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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by neme8274 on March 13, 2009, at 12:47:44
I have been taking Remeron(Mirtazapine) for 5 1/2 years for insomnia and anxiety.
It has many side effects; non-stop appetite, weight gain, lethargy, depersonalization,
derealization (removed from reality), nightmares, memory problems(foggy head)
. I have tried to quit a dozen times or more. I've tapered slowly, quit cold turkey,
and substituted other medicines such as elavil. Elavil caused me bone marrow
depression,unknown to me, white blood cells did not produce and I did not know why I was getting so sick. Had pneumonia, major sinus infections almost had to have nasal surgery.
But after extreme research discovered that though rare, this bone marrow depression can
Occur. Quit Elavil and got well after mega doses of levaquin, augmentin, cefzil etc
Last Friday 3-6-09 I decided to quit remeron cold turkey with my doctors help. My withdrawal From Remeron includes many hellish side effects such as; nausea, brain shocks, insomnia, flu like symptoms, Insomnia being the worst by far. I take meclizine for the nausea, valium for the brain shocks, and now Seroquel for insomnia. Valium I can quit cold turkey(long half-life). Its seroquel that has me concerned because it antagonizes many parts of the brain that Remeron does creating a sedative effect possibly making it addictive. Am I robbing Peter To pay Paul???? Has anyone had experiences with Remeron(mirtazapine) or Seroquel (quetiapine). Particularly withdrawal Experiences. Has anyone successfully quit Remeron After five years??? Had any experience with seroquel addiction or withdrawal?? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.
Posted by 49er on March 14, 2009, at 13:30:17
In reply to Remeron vs. Seroquel, posted by neme8274 on March 13, 2009, at 12:47:44
> I have been taking Remeron(Mirtazapine) for 5 1/2 years for insomnia and anxiety.
> It has many side effects; non-stop appetite, weight gain, lethargy, depersonalization,
> derealization (removed from reality), nightmares, memory problems(foggy head)
> . I have tried to quit a dozen times or more. I've tapered slowly, quit cold turkey,
> and substituted other medicines such as elavil. Elavil caused me bone marrow
> depression,unknown to me, white blood cells did not produce and I did not know why I was getting so sick. Had pneumonia, major sinus infections almost had to have nasal surgery.
> But after extreme research discovered that though rare, this bone marrow depression can
> Occur. Quit Elavil and got well after mega doses of levaquin, augmentin, cefzil etc
> Last Friday 3-6-09 I decided to quit remeron cold turkey with my doctors help. My withdrawal From Remeron includes many hellish side effects such as; nausea, brain shocks, insomnia, flu like symptoms, Insomnia being the worst by far. I take meclizine for the nausea, valium for the brain shocks, and now Seroquel for insomnia. Valium I can quit cold turkey(long half-life). Its seroquel that has me concerned because it antagonizes many parts of the brain that Remeron does creating a sedative effect possibly making it addictive. Am I robbing Peter To pay Paul???? Has anyone had experiences with Remeron(mirtazapine) or Seroquel (quetiapine). Particularly withdrawal Experiences. Has anyone successfully quit Remeron After five years??? Had any experience with seroquel addiction or withdrawal?? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.Meme,
I don't mean to sound harsh but cold turkeying is the worst thing you can regarding coming off a psych med. The exception is when you have been on a med for less than 4 weeks.
If you haven't been on seroquel for too long (meaning less than 2 weeks) I would go off of it immediately as taking it for insomnia is simply asking for trouble with all the side effects associated with antipsychotics. You are aware of the Seroquel suits, right?
I would then reinstate the Remeron dose that you cold turkeyed off of since it sounds like you did it around 3/6. Once you stabilize, I would taper Remeron at 10% of the current dose every 3 to 6 weeks. I can tell you how when you get to that point.
I might even go more slowly at 5%.
I was on Remeron for 10 years total, including tapering time, and successfully finished tapering in January of this year. I did have severe insomnia but I think some of that might have been related to the supplements I was taking.
But in spite of my having insomnia, it would have been alot worse if I had tapered too quickly.
Steady and slow wins the race. Tapering fast or cold turkeying doesn't usually work.
49er
Posted by neme8274 on March 14, 2009, at 15:37:14
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel, posted by 49er on March 14, 2009, at 13:30:17
Thanks for the info. Its good to know people can come off remeron. I have cold turkeyed it two years ago with no side effects for 9 weeks. Then I foolishly thought I could take it and quit it again. The diffence I believe was I was working a very physically demanding job. That seemed to kill the anxiety and make it easy to sleep from exhaustion. I have treadmill and a gym membership but am to malaise to use either. I know exercise would help but I just cant force myself to do it. I'm in too weakened a state. As far a going back to remeron I cant see myself doing that, only as last resort. My nausea has dissipated, brain shocked have lessened. Insomnia and anxiety are the foes right now. Monday will be my last day on seroquel. I have to do family things right now and must get the sleep. When you finally tapered off did you fall into natural sleep or did you use diphenhydramine(benadryl)OTC to help you? Ohh, how long was your taper/dosage start to finish??? THanks for the info!!
Posted by 49er on March 15, 2009, at 9:42:06
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel, posted by neme8274 on March 14, 2009, at 15:37:14
> Thanks for the info. Its good to know people can come off remeron. I have cold turkeyed it two years ago with no side effects for 9 weeks. Then I foolishly thought I could take it and quit it again. The diffence I believe was I was working a very physically demanding job. That seemed to kill the anxiety and make it easy to sleep from exhaustion. I have treadmill and a gym membership but am to malaise to use either. I know exercise would help but I just cant force myself to do it. I'm in too weakened a state. As far a going back to remeron I cant see myself doing that, only as last resort. My nausea has dissipated, brain shocked have lessened. Insomnia and anxiety are the foes right now. Monday will be my last day on seroquel. I have to do family things right now and must get the sleep. When you finally tapered off did you fall into natural sleep or did you use diphenhydramine(benadryl)OTC to help you? Ohh, how long was your taper/dosage start to finish??? THanks for the info!!
Hi Meme,
I am glad your symptoms have abated. But people who cold turkey Paxil report this happens frequency only to come back with a vengeance a few months later.
Obviously, you have to do what you feel is right for you but I wish I had a nickle for everyone who cold turkeys a med who says they wished they had done it more slowly.
I still have Doxepin to taper as a sleep med. I did sleep 8 days straight just using Doxepin, fish oil capsules and this remedy, BioFeed from http://www.optimumchoices.com.
Unfortunately, due to having problems with noisy neighbors, my insomnia has returned. Even if they're not noisy, the anticipatory anxiety is affecting my ability to fall asleep which wasn't even an issue when I had the previous bout of insomnia. Then I just had problems with waking up too early.
I believe it took me about 13 months to taper Remeron. I started at 22.5mg.
A few times, I accidentally went too fast but I mostly did it very slowly.
Good luck
Posted by neme8274 on March 15, 2009, at 11:38:12
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel » neme8274, posted by 49er on March 15, 2009, at 9:42:06
I sympathize with your noisy neighbors. I live
across from a high school of 2000+ students.
Always hearing and feeling sub-woofers and
sometimes band practice on the football field.
Loud buses and kids yelling. I long for the weekends Earplugs are what I use. It takes a few days to get use to them. Of course if you have children you may not want use them. There are different decibel ratings on different plugs. Nothing blocks out a marching band at 7:00 am.
Thank you very much for the info. What is doxepin?
Posted by 49er on March 15, 2009, at 15:11:12
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel, posted by neme8274 on March 15, 2009, at 11:38:12
> I sympathize with your noisy neighbors. I live
> across from a high school of 2000+ students.
> Always hearing and feeling sub-woofers and
> sometimes band practice on the football field.
> Loud buses and kids yelling. I long for the weekends Earplugs are what I use. It takes a few days to get use to them. Of course if you have children you may not want use them. There are different decibel ratings on different plugs. Nothing blocks out a marching band at 7:00 am.
> Thank you very much for the info. What is doxepin?Hi,
Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant that is commonly used for sleep. The brand name is Sinequan (sp?)
Ouch, where you live sounds horrible. I would go nuts. I am so sorry you have to deal with that.
Thanks for the advice on the earplugs. I have tried them before and didn't seem to have success. But it could be that I am just a klutz in getting them in my ear:)
I just bought noise cancellations headphones to try out as I can return them in 30 days if I am not satisfied. Keep your fingers crossed that they work.
49er
Posted by neme8274 on March 15, 2009, at 15:35:28
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel » neme8274, posted by 49er on March 15, 2009, at 15:11:12
Just curious, how is your focus. Any foggy head
symptoms. Ohh, what dosage do you take at night.TA
Posted by 49er on March 15, 2009, at 16:48:22
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel, posted by neme8274 on March 15, 2009, at 15:35:28
> Just curious, how is your focus. Any foggy head
> symptoms. Ohh, what dosage do you take at night.TAAfter my last Doxepin cut, my head was foggy for week before things started improving.
But even then, once the fish oil capsule I take wears off, then I become foggy again. Unfortunately, I can't take them too late or I won't sleep.
Oh wait a minute, that isn't happening. <trying to have a sense of humor).
I think what I am trying to say is even on my good days, I feel like in some ways, it resembles my Adderall days as once the meds wear off, I can't focus.
I realize though that in spite my problems, I am pretty fortunate compared to alot of people. Because of the slow tapering, I was still able to accomplish alot of things after that week until my insomnia reappeared. I am just greedy and want more.
I am currently taking 5.7mg of Doxepin. I finally figured out the dosage as I have been tapering by weighing the med using a .001g scale.
How are you doing?
49er
Posted by neme8274 on March 15, 2009, at 20:29:01
In reply to Re: Remeron vs. Seroquel » neme8274, posted by 49er on March 15, 2009, at 16:48:22
I too use adderall. Not right now as I dont need
anything to cause anxiety. Were you saying your fish oil tabs resemble the energy you would get from adderall? Thanks for the doxepin info.
This is the end of the thread.
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