Remeron (Mirtazapine) Withdrawal Support Group

[[Co...]]

Hi Dave!!  I laughed very hard about the pillow fight thing you posted!!  I read ur signature again, u did tappering off your benzo very fast.. wow!  Now I c why you waiting 7 months before u started tapering off of remeron!

 

I just saw my nutritionist today, it's free to c him b/c he works partly for a but nutrition store we have here.  He knows most my story and he wants to to come and speak to people this fall out my journey, etc.  So I am super excited about that!

I told him about this forum and how u all have been sooo helpful!  He said that men and women's brains function differently, so what works for us women in getting off meds may not work for u guys!

I know males and females r different in the way we think, but I didn't know that our brains actually work differently.

 

Anywho ever since I was a little girl I was diagnosed with ADHD, I was off and on ritalin for 10 yrs.. each summer I would stop it cold turkey (that's what you did back then) and then each school yr I would go back on it.

Back then also meds worked opposite for me.  Also for most people caffiene would hype them up, well it would actually calk me down.. so what I'm getting at is that one of the reason I'm so sensitive to meds is b/c of that. 

 

Also when i tried the 5 HTP normally that would calm people down, well one day I took only 50m and was fine during the day but then when I tried to go to sleep I couldn't turn off the lights up in my head.. (the weirdest thing) I was told by my pdr that 5 htp turns into melatonin and whenever I take melatonin it doesn't help me sleep..

Anyways, I am not sure what I'll use once I'm off the remeron for sleep, I hope that I wont need anything! 

 

Dave I just wanted to say that you r soooo friendly, kind, compassionate, positive, and so much more!  I hope you have fun with your 3 yrs old!  I have two boys, 8 yr old (well the 4th of July is his bday) and a 4 yr old.. kids r so much fun!

 

Hi Angel!! I'm soo glad u r feeling better!  Please keep us posted!  How is your sleep?

 

Update of me/how I feel:

I am now 21 days off benzos, today is a better day then two/three days ago (when I took 5HTP and the day after with limited slepp) .. so as long as I keep improving I may start tappering off in 2 weeks.. Not sure yet.. but I'm just going to listen to my body.  Then as always I will keep you posted!

 

XOXO

 

 

 

 

[[ca...]]

hi i have to ask why would you need a support group for remeron? i took it for a long time and just stopped in 2012  and never had any w/d symptoms..maybe it's just me...

[[Co...]]

Hi cagr1, welcome to this thread!

 

As u hopefully know all medicine effects each person differently! I'm sooooo happy for u that u were able to just stop it.

Please share ur story with us!

How long we're u on remeron?

Did u get on it to help u taper off of benzos? If so, how long where u off the benzo before u stopped remeron?

How did u stop taking it?

Where u on any other meds when u stopped taking remeron? The other meds may of masked ur remeron w/ds.

 

Thank u again for joining this thread! It is encouraging hearing everyone's stories!

Blessings!

:-)

[[ca...]]

Hi cagr1, welcome to this thread!

 

As u hopefully know all medicine effects each person differently! I'm sooooo happy for u that u were able to just stop it.

Please share ur story with us!

How long we're u on remeron?

Did u get on it to help u taper off of benzos? If so, how long where u off the benzo before u stopped remeron?

How did u stop taking it?

Where u on any other meds when u stopped taking remeron? The other meds may of masked ur remeron w/ds.

 

Thank u again for joining this thread! It is encouraging hearing everyone's stories!

Blessings!

:-)

 

hi - i never even thought there was a problem when i stopped..i also didn't know anything about the w/d sx's..i took it for about 6 months about 7 years ago, and just stopped taking it, because it didn't work for me..i also tried it again last year, took it for about 6 or 7 weeks, and when i found out that it didn't do anything i just stopped taking it. i've taken over 30 depression drugs and most drugs to help you sleep..they just never worked..i went to 4 sleep studies with my son, and the results came back with a diagnosis that there was nothing was going on and no one could ever figure out why we don't sleep..

 

i've been on so many drugs..nothing works for me at all..i wish something would work i would love to sleep straight thru the night, but i don't see that ever happening..

 

i'm glad i found this forum...i'm having a pretty rough day, trying to stay busy here in bb...it's already been a very long long long day..lol

 

i don't know if i answered your question or not..

 

have a good day..

[[Co...]]

Hi cagri, I understand!

 

Do u live in the USA? The reason I'm asking is b/c there is a test that doctors can do to determine which meds u would be best on.

Right now the tests can test for antidepressants/antipsycotic, pain meds, and ADHD.

Its called assurerx and I had it done. It showed that there r only two ADs that I can take and remeron is not one that I should be on.

 

Not all doctors can do this test, so go nine to assurerx.com and call them to find if there is a dr I ur area that does the test.

 

Just an idea!

 

 

[[ca...]]

Hi cagri, I understand!

 

Do u live in the USA? The reason I'm asking is b/c there is a test that doctors can do to determine which meds u would be best on.

Right now the tests can test for antidepressants/antipsycotic, pain meds, and ADHD.

Its called assurerx and I had it done. It showed that there r only two ADs that I can take and remeron is not one that I should be on.

 

Not all doctors can do this test, so go nine to assurerx.com and call them to find if there is a dr I ur area that does the test.

 

Just an idea!

 

hi coral - thanks for the info..yes i live in cali - the only problem i have right now is sleep, i don't have depression, and am not in any pain..i wish i had known about this a long time ago when i was depressed, but now i'm not. i have learned so much since i've been here in bb...i wish i had found 7 months ago when i really needed help and knowledge about what i would be going thru, but i'm glad i am here now..

 

thanks for sharing the website with me, i am going to check it out..i just went to the site, i think i'm at the wrong place...

i had been given remeron for sleep...hmmm

 

my next visit to my dr.s i will ask them about this, maybe there is an answer here for sleep disorders..that would be amazing...

 

hope you have a good night..

[[Co...]]

Sorry here is the website:

http://assurexhealth.com/

 

Not all drs have it so u have to call them for a list of drs in ur area that have it.

It's worth getting it done its covered by most insurances.

If u don't have any they have a ( hopefully I explain this right) thing that if u make less than 150000 per ur the most u pay is $200, is u make less than $100000 u pay xyz, if u make 50000 or less u pay only $50.

Hope that helps!

 

 

[[ca...]]

hi coral - i did find it..thank you...

 

i'm a veteran, i don't think the va does this but i have really good insurance so i will ask my dr about this.

 

it does help again maybe they have the answer to my sleep disorder...

 

it sure wouldn't hurt to check this out...so you did this and found that remeron wasn't going to help you, and you are looking for a med. for pain??

 

thank you for sharing..everything right now helps...

 

[[Co...]]

Not no looking for any meds just curious what would work for me. I only had the test for ADs done.

I thought it was interesting c'ing that remeron was on the list of use with extreme caution.

[[sl...]]

DQ blizzard at 9pm was apparently a bad idea.  Broke my 6 day streak of sleep!

[[Co...]]

Sugar is not our friend right now!!

 

I'm thinking I may start the remeron taper next Friday night, that way I'll of been off of it at least 30 days. :-) I'm not going to feel 100% now anyway, so I migh as well go through the bad stuff now (if I have any) rather than waiting till I think I'm healed and then have to go through all this again anyway.

 

What do you all think?

[[sl...]]

I know, but damn it tasted good!  So not worth being up all night though.

 

I'm worried that if you start to taper now it might exacerbate your Valium withdrawal.  I would wait until you are feeling stable.  If you add lack of sleep to your mix, the result may be unbearable.

[[Co...]]

True, it's so hard b/c being in another med causes its own issues.

I'm going to vent so here we go...

Remeron Causes constipation, then I have to take something to go to the bathroom.

Each month I have to think about when to start the tapering plan, plus each month I spend $30 on liquid remeron.

I have to watch what I eat b/c remeron makes u gain weight, I can't fit into most of my pants, I feel unconfirtable in my skin b/c of the fluctuating 7-9 pounds.

It makes me have water retention, so I have to doubly make sure I have enough water so I don't swell up too much.

Mmmmm I'm sure there is more.

 

But what is is doing I'm sure, is helping me sleep some, giving me the ability to still work, be a great mommy, and keeping some of the valium w/d's at bay.

Or it may be enhancing the w/d's I don't know.

 

Any thoughts? Please be honest.

 

[[sl...]]

7-9 lbs isn't bad for remeron.  I gained 25lbs and still have 12 to lose.  My pants do not fit.  I feel disgusting.  I barely sleep so I'm not able to exercise the way I used to.  I used to be at the gym 6 times a week, running, aerobics, weightlifting you name it.  I can't exercise on zero sleep, so I can't lose the rest of the weight.  I was willing to risk the weight gain with the promise of sleep...what a rip off.

 

My thought for you is to persist a little longer on the remeron.  I would say 60 days from your last Valium.  If you're feeling the same as you are 30 days out, it's time to taper.  If you're feeling worse, maybe you need to stick it out longer. 

 

Either way, set a plan and stick to it.  Agonizing about should or shouldn't you start your taper is just going to rev up your anxiety.

 

As for the tummy issues,  take some extra magnesium, it seems to have the opposite effect

[[Ti...]]

Hi Coralashley, I had a horrendous first 2 weeks after I jumped off the valium, but I can honestly say that by week 4 I almost felt back to my normal pre-benzo self, so I started tapering the remeron then. At that time I was sleeping 8 hours each night, and it was deep sleep (soooo different to my current situation!). Wait until you feel stable, strong and ready. Only you can tell when that moment is. For me it was by week 4, but everyone is different. I totally understand your frustration about the weight gain. I've been off remeron for 25 days and still not losing weight, even though I'm watching my food. I can't go on a strict diet as I'm on holidays and don't always have control over my meals. Also, same as Sleepless Nights, I can't exercise some days because of w/d. I'm still clocking in 5-6 hours, and waking up a lot throughout the night. Some days anxiety is bad. But overall I'm fine and grateful to be done with psychoactive drugs. I've been taking melatonin some days to help with insomnia, but don't want to overuse it as I've a bad reactions to it in the past.

Tiger Lily

[[Co...]]

Thank u sleepless and Tiger L!

I have light sensitivity, do either of u? I'm also irritable today, no real resin why except I just got my girl time.

 

I'll c how I feel by next friday & ill decide then.

I'm not just frustrated about the weight, I too love going to the gym. I used to go at least 5-6 xs a week back before this benzo tapering ordeal.

I'm too sensitive (light) wise to go there. I was going quite a bit more before my jump, but it is what it is I guess.

 

 

Tiger how long we're u on benzos? I forget.

I'm sorry u r not losing weight, I'm sure that must be frustrating!

 

Sleepless let me know how ur sleep goes to tonight!

 

Sorry to be posting about this again but that's another reason I want off it so I can stop thinking about when I'm going to start.

 

 

 

[[Co...]]

Hi everyone happy Saturday!

I'm thinking this remeron is over stimulating me. It's been this way for weeks.

This happened to me before when I cut out my night dose on it.

I want to just stop taking it to c how I feel, any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[[Co...]]

I think I've devised a plan, I'm going to use the tapering plan I post to get down to 3.50mg this way ill have even less to come off of and ill be able test to that method of tapering :-)

I'm going to start tonight.

The thing is is if I'm uncomfortable ill just go back on the same dosage 5.6.

Yeah a plan!

[[La...]]

Hello all,

 

I'm really hoping some of you who are on remeron can help me. im not tapering remeron,my doc is starting me on it to help get off of klonopin.

Here's my story.....It's been a while since I posted. I failed my ativan taper last month, & ended up in the ER twice, lost over 20 lbs and am now left with a very low quality of life. Worst being agorapobia, & not functioning as a wife or mom, can't drive or do anything. Anyway, I found a new pdoc/specialist who has been trying to stabilize me enough for a second round taper. He switched me to klonopin, because ativan didn't work any more. And started me on remeron. I'm currently on 1mg klonopin, & he raised it to 1.25 today because I was having symptoms that were affecting me. I'm not sure if its from the remeron or if its leftover from the failed ativan taper.  I'm definitely better then i was a few weeks ago, but here are my symptoms: Sensitivity to sounds & any little noise, Skin burning on back & neck, can't relax, but really tired from klonopin & remeron. I sleep on remeron...he's upped my dose gradually to 15 mg. I'm edgy & anxious, although with the higher dose today that went away, but still had extreme tiredness, sound sensitivity, and skin burnung on back when I lay down. I don't know if I'm in tolerance withdrawal or if it's my body trying to get used to the remeron. Does anyone have any clue? He now wants me to go back to 2/3 of 15 mg  remeron and only take 1mg klonopin, but I'm so afraid of playing with the doses.

Are my symptoms due to tolerance withdrawal or is it the remeron adjustment?

Somebody please help me! Anyone who can help answer some or all of my questions I would be extremely grateful. ASAP!

 

Thank you

 

Laelani

[[Co...]]

Lealoni,

    Hello and welcome to this thread!

It's hard to answer ur question when I too am not 100%.

I'm sorry ur Ativan taper didn't work but the great thing is u have help!

I have never gone any higher in dosage on remeron but 7.5mg.. It takes up to 6 weeks to work though. I saw a difference 3 weeks after I started taking it.

How long have u been on it?

 

I don't like remeron, only like it for sleep.  How r u sleeping?

 

Wonder why he put u on kolonopin and not Valium? Klonopin I hear is also hard to get off of.

 

I know how u feel about having to be a wife and mommy and going Thru all this. It's stinks!

It's been several days since I had a good wave... Hope one comes soon!

 

I am debating whether to cut my remeron to help with the overstimulation or go up to c if I feel better..

 

I'm sorry if I wasn't too much help, sometimes just having someone to talk to is help enough!

 

 

[[no...]]

hi everyone. and big welcomes to the new visitors to our little nook of mirtazapine withdrawal support.

 

coralashley, my guess is that laelani's p-doc suggested klono because it has a longer half-life than the ativan. before i did my rapid taper when i hit tolerance, they (the docs) were tossing about the option of switching me over to klono too (from ativan and xanax). it will buy time, but isn't the answer and i am sure laelani knows this. valium has the longest half-life which is why it is the drug-of-choice for tapering.

 

laelani, you're on a pretty low dose of both remeron and klono. is tapering (the benzo) going to be an option for you? any thoughts on valium for yourself? the low-dose remeron should promote sleep and appetite at that level, but everyone is different.

 

anyway, wishing you all the best. i just made a remeron cut. dropped from 6.7mg to 6.4 mg. i will note it in my signature.

 

healing, love, blessings, and yes coralashley, pillow fights! 

 

-dave

[[Co...]]

Hi Dave, it's good to hear from u!

 

I wish u the best with ur cut my friend!

I cut my remeron by 1% and I feel less stimulated in my brain.... It's crazy what this stuff does!

 

 

Anyways I may start on the true taperin plan this Friday... So i may go back up to 5.6mg tonight and then hold for the real tapering this Friday.

Not to be gross but remeron causes me to have cronic constipation, I go but not all the way... So b/c of it I have to to miralax 2x a day and (1) Linzess (a new med out for c.c).

So once I stop remeron I know I won't have any problems going, or at least that was my experience before.

What do u think Dave should I try the U.K tapering plan or follow the 10% taper till I get down to 3.75? I'm toying with that idea, since I really stared on 1/8 of remeron and I don't want to screw this whole thing up.

Any suggestions is most welcome!

 

Tiger Lilly, how r u? Any updates on ur weight? Sleep, anxierty! Stomach issues?

 

Sleepless, how r u r u sleeping, how r u feeling?

 

Angle, how r u as well? Have u stabilized?

 

Love to all!

 

[[no...]]

hi coralashley,

 

thanks for the well-wishes!

 

ugh... it seems w/ the remeron people either go one way or the other. either constipation, or loose stool. both of which are NO FUN.

 

in terms of the tapering, the UK plan has the obvious benefit of being expedient. but i think, from the research i did, that the 10% taper affords a little more control in terms of pace, etc. do you agree w/ that? it seems like such a toss-up to me. that is to say, both have their pros and cons, so essentially, i don't know! ha!

 

but what i DO know is that no matter which path you choose, we'll be here to give you support.

 

keep us in the loop - and like you, would like to hear from everyone else when time allows!

 

healing and best!

 

-dave

[[Co...]]

I meant I had cut my remeron by 10% not 1%. 

Dave I agree u have more control... And u get more sleep that way to possibly... So I'm going to pray and think this thru before I move forward.

I could follow the uk plan to get down to 3.75 and c how it makes me feel... Then hold ther for two weeks then do it again following that plan.

I just feel since I started on such a small amount, dropping that much would be too much... I'm going to call them (people at Back to Life in UK) tomorrow again and talk this thru with them.

 

If did this to drop to 3.75 and then did it again to drop to 1/2 of that, then again to get off 100%... I just know that if I do this this way It'd give me more time on remeron to help with the benzo withdrawals.. Does that even sound right/make sense?

 

I do know that since I've cut I feel a little better, it just goes to show that this med is too stimulating for me,

 

Anywho, I

[[sl...]]

Hey all...the weekly update.

 

I've been sleeping, with the help of Ortho Sleep, for 4 - 6 hours per night (except for the ice cream night whoops).  It's a nice sleep, not knocked out, but relaxed.  I can still hear my baby if he wakes and I can get up and go back to sleep after. 

 

It feels good to sleep, but I feel anxious about taking something...am I trading in one evil for another?  I also have the constant fear that it will stop helping me...just like the remeron stopped.

 

My bad cold is finally gone, so I can breathe through my nose again and swallow again. 

 

I should get my hormonal test results by the end of the week..so hopefully that shows something that can be treated. 

 

 

Thinking of you all.