Mirtazapine Withdrawal.

[Virtuoso]

Has anyone had a successful withdrawal from Mirtazapine? If so, how did it go? How long before you felt yourself again? I am worried that this medication may have changed me into a person I was not once before. An anxious person who has panic attacks just stepping outside my home. I'm also worried it may make me go crazy lol although I know that isn't realistic thinking but that's how I think now after being on this medication. Also, does anyone experience a squeezing sensation in your head? Like there is a pressure in your brain? It comes to me in spouts and goes away after a few.

I'm on day three of taking 7.5MG and everything looks brighter today, I am slightly agitated but no anxious feelings or depression, just spouts of low moods which don't last long. So, anyone had success coming off this medication and feeling themselves?

[ShaunD]

I withdrew from mirtizapine after being on it for 2 years at 30mg .
My doctor told me that there are no withdrawels from mirtizapine and said reduce to 15 for a week and then stop . I did this and after 4 weeks I had to go back on it due to withdrawel symptoms of which my doctor said that there was none .
My doctor looked at me amazed when I said I was having withdrawel symptoms as she said it is an easy medication to stop . I also told her to have a look on the Internet and try and find some people that have withdrawn from this after long use. I think it can be done like every other antidepressant and take it slowly .
I will be reducing very slowly if I decide to get off this one

[hanshan]

All ADs potentially have withdrawal symptoms after extended use and should not be stopped abruptly (which is not to say that everyone will experience withdrawal symptoms, but the potential is there). It is disappointing that many doctors (of all people) seem to be unaware of this.

[MyNameIsTerry]

My GP withdrew me from Citalopram with 2 drops over about 3 weeks, first from 20-10mg, then from 10-0mg. It wasn't difficult and the side effects were minor. I always struggle with the starting side effects but I had been on them a few years at that point so wad in a much better position which I think is a major factor. I often wonder how bad withdrawal is for people switching.

There may be some guidance out there that our GP's ate following because this protocol seems really common. And my GP didn't know hardly anything about even the start up side effects (told me it would be loose stools & sweating) so threw first time when I knew nothing about anxiety I was under the Crisis Team 48 hours later due to my GP not knowing what to do. All I needed was help author sleeping to get through it.

So, my GP is quite poor with these meds yet he told me hew has dealt with a lot of depression patients.

When there is information like this out there I really don't understand how the NHS is so far behind:

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/treatmentswellbeing/antidepressants/comingoffantidepressants.aspx?theme=mobile

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/medication-stopping-or-coming-off/planning-withdrawal/#.VcA1D4FwYj0

[ShaunD]

I agree with the comments above but it was actually a psychiatrist who specialises in mental health that has done for years who told me that there were no withdrawels from mirtizapine . I just find it hard to believe that somebody with these qualifications will not acknowledge that I had withdrawels from this and it was all in my head as I was waiting for it too happen .