Thank you so much for this, James Moore. I'm struggling with mirtazapine withdrawal, and the prescriber knows nothing. I'd never heard of tapering strips before but now hope to try them. I hope you're doing well!
Thank you so much, I hope that tapering strips will become much more widely used but at the moment they are not that well known about. Getting off was the best thing I have done in a long time although not easy. Best wishes.
@@jfmoore I have been taking Mirtazipine since the Summer of 2021. I hope to not be taking them much longer. I recently became aware of a company, Amare Global which makes a line of products to help with mental wellness which are based on different forms of probiotics. There are a few Facebook groups on which people post their experiences with the Amare products. I wanted to make you aware of this company which I feel can offer a different approach to mental welllness rather than the pharmaceuticals we have come to rely on.
Thanks so much James, what a contribution! Cautious, compassionate and thoughtful - so respectful of others journeys - well done. Hope yours continues well :)
Dear Rob, thank you so much, you have been so kind to support and encourage me like you do, I am eternally grateful and I hope this video adds a tiny bit to this vital conversation, Onwards and upwards. : )
Thank you Oliver. I wish that too Oliver, we have a long way to go to make sure help is available for all and I am pushing very hard for change. My best wishes to you.
Congratulations on the most difficult journey I think there can be in life. Tapering strips are a newer phenomenon. They weren't part of the discussion in online support groups when I was active in those. I'm thankful there's a better tool and I do hope that tool can be made available worldwide. Thanks for all of your work, James. You are much appreciated.
Mr. & Mrs. B thank you so much for watching, I hope that more of us sharing will add to the conversation. Tapering strips, while not a solution for everyone, have great potential I feel. Hopefully we can put in some effort and they will eventually become an accepted method for coming off. Best wishes to you. 😊
Hi James. Just wondering if you can give us an update of how you are now. I truly hope you are doing fantastic. Thankyou for this video. Alot of people are not helped by doctors to come off this but the Docs are quick to put you on it. Thanks again. Peace and happiness to you all.
I tried to follow the dosages provided by Tapering Strips but they were way too rapid. The withdrawal symptoms were too severe. So now I'm following a tapering instruction on a peer support site, even though it's going to take at least a year to finish the process.
I’m in a country without access to these strips and use Mirtazapine purely for insomnia. I actually used your tapering method by using a sharp blade and cutting the 15mg into 1/4 for 2 weeks then finally 1/8th’s. 1.8mg is my current dose and it gives me brain fog / daze side effects. Problem is now I cannot get off this dose, I have tried twice and even on such a low dose get really bad rebound insomnia. Stopping was amazing - no brain fog or being in a daze throughout the day, but was so fatigued from little sleep. I’m almost there glad to have got down to a more acceptable dose. Just thought I’d share my experience, thoughts also welcome :)
@@petercastrocollins Hi Peter. I managed to last probably about 2 weeks and have to say that it is a fantastic feeling being off it, but this was during a break I had from work so was able to catch up on sleep where needed. I actually planned this leave intentionally to assist weaning off sadly. However the moment I’m back at work insomnia kicks in due to needing to stick to a schedule more than likely. I now just keep at the low dose and take a break on weekends to get a short break from it. My next steps are to try doing alternative days as recommended by my GP, and at a low dose too (1.8mg). I guess when the time is right I’ll try ditching it completely again, might take a few more attempts. Cheers. Brett
Nice video, my friend. I wish you luck in this journey. I'm an psychology student from Brazil, just got to know about these strips and here I am! It looks like a nice way to reduce the damage of antidepressant quimics.
Dear Shaza, thank you so much for watching, I think tapering strips have the potential do help many and I hope they can become easily accessible for people.
I am from the Netherlands and it is fantastic that we have te strips. But they are soo expensive. So that is a big issue now in the Netherlands with health insurance companies which do not beleave in withdrawal 😞 but thanks James!!
Thank you Maddy, like all new ideas, there will be a struggle to get the strips recognised and supported but I hope we can give the tapering strips a good push and get them provided free for all either via insurance reimbursement or on the HNS in the UK.
Really good video! I didn’t know tapering strips existed. I used to be on 45mg, it’s taken me 4 years to get down to 15mg. I’ve now gone 3 weeks without taking anything, I went cold turkey. Struggling quite a lot, but hoping the withdrawal side effects won’t last much longer. If it gets worse I may try the tapering strips. Thanks for all the help in your video!
Thank you so much for sharing Ben, you have done very well to get down from your 45mg, I know that is not easy. I hope things ease for you soon, I am sure they will. Should you want to know more about tapering strips, you can find information here: www.taperingstrip.com Best wishes and well done for getting off the Mirtazapine.
Hi, I've been on 15mg for almost three years. I've tried to cut the half pill in 4, it's a bit of a mess. I think I'll try the strips. Thank you for sharing.
Just an update 4 months on. I managed to get through it cold turkey and I’m now Mirtazapine free. It was extremely difficult so I told my closest friends who kept an eye on me for the first 2 months. It is possible though and with a good support network very realistic. Just stay positive and understand what coping mechanisms help.
Hi James. It’s been a long time since you posted this. I’ve been on the medication 45mg for over 10 years. I’m dealing with the practice pharmacist who suggested miss a dose one day and take it the next. I couldn’t sleep on the days I didn’t take it. So we’re going with a taper. I have actually chopped a 45 in half and this is my second week. Today is the first day I feel like it’s hit me, I’m having hallucinations when I sleep and feel cold and really tired and not able to speak properly. This is my second attempt at trying to come off them. The practice pharmacist calls me every 2 weeks to check in which was really important for me to feel supported through this journey.
Hi Kez, thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment. Given the time you’ve been on and the dosage, if it were me I would be taking things as slowly as possible. A 50% cut initially could well be destabilising for you. If you find that you are struggling, go back to your 45mg dose, wait a little while to stabilise then try again more slowly. For example, you could go from 45mg to 37.5mg by using a 30mg tablet plus half a 15mg tablet. This will likely be easier to tolerate than halving your dose immediately. So try a smaller cut first, wait a little while, then when you are ready, make the next one. As you get lower, you may well find that you need to make smaller adjustments which is where liquid or tapering strips are useful. Withdrawal effects from Mirtazapine take a few days to show themselves so go slowly and carefully and you will get there. My best wishes.
@@jfmoore can you request tapering strips in the uk? My pharmacist told me they only do 30, 15 or 7.5. The tapering strips sounds incredible and will take worry away from getting the correct dose.
@@kezbanana8327 hi there, any registered doctor or prescriber can order them and it is completely legal to import medicines from Europe for personal use. The downside is that we have to pay for them ourselves as they are not yet available on the NHS (I have met with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to plead with them to look at providing the strips free of charge). While it is possible to go from 45mg to zero with the strips, it might get expensive for you. Might be better to reduce as far as you can first then use the strips for the final part of the taper which is usually the most difficult. Maybe take this order form to discuss with your prescriber cdn.taperingstrip.org/presordfrm/antidepressives/MRTZ_bestel_GB.pdf
Thank you for this video James 😎 I have been struggling trying to get off this medication which was prescribed to me at 15mg for sleep. I have gone down to 7.5mg and it's been really hard. Awful stuff to try and get off I've found. This was really helpful! 👏🙏😊
I downloaded the form for tapering strips, I'm just wondering how you convinced your doctor how to do it. I feel like if I showed my doctor this they would turn me down.
Hi, thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. Convincing a doctor of the need for the strips is not easy but it can be done. If they are willing to read, then there are some good pieces to share, this one: pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/opinion/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-be-a-horrible-experience-are-tapering-strips-a-potential-solution also Mark Horowitz's hyperbolic tapering paper pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30850328/ and the study which shows how successful tapering strips are: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17522439.2018.1469163 I wish you all the best in getting hold of them.
Sjoerd - Please come back and say whether you got off mirtazapine and, if so, how you did it. I'm struggling with the same issue. My prescriber won't order tapering strips
@@nokomismn9685 I'm currently in the 3rd week and it's going great!! I can't believe it. I tried about 4 times to quit with massive withdrawals that made life really unliveable (constant panick attacks and nightmares, almost psychotic). But I'm now down 70% of the original dosage and going good. There is hope my dude. I paid for them myself which cost about €100, idk if that's an option
@@soejrd24978 - I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I've been doing water titration and am down to roughly 1.875 mg. My main withdrawal symptom is anxiety. I wish someone had warned me ahead of time how bad mirtazapine is. It even makes you fat! A lot of nasty surprises with this drug!
@@nokomismn9685 yeah it's terrible isn't it! I hope you a really really good recovery! You can do this and with this method your willpower will make it happen! Also maybe Ram Dass can help you too
If you want to save yourself money, you can buy scales for £7, and with the medication you have from your doctor, you cut the pill and weigh it, so 45mg cut in half is 22.5mg etc, you can work out the amount of drug per weight, then using that, line it up with a schedule and of you go. Yes it's a bit more work, but this is your life we're talking about, you're worth this effort :)
Hi James Thanks James Do you know about MICROTAPERING using Liquid Prep . IN UK liquid is 1ml = 15 mg with Microtapering you reduced by 0.1 mg every day. ONe makes the solution by adding 2 ml= 30 mg to the 300 ml of water which give dilution of 300 ml= 30 mg and 1 ml = 0.1 ml Is this microtapering safe ?
Is mirtazapine withdrawal as bas as sertraline was for me ? Sweats, chills, anxiety, disassociation, hallucinations, terrified me to the point I thought I'd end up in hospital. 10 months off now and still get waves of withdrawal so scared to take mirtazapine
Hi James, Thank you for the excellent video. I am currently in the withdrawal stage and searched for some more support on this drug in particular. I know my question here is not related to your video but... I just tried to listen to your podcast but the episodes have been removed. I hope you are okay and it will return? :D
Hi there, thanks for the message, so sorry to take so long to reply, the podcast is still available on Mad in America here: www.madinamerica.com/mia-radio-landing/ltw/
Hi. Can I ask how you got hold of lower than 15mg tablets ? As far as I know, it’s only available in 15mg, 30mg and 45mg. I’ve just started tapering from 45mg having been on this dose for 10 years. I’m having to just cut 15s in half so 45 to 37.5 and currently on 30mg. I’m feeling the effects though
Hi James , amazing video, how are you today? Do you have any post withdraws? Are you totaly recovered? I try get off ones but it was terrible withdraws, so i got back to 15mg but i have brainfog so i must get off this drug soon ass posible, your video was big help, i hop my MD can help me with his tappering strips
James I have a very important question for you when you got down from 7.5 to olmost nothing how did you deal with the insomia what did you take to help you sleep ?
That’s a good question! I’ve taken Mirtazapine for nearly 7 years for insomnia. Never went higher than 3.75 mg and have been on 1.88 mg for about 3 years. Any lower and I cannot sleep. Decided to stay on the very low dose for that reason. I don’t have any side effects at 1.88 mg.
I think we should examine all ways of helping withdrawal, whatever that may mean for the individual. For me personally, I find additional chemical input such as alcohol causes additional issues on top of the withdrawal, but at a sensible level it could have a temporary calming effect for some.
Alcohol is a natural depressant, even without other drugs. When the positive effect wears off, you tend to feel worse. It’s a short term relief with considerably worse long term effects.
Hi James. Thanks for your video. Are there any updates on your journey? Did you get any further symptoms of withdrawals after last dose. Would love to hear!
Hi Louise, thank you for watching, I am doing ok, not completely free of symptoms but I was on the Mirtazapine for 5 years so improvement will take some time. I have been off for 18 months now and insomnia is the most difficult part of being off, I find sleeping very difficult and have tried the usual things like melatonin, relaxation and so on. However, I don't regret getting off the Mirtazapine, I feel so much less slow and sluggish. Thank you for asking, I hope you are doing ok too, best wishes : )
Thank you for sharing I’m off of mirtazapine for 14 days and I’m struggling with insomnia How’s your insomnia now I don’t want to go back on that medication I need advice
@@KirstenThijssenthank you for asking Still not sleeping well but seeing just little improvements Today I’m 131 days off Praying and hoping to get better
Hey, I've been on Calixta (Mirtazapine 15mg) for 6 weeks only and it's not really working for me. Do you think i could immediately drop from 15mg to 7.5mg for a week or two, then 3.75mg for a week or two and then completely stop?
@@zonnebloem100 Hi, doing okay, but if you are curious how my withdrawal went, it was okay. I had some problems sleeping after cutting it down, but it has gotten better after a month or two
Hi Vivienne, thank you for your message, firstly well done on getting down to 5mg. Yes tapering strips can be legally ordered into the UK, your GP will need to sign the ordering form, which counts as the prescription, then you send that ordering form by email/fax or post to the lab in the Netherlands. In the UK we have to pay for the tapering strips too unfortunately, it would be much better to get the prescribed free on the NHS and that is what I am trying to work towards. The ordering form for Seroxt can be found here, you might want to fill it in with your GP. Best wishes, I hope you can get hold of them ok. www.taperingstrip.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PRXT_bestel_GB.pdf
Oh and if your GP is concerned about the legality of ordering prescription medicines from Europe for personal use, show them this. www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news-in-brief/dutch-tapering-kits-website-has-not-broken-law-mhra-concludes/20203849.article
Thank you so much for making this video, James! It’s heartening to know that it’s possible to get off this drug! May I ask you how stopping Mirtazapine affected your sleep? The biggest problem for me is severe insomnia. I’ve managed to taper to approx. 1.5 mg, but any further drop stops me sleeping entirely.
Hi Nick, I actually was fortunate to have a family friend who could help me get tapering strips but everything else I did on my own. There are a few doctors who are familiar with tapering but what I suggest is that whoever you work with, share with them the Royal College of Psychiatrists guidance note found here: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/stopping-antidepressants which makes it pretty clear that people need to taper slowly. Hope you manage to find someone helpful. All the best.
Hi Josephine, thank you for watching the video, you can find all the information about ordering on this website, you will need a friendly prescriber who is willing to sign the order form for you though and, at the moment, we have to pay for the strips unless you can claim on medical insurance. www.taperingstrip.com/prescribing-and-ordering/?q=
Does anyone have severe itching as a withdrawal side effect? I haven’t been able to reduce much below 7.5 mg, every other day. I want to try the taper strips: no idea how the itching will stop
Could you plz plz tell me how that worked for you and how long it took you to get to zero. I am on 45 mg and want to get off this medication asap. Plz get back to me if you can 💙🙏💙
I take it these are available in uk. I did ask for the liquid a few yrs ago and got a strange look as if it doesnt exist or sorry its too expensive to use on you goodbye. They said take one dose then miss a dose . At which point i realized i was dealing with muppets and bid them farewell. Im on 7.5mg and dont think i will ever be free of these meds . Im on 5mg now cutting tapering with a razor blade with not much hope to be honest . Regards steve
Thank you : ) The depression may well come back but I am putting time and effort into other ways of managing it. I can only speak for myself, but all the mirtazapine did was address a few of the symptoms like insomnia, I don't feel it actually had any effect at all on my mood.
This is great information but I will ask all of you to try and get you mental health professionals to watch this video.It would do as more good trying to teach them what they know nothing about.Have them watch this video and get their opinions. We have to reach out more.
Hi PM, yes I am, four months off now, still some lingering effects but I am very glad I made the push to get off, not having to take a pill each evening is very liberating. Biggest issue is lack of sleep but no surprise as Mirtazapine is a very sedating drug.
Thank you so much for this, James Moore. I'm struggling with mirtazapine withdrawal, and the prescriber knows nothing. I'd never heard of tapering strips before but now hope to try them. I hope you're doing well!
Thank you so much, I hope that tapering strips will become much more widely used but at the moment they are not that well known about. Getting off was the best thing I have done in a long time although not easy. Best wishes.
@@jfmoore I have been taking Mirtazipine since the Summer of 2021. I hope to not be taking them much longer. I recently became aware of a company, Amare Global which makes a line of products to help with mental wellness which are based on different forms of probiotics. There are a few Facebook groups on which people post their experiences with the Amare products. I wanted to make you aware of this company which I feel can offer a different approach to mental welllness rather than the pharmaceuticals we have come to rely on.
Thanks so much James, what a contribution! Cautious, compassionate and thoughtful - so respectful of others journeys - well done. Hope yours continues well :)
Dear Rob, thank you so much, you have been so kind to support and encourage me like you do, I am eternally grateful and I hope this video adds a tiny bit to this vital conversation, Onwards and upwards. : )
Tanks James. God bless you. I wish all antidepressants came in 1mg and 0.25mg tablets then we could create our own slow and precise tapers.
Thank you Oliver. I wish that too Oliver, we have a long way to go to make sure help is available for all and I am pushing very hard for change. My best wishes to you.
Wonderful video James, thank you. You are helping and will continue to help so many people.
Dear Terry, thank you so much, likewise I look to your example of how to support people with compassion and empathy. 😊
Congratulations on the most difficult journey I think there can be in life. Tapering strips are a newer phenomenon. They weren't part of the discussion in online support groups when I was active in those. I'm thankful there's a better tool and I do hope that tool can be made available worldwide. Thanks for all of your work, James. You are much appreciated.
Mr. & Mrs. B thank you so much for watching, I hope that more of us sharing will add to the conversation. Tapering strips, while not a solution for everyone, have great potential I feel. Hopefully we can put in some effort and they will eventually become an accepted method for coming off. Best wishes to you. 😊
Hi James. Just wondering if you can give us an update of how you are now. I truly hope you are doing fantastic. Thankyou for this video. Alot of people are not helped by doctors to come off this but the Docs are quick to put you on it. Thanks again. Peace and happiness to you all.
I tried to follow the dosages provided by Tapering Strips but they were way too rapid. The withdrawal symptoms were too severe. So now I'm following a tapering instruction on a peer support site, even though it's going to take at least a year to finish the process.
I’m in a country without access to these strips and use Mirtazapine purely for insomnia. I actually used your tapering method by using a sharp blade and cutting the 15mg into 1/4 for 2 weeks then finally 1/8th’s. 1.8mg is my current dose and it gives me brain fog / daze side effects. Problem is now I cannot get off this dose, I have tried twice and even on such a low dose get really bad rebound insomnia. Stopping was amazing - no brain fog or being in a daze throughout the day, but was so fatigued from little sleep. I’m almost there glad to have got down to a more acceptable dose. Just thought I’d share my experience, thoughts also welcome :)
How are you doing now? Did the rebound insomnia go away? How long did it take?
@@petercastrocollins Hi Peter. I managed to last probably about 2 weeks and have to say that it is a fantastic feeling being off it, but this was during a break I had from work so was able to catch up on sleep where needed. I actually planned this leave intentionally to assist weaning off sadly. However the moment I’m back at work insomnia kicks in due to needing to stick to a schedule more than likely. I now just keep at the low dose and take a break on weekends to get a short break from it. My next steps are to try doing alternative days as recommended by my GP, and at a low dose too (1.8mg). I guess when the time is right I’ll try ditching it completely again, might take a few more attempts. Cheers. Brett
Hi Brett, just checking in to see how you are doing. Were you able to get off completely?
I’m in a similar position to you. I can’t get off 1.88 mg without insomnia. I have tried a few times and decided I will stay on this dose.
Nice video, my friend. I wish you luck in this journey. I'm an psychology student from Brazil, just got to know about these strips and here I am! It looks like a nice way to reduce the damage of antidepressant quimics.
You are amazing. Thank you for sharing your story. I had no idea these tapering strips were even available .
Dear Shaza, thank you so much for watching, I think tapering strips have the potential do help many and I hope they can become easily accessible for people.
I am from the Netherlands and it is fantastic that we have te strips. But they are soo expensive. So that is a big issue now in the Netherlands with health insurance companies which do not beleave in withdrawal 😞 but thanks James!!
Thank you Maddy, like all new ideas, there will be a struggle to get the strips recognised and supported but I hope we can give the tapering strips a good push and get them provided free for all either via insurance reimbursement or on the HNS in the UK.
Really good video! I didn’t know tapering strips existed. I used to be on 45mg, it’s taken me 4 years to get down to 15mg. I’ve now gone 3 weeks without taking anything, I went cold turkey. Struggling quite a lot, but hoping the withdrawal side effects won’t last much longer. If it gets worse I may try the tapering strips. Thanks for all the help in your video!
Thank you so much for sharing Ben, you have done very well to get down from your 45mg, I know that is not easy. I hope things ease for you soon, I am sure they will. Should you want to know more about tapering strips, you can find information here: www.taperingstrip.com Best wishes and well done for getting off the Mirtazapine.
@@jfmoore many thanks for your support and kind words James! Thanks for the info, I’ll check it out 😊🙏
Hi,
I've been on 15mg for almost three years. I've tried to cut the half pill in 4, it's a bit of a mess. I think I'll try the strips. Thank you for sharing.
Just an update 4 months on. I managed to get through it cold turkey and I’m now Mirtazapine free. It was extremely difficult so I told my closest friends who kept an eye on me for the first 2 months. It is possible though and with a good support network very realistic. Just stay positive and understand what coping mechanisms help.
@@ben_snow4497 So, you cold turkey-ed from 15 mg? How long did you stabilize at 15?
Hi James. It’s been a long time since you posted this. I’ve been on the medication 45mg for over 10 years. I’m dealing with the practice pharmacist who suggested miss a dose one day and take it the next. I couldn’t sleep on the days I didn’t take it. So we’re going with a taper. I have actually chopped a 45 in half and this is my second week. Today is the first day I feel like it’s hit me, I’m having hallucinations when I sleep and feel cold and really tired and not able to speak properly. This is my second attempt at trying to come off them. The practice pharmacist calls me every 2 weeks to check in which was really important for me to feel supported through this journey.
Hi Kez, thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment. Given the time you’ve been on and the dosage, if it were me I would be taking things as slowly as possible. A 50% cut initially could well be destabilising for you. If you find that you are struggling, go back to your 45mg dose, wait a little while to stabilise then try again more slowly. For example, you could go from 45mg to 37.5mg by using a 30mg tablet plus half a 15mg tablet. This will likely be easier to tolerate than halving your dose immediately. So try a smaller cut first, wait a little while, then when you are ready, make the next one. As you get lower, you may well find that you need to make smaller adjustments which is where liquid or tapering strips are useful. Withdrawal effects from Mirtazapine take a few days to show themselves so go slowly and carefully and you will get there. My best wishes.
@@jfmoore can you request tapering strips in the uk? My pharmacist told me they only do 30, 15 or 7.5. The tapering strips sounds incredible and will take worry away from getting the correct dose.
@@kezbanana8327 hi there, any registered doctor or prescriber can order them and it is completely legal to import medicines from Europe for personal use. The downside is that we have to pay for them ourselves as they are not yet available on the NHS (I have met with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to plead with them to look at providing the strips free of charge). While it is possible to go from 45mg to zero with the strips, it might get expensive for you. Might be better to reduce as far as you can first then use the strips for the final part of the taper which is usually the most difficult. Maybe take this order form to discuss with your prescriber cdn.taperingstrip.org/presordfrm/antidepressives/MRTZ_bestel_GB.pdf
@@jfmoore thank you for everything you’re doing to fight for us. You are a beautiful human. Thank you
@@kezbanana8327 aww thank you so much, and I know you will get to where you want to be, slowly does it and you’ll do great. All the best. 😊
Thank you for this video James 😎 I have been struggling trying to get off this medication which was prescribed to me at 15mg for sleep. I have gone down to 7.5mg and it's been really hard. Awful stuff to try and get off I've found. This was really helpful! 👏🙏😊
Hi how are you?
You are amazing. This gives me so much hope I’m on around 4 mg
I have been on an excruciatingly long taper from Diazepam, I'm on day 518 and the withdrawal is the same as it was in the beginning.
I downloaded the form for tapering strips, I'm just wondering how you convinced your doctor how to do it. I feel like if I showed my doctor this they would turn me down.
Hi, thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. Convincing a doctor of the need for the strips is not easy but it can be done. If they are willing to read, then there are some good pieces to share, this one: pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/opinion/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-be-a-horrible-experience-are-tapering-strips-a-potential-solution also Mark Horowitz's hyperbolic tapering paper pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30850328/ and the study which shows how successful tapering strips are: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17522439.2018.1469163 I wish you all the best in getting hold of them.
I've been trying to quit Mirtazapine for more than a year.. thanks a lot for this. Am already one year on 1.5mg
Sjoerd - Please come back and say whether you got off mirtazapine and, if so, how you did it. I'm struggling with the same issue. My prescriber won't order tapering strips
@@nokomismn9685 I'm currently in the 3rd week and it's going great!! I can't believe it. I tried about 4 times to quit with massive withdrawals that made life really unliveable (constant panick attacks and nightmares, almost psychotic). But I'm now down 70% of the original dosage and going good. There is hope my dude. I paid for them myself which cost about €100, idk if that's an option
@@soejrd24978 - I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I've been doing water titration and am down to roughly 1.875 mg. My main withdrawal symptom is anxiety. I wish someone had warned me ahead of time how bad mirtazapine is. It even makes you fat! A lot of nasty surprises with this drug!
@@nokomismn9685 yeah it's terrible isn't it! I hope you a really really good recovery! You can do this and with this method your willpower will make it happen! Also maybe Ram Dass can help you too
@@soejrd24978 hey are you going man? I need to taper off this shit and idk what to do 😩
If you want to save yourself money, you can buy scales for £7, and with the medication you have from your doctor, you cut the pill and weigh it, so 45mg cut in half is 22.5mg etc, you can work out the amount of drug per weight, then using that, line it up with a schedule and of you go. Yes it's a bit more work, but this is your life we're talking about, you're worth this effort :)
Hi James Thanks James Do you know about MICROTAPERING using Liquid Prep . IN UK liquid is 1ml = 15 mg with Microtapering you reduced by 0.1 mg every day. ONe makes the solution by adding 2 ml= 30 mg to the 300 ml of water which give dilution of 300 ml= 30 mg and 1 ml = 0.1 ml Is this microtapering safe ?
Is mirtazapine withdrawal as bas as sertraline was for me ? Sweats, chills, anxiety, disassociation, hallucinations, terrified me to the point I thought I'd end up in hospital. 10 months off now and still get waves of withdrawal so scared to take mirtazapine
Yes, it can be just as bad
Hi James, Thank you for the excellent video. I am currently in the withdrawal stage and searched for some more support on this drug in particular. I know my question here is not related to your video but... I just tried to listen to your podcast but the episodes have been removed. I hope you are okay and it will return? :D
Hi there, thanks for the message, so sorry to take so long to reply, the podcast is still available on Mad in America here: www.madinamerica.com/mia-radio-landing/ltw/
I'm planning on tapering off and have bought a precise digital scales to cut and measure my taper.
Try Promethazine it's an over the counter antihistamine. I used 50ml x 4 times aday and I was surprised nearly no pain or sweating.
Thank you 🙏 so much James .
Your video helped a lot .
Thank you for sharing, it was very helpful.
Brilliant, thank you for this video
Thank you for watching : )
Hi. Can I ask how you got hold of lower than 15mg tablets ? As far as I know, it’s only available in 15mg, 30mg and 45mg. I’ve just started tapering from 45mg having been on this dose for 10 years. I’m having to just cut 15s in half so 45 to 37.5 and currently on 30mg. I’m feeling the effects though
Hi James , amazing video, how are you today? Do you have any post withdraws? Are you totaly recovered? I try get off ones but it was terrible withdraws, so i got back to 15mg but i have brainfog so i must get off this drug soon ass posible, your video was big help, i hop my MD can help me with his tappering strips
James I have a very important question for you when you got down from 7.5 to olmost nothing how did you deal with the insomia what did you take to help you sleep ?
That’s a good question! I’ve taken Mirtazapine for nearly 7 years for insomnia. Never went higher than 3.75 mg and have been on 1.88 mg for about 3 years. Any lower and I cannot sleep. Decided to stay on the very low dose for that reason. I don’t have any side effects at 1.88 mg.
Thanks for video! Why is booze bad for WD? It seems alcohol eases a lot of my anxiety and thoughts in the evening.
I think we should examine all ways of helping withdrawal, whatever that may mean for the individual. For me personally, I find additional chemical input such as alcohol causes additional issues on top of the withdrawal, but at a sensible level it could have a temporary calming effect for some.
Alcohol is a natural depressant, even without other drugs. When the positive effect wears off, you tend to feel worse. It’s a short term relief with considerably worse long term effects.
Hi James. Thanks for your video. Are there any updates on your journey? Did you get any further symptoms of withdrawals after last dose. Would love to hear!
Hi Louise, thank you for watching, I am doing ok, not completely free of symptoms but I was on the Mirtazapine for 5 years so improvement will take some time. I have been off for 18 months now and insomnia is the most difficult part of being off, I find sleeping very difficult and have tried the usual things like melatonin, relaxation and so on. However, I don't regret getting off the Mirtazapine, I feel so much less slow and sluggish. Thank you for asking, I hope you are doing ok too, best wishes : )
Thanks for sharing! I am curious how you are doing today
Thank you for sharing
I’m off of mirtazapine for 14 days and I’m struggling with insomnia
How’s your insomnia now
I don’t want to go back on that medication
I need advice
How are you now?
@@KirstenThijssenthank you for asking
Still not sleeping well but seeing just little improvements
Today I’m 131 days off
Praying and hoping to get better
Hey, I've been on Calixta (Mirtazapine 15mg) for 6 weeks only and it's not really working for me. Do you think i could immediately drop from 15mg to 7.5mg for a week or two, then 3.75mg for a week or two and then completely stop?
@@zonnebloem100 Hi, doing okay, but if you are curious how my withdrawal went, it was okay. I had some problems sleeping after cutting it down, but it has gotten better after a month or two
Hi, James! Hope all is well! Just a question how bad where your withdrawals when tapering with the tapering strip compared with the liquid mirt?
Hello James Can I get tapering strips for Seroxat from my GP (UK)? I have not been able to get below 5mg. If not where can I get them? Thank you
Hi Vivienne, thank you for your message, firstly well done on getting down to 5mg. Yes tapering strips can be legally ordered into the UK, your GP will need to sign the ordering form, which counts as the prescription, then you send that ordering form by email/fax or post to the lab in the Netherlands. In the UK we have to pay for the tapering strips too unfortunately, it would be much better to get the prescribed free on the NHS and that is what I am trying to work towards. The ordering form for Seroxt can be found here, you might want to fill it in with your GP. Best wishes, I hope you can get hold of them ok. www.taperingstrip.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PRXT_bestel_GB.pdf
Oh and if your GP is concerned about the legality of ordering prescription medicines from Europe for personal use, show them this. www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news-in-brief/dutch-tapering-kits-website-has-not-broken-law-mhra-concludes/20203849.article
Thank you so much for making this video, James! It’s heartening to know that it’s possible to get off this drug!
May I ask you how stopping Mirtazapine affected your sleep? The biggest problem for me is severe insomnia. I’ve managed to taper to approx. 1.5 mg, but any further drop stops me sleeping entirely.
Is coming off Seroquel more daunting? Do you have any stories about people coming off Seroquel.
I'm on a high dose .
Hi James - I was wondering how you went about finding a GP or Psychiatrist who was supportive of Tapering? Thanks, Nick
Hi Nick, I actually was fortunate to have a family friend who could help me get tapering strips but everything else I did on my own. There are a few doctors who are familiar with tapering but what I suggest is that whoever you work with, share with them the Royal College of Psychiatrists guidance note found here: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/stopping-antidepressants which makes it pretty clear that people need to taper slowly. Hope you manage to find someone helpful. All the best.
James how dose someone like me get prescribed these strips?
Hi Josephine, thank you for watching the video, you can find all the information about ordering on this website, you will need a friendly prescriber who is willing to sign the order form for you though and, at the moment, we have to pay for the strips unless you can claim on medical insurance. www.taperingstrip.com/prescribing-and-ordering/?q=
Does anyone have severe itching as a withdrawal side effect? I haven’t been able to reduce much below 7.5 mg, every other day. I want to try the taper strips: no idea how the itching will stop
Yea when I tried to quit a week or so into it my legs started itching like crazy. Absolutely insane. Had to reinstate
@@katkatkat5 did you end up finding a way to come off?
Please Please where can I get these strips
I have not heard of tapering strips!
Thank you this is priceless!
How do you get them.prescribed
What milligram did you taper from ?
Did the tinnitus go away?
great information
I was 45 mg
I just broke the pill in half then went one night on one night off
Could you plz plz tell me how that worked for you and how long it took you to get to zero. I am on 45 mg and want to get off this medication asap. Plz get back to me if you can 💙🙏💙
@@woman_warrior3344 iv had a really bad relapse and had to start it again .
Sorry
I’m sure you can do it tho
@@Noneofyourbusiness-rq9jq I'm sorry to hear that and ty. I'm sure you can do this as well !! 😁
Why can't doctors in UK use this strip idea ..
I was told there was liquid of mirtazapine
I take it these are available in uk. I did ask for the liquid a few yrs ago and got a strange look as if it doesnt exist or sorry its too expensive to use on you goodbye. They said take one dose then miss a dose . At which point i realized i was dealing with muppets and bid them farewell. Im on 7.5mg and dont think i will ever be free of these meds . Im on 5mg now cutting tapering with a razor blade with not much hope to be honest . Regards steve
So glad you succeeded but you took medication for depression....will your depression come back again?
Thank you : ) The depression may well come back but I am putting time and effort into other ways of managing it. I can only speak for myself, but all the mirtazapine did was address a few of the symptoms like insomnia, I don't feel it actually had any effect at all on my mood.
Has anybody been able to get off Mirtazapine?
This is great information but I will ask all of you to try and get you mental health professionals to watch this video.It would do as more good trying to teach them what they know nothing about.Have them watch this video and get their opinions. We have to reach out more.
Are off you the remron ?
Hi PM, yes I am, four months off now, still some lingering effects but I am very glad I made the push to get off, not having to take a pill each evening is very liberating. Biggest issue is lack of sleep but no surprise as Mirtazapine is a very sedating drug.
James Moore what lingering effects?
@@jamesmoore5058
How long have you been taking it ?
@@jamesmoore5058 - Please give us another update.
The best is weed