Your Remeron Experience While Tapering Klonopin

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Dear BB,

 

Please share your experience of taking a low dose of Remeron while tapering off of Klonopin. 

 

If you were/are  on other drugs, too, then I don't want to hear your story.  Only those who used Remeron to help get off Klonopin.  No other drugs/alcohol added to the mix...just Remeron and Klonopin. (no other drugs at all either recreational or alcohol or prescribed)

 

So far, I have heard 2 GOOD TESTIMONIES of people who are benzo free that say that Remeron helped them get off Klonopin.  They both said that it was not hard to get off Remeron, too.  Please share your experience.  I'm not asking you whether or not I should take Remeron.  I'm simply asking you to share your experience.  The decision is mine and I will not make that decision unless my doctor thinks it might help.  Thank you.

 

Kian

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[[Cr...]]

Hi Kian,

 

I know that parker, cnotr, and panguelina had good experiences with Remeron.  I also know that CMGmelo and Linder had negative experiences.  Hopefully some of them will chime in.  You could always go through some of their earlier posts or send them a PM.

 

Of course no matter how many positive or negative stories you read, that won't change your individual outcome with this medication.  If you do decide to try it, I hope it provides you with some relief.

 

Crono

[[...]]

Hi Kian,

 

I know that parker, cnotr, and panguelina had good experiences with Remeron.  I also know that CMGmelo and Linder had negative experiences.  Hopefully some of them will chime in.  You could always go through some of their earlier posts or send them a PM.

 

Of course no matter how many positive or negative stories you read, that won't change your individual outcome with this medication.  If you do decide to try it, I hope it provides you with some relief.

 

Crono

 

Thank you, Crono.  I'm off to the Doctor tomorrow.  Since no one wants to chime in, I guess I will just ask him.  Hope you are doing ok.  Take care.

 

Kian

[[An...]]

Hi kian, 

 

I am taking the lowest dose remeron 7.5 mg to sleep.  Wow did it make a difference for me.  I wish I didn't have to take another drug to get off one, but I can't do with no sleep.  They weight gain and mild sedation through the day are the only issues I have with it, but I will take the sedation over feeling crazy from days and days of no sleep and well i lost 20 lbs anyways from the withdrawal. I guess i can be chubby, happy and functioning for a bit. my only worry is can I sleep off of it when this all said and done.

 

Not sure if you have read this article, but it is kinda interesting.

 

http://smj.sma.org.sg/4906/4906cr8.pdf

 

I know Parker said she thought it helped her with her recovery because sleep is healing....and well so is eating or nourishing our bodies. I would say yes, I believe it is helping me too, because before I cringed at night time, now I look forward to it and like she said I do think my withdrawals are less.

 

Everyone is different and some it does not work for, but for me at this trying time in my life it has helped tremendously.

 

Hope that is of some help.    Annie

 

 

[[...]]

Hi kian, 

 

I am taking the lowest dose remeron 7.5 mg to sleep.  Wow did it make a difference for me.  I wish I didn't have to take another drug to get off one, but I can't do with no sleep.  They weight gain and mild sedation through the day are the only issues I have with it, but I will take the sedation over feeling crazy from days and days of no sleep and well i lost 20 lbs anyways from the withdrawal. I guess i can be chubby, happy and functioning for a bit. my only worry is can I sleep off of it when this all said and done.

 

Not sure if you have read this article, but it is kinda interesting.

 

http://smj.sma.org.sg/4906/4906cr8.pdf

 

I know Parker said she thought it helped her with her recovery because sleep is healing....and well so is eating or nourishing our bodies. I would say yes, I believe it is helping me too, because before I cringed at night time, now I look forward to it and like she said I do think my withdrawals are less.

 

Everyone is different and some it does not work for, but for me at this trying time in my life it has helped tremendously.

 

Hope that is of some help.    Annie

 

Thank you very much, Annie.  That was kind of you to reply.

 

Yes, I did read that article.  In fact, that is part of the reason I am seriously considering trying a small dose of Remeron to see if it will make cuts bearable enough to go through a second taper off of Klonopin.  Another member here was on Remeron for a few years and was on it for an entire year after getting off the K, but now he is 1 1/2  years benzo free AND Remeron free after 13 years of K.

 

I've heard that Remeron is more tolerable than all other anti depressants.  I hope this is true.  Thanks again for sharing your experience.  By the way, I am 6' 2" tall and weigh about 140 lbs.  I'm at least 40 lbs under weight.  If this stuff helps with weight gain, then that, for me, is not a bad thing.

 

Kian

[[St...]]

Hi kian,

 

I wasn't going to chime in here because you were asking specifically for members tapering from klonopin but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents..

 

I've read that they readily use Remeron for benzo withdrawal symptoms (except I can't remember where I read that). They gave me Remeron when I was in detox.. I was just like you, I had lost 45 lbs, I was about 110 lbs and I'm 5' 8". After being awake for 5 days they gave me remeron, it took affect pretty quick, I had to bolt for the bed before I fell on my face.  . I slept so hard for about 9 hours. The next day I was practically singing zippity-do-dah and I never wake up that happy    I was finally hungry too, even hospital food tasted fantastic. It made me unusually social too 

 

For me it was what I needed at the time and it worked. What worried me was that after about a week after I got home I felt just a lot of anger and weird depression so I stopped taking it cold turkey (only took it for 7 days), I can't be sure that what made me like that wasn't benzo withdrawal but I quit it anyway. It worked for what I needed it for at the time.

 

I just wanted to share with you my experience.. I hope you find relief, you've been suffering for so long, it's time you got a break.

[[ma...]]

Hi Kian

Sorry but i didnt see this yesterday, i think Remeron (mirtazepine) is a horrid drug, the reason it helps in benzo withdrawal is because it acts on the same part of the brain as benzos, it took me 12 months to taper using liquid i have also helped other people to taper from this drug, the w/ds symptoms are similar to benzo withdrawal, sorry to be negative Kian but i feel strongly against this drug

 

(((hugs)))

 

Margarita

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Hi Kian

Sorry but i didnt see this yesterday, i think Remeron (mirtazepine) is a horrid drug, the reason it helps in benzo withdrawal is because it acts on the same part of the brain as benzos, it took me 12 months to taper using liquid i have also helped other people to taper from this drug, the w/ds symptoms are similar to benzo withdrawal, sorry to be negative Kian but i feel strongly against this drug

 

(((hugs)))

 

Margarita

 

Magrita,

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.  If I am understanding you correctly, you took Remeron and it took you a year to get off it and it was almost as bad as benzo withdrawals?  Am I understanding you correctly?  Thanks.

 

Would you mind explaining what if any other drugs or benzos you were on during the time you took Remeron?  How long did you take Remeron?  Did you start before, during, or after your benzo taper?  Please share more details.  I'm open to your comments on your own experience.  Just your experience, not that of others.  Thanks again. 

 

PS = I researched remeron on wiki and it does not mention the mechanism of action to be gaba a receptors.  Do you have any real evidence that it works on the gaba a receptor?  PLease understand I am not questioning your experience.  I believe you when you say remeron was a nightmare for you, but perhaps it was more benzo withdrawals than remeron w/d's? 

 

Kian

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Hi kian,

 

I wasn't going to chime in here because you were asking specifically for members tapering from klonopin but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents..

 

I've read that they readily use Remeron for benzo withdrawal symptoms (except I can't remember where I read that). They gave me Remeron when I was in detox.. I was just like you, I had lost 45 lbs, I was about 110 lbs and I'm 5' 8". After being awake for 5 days they gave me remeron, it took affect pretty quick, I had to bolt for the bed before I fell on my face.  . I slept so hard for about 9 hours. The next day I was practically singing zippity-do-dah and I never wake up that happy    I was finally hungry too, even hospital food tasted fantastic. It made me unusually social too 

 

For me it was what I needed at the time and it worked. What worried me was that after about a week after I got home I felt just a lot of anger and weird depression so I stopped taking it cold turkey (only took it for 7 days), I can't be sure that what made me like that wasn't benzo withdrawal but I quit it anyway. It worked for what I needed it for at the time.

 

I just wanted to share with you my experience.. I hope you find relief, you've been suffering for so long, it's time you got a break.

 

Star,

 

Thank you for sharing your experience with me.  I appreciate it.  So far, all negative reports from benzos and remeron have been from people who were on xanax or valium.  Not klonopin.  I find that very interesting.  I have to be honest here.  I don't expect any drug to "cure" benzo withdrawals, but I think I would rather be on a drug that is not benzos.  Benzos are the worst.  I tried Seroquel once and it was the worst drug experience of my entire life, but I was able to taper off of it.  I've been trying to get a successful taper off of klonopin for almost 3 years now.  I've tried c/t's at least 4 times.  I've tried an 8 month taper.  I've tried tapering the klonopin FIRST, then the Dilantin rapid.  I've tried tapering the Dilantin FIRST SLOWLY, then klonopin.  I tried an SSRI for two days and had to stop on day 2 because my head LITERALLY felt like it was going to EXPLODE.  I tried an SNRI and after 2 days, I thought I was going to die so I stopped at day 3.  I tried crossing to valium only to get EXTREMELY SICK after only 2mg's of valium.  You name it, I've already tried it.  I'm at a "stand still".  I can not tolerate a cut (even a small one) of klonopin. 

 

This is the "option" that I have been trying to avoid for 3 years.  21 years on Klonopin is very serious.  I don't believe I've ever seen anyone on klonopin that long get off of it successfully w/o using another drug of some sort.  If anyone knows of such a person, please let me know so I can talk to them.  Thanks everyone for sharing your experience.  I hold only myself accountable for my own decisions.  No one else.

 

Kian

[[ma...]]

Hi Kian

 

  Do you have any real evidence that it works on the gaba a receptor?

I have no evidence Kian only myself! I went thro hell getting off  a benzo and  then the same hell getting of an a/d (Mirtazepine) i was not on any other meds

I would not want anyone to have the same experience as i did

 

Margarita

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I'm so worried about this now I can't even get a wink of sleep.    Now I have a headache too.  Sigh.......................ugh!

 

Kian

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Hi Kian

 

  Do you have any real evidence that it works on the gaba a receptor?

I have no evidence Kian only myself! I went thro hell getting off  a benzo and  then the same hell getting of an a/d (Mirtazepine) i was not on any other meds

I would not want anyone to have the same experience as i did

 

Margarita

 

Thank you, dear.  Believe me, I know your experience was real.  I believe you.  This is so confusing!  I also believe the ones who said they got off it no problem in 5 days.  We just don't know enough about all the life details of those on this forum, but I have a very bad history and understand what it is like not to want to share everything on a forum.  Too many question marks to draw wise conclusions.  If I told you my history, you would wonder how I could still be alive.  I'm so tempted to dump it all onto my blog now.  So so tempted.  Thanks for your kindness, compassion, and honesty. 

 

I ask this question with utmost respect.  Do you think it is possible that even as hard as it was, that maybe you would not be benzo free today, had it not been for the mirtazepine?  Seriously.  Think about it.  Let me know.  Also, look at Starbird's story.  Perhaps she would not have made it benzo free had it not been for those 7 days of Remeron?  Perhaps she would have had to reinstate had she not been given the Remeron?  Do you see what I am getting at?  She went 5 days w/o sleep.  I've been 5 WEEKS w/o sleep.  I mean NO (as in not one second) of sleep.  35 days straight.  Then, when I was 5 months benzo free, I only got a few hours of sleep here and there for two whole months.  That is the main reason I had to reinstate klonopin, but keep in mind I was also trying a rapid taper off of Dilantin while in post acute withdrawals.

 

PS - I think it is VERY POSSIBLE that what you were feeling was mainly far out post acute benzo withdrawals.  Starbird also said she can't tell if her w/d's were from the remeron or the xanax c/t.  One week after a Xanax c/t.  You were on Valium for a LONG TIME.  Those withdrawals (even two years later) could have been mainly from benzos but only God knows.  Sorry, I'm just thinking out loud here.

 

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My doc apt isn't until 2pm mountain time in the USA so I would still appreciate any more shared experiences (good or bad) between now (3:38am) and 1:15 pm.  Thank you.

 

What I want to know is how do people even know if it was the remeron that may have actually made it POSSIBLE to get off benzos.  Is Remeron a new drug?  Could Remeron be WORSE than benzos and we just have not discovered that yet?

 

How could one person praise this drug, and another have just the opposite experience?  How is that possible?

 

Kian

[[ma...]]

I ask this question with utmost respect.  Do you think it is possible that even as hard as it was, that maybe you would not be benzo free today, had it not been for the mirtazepine?  Seriously.  Think about it.  Let me know.  Also, look at Starbird's story.  Perhaps she would not have made it benzo free had it not been for those 7 days of Remeron?  Perhaps she would have had to reinstate had she not been given the Remeron?  Do you see what I am getting at?

Kian

I was in tolerance for some time (years) i did not know that at the time, i thought i was dying slowly. My doctor gave me mirtazepine because i was crying all day long. Things got worse for me i became more agitated and extremely angry as well as other new symptoms, at the time i just thought my illness was getting worse.  It was 3 years later i started to question both of the meds. My forum at the time suggested i taper one drug at a time, as it was a benzo forum i chose that first no other reason. All i can say Kian is its up to you what you chose to do.

I know how hard it has been for you, my heart goes out to you and i have prayed and lit candles for you, so i could not sit back and let you make a choice without telling you of my experience, sorry mate. You will get thro this i am sure of it

 

love

Margarita

 

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I ask this question with utmost respect.  Do you think it is possible that even as hard as it was, that maybe you would not be benzo free today, had it not been for the mirtazepine?  Seriously.  Think about it.  Let me know.  Also, look at Starbird's story.  Perhaps she would not have made it benzo free had it not been for those 7 days of Remeron?  Perhaps she would have had to reinstate had she not been given the Remeron?  Do you see what I am getting at?

Kian

I was in tolerance for some time (years) i did not know that at the time, i thought i was dying slowly. My doctor gave me mirtazepine because i was crying all day long. Things got worse for me i became more agitated and extremely angry as well as other new symptoms, at the time i just thought my illness was getting worse.  It was 3 years later i started to question both of the meds. My forum at the time suggested i taper one drug at a time, as it was a benzo forum i chose that first no other reason. All i can say Kian is its up to you what you chose to do.

I know how hard it has been for you, my heart goes out to you and i have prayed and lit candles for you, so i could not sit back and let you make a choice without telling you of my experience, sorry mate. You will get thro this i am sure of it

 

love

Margarita

 

 

Margarita,

 

I am very glad you shared your experience.  You would be heartless not to.  It just shows that you care. 

 

I don't believe I will ever survive this with or without mirtazepine in the long run. 

 

Kian

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Hi Kian,

Mirtizipine is this an anti-depressant?. I think it is I maybe wrong not well enough to look it up.

Through my experience dont go on any other drug unless absolutely necessary. They all have there own w'd's although possible not as bad as an a/d. However saying this I come off prozac after being on it for 10 years 6 months down the line I thought I was going mad I was then pescribed benzo's and many many a/d's I come off all of them my brain just would'nt tolerate them. I had pain before benzos'. Found out they can also cause nerve damage. From then on my descent to hell it was. Not trying to frighten you but dont want you to suffer needlessly....The strange thing is I am not depressed but my pain is at times horrendous it is today. I missed 2mgs I am sure a couple of weeks back and I dont know if this is the reason why I am feeling so bad in pain...anyway going back to an a/d or any other drug LEAVE IT IN PLACE STILL TAKE IT AS MY WARNING IT or any other drug you are taking MUST NOT BE TAPERED OFF UNTIL YOUR OFF BENZO'S FOR A QUITE A WHILE...My niece was on Seroxat at 13 years for panic attacks and it took her 18 months all told to come off but she never had to go on benzo's...LUCKILY

I also being multi drugged was put on Effexor (Venlafaxine) a very high dose. I went on Forum to get off this too as this is nasty drug to come off. The people on this particular forum had also been on benzo's had come off them 1st...I come off in 3 months far far too quickly.....After that I spiralled downwards. Although I've educate myself its a bit late for my suffering....I hope this helps by no means to scare you though.I done a lot of damage to myself regrets and then punished by being tapered off too quick. Their is no reason in this world that anybody should suffer how I am its my History yours is not that bad at all "You'll get There"....Take It Easy Tess

[[Wi...]]

Hi Kian,

 

My original benzo was Ativan and I c/o'd to valium so I'm not a K person, but I thought I'd put this out there anyway. As much as I'd prefer not to take any more drugs, what I will say is that remeron (the only other drug I'm on other than Valium) has allowed me to sleep and made this w/d process more reasonable (still sucks rocks bigtime tho).  I take 7.5 mg (low dose) daily and like was mentioned above, it has increased my appetite and the next day there is a form of hangover, but in comparison to doing without, I'm ok with that.

 

I initially used it during the c/o which made a difference.  I then stopped for several months, but w/d was getting the best of me and restarted.  So I didn't have a difficult time stopping it, but there are many on here who have had different experiences then that. 

 

My theory is that part of the reason it's challenging for some to get off Remeron is that it, for me, suppresses the degree of some of the s/x and if someone who is on remeron, gets off of it while s/x are still kicking, those s/x will no longer be suppressed and it may appear that the s/x are from remeron w/d when in fact its just a resurgance of benzo w/d s/x.  But that's just a theory.  I'm still tapering and so I really don't know how it will be to get off of remeron for the final time. But I plan on w/d'ing from remeron only after I've been off benzos for (hopefully) 6 months to a year or when it feels like my body has healed mostly from w/d. 

 

Remeron is an antidepressant but it's not an SSRI so it is not like Prozac or her sisters. It's a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs).  From what I've read there is no correlation between Remeron and  gaba or gaba receptors.  Remeron is a paradoxical drug in the the lower the dose (15 mg and below? just a guess on dosage) the higher the sedation as it stimulates serotonin .  At higher doses (I think 30-45 mg?)  it stimulates norepinephrine.  Remeron focuses most of the serotonin action on 5TH1A receptors, blocks 5HT2A, 5HT2C & 5HT3, and is a potent antihistamine (I see nowhere that it touches gaba or gaba receptors anywhere).  So basically the lower the dose the more sedation it provides.

 

You might also want to do a search on this site for Remeron or Mirtazapine to see other postings.  You'll see both pro's and con's but it may give you more information.

 

From Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

 

Mirtazapine has been found to be one of the most effective antidepressants available and has a generally tolerable side effect profile. In a major systematic review published in 2009 which compared the efficacy and tolerability of 12 popular antidepressants, mirtazapine was found to be superior to all of the included SSRIs and SNRIs, reboxetine, bupropion, and mianserin in terms of antidepressant efficacy, while it was average in regards to tolerability.[28][29][30] Mirtazapine has been demonstrated to be superior to trazodone as well.[31] Mirtazapine has also been shown to be equal in efficacy to many of the TCAs, including amitriptyline, doxepin, and clomipramine, but with a much improved tolerability profile.[28][32] However, two other studies found mirtazapine inferior to the TCA imipramine.[33][34] One study compared the combination of venlafaxine and mirtazapine versus the MAOI tranylcypromine and found them to be equally effective, though the MAOI was much less tolerable in terms of side effects and drug interactions.[35]

 

Just my 2 cents...Hope this helps

 

 

WWWI

[[An...]]

I do worry about coming off it, thankfully 7.5 is the lowest dose.  I have weaned off celexa and lexapro in the past, both uncomfortable, but a cakewalk compared to benzo's.  I cold turkeyed off the lowest dose of Effexor that was hell, other than that I can only hope coming off is manageable if I do it slow.  I m also working with a benzo wise and antidepressant wise naturopath who helps numerous wean off antidepressants.  I can only hope he can help th ride be smoother. 

 

I do think everyone's experience can be completely different. So I am not trying to sell remeron,  but only give my opinion and experience. As wise woman said for the time being it has made me able to cope with withdrawal. I can continue looking after my children instead of have my mother help while I am suffering in bed from lack of sleep and withdrawal.  I feel for those that have had a bad experience as I have been there with Effexor.

 

Kian it is a tough decision, especially since it is yet another drug to come off.  I hate hate hate the fact that I am another pill. 

 

I hope you can find what you need whether it is with remeron or without.  Have you tried melatonin? My naturopath told me studies have been done that it can possibly cut withdrawal time in half.  I am going to try and find where he found this info.    Annie

 

[[jj...]]

Kian,

  You have not been sleeping for a long time.  While, I would only look to it as a last resort, Trazadone has also been used to help people get some sleep.  I am on trazadone and remeron.  I am concerned because once i get off the benzo, I will have to taper 2 other meds!  But, I went to a well know center in Guelph Ontario back in 2007 to get CBT therapy.  The doctor there prescribed the trazadone.  He says, as well as other health care professionals that it is not addictive.  I know, don't always listen to what the doctor tells you, but trazadone is quite sedating.  I know you don't want to go on other meds, but it might be a safer option than remeron! I know you only wanted to hear from people just on benzos and experience with remeron, but I felt I should give you my background experience with it. 

 

The drawback in terms of side effects with trazadone mostly are dry mouth, so you need to increase your water intake a lot.  I like the idea of trying some natural remedies first like melatonin.  Maybe this would be something to investigate first, before attempting to go on another psychiatric drug. 

 

Sorry, I know you only wanted to hear from people who have only been on benzos with remeron, but the doctor who prescribed it told me it would make weaning off the clonazepam easier!

 

I guess as I get lower in my clonazepam dose we will see.

 

I hope you can get some answers soon, and that you get some well needed rest!

[[...]]

jjbutterfly,

 

Thank you for the reply. 

 

Kian

 

[[...]]

I do worry about coming off it, thankfully 7.5 is the lowest dose.  I have weaned off celexa and lexapro in the past, both uncomfortable, but a cakewalk compared to benzo's.  I cold turkeyed off the lowest dose of Effexor that was hell, other than that I can only hope coming off is manageable if I do it slow.  I m also working with a benzo wise and antidepressant wise naturopath who helps numerous wean off antidepressants.  I can only hope he can help th ride be smoother. 

 

I do think everyone's experience can be completely different. So I am not trying to sell remeron,  but only give my opinion and experience. As wise woman said for the time being it has made me able to cope with withdrawal. I can continue looking after my children instead of have my mother help while I am suffering in bed from lack of sleep and withdrawal.  I feel for those that have had a bad experience as I have been there with Effexor.

 

Kian it is a tough decision, especially since it is yet another drug to come off.  I hate hate hate the fact that I am another pill. 

 

I hope you can find what you need whether it is with remeron or without.  Have you tried melatonin? My naturopath told me studies have been done that it can possibly cut withdrawal time in half.  I am going to try and find where he found this info.    Annie

 

Annie(3),

 

Thanks for the reply.  Sounds like Remeron is really helping you.  How long have you been taking it?  Melatonin makes me severely depressed.  I've heard of 14 Remeron cases so far from here and from others I know in total and 11 of them are success stories.  That is an 80% success rate. 

 

Still only heard from 1 person who had success with it after LONG TERM KLONOPIN use.  THanks again.  I got scared and panicked and stayed up all night last night over this Remeron stress so I cancelled my Dr. apt.  I'm still considering Remeron though.  I have not read enough feedback about Remeron use with LONG TERM K users.  There must not be that many.

 

Kian

[[...]]

Hi Kian,

 

My original benzo was Ativan and I c/o'd to valium so I'm not a K person, but I thought I'd put this out there anyway. As much as I'd prefer not to take any more drugs, what I will say is that remeron (the only other drug I'm on other than Valium) has allowed me to sleep and made this w/d process more reasonable (still sucks rocks bigtime tho).  I take 7.5 mg (low dose) daily and like was mentioned above, it has increased my appetite and the next day there is a form of hangover, but in comparison to doing without, I'm ok with that.

 

I initially used it during the c/o which made a difference.  I then stopped for several months, but w/d was getting the best of me and restarted.  So I didn't have a difficult time stopping it, but there are many on here who have had different experiences then that. 

 

My theory is that part of the reason it's challenging for some to get off Remeron is that it, for me, suppresses the degree of some of the s/x and if someone who is on remeron, gets off of it while s/x are still kicking, those s/x will no longer be suppressed and it may appear that the s/x are from remeron w/d when in fact its just a resurgance of benzo w/d s/x.  But that's just a theory.  I'm still tapering and so I really don't know how it will be to get off of remeron for the final time. But I plan on w/d'ing from remeron only after I've been off benzos for (hopefully) 6 months to a year or when it feels like my body has healed mostly from w/d. 

 

Remeron is an antidepressant but it's not an SSRI so it is not like Prozac or her sisters. It's a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs).  From what I've read there is no correlation between Remeron and  gaba or gaba receptors.  Remeron is a paradoxical drug in the the lower the dose (15 mg and below? just a guess on dosage) the higher the sedation as it stimulates serotonin .  At higher doses (I think 30-45 mg?)  it stimulates norepinephrine.  Remeron focuses most of the serotonin action on 5TH1A receptors, blocks 5HT2A, 5HT2C & 5HT3, and is a potent antihistamine (I see nowhere that it touches gaba or gaba receptors anywhere).  So basically the lower the dose the more sedation it provides.

 

You might also want to do a search on this site for Remeron or Mirtazapine to see other postings.  You'll see both pro's and con's but it may give you more information.

 

From Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

 

Mirtazapine has been found to be one of the most effective antidepressants available and has a generally tolerable side effect profile. In a major systematic review published in 2009 which compared the efficacy and tolerability of 12 popular antidepressants, mirtazapine was found to be superior to all of the included SSRIs and SNRIs, reboxetine, bupropion, and mianserin in terms of antidepressant efficacy, while it was average in regards to tolerability.[28][29][30] Mirtazapine has been demonstrated to be superior to trazodone as well.[31] Mirtazapine has also been shown to be equal in efficacy to many of the TCAs, including amitriptyline, doxepin, and clomipramine, but with a much improved tolerability profile.[28][32] However, two other studies found mirtazapine inferior to the TCA imipramine.[33][34] One study compared the combination of venlafaxine and mirtazapine versus the MAOI tranylcypromine and found them to be equally effective, though the MAOI was much less tolerable in terms of side effects and drug interactions.[35]

 

Just my 2 cents...Hope this helps

 

 

WWWI

 

WWWI,

 

You made the same point I did.  How do people know if what they were experiencing was benzo withdrawals or remeron withdrawals?

 

Thanks for your input.  Hope you are doing ok.  Please keep me posted.  Especially about the Remeron, ok?  Thanks!

 

Kian

[[...]]

Hi kian,

 

I wasn't going to chime in here because you were asking specifically for members tapering from klonopin but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents..

 

I've read that they readily use Remeron for benzo withdrawal symptoms (except I can't remember where I read that). They gave me Remeron when I was in detox.. I was just like you, I had lost 45 lbs, I was about 110 lbs and I'm 5' 8". After being awake for 5 days they gave me remeron, it took affect pretty quick, I had to bolt for the bed before I fell on my face.  . I slept so hard for about 9 hours. The next day I was practically singing zippity-do-dah and I never wake up that happy    I was finally hungry too, even hospital food tasted fantastic. It made me unusually social too 

 

For me it was what I needed at the time and it worked. What worried me was that after about a week after I got home I felt just a lot of anger and weird depression so I stopped taking it cold turkey (only took it for 7 days), I can't be sure that what made me like that wasn't benzo withdrawal but I quit it anyway. It worked for what I needed it for at the time.

 

I just wanted to share with you my experience.. I hope you find relief, you've been suffering for so long, it's time you got a break.

 

Thanks again, Starbird.  Do you remember what dose you were on for a week?  I heard that a lower dose helps you sleep BETTER than a higher dose.  Please let me know...Thanks!

 

Kian

[[An...]]

Wow, melatonin made me very depressed the next morning too, but it helped me sleep:( I have only been taking the remeron for about 3 weeks.  I went fron 2 hours sleep to 9 hours the first night. The lowest dose 7.5 mg is the most sedating I believe. 

 

I hope that it isn't suppressing the withdrawal symptoms, but reading Parker and cnotr blogs it seems that they aren't too bad. It's funny though how everyone has such a different experience.  I don't know if 7.5 has antidepressant properties, but over the last few days for the first time in 4 months I have had energy and motivation to get things done.  This could be that I have gotten hope since seeing a new naturopath who is very compassionate and his personal interest is helping people get of antidepressants. 

 

I hope you get the sleep you need whether it's remeron or without.  Keep us posted.