2 hours ago, NT1100B said:

Hi @Emsy Sorry you are still in a rough patch, here's hoping you start to lift.

Hang on in there girl. Keep taking it slow.

Take care,        B.🙏🤞 

Thanks B, I imagine us all dotted about in our homes surviving the days one at a time and it breaks my heart to be honest. All these good people getting their arsed kicked by these sh*tty drugs.

Take care buddy

Emma

 So I got my liquid mirt prescription sent to the pharmacy today! It’s on repeat prescription and listed as ‘for hyperbolic tapering’. Asked the GP this morning if he was familiar with the MDG and he was so my little town surgery here in the back end of north wales is getting on board. 
Just wish I’d been given the proper information before starting this drug rather than being given the generic ‘oh you’ll be fine coming off well only keep you on it 3 months and then you can half the tablet for a couple weeks then stop 🙄

Horse, stable, bolted though and I’m done with besting myseld up over it.

Sending hugs to anyone who may need one 🤗 xx

Emma, 

 

You really will get there again, I was acutely sick and practically housebound with some horrendous waves during the first 9 months.  Now at almost 17 months I’m driving everywhere, going to the supermarket and can walk as far as I want. 
 

Those days in the mountains, looking at the view and enjoying the fresh air will come back and you’ll appreciate them so much more! 
 

Keep grinding through the days and you’ll get there. I’ve no doubt about that. 
 

Take care 

 

Nick 

Edited February 16Feb 16 by NBJ71

15 hours ago, Emsy said:

Thanks @namastejen1 for your kind words.

So did you fully come off Zoloft and then reinstate Zoloft after 3 months off?

i would be reinstating Mirtazapine as I’m still on 1.2 so I would just try going to 1.3 but my nervous system is so sensitised from the withdrawal symptoms from the dose reduction in November that I’m too scared to do a slight increase in case it worsens me.

Back then in 2013, yes, and then re-instated at 1/2 the dose I left off at, which came out to be 12.5mg. I felt some relief, but it was short-lived because of that psychiatrist at the time acting as if he knew my body better than I did. And he would not give me more--onto the next drug. 

 

So updosing after 3 months of holding at your current dose. Well, it really depends on how badly you are feeling. The quicker taper vs hyberbolic tapering seems to be catching up with your system.  Been there last year March to May 2025--my cuts were smaller but also under 1mg, which is even more potent due to the hyperbolic graph.

 

If anything, you could stay where you are at and stabilize or updose a little bit. A 3-month window is what can be used as a guideline if someone CT and reinstates at 1/2 the dose they left off at. It is a bit different with where you are at. Updosing a small amount could help alleviate the WD Sx. In 2025, I ended up updosing fairly soon after my 0.4mg (weighed/not dose) cut in May and went to 0.45mg (weighed)--it took a short time for me to feel better. But it was a rough ride for a while. I did a lot of fasting and praying (and crying) as it was during Lent, which is coming up again this Wednesday. Spirituality, a few from my family, and support from others on SA helped me get through it. You can do this too with whatever supports you have!

 

Sorry I am a number's person--You tapered from 15mg July 19 to 1.2mg November 13th, a deletion of 13.8mg in roughly 7 months--this feels almost like a CT. It has been 3 months of holding. It is tricky. I think updosing would be fine but I am not a medical doctor and cannot give medical advice.  What do you feel comfortable with in terms of updosing? @Chippy What do the MDG say about fast tapers?

Edited February 17Feb 17 by namastejen1

3 hours ago, namastejen1 said:

@Chippy What do the MDG say about fast tapers?

Just that your taper plan should be chosen based on your personal criteria Jen. 

13 hours ago, Chippy said:

Just that your taper plan should be chosen based on your personal criteria Jen. 

Well, that is vague...I thought it might be more descriptive. Better to be individual about it, I guess. Thanks Chippy. Best to you, Emma, in your choice moving forward. ♥️

On 2/16/2026 at 7:26 PM, Emsy said:

Take care buddy

Emma

Thanks @Emsy Yes it's horrible what we have to go through. Severe enough in some cases

to end up on a psych ward!!! BUT that need not happen with going very vey slow. Just read of

a hold lasting over a year, but coming our of it in a MUCH better almost recovered state.

 

Don't panic though Emma, everyone is different, you are in control, adjusting up by a very tiny

amount if it becomes too much, then holding for as long as it takes. Slow and easy is the way 

to play it. We are ALL with you ALL the way. Stay close.

Take care,        B.🙏🤞🌷

On 2/16/2026 at 7:33 PM, Emsy said:

Just wish I’d been given the proper information before starting this drug

 

This is something I'm actively working on with the MHRA, however I am just one person.

 

If you'd like to add your voice to changing this, please consider writing to the MHRA to express this and/or make a yellow card report stating this.

 

You could also ask that your MP writes to them on your behalf, which would make it seem more official.

7 hours ago, Luke said:

 

This is something I'm actively working on with the MHRA, however I am just one person.

 

If you'd like to add your voice to changing this, please consider writing to the MHRA to express this and/or make a yellow card report stating this.

 

You could also ask that your MP writes to them on your behalf, which would make it seem more official.

I absolutely plan to Luke but don’t have the mental capacity with the WD fug right now.

Do you have a letter template that you have used that you could share I wonder? It would make it easier for people to put a letter together? Just a thought.

The work you are doing while still navigating your own WD is incredible Luke but as you say you can’t be a lone voice in the wilderness.

I don't have a letter template at the moment.

 

I went to see my MP in person, this was then followed up with letters and emails.

Morning @Emsy How's it going? have you stabilised or lifted any yet? 

I sincerely hope you are doing better.

Take care and please go slow.        B.🙏🤞

Hi @NT1100B I am in the same place no lift yet. Can’t get out of the house except a short walk in some days.

I have my mirtazapine liquid now so I’m moving over to that in stages over the next few weeks. I hope that having a more stable dose every night might help stabilise me.

Really hoping things improve for you very soon B  🙏 

Lovely folks im going to take a little break from the forum as I can’t stop myself scrolling all the stories and I’m not strong enough right now not to get very triggered and scared by others experiences and it feeds my catastrophic thinking.

I will be back when I’m feeling a bit more resilient with an update.

Sending a hug to all xx

6 minutes ago, Emsy said:

Lovely folks im going to take a little break from the forum as I can’t stop myself scrolling all the stories and I’m not strong enough right now not to get very triggered and scared by others experiences and it feeds my catastrophic thinking.

I will be back when I’m feeling a bit more resilient with an update.

Sending a hug to all xx

Thinking of you Emsy. Ive everything crossed you stabilise soon. We are here when you need us. Chippy xxxxx

I just read you have taken a break, Emsy. Sometimes we need to that for ourselves. As Chippy said, we are here when you would like to return. It is nice to have social engagement but can often feel like too much when in a wave. The success stories can bring about encouragement ☺️. I hope that you are doing well and to see you soon. Blessings!

I’m in a bad way, things are just getting worse and worse. This wave has been the worse so far and it’s been 3 weeks with the last week horrendous. I’m no longer able to work from home so off sick or leave the house at all and I’m so exhausted. 

i started the slow crossover to the commercial liquid last Thursday 25/75 and Friday was the worst day yet but I had a huge trigger so could be coincidence. On Sunday after 3 nights of 25/75 things lifted quite a bit so I thought all good. Rather than going 50/50 last night for the next week I went cautious and did 33/66 and today is now the worst so far. Every time I think it can’t get worse it does! I don’t know if it’s the wave I’m in, or the crossover to the liquid or my own terror of the WD so I just don’t know what to do.
The withdrawal support guy wants me to persevere with the commercial liquid as he is sure I’ll settle much better on it in the long run as it’s a more consistent dose than my homemade liquid but I just don’t know whether to admit defeat after a week and go back to 100% homemade.

i have also wavered massively over up dosing but always held off for fear of making things worse but I’m very much tempted to try now as things are so bad. Awake from 3am in terror all day, can hardly eat anything.

But then if im messing about with changing back from the commercial liquid and up dosing at the same time that could cause more instability and I can’t really be sure it is the liquid change that’s causing the spike in symptoms, particularly as I had an easing of them Sunday 3 days in.

Im so confused about what to do for myself and even thinking of asking the GP for a benzo for a few days but I know that’s not the answer long term.

I know folk can’t tell me what to do but I value others opinions and experiences.

sending hugs to all who need them today xx

Emsy I’m so sorry. I’ve was thinking of you today and how you were. 
 

This is a though one. Some thoughts. 
 

- It’s possible you are not taking to the liquid version. And swapping whilst destabilised was never an ideal thing to do. Keeping going maybe boxes you in where as now you can step out fairly easily. 
 

- I get what they are saying about your dissolvable version of mirt. However this issue of settlement before drawing up a dose is true of any diy liquid and many manage quite successfully with it. You might argue the drug would be better suspended in the liquid than many other tablets if anything which is the important bit. The filler is often not well dissolved/suspended anyway. 
 

- I’ve wondered for some time if you should have updosed. I can’t help but think you would be better either holding here to see if you can settle or perhaps abort the switch whilst you are only just over one step in, hold for a bit and then try an up-dose. 
 

Just my thoughts. My heart goes out honestly. You can and will get out of this but I appreciate it’s awful for you atm. 
 

Chippy

Thanks Chippy, I really appreciate your thoughts.

if I’d known then what I know now I would have gone back to my previous dose as soon as WD kicked in 2 weeks after the drop and held there until stable.
The first wave felt bad but nothing compared to now and after 2 weeks I did improve for a week and a half before the 2nd wave kicked in over Xmas and New Year and that was worse than the first wave. I agonised then over up dosing but held and by the 2nd week of January things eased again for about 2.5 weeks and I thought I was on the mend. 
Then this 3rd wave kicked in end of Jan/beginning Feb and again worse than before and escalated from the 2nd week of Feb getting steadily worse so I was already in a bad way on the homemade liquid with weirdly 1 day where things eased up quite a bit then back in the thick of it again.
Then I added the 25% commercial liquid and I think my system was just so freaked out already anyway it was the last straw. So even going back to 100% homemade liquid will be me barely functioning or eating as a baseline.

It’s the rock and the hard place every time and every change comes with anxiety and worry which doesn’t help the system stabilise.

10 minutes ago, Emsy said:

Thanks Chippy, I really appreciate your thoughts.

if I’d known then what I know now I would have gone back to my previous dose as soon as WD kicked in 2 weeks after the drop and held there until stable.
The first wave felt bad but nothing compared to now and after 2 weeks I did improve for a week and a half before the 2nd wave kicked in over Xmas and New Year and that was worse than the first wave. I agonised then over up dosing but held and by the 2nd week of January things eased again for about 2.5 weeks and I thought I was on the mend. 
Then this 3rd wave kicked in end of Jan/beginning Feb and again worse than before and escalated from the 2nd week of Feb getting steadily worse so I was already in a bad way on the homemade liquid with weirdly 1 day where things eased up quite a bit then back in the thick of it again.
Then I added the 25% commercial liquid and I think my system was just so freaked out already anyway it was the last straw. So even going back to 100% homemade liquid will be me barely functioning or eating as a baseline.

It’s the rock and the hard place every time and every change comes with anxiety and worry which doesn’t help the system stabilise.

Is hard isn’t it. I’ve always felt you should have gone slower than the 25% or 20% you tried especially once you were out of the flat bit or the curve. However I was pro you holding when you did and now I’m wondering like you if you should have updosed. It’s so easy in hindsight isn’t it. 
 

I can see from what you’ve laid out there that although your waves are getting stronger you are getting very obvious windows so a typical pattern there for sure. Your body will want and is trying to stabilise. It’s just the path to stability is so tough and is seen in windows and waves and unfortunately worsening symptoms. 
 

I wish I could say the answer but as ever with these things there isn’t a right one. Just gotta trust your gut and then stick to your guns and let your body take over. It knows best. 

Yes because I’d been on such a short time before I started tapering (3 weeks) it was suggested I could try 20/25% every 2 weeks on SA and listen to my body so that’s what I did. As with all these stories, that was going brilliantly until it wasn’t. I was feeling better as the taper went along until the 20% cut from 1.5mg to 1.2mg.

Hindsight as you say, even after such a short stint, but you know that one!

@Emsy

My heart goes out to you! 
I'm in the absolute thick of my own Mirtazapine bewilderment with a very sensitized CNS, so I don’t have advice… just want you to know I’m rooting for you! 💪🏻 ❤️

20 minutes ago, Emsy said:

was feeling better as the taper went along until the 20% cut from 1.5mg to 1.2mg.

Yeah it’s a common story those little doses are the problem. 
 

21 minutes ago, Emsy said:

Hindsight as you say, even after such a short stint, but you know that one!

I do mate unfortunately. 
 

It will all be ok eventually. I believe so much in the bodies ability to fix these things. I pray you see some improvement soon I really do. What ever you decide we are here for you. You’ll be back out climbing and hiking one day soon im sure! Xxx

5 hours ago, Finni said:

@Emsy

My heart goes out to you! 
I'm in the absolute thick of my own Mirtazapine bewilderment with a very sensitized CNS, so I don’t have advice… just want you to know I’m rooting for you! 💪🏻 ❤️

Thanks @Finni rooting for you too xx

 

 

Thank you 🥰

Just thinking of you @Emsy

🌞💗