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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@anniegk As Scott has said, I would encourage you to talk with your doctor about your..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@anniegk As Scott has said, I would encourage you to talk with your doctor about your concerns and develop some sort of plan where you can have some idea of what to expect as you withdraw from his drug. We don't have to go through these experiences alone. Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor?

Teresa

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I think you may need a Fresh Face!

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shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @parus "@anniegk All I can say about meds is what I was being prescribed was so inappropriate...anti..." + (show)
@parus

@anniegk All I can say about meds is what I was being prescribed was so inappropriate...anti psychotics were pure poison for me as I had been diagnosed Paranoid Schizophrenic-scary when trained professions can only see the cover of the book and cannot be wrong...thankful I made the great escape from that dark world. There are so many others I have seen harmed w/ threats, guilt trips, lies, manipulation...depression and anxiety is a difficult thing and no one else knows whom we are more than we ourselves do...withdrawal from many meds can be rough and I can understand why others want to know about these things. Yes, I am aware that some meds can treat more than one illness...

Did not accurately answer your question. I do understand your fear and I am new to this group also. New to all of this tech stuff as well.

Pharmacist's are helpful in this area as well. This is their specialty...may give you peace of mind.

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Yes, I'm beginning to think that pharmacists know more than doctors.

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shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @pankaj "@anniegk. First, I don't think that the attitude of your doctor is correct. She should listen..." + (show)
@pankaj

@anniegk. First, I don't think that the attitude of your doctor is correct. She should listen to you and take your concerns on board. Second, why are you trying to come off Mirtazapine? Is there a good reason? If there isn't or if you are doing well on your current meds, continue with them. The consequences of coming off it could be unpredictable and difficult to control. Your objective is to feel good and be well. For that, if you have to take some medication for the rest of your life, so be it. Withdrawing from a drug without a good reason--such as intolerable side-effects--could cause you a lot of agony. And do consider finding another doctor who listens to you with empathy.

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Just seeing this post. I agree another doctor may help, but it is so difficult to find psychiatrists who either take insurance, Medicare or provide us with the necessary information to submit to the secondary carrier should you have one and who accepts the claims even if Medicare doesn't. Finding psychotherapists are even more difficult to find.

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shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 15, 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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That's okay. I'm new to all this.

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @pankaj "@anniegk. First, I don't think that the attitude of your doctor is correct. She should listen..." + (show)
@pankaj

@anniegk. First, I don't think that the attitude of your doctor is correct. She should listen to you and take your concerns on board. Second, why are you trying to come off Mirtazapine? Is there a good reason? If there isn't or if you are doing well on your current meds, continue with them. The consequences of coming off it could be unpredictable and difficult to control. Your objective is to feel good and be well. For that, if you have to take some medication for the rest of your life, so be it. Withdrawing from a drug without a good reason--such as intolerable side-effects--could cause you a lot of agony. And do consider finding another doctor who listens to you with empathy.

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@shoregal45

I don't think that there's one psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist/counselor within 150 miles from my home who accepts Medicare except for the lcsw's who work for the hospital, and all of the hospitals in central Oregon have been taken over by the largest one. That's not all a bad thing, but if the top one has problems, they all will suffer. The local hospital was without a therapist for 18 months, which was too long for me. I might have been able to drive the 50 miles to mama hospital, but 2 hours of driving for one hour of therapy wasn't reasonable, and it takes 3 months to get an appointment. I did see the therapist there one time, and I would have loved to be able to see him weekly. The current local man has indicated that he wants to live here until he retires, and he's 56 now.

I was sort of okay the first 9 months with no therapy, but I was gradually losing it after that. I don't know how much longer I could have gone and not committed suicide. But for now...

Jim

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Parus | @parus | Aug 15, 2017

Don' know how much longer I can go either. I no longer trust or believe there is help. Must have hit too many bumps and curves as of the past few weeks. Stuff happens.

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2 replies
shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @pankaj "@anniegk. First, I don't think that the attitude of your doctor is correct. She should listen..." + (show)
@pankaj

@anniegk. First, I don't think that the attitude of your doctor is correct. She should listen to you and take your concerns on board. Second, why are you trying to come off Mirtazapine? Is there a good reason? If there isn't or if you are doing well on your current meds, continue with them. The consequences of coming off it could be unpredictable and difficult to control. Your objective is to feel good and be well. For that, if you have to take some medication for the rest of your life, so be it. Withdrawing from a drug without a good reason--such as intolerable side-effects--could cause you a lot of agony. And do consider finding another doctor who listens to you with empathy.

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Wow! I guess you live in a small town. There are so good chat groups on line you may want to try. http://community.projecthopeandbeyond.com/ There are weekly/monthly newsletters authorized by Theresa Bourchard that I've found helpful. Good luck.

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shoregal45 | @shoregal45 | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @parus "Don' know how much longer I can go either. I no longer trust or believe there..." + (show)
@parus

Don' know how much longer I can go either. I no longer trust or believe there is help. Must have hit too many bumps and curves as of the past few weeks. Stuff happens.

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Sorry you are going through such a rough time especially with no help. A good doctor of mine once told me that I feel THAT bad perhaps suicidal to go immediately to the ER! I would also suggest calling the ambulance, a friend, etc. if you are that bad.

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Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Aug 15, 2017
In reply to @parus "Don' know how much longer I can go either. I no longer trust or believe there..." + (show)
@parus

Don' know how much longer I can go either. I no longer trust or believe there is help. Must have hit too many bumps and curves as of the past few weeks. Stuff happens.

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Hi, @parus, Life certainly throws its curves and bumps. It can get pretty tough, especially when you feel there is no help. But you are not alone. We are here. We're listening.

If at any point you start to feel like you may consider hurting yourself, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (https://988lifeline.org/) for immediate help. Your safety is important to us.

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