowledge that this is withdrawal.

I’ll get some Phenrgan and hopefully some sleep 🤞🏻

@guineapigs
Wow - I’m envious that you managed to get off it without too many symptoms. I guess everyone just metabolises things differently which would explain why some also get side effects, like I did, and others don’t.

No worries, I'm glad I could reassure you! 😊

Make sure you ask for Phenergan Night, and take it at bedtime. Promethazine is used for travel sickness too, so fingers crossed it helps with the nausea!

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm

Oh that’s good to know about the anti nausea properties as well - hopefully it’ll kill two birds with one stone.

Maybe I’ll come back onto this thread in a few days or I might PM you to update on my progress!

Please do let me know how it goes! Feel free to PM me if the anxiety gets too much - I know it's REALLY difficult not to dwell on it

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm

That’s really kind of you thanks.

You’re right - it’s so difficult to think about or focus on anything else when feeling this terrible and not knowing how long it’s going to last

Another horrible effect of this withdrawal is that I just cannot cry. I’m so miserable about all of the awful side effects this medication has left me with in addition to a few other things going on in my life that I’m desperate to have a really good sob but the tears just do not flow.
Anyone else found this?

I took it too and when I had to quit, I had 2 really bad days but then I was fine and I haven't had any problems anymore. My GP told me that if the withdrawal was too bad I could take medication to help me but I don't know what she had in mind, maybe you should ask your doctor about it?
What I hate about Mirtazapine is that I put on so much weight and I can't get rid of it with diets and exercise.

@Antares444 It sounds like you did have an easier time than I am with coming off it. My system must be really sensitive to it as I’ve also developed quite debilitating physical and mental side effects from it. Strangely it didn’t give me a huge appetite so I must have reacted atypically to it!
My GP prescribed Diazepam for the anxiety and Phenargan for the insomnia.
I’m glad you’ve not had any problems since coming off it.

Did anyone have blood pressure issues going cold turkey I feel so bad