As my signature says I increased mirtazapine to 22.5mg on 26 December 2025 following an episode of anxiety which turned into depression.  After 17 days it was too activating and I reduced to 18.7.  I thought since I'd only been on it a short while I'd be ok with the drop.  It has been *brutal*  weeks 1 & 2 were really hard, difficult to sleep and eat.  Week 3 slightly improved sleep wise. I am now getting to sleep albeit between 7 - 8pm and then waking around 2am unable to sleep anymore.  Eating is still hard, I've only had 1.5 days of proper eating in about 3 weeks,which was last weekend - lovely! Otherwise it's little and often 'mush' which I'm sick of.  Sometimes I go onto crackers and cream cheese.    

 

This is week 4.  ChatGPT told me week 4 was when I'd start to see improvement, and I guess I am - two weeks ago I couldn't have a shower or brush my teeth, in the past week I've started being able to read and tolerate TV in small amounts.  Most of the time I stare out the window.  Obviously off work.  

 

I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that I will adjust to the new dose and any indication of how much longer.  I feel it'll be 6 weeks post dose drop before things start to level out.  I am extremely sensitive and not taking any other drugs.  I did try diazapam for a few weeks earlier on but started getting the most awful comedowns with 4 hours of shaking so I stopped that and haven't had any for a couple of week.  

 

Here's my topic on SA

Hi Faure

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks for posting your introduction topic and  your link to your SA thread above for us.

 

Im sorry you have been having a hard time recently.

 

I noticed you increased your dose of Mirtazapine from 1mg to 15mg back in Oct 2024 following a hard time and Im sorry you felt you had to do this. Im happy this worked for you. I will say that in my opinion antidepressants are not the answer to life's problems. Just possibly a band aid.

 

Research suggests they are not as effective as is often claimed, if anything I suspect they offer some emotional numbing which users may find beneficial. Research also shows they are only marginally more effective than Placebo.

 

Your jump from 1mg to 15mg was big. These changes hit our nervous systems hard. You seemed to be ok and this good but I suspect it primed you for problems later.

 

I can see that on Boxing Day you updosed to 22.5mg and your system said enough in my opinion and as you state above your CNS is now very sensitive. 

 

You reduced your dose to 18.7mg where you have been holding since 12th January. 

 

Our CNSs like stability and not big changes. From what I can see you are showing positive signs of stability now due to your hold. What you do next is your choice but my opinion is best to stay where you are for the minute and look to get stable.

 

I wouldn't touch any more benzos or other ADs. They will only add fuel to the fire. Alcohol is no for sure.

 

If you are drinking a lot of coffee or caffeine products I would reduce those over a few weeks so not to shock your system but ultimately stop consuming them for the rest of your taper. If it's not a lot I would just stop drinking altogether now.

 

Our systems are designed to heal, be patient some have to hold for a long time. The main thing is no sudden changes and nice consistent doses.

 

You are so very welcome here and thank you again for joining.

 

I hope you find the site supportive.

 

Chippy

Thank you for crossing over and for joining the forum.

 

There's not a lot I can add that @Chippy hasn't already covered very well.

 

However, I do want to really emphasise that randomly experimenting with benzos etc is very, very risky in withdrawal.

3 hours ago, Chippy said:

noticed you increased your dose of Mirtazapine from 1mg to 15mg back in Oct 2024 following a hard time and Im sorry you felt you had to do this. Im happy this worked for you. I will say that in my opinion antidepressants are not the answer to life's problems. Just possibly a band aid.

It worked really well. I wasn't eating or sleeping and hadn't for 3 months. I resisted the increase all that time despite enduring immense suffering including vomiting several times a day. As soon as I took the pill 5mg at first, then 10, then back to 15 within a few days things improved immensely. I don't apologise for that. It is what I needed at the time. 

 

As for holding, yes, that's what I've got to do now, as you spotted things are slowly stabilising, just not as fast as I'd like and chatgpt led me to believe:)

2 minutes ago, Luke said:

However, I do want to really emphasise that randomly experimenting with benzos etc is very, very risky in withdrawal.

Yep, no more benzos. 

 

I have to say I've found chatgpt very helpful thru this it has really explained what's going on and told me appetite and sleep are the last to stabilise. Despite a very rough cortisol morning (shaking and vomiting) today I don't feel too bad now I'm up. I just wish I could eat a jolly good meal! 

 

Thanks for setting up this new forum, such a shame SA has closed.

11 minutes ago, Faure said:

I don't apologise for that. It is what I needed at the time. 

You do not need to apologise to anyone. It's your body you need to do what you feel is right. We only share our thoughts on your situation. We mean no harm.

10 minutes ago, Faure said:

Yep, no more benzos. 

perfect!

 

10 minutes ago, Faure said:

Thanks for setting up this new forum, such a shame SA has closed.

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and thanks for being here too. We were very disappointed to see SA closed. This is why we are trying to create something new here. I hope you like it.

 

Chippy

I haven't had the best of weeks. Sleep has generally improved a bit in that I can sometimes get to sleep a bit faster than earlier weeks and twice this week I've got back to sleep when I wake for a trip to the loo about 2am which I wasn't for a long time. But eating is *very* difficult. I'm on little and often and this morning woke at 2am starving. I had black tea at 5, a bit of custard at 6. Despair at 7. 1/4 Weetabix. Then I tried some porridge but just spit it out. I'm so hungry and exhausted by all this. Not enough sleep and certainly not enough food. Since Monday I've had one better eating day. Today is Saturday morning. 

 

Last weekend took a turn for the better on Saturday around 11am and for the first time in weeks I was able to eat till I felt properly full. I just feel full after a few bites at the moment. It's awful. 

 

ChatGPT says this eating and sleeping issue is common, are others having issues? It keeps saying these are the last to settle. 

 

Monday will be the start of week 5 on the lower dose. I really hope things improve soon.

35 minutes ago, Faure said:

I haven't had the best of weeks. Sleep has generally improved a bit in that I can sometimes get to sleep a bit faster than earlier weeks and twice this week I've got back to sleep when I wake for a trip to the loo about 2am which I wasn't for a long time. But eating is *very* difficult. I'm on little and often and this morning woke at 2am starving. I had black tea at 5, a bit of custard at 6. Despair at 7. 1/4 Weetabix. Then I tried some porridge but just spit it out. I'm so hungry and exhausted by all this. Not enough sleep and certainly not enough food. Since Monday I've had one better eating day. Today is Saturday morning. 

Im sorry to hear all this @Faure We all relate with the struggle! 

 

35 minutes ago, Faure said:

Last weekend took a turn for the better on Saturday around 11am and for the first time in weeks I was able to eat till I felt properly full.

This is a good sign and nice to see. Healing and just generally CNS adjustments are never linear for reasons that are not well understood.

 

35 minutes ago, Faure said:

ChatGPT says this eating and sleeping issue is common, are others having issues? It keeps saying these are the last to settle. 

When I came off Mirtazapine I had terrible problems with Nausea and my appetite was very low. I found for some reason I could eat certain foods but others I literally could put in my mouth and had to go in the bin. Slowly it resolved. I remember the first time I could eat my lunch properly without forcing myself to eat to keep going. I did a dance of joy. That feeling of hunger back again. Was amazing. I find generally these things pass all of a sudden out of the blue when you don't expect them too.

 

Chippy

3 hours ago, Chippy said:

I remember the first time I could eat my lunch properly without forcing myself to eat to keep going. I did a dance of joy. That feeling of hunger back again. Was amazing. I find generally these things pass all of a sudden out of the blue when you don't expect them too.

Thanks Chippy, I can't force myself or I throw up: ( I really hope this passes soon. It's so miserable being so hungry

10 minutes ago, Faure said:

Thanks Chippy, I can't force myself or I throw up: ( I really hope this passes soon. It's so miserable being so hungry

No dont! That was just me and im not sure I actually forced fed myself just tried to eat as much as In could in the circumstances, definitely dont do that! It will these drugs really mess with us im afraid. We are all here for you. 😀

Weeks 1&2 if the drop brutal. Weeks 3&4 gradually started to improve. Week 5 (the last six days) back to being brutal again. Sleeping 8.30pm- 2am. Waking at 2am like clockwork, exactly 6 hours after taking 18.7mg. I think the dose is still too high and harming me. 

 

In a&e waiting to see the home treatment team. I'm desperate to see a psychiatrist for a medication review.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having a difficult time following reducing your dose.

 

I hope that you are believed by clinicians.

16 hours ago, Faure said:

Weeks 1&2 if the drop brutal. Weeks 3&4 gradually started to improve. Week 5 (the last six days) back to being brutal again. Sleeping 8.30pm- 2am. Waking at 2am like clockwork, exactly 6 hours after taking 18.7mg. I think the dose is still too high and harming me. 

 

In a&e waiting to see the home treatment team. I'm desperate to see a psychiatrist for a medication review.

I’m so sorry things are rough for you still. The fluctuations in symptoms is a good sign. I hope the windows get a bit longer soon.