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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by brazilnut on July 31, 2008, at 17:42:42
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Leo Brazil on July 31, 2008, at 16:08:01
Nice to meet you here, Leo! Im from Rio, but living in Curitiba.
Remeron may be a nasty drug, take care. I have no direct experience with Neurontin, but read about it on the Internet and found some mentions in the benzo forum I am. It looks like it can also require caution when weaning off. I suggest you, as well as everybody in this thread, to visit the forum I mentioned, www.benzoisland.org. Its a forum officially dedicated to benzodiazepine withdrawal, but virtually any other addicting med is discussed. There youll find systematic support and a wealth of knowledge about these drugs. It has currently 550 active members and 3,800 members in total. But to join you have to be approved after submitting your story, and sometimes the forum is closed to new members because of the large demand.
I suggest also that we keep posting here in English, but with translation to Portuguese. This way, other Portuguese speaking people could find this thread and exchange information with us.
Roberto
Que bom encontrá-lo aqui, Leo! Eu sou do Rio, morando em Curitiba.Remeron pode ser uma droga perigosa, tome cuidado. Não tenho experiência direta com Neurontin, mas li sobre ela na Internet e achei algumas referências no fórum que freqüento. Parece que ela também requer cuidado na hora de parar. Sugiro a você, assim como a todos nesta lista, visitar o fórum que mencionei, www.benzoisland.org. É um fórum oficialmente dedicado à retirada de benzodiazepinas, mas virtualmente todos os remédios que viciam são discutidos. Lá você encontrará apoio sistemático e extenso conhecimento sobre essas drogas. Ele tem atualmente 550 membros ativos e 3.800 no total. Mas para entrar você deve ser aprovado após submeter sua história, e às vezes o fórum está fechado para novos membros por causa da demanda elevada.
Sugiro ainda que continuemos a escrever em inglês aqui, mas com tradução para o português. Assim, outras pessoas de língua portuguesa poderiam encontrar esta lista e trocar informação conosco.
Posted by johnj on August 4, 2008, at 11:53:09
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » Leo Brazil, posted by brazilnut on July 31, 2008, at 17:42:42
Remeron is quite brutal for some. I am a survivor and it takes lots of time to get off it. I highly suggest you search the archives for remeron and you will find many of us that finally got off this drug. For some, like me, it took lots of time and at times it was hell but in the end it is worth it to be free from it.
regards
johnj
Posted by Anxiety123 on August 4, 2008, at 14:09:27
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » brazilnut, posted by johnj on August 4, 2008, at 11:53:09
John, can you tell me what mgs you were on, how you tapered, how long it took and what w/d symptoms you had.
Thanks.
Posted by johnj on August 4, 2008, at 15:57:42
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » johnj, posted by Anxiety123 on August 4, 2008, at 14:09:27
I was on 30 for 3 months but the sponge brain heavy head never left me and it made me my ocd worse. I then was off and had extreme anxiety which I didn't know was withdrawal.
I then went on 15 mg for sleep about a year later. It worked but made ocd worse and the head stuff wouldn't abate. I tolerated it for 3 years and it seemed like a dream. I went off for good last July and had sleeping problems, anxiety. Remeron also messes with the adrenals, so I am told so fatigue was a big part of it.
I tapered very slowly and cut the 7.5 mg in quarters. It is hard to say whether it is best cold turkey or not. I found it a nasty drug but the sleep is good, the only good for me. I had a lot of chest pressure too. Again, search the archives to get a lot of good info.
johnj
Posted by Anxiety123 on August 5, 2008, at 15:40:46
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » Anxiety123, posted by johnj on August 4, 2008, at 15:57:42
John. I have been on 30 mgs for 4 years. I have cut back to 22.5 over the past few months. My Dr. said that the lower the dose the more weight you gain. So how can you slowly wean off the drug without gaining weight? I don't know if he meant it messes up your metabolism or it just makes you hungrier and you eat more thus gaining weight. Did you have any weight gain while taking the 15 mgs?
Posted by johnj on August 5, 2008, at 16:56:31
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Anxiety123 on August 5, 2008, at 15:40:46
No not at all but I am too skinny even on remeron. I don't know why a doc would say that unless it is related to being more sedating at lower doses.
Posted by alirec on August 6, 2008, at 23:17:55
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » Anxiety123, posted by johnj on August 5, 2008, at 16:56:31
Hi,
I've been on Mirtazapine for the last year (45mg for the last 6 months). I had a falling out with my Psychiatrist and so haven't seen her since January. I recently decided I didn't want to be taking Mirtazapine any more and because I didn't want to see my psychiatrist I just stopped taking it. I now realise how irresponsible this was.
Luckily for me I have been off it for a month and the only withdrawal effect has been insomnia. I can frequently get more than 6 hours sleep but I'm rarely asleep before 3am (it's 5am as I type this). I am a student and at the moment it's not too big an issue but when I start having lectures again in October it will become a major inconvenience. Will I be sleeping better by then or do I need to go back on the drugs?
Ali
Posted by Kangaroo_on_spaghett on August 7, 2008, at 2:09:24
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by alirec on August 6, 2008, at 23:17:55
Hi Ali,
I imagine it would be out of your system before October if you stay off it till then. Mine took me about seven weeks...but my experience was different because the insomnia wasn't too bad and I am a really poor sleeper anyway. My major problem was feeling sick.
But all of our experiences are different. I find with insomnia that the best way to get through it is to always get up at the same time. Like getting up at seven every day even if I go to sleep at five. Easier said than done and I don't have much control with insomnia because it's just with me all the time so I can't preach about what works. But I think the getting up at the same time keeps my light dark rhythems good and helps me be less drowsy during the day.
Hope that helps,
Jess.> Hi,
>
> I've been on Mirtazapine for the last year (45mg for the last 6 months). I had a falling out with my Psychiatrist and so haven't seen her since January. I recently decided I didn't want to be taking Mirtazapine any more and because I didn't want to see my psychiatrist I just stopped taking it. I now realise how irresponsible this was.
>
> Luckily for me I have been off it for a month and the only withdrawal effect has been insomnia. I can frequently get more than 6 hours sleep but I'm rarely asleep before 3am (it's 5am as I type this). I am a student and at the moment it's not too big an issue but when I start having lectures again in October it will become a major inconvenience. Will I be sleeping better by then or do I need to go back on the drugs?
>
> Ali
Posted by johnj on August 20, 2008, at 9:59:21
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by alirec on August 6, 2008, at 23:17:55
Sorry about the delayed response I was banned for a few weeks from this site. It took me a long time to get better from remeron but part is my anxiety disorder so I can't blame it all on remeron. I strongly encourage you to look in the archives on remeron as it appears some people recover quick and others take months. You only know until you try and stay off of it. It does mess with sleep so give it lots of time. I also found it did something to my adrenals making me very tired. Drink lots of water, no alcohol or drugs, exercise if you can, and eat very healthy. You should do well with this regime.
You could try over the counter sleep stuff every once in a while as I did. But just don't take it every night. Good luck
PS. I also had a lot of rebound stuff since it is so sedating like my brain was happy to be awake again hence it was hard to sleep.
johnj
Posted by Car Gal on September 9, 2008, at 8:36:07
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » alirec, posted by johnj on August 20, 2008, at 9:59:21
Hi there. I've been on Remeron since Feb 2007 and I guess it's helped a little. I have GAD and couldn't tolerate the reg SSRIs. I was very underweight and I gained almost 20lbs. I only need to loose about 3-4lbs to get back to my target weight. The only side affects I had when I started (at 15mg) was a cloudy head for about 5 days. I really helped me sleep great, didn't experience vivid dreams and I felt well rested in the morning. I felt I was doing OK and wanted to stop the Remeron. I called my doc and she said (I was currently on 30mg for about 6 months) to go down to 15mg for a week and then off. I thought that was too fast, so after the end of the 15mg I cut the pill in half and took 7.5mg for 5 days and off (my last pill was on Wed Sept 4). How long does it take to get this drug out of my system? I'm feeling more anxious, not much of an appetite and not sleeping as well.
Posted by Car Gal on September 11, 2008, at 10:10:41
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Car Gal on September 9, 2008, at 8:36:07
I've been off for about 7 days and couldn't handle the withdrawal anymore. I went back on 7.5mg and feel better. It's funny because I never had any problems going down from 45 to 30 to 15 to 7.5.
Posted by Anxiety123 on September 11, 2008, at 12:06:56
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Car Gal on September 11, 2008, at 10:10:41
All these ADs work like that. Drs say they are not addictive but they are. You have to wean really slow, especially when you get to lower doses. I would recommend cutting no more than 1 to 2 mgs a month and even slower as you get lower. Maybe 1 to 2 mgs every other month. The chemicals in our brains are completely altered when taking these drugs and it takes awhile for the brain to know how to function properly without it. It is better to slowly wean so your brain can adjust as you get lower on the dose and finally off. Hope this helps some.
Posted by Car Gal on September 11, 2008, at 20:08:09
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Anxiety123 on September 11, 2008, at 12:06:56
Thanks for the response. I will have to get 15mg tabs from my doctor. Right now I have cut the 30mgs in quarters.
Posted by 49er on September 21, 2008, at 11:28:24
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Anxiety123 on September 11, 2008, at 12:06:56
> All these ADs work like that. Drs say they are not addictive but they are. You have to wean really slow, especially when you get to lower doses. I would recommend cutting no more than 1 to 2 mgs a month and even slower as you get lower. Maybe 1 to 2 mgs every other month. The chemicals in our brains are completely altered when taking these drugs and it takes awhile for the brain to know how to function properly without it. It is better to slowly wean so your brain can adjust as you get lower on the dose and finally off. Hope this helps some.
Anxiety,
That has definitely been my experience. I am now down to around 2.7mg. Even though the last few cuts I have made are 5% of the current dose with an average of 4 weeks between cuts, the withdrawal symptoms have been tough. I have been mainly dealing with insomnia and pseudoanxiety meaning I am anxious for no reason.
It seems as I have gotten lower that the withdrawal symptoms have increased in spite of my slow tapering. It is like this drug is saying that it is going to make it as tough as possible for me to get rid of it.
BUT I WILL PREVAIL COME HECK OR HIGH WATER!
Anyway, I know I sound like a broken record but this drug (or any psych med) needs to be tapered very slowly. A cold turkey or a fast taper is usually very dangerous.
49er
Posted by 49er on September 21, 2008, at 11:34:09
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by brazilnut on July 25, 2008, at 3:30:16
>
> Leo,
>
> Maybe cutting half is still too much. The recommended rate is about 10% each 10 days, 5% after arriving at 50% down.
>
> Good luck!
> Roberto
>
Roberto,This post may be too late as I haven't read the followups. But I wanted to post it for other people's benefit.
You're right to mention that dropping the dose of 3.25mg may be too much. However, I think your suggested tapering rate may still be too fast.
The Paxil Progress Boards, which is run by an RN who almost lost her son to a Paxil induced suicide/homicide while on on an MD advised taper, suggests 10% of the current dose every 3 to 6 weeks. With Remeron, as I have gone below 5mg, I have had to go even slower.
I think because it takes a minimum of two weeks for withdrawal symptoms to show up, that is the minimum amount of time you should wait.
49er
Posted by brazilnut on September 28, 2008, at 20:27:48
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » brazilnut, posted by 49er on September 21, 2008, at 11:34:09
> Roberto,
>
> This post may be too late as I haven't read the followups. But I wanted to post it for other people's benefit.
>
> You're right to mention that dropping the dose of 3.25mg may be too much. However, I think your suggested tapering rate may still be too fast.
>
> The Paxil Progress Boards, which is run by an RN who almost lost her son to a Paxil induced suicide/homicide while on on an MD advised taper, suggests 10% of the current dose every 3 to 6 weeks. With Remeron, as I have gone below 5mg, I have had to go even slower.
>
> I think because it takes a minimum of two weeks for withdrawal symptoms to show up, that is the minimum amount of time you should wait.
>
> 49er
>Hi, 49er!
Youre right, its better to be on the safe side. The recommendation I mentioned is not mine, it is in Doctor Ashleys publication on withdrawal. Shes a British scientist who studied benzo (mainly) and A/D withdrawal for 12 years. It is stated as an average, but each person is different and nobody knows beforehand how one will react. I quitted mirtazapine at a 2% per week rate, and had no problems. However, Im suffering for 2 years after that to quit other stuff (next week Ill finish Inderal). And I have at home a good example on how people are different: my wife took Rivotril for 8 years, every night, stopped cold turkey, and nothing happened.
Thanks for your comment!
Roberto
Posted by AnitaDean on December 29, 2008, at 15:37:05
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Car Gal on September 11, 2008, at 20:08:09
Is anyone still out there on this REmeron discussion? I just went from 1/2 to 3/8 of a 15mg. pill and WOW am I in a state of withdrawal. The insomnia has gotten better but it seems the anxiety doesn't want to go away. I went down 9 days ago and expected to feel normal about 4 days ago. Will my "withdrawal" get worse? I have only been on Remeron since July. I started at 15mg. then slowly cut down to 3/8 as of Dec. 20 (2008). Will my withdrawal be less severe b/c I haven't been on it for so long? I am SUPER SUPER sensitive, too, so these things tend to hit me harder.
I was planning on going down another 1/8th next week but that doesn't seem like a good idea now.
Please help!
Anita
Posted by Kangaroo_on_spaghett on December 29, 2008, at 23:10:19
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by AnitaDean on December 29, 2008, at 15:37:05
Hi,
No. i have no idea. I am out here though and did manage to get off the drug OK>
Jess.
Posted by Maritza on December 30, 2008, at 8:27:42
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by AnitaDean on December 29, 2008, at 15:37:05
Ho w are you measuring 3/8 of a 15 mg pill? I'm on 1/2 of 15mg now and would like to wean down but I don't know how to measure smaller doses acurately.
Thanks
Posted by AnitaDean on December 30, 2008, at 11:05:38
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates? » AnitaDean, posted by Maritza on December 30, 2008, at 8:27:42
I cut it into quarters then cut the quarters into 1/8ths.
Posted by AnitaDean on December 30, 2008, at 11:31:31
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Kangaroo_on_spaghett on December 29, 2008, at 23:10:19
Can you tell me how you weaned off? Did you have any "withdrawal" at all? Did you wean slower as your dose got smaller?
Posted by Anxiety123 on December 30, 2008, at 18:59:10
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by AnitaDean on December 30, 2008, at 11:31:31
I haven't weaned off completely yet. I am weaning now. I was taking 30 mgs and am down to about 20 mgs. It has taken me a year to get to that amount. I am going very slow because I know if I don't I will have withdrawals. I am water tapering my dosage to get the tiny cuts. That way your brain has time to heal as you get lower on the amt. Cutting pills is too hard on the brain so you have withdrawals. It is because the ADs alter the chemicals your body makes and your brain basically has to relearn how to make the chemicals again.
Posted by Anxiety123 on December 30, 2008, at 19:01:57
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Anxiety123 on December 30, 2008, at 18:59:10
I also forgot to mention if you go to paxilprogress.com you will learn a lot about how to get off ADs safely. Even though it was started as a paxil message board, there are people weaning off all kinds of ADs.
Posted by AnitaDean on December 30, 2008, at 19:02:24
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Anxiety123 on December 30, 2008, at 18:59:10
Can you explain what "water tapering" means? I have been cutting and I have withdrawal, though not bad enough to make me want to go back up. It took you a year to go down 10mgs??? Wow. I have 5.625 mg to go.
Posted by Maritza on December 30, 2008, at 20:16:36
In reply to Re: mirtazapine/remeron updates?, posted by Kangaroo_on_spaghett on December 29, 2008, at 23:10:19
> Hi,
>
> No. i have no idea. I am out here though and did manage to get off the drug OK>
>
> Jess.HI, would you mind sharing how you did it. How did you measure lowere doses acurately if you weaned. if you went "cold turkey" did you experience any withdrawl? Thanks,
Maritza
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