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Anxiety, Burning Chest Pain Post Withdrawing Mirtazapine. How Can I Get Off This?

Posted on Wed, 22 May 2013

Question: I am in a terrible terrible situation. I was prescribed Mirtazapine (Remeron) 15mg in January for sleep. It worked well. After 6 weeks I got anxiety. My doctor doubled the dosage to 30mg. It made the anxiety worse and I felt terrible. I did a really stupid thing and cold turkeyed it 4 weeks ago. I had a terrible week off the drug with total insomnia and stomach and nausea and suicidal. I reinstated 3 weeks ago on 7,5mg Mirtazapine with a view to do a super slow taper when I stablisise. I am having terrible withdrawals even though I am on the drug - most of them but the worst is suicidal ideations and terrible burning feelings in my chest. I am sleeping but I cannot really eat. I am at the end of my tether. I don't know what to do. My doctor is in the UK and I am currently in Spain on holiday but can't even make the plane trip back to London right now. Doctor, have I done terrible damage to my nervous system from my cold XXXXXXX and am I going to get through this? Thanks so much

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Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (47 minutes later)

Hello
Thanks for using health care magic.
I would request you to provide a few more details to serve you better.
1. Do you have any medical illness such as diabetes or hypertension.
2. Do you have any active suicidal plan as of now?
3. Have you ever tried to attempt suicide.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks and regards
Dr. Srikanth XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (5 minutes later)

1. No medical illness

2. No intention of killing myself. Just feeling so low, ill and worried.

3. Never any prior suicide attempt
Sorry have you responded as I can't see it
I still haven't received my answer. Only some questions which I responded to. Please can you send me my answer. It's important to me.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (10 hours later)

Hello,
Sorry for the delay in the response. There was some technical problem.
Thanks for providing all the necessary details.
Mirtazapine is a new antidepressant, which is quite safe and causes sedation as well. However it is notorious for the bad side-effect it causes. I am sure you understand that as you are going through one of them.
First let me assure you that all these side-effects are temporary and will not cause any permanent damage to your brain. When I say temporary , it could be either 2 days or 2 weeks, but the effects will wear off.
Right now as you are on mirtazapnine 7.5 mg , you may continue taking the medication for 1 more week and then stop the medication. Meanwhile you can ask your doctor to cover up your withdrawal anxiety features with benzodiazepines like clonazepam. Drink plenty of liquids and try to take rest. This effect will wear off with no permanent damage.
If you are feeling very bad, why dont you consider showing yourself to the ER.
Once you are done with the mirtazapine after 10 days, please consult your psychiatrist and ask him to start any other safer drug like SSRIs .
Also ask him to consider you for non-medication treatment for depression like cognitive behavioural therapy.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you can close the discussion and rate the answer accordingly.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy

Wish you good health,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (8 minutes later)

Thanks for the advice Doctor. You have set my mind at rest. However I don't want to get started on a benzodiazepine as I got caught in the Benzo trap 2 years ago and had 18 months of suffering from that. And I don't want another SSRI. I am obviously super-sensitive to medication.

I will plough through this as long as I know it is self-limiting

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (3 minutes later)

Hello,
Benzo are meant to be used only to reduce your symptoms temporarily. May be for a couple of weeks.
But then its your choice and I would advice you to XXXXXXX your psychiatrist as soon as possible.
Also if you are sensitive to the drugs, do consider the cognitive behavioural therapy form your psychiatrist as it is equally effective as the anti-depressants.
Thanks and regards,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (6 minutes later)

In 2010 I had a panic attack and was put on 2mg Alprazalom a day for a week. I got horribly dependant after 1 week. I was given a Valium taper for 12 days from 22mg to 0mg to get off Alprazolam and I had horrendous withdrawals for 18 months! I was on the drugs for only 1 month in total but a year and half of suffering. I am one of many. Some may be able to get away with it but many can't and I am in that category!

Yes will try CBT and natural methods from now on and never touch a psychotropic drug again.

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (23 minutes later)

You are most welcome.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar