1. < Depression & Anxiety

Anxiety, panic and depression.

Posted by anniegk @anniegk, Jul 25, 2017

I am 71 year old woman with anxiety, panic and depression. Been on mirtazapine for 9 years. Have to come off it. Has anyone ever experience Mirtazapine withdrawal?

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shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 10, 2017
In reply to @anniegk "My personal care doctor thought that if the Mirtazapine wasnt working for me that it might..." + (show)
@anniegk

My personal care doctor thought that if the Mirtazapine wasnt working for me that it might be time to titrate off of it. I have been on it for almost 9 years. Iam just concerned about the length of time i have been on it and what kind of withdrawal i will have. My P Doc suggested it too but said we can wait a while. Right now iam on 300 mg of SeroquelXR, 20 mg of Buspar, 20 mgs of Propanolol, and 45 mgs of Mirtazapine. It seems like alot of medicine. My diagnoses is Depression and Panic disorder.

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???? I'm not taking the drug or asked for help. I was replying to someone else on the network.

REPLY
pankaj | @pankaj | Aug 10, 2017
In reply to @anniegk "My personal care doctor thought that if the Mirtazapine wasnt working for me that it might..." + (show)
@anniegk

My personal care doctor thought that if the Mirtazapine wasnt working for me that it might be time to titrate off of it. I have been on it for almost 9 years. Iam just concerned about the length of time i have been on it and what kind of withdrawal i will have. My P Doc suggested it too but said we can wait a while. Right now iam on 300 mg of SeroquelXR, 20 mg of Buspar, 20 mgs of Propanolol, and 45 mgs of Mirtazapine. It seems like alot of medicine. My diagnoses is Depression and Panic disorder.

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@shoregal45. Very sorry. My post was in response to @anniegk and not you. Profuse apologies.

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pankaj | @pankaj | Aug 10, 2017

@anniegk (I am repeating this message sent 27 minutes ago to indicate that it is meant for @anniegk). I have a few suggestions. First, please don’t mix the advice of your personal care doctor with that of your psychiatrist. Second, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling OK or are you not feeling well? If it is the former, please don’t change your medication. You have been stable on it for nine years. You may have to take it for the rest of your life to stay well. And if it is the latter, then please discuss a new treatment plan with your psychiatrist. That may involve increasing, not tapering, Mirtazapine, which is a very safe drug with few side effects. Third, people with your illness often have to take many drugs for their whole life. So please do not be concerned with the number of drugs you are taking or the duration. The important thing is to stay well, not taper drugs for the sake of tapering. I am speaking from experience. All good wishes.

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2 replies
pankaj | @pankaj | Aug 10, 2017
In reply to @cassie123 "Hello Im Cassie and was wondering what helps you all the most with severe anxiety and..." + (show)
@cassie123

Hello Im Cassie and was wondering what helps you all the most with severe anxiety and panic attacks?

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My post regarding anxiety and depression above, posted about an hour ago, was meant for @cassie123.

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anniegk | @anniegk | Aug 10, 2017
In reply to @pankaj "@anniegk (I am repeating this message sent 27 minutes ago to indicate that it is meant..." + (show)
@pankaj

@anniegk (I am repeating this message sent 27 minutes ago to indicate that it is meant for @anniegk). I have a few suggestions. First, please don’t mix the advice of your personal care doctor with that of your psychiatrist. Second, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling OK or are you not feeling well? If it is the former, please don’t change your medication. You have been stable on it for nine years. You may have to take it for the rest of your life to stay well. And if it is the latter, then please discuss a new treatment plan with your psychiatrist. That may involve increasing, not tapering, Mirtazapine, which is a very safe drug with few side effects. Third, people with your illness often have to take many drugs for their whole life. So please do not be concerned with the number of drugs you are taking or the duration. The important thing is to stay well, not taper drugs for the sake of tapering. I am speaking from experience. All good wishes.

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Thank you Panka. Do you have panic and anxiety also? If so, what has worked for you?
.

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pankaj | @pankaj | Aug 10, 2017
In reply to @pankaj "@anniegk (I am repeating this message sent 27 minutes ago to indicate that it is meant..." + (show)
@pankaj

@anniegk (I am repeating this message sent 27 minutes ago to indicate that it is meant for @anniegk). I have a few suggestions. First, please don’t mix the advice of your personal care doctor with that of your psychiatrist. Second, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling OK or are you not feeling well? If it is the former, please don’t change your medication. You have been stable on it for nine years. You may have to take it for the rest of your life to stay well. And if it is the latter, then please discuss a new treatment plan with your psychiatrist. That may involve increasing, not tapering, Mirtazapine, which is a very safe drug with few side effects. Third, people with your illness often have to take many drugs for their whole life. So please do not be concerned with the number of drugs you are taking or the duration. The important thing is to stay well, not taper drugs for the sake of tapering. I am speaking from experience. All good wishes.

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@anniegk. You are right. A combination of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs have worked for me. But exactly which anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs will work varies from person to person. Something that works for me may not work for you and vice-versa. Your doctor and you have to work together to figure out what works for you and at what doses. It is a trial and error process, but there are well-laid down protocols which your doctor would know. But at each stage he or she should take your feedback into account and not simply dictate that you should take this or that. But your illness is completely treatable so please don't lose hope at all. It's just a question of finding the right doctor and the combination of drugs that work for you. I know it is very easy to say that but I speak from experience. Best wishes.

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anniegk | @anniegk | Aug 10, 2017

Thank you Panka for your good reply. Being 71 makes me even more anxious because you always wonder if you are getting Alzheimers. I did go through this same type of illness 9 years ago and i have to remind myself of that. Unfortunately, this worrying and catastrophic thoughts is part of the anxiety and panic. I also have to remind myself that it took over a year and a half to get through it. I have only been screwed up for a year so far this time around so, i have to be patient and not automatically go to the worse case scenario.

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pankaj | @pankaj | Aug 10, 2017

@anniegk Absolutely. Please don't go to the worst case scenario at all. Your illness is treatable. All the best.

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Aug 10, 2017
In reply to @anniegk "My personal care doctor thought that if the Mirtazapine wasnt working for me that it might..." + (show)
@anniegk

My personal care doctor thought that if the Mirtazapine wasnt working for me that it might be time to titrate off of it. I have been on it for almost 9 years. Iam just concerned about the length of time i have been on it and what kind of withdrawal i will have. My P Doc suggested it too but said we can wait a while. Right now iam on 300 mg of SeroquelXR, 20 mg of Buspar, 20 mgs of Propanolol, and 45 mgs of Mirtazapine. It seems like alot of medicine. My diagnoses is Depression and Panic disorder.

Jump to this post

@pankaj

This demonstrates the need to put a @ name in the text. I wish everyone would.

Jim

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