@Gilda I have just read your recent history of being prescribed and taking multiple psychiatric drugs. Your experience is truly heartbreaking. I too am stuck on multiple drugs having been prescribed them over decades and feel trapped. And I trapped by the whole situation.

I hope you find some stability and a way forward. the prescribing of these drugs is shocking. There is rarely informed consent (an explanation of the potential harms), and doctors seem so cavalier about putting them on them without a plan or taking any responsibility for getting off them.

Do you have good support from family and friends?

8 hours ago, Chippy said:

@Gilda

Le linee guida Maudsley per la riduzione della prescrizione suggeriscono che è possibile sciogliere le compresse di Remeron ODT in acqua; affermano che schiacciare la compressa con un mortaio e un pestello può accelerare il processo, ma che la dissoluzione potrebbe comunque richiedere del tempo. Si può anche utilizzare del succo di mela limpido per facilitare il processo.

Se non sei convinto che questo sia possibile per te, ti consiglio di procurarti compresse da 15 mg di Remeron standard e di dividerle nella dose necessaria.

In base a quanto hai detto, prenderei in considerazione un aumento del dosaggio a 7,5 mg.

Da qui in poi aspetterei diversi mesi, concentrandomi sulle strategie di gestione, mangiando bene, prendendo un po' d'aria fresca e bevendo molti liquidi, e fidandomi del mio corpo affinché si stabilizzi.

Mi dispiace molto per il brutto periodo che stai attraversando.

Chippy

@Chippy "Thank you. Could you please tell me where I can find the Maudsley guidelines you mentioned regarding Remeron? I really want to know exactly what the procedure says. If you have the book, could you please take a photo of the section about mirtazapine? Does it actually mention microspheres that deposit? Because I specifically have the orodispersible Remeron

3 minutes ago, Gilda said:

@Chippy "Thank you. Could you please tell me where I can find the Maudsley guidelines you mentioned regarding Remeron? I really want to know exactly what the procedure says. If you have the book, could you please take a photo of the section about mirtazapine? Does it actually mention microspheres that deposit? Because I specifically have the orodispersible Remeron

Send me a pm and I’ll send you the Mirtazapine section. It’s not that detailed but you are welcome to have a look for yourself.

13 hours ago, Catbird said:

@GildaHo appena letto la tua recente storia di prescrizione e assunzione di numerosi farmaci psichiatrici. La tua esperienza è davvero straziante. Anch'io sono bloccata sotto l'effetto di diversi farmaci, prescritti nel corso di decenni, e mi sento intrappolata. E sono intrappolata dall'intera situazione.

Spero che tu possa trovare un po' di stabilità e una via d'uscita. La prescrizione di questi farmaci è sconvolgente. Raramente si ottiene un consenso informato (una spiegazione dei potenziali rischi) e i medici sembrano così superficiali nel prescriverli senza un piano o assumendosi la responsabilità della loro eventuale sospensione.

Ricevi un buon sostegno da familiari e amici?

@Catbird @Chippy @LostinCanada @Luke @Emsy

Hello everyone, thank you for the support. I read that some of you have also taken mirtazapine. Unfortunately, I now have a hyperactive nervous system because of Rivotril that I was prescribed. An ENT doctor gave it to me for tinnitus I had, but what I’m experiencing now, due to the medications, is much worse.

The doctors didn’t realize I was going through Rivotril withdrawal and prescribed additional medications. It’s hard to accept that everything started from an ENT prescription that has completely changed my life.

Right now I feel extremely unwell. I have severe agitation, an inner torment that feels like subjective akathisia, pain throughout my body, and very loud tinnitus in my head and both ears. It feels like torture. I feel like a walking dead person, and I keep praying to God to take me because I don’t know how to keep going like this.

I also need to taper off Remeron, but I don’t know how. It makes me feel bad, but stopping it makes everything worse. I feel completely trapped. I cry all the time, I’ve lost 8 kg, and now I weigh only 39 kg, which is extremely low. My ears feel blocked and the tinnitus is unbearable. This is not a life.

Thank you all for your support. Here I feel less alone in this battle. Many people think I’m just depressed, but this doesn’t feel like depression. Depression doesn’t cause this level of physical pain, extreme inner restlessness like a motor always running, blocked ears, and disabling tinnitus.

I don’t know how to go on with daily life. I have to work, cook, clean, and do groceries, but I live alone and I can’t cope. I’ve been off work these days because I simply can’t manage.

Now I’ve also developed a deep pain in my right glute, and it’s hard to walk. I’ve started having sharp pains in my head and nose. Last night I had a severe headache, and it’s coming back again tonight.

Every evening I hope the next day will be better, but it’s always worse. I struggle to fall asleep, I wake up many times, and in the morning I can barely get out of bed. I get panic attacks as soon as I open my eyes, and the tinnitus is extremely loud.

Thank you for listening.

Dear Gilda, you are not alone. My suffering is also huge. I have tapered 5 mg Mirtazapine for 7 months and stopped it on March 20 at 1,5 mg. Before this my CNS was extremely sensitized from the cold turkey from 3 psychotropics prescribed by the psychiatrist. I was already in Hell when I have tapered Mirtazapine. But I haven't had any choice because the antidepressant has thrown me in inhumane anhedonia. After the last dose of Mirtazipine this Hell became unbearable and has lasted already for more than 40 days: horrendous night and morning cortisol spikes, I cannot sleep, terror, agony, hot flashes, sweats, skin itching, inner akatisia, muscle pains, solar plexus aches, chemical depression, hellish depression, horrible anhedonia, restlessness... I lost 20 kilos (I was 61 kg), I am not functional, I pray to survive each second, it is a Living Hell. But what is our solution? We suffer from brain Injury, there is nothing that can be done, it is cruel what doctors did with us. We will continue to support each other, we have to hope and trust in Time, and in the inner body capacity to seek for homeostasis.

So sorry to hear this @skamen 😥

9 hours ago, Gilda said:

@Catbird @Chippy @LostinCanada @Luke @Emsy

Hello everyone, thank you for the support. I read that some of you have also taken mirtazapine. Unfortunately, I now have a hyperactive nervous system because of Rivotril that I was prescribed. An ENT doctor gave it to me for tinnitus I had, but what I’m experiencing now, due to the medications, is much worse.

The doctors didn’t realize I was going through Rivotril withdrawal and prescribed additional medications. It’s hard to accept that everything started from an ENT prescription that has completely changed my life.

Right now I feel extremely unwell. I have severe agitation, an inner torment that feels like subjective akathisia, pain throughout my body, and very loud tinnitus in my head and both ears. It feels like torture. I feel like a walking dead person, and I keep praying to God to take me because I don’t know how to keep going like this.

I also need to taper off Remeron, but I don’t know how. It makes me feel bad, but stopping it makes everything worse. I feel completely trapped. I cry all the time, I’ve lost 8 kg, and now I weigh only 39 kg, which is extremely low. My ears feel blocked and the tinnitus is unbearable. This is not a life.

Thank you all for your support. Here I feel less alone in this battle. Many people think I’m just depressed, but this doesn’t feel like depression. Depression doesn’t cause this level of physical pain, extreme inner restlessness like a motor always running, blocked ears, and disabling tinnitus.

I don’t know how to go on with daily life. I have to work, cook, clean, and do groceries, but I live alone and I can’t cope. I’ve been off work these days because I simply can’t manage.

Now I’ve also developed a deep pain in my right glute, and it’s hard to walk. I’ve started having sharp pains in my head and nose. Last night I had a severe headache, and it’s coming back again tonight.

Every evening I hope the next day will be better, but it’s always worse. I struggle to fall asleep, I wake up many times, and in the morning I can barely get out of bed. I get panic attacks as soon as I open my eyes, and the tinnitus is extremely loud.

Thank you for listening.

I'm so sorry @Gilda this answers my questions on my thread, I feel you deeply and right there with you in the midst of this awful depression, anxiety/terror, strong tinnitus and huge difficulty maintaining even the most basic functioning, all of it is truly a different kind of suffering that only raging chemicals can cause which challenges to the core the faith that there is a way out but so many before us have gone through the same in active stages and reached full lives so let's continue pushing forward bravely, hold each other tight and do our best to remember that every day that are still here it's a small victory that will grow over time into a full one.

Wishing you easier days very soon, hang in there.

Edited May 6May 6 by Fullhealing

10 hours ago, Gilda said:

Hello everyone, thank you for the support. I read that some of you have also taken mirtazapine.

Hey @Gilda yes many of us on here have had our lives turned upside down by this nasty drug. I am sorry you are having to deal with it too.

10 hours ago, Gilda said:

Unfortunately, I now have a hyperactive nervous system because of Rivotril that I was prescribed. An ENT doctor gave it to me for tinnitus I had, but what I’m experiencing now, due to the medications, is much worse.

The doctors didn’t realize I was going through Rivotril withdrawal and prescribed additional medications. It’s hard to accept that everything started from an ENT prescription that has completely changed my life.

This is too common a story, you are not alone Gilda.

10 hours ago, Gilda said:

Right now I feel extremely unwell. I have severe agitation, an inner torment that feels like subjective akathisia, pain throughout my body, and very loud tinnitus in my head and both ears. It feels like torture. I feel like a walking dead person, and I keep praying to God to take me because I don’t know how to keep going like this.

I also need to taper off Remeron, but I don’t know how. It makes me feel bad, but stopping it makes everything worse. I feel completely trapped. I cry all the time, I’ve lost 8 kg, and now I weigh only 39 kg, which is extremely low. My ears feel blocked and the tinnitus is unbearable. This is not a life.

I am very sorry for your suffering, unfortunately all of this is very typical of the symptoms people experience after suffering a nervous system injury. It can be very challenging indeed.

10 hours ago, Gilda said:

Thank you all for your support. Here I feel less alone in this battle. Many people think I’m just depressed, but this doesn’t feel like depression. Depression doesn’t cause this level of physical pain, extreme inner restlessness like a motor always running, blocked ears, and disabling tinnitus.

I don’t know how to go on with daily life. I have to work, cook, clean, and do groceries, but I live alone and I can’t cope. I’ve been off work these days because I simply can’t manage.

It really is a pleasure, and please know we all understand what you are going through. We have all experienced alot of what you are dealing with and understand the lack of validation given by friends, family and the medical profession. It makes it all so much worse I know!

10 hours ago, Gilda said:

Now I’ve also developed a deep pain in my right glute, and it’s hard to walk. I’ve started having sharp pains in my head and nose. Last night I had a severe headache, and it’s coming back again tonight.

Every evening I hope the next day will be better, but it’s always worse. I struggle to fall asleep, I wake up many times, and in the morning I can barely get out of bed. I get panic attacks as soon as I open my eyes, and the tinnitus is extremely loud.

Unfortunately sleep issues and headaches and other pains are just part of this, and so too are the morning 'cortisol' wakings, those who are or have taken Mirtazapine seem to be effected by these symptoms in particular, although all symptoms are to be found associated with all psych drugs.

10 hours ago, Gilda said:

Thank you for listening.

Please know, that you are not alone, and that you are not the only person to have been through all this. You are not worse than anyone else, even though it may feel like it at times, and like others you will go onto have good life. I know it must feel impossible to believe right now, but it is true, nothing last forever and the body is amazing.

Chippy xxx

Hi, last night was terrible. Pain in the solar plexus. I used to feel anxiety in my solar plexus, but not pain. This morning I’m very agitated and I still have this pain. The tinnitus has increased. I’m wondering if I should go back to 7.5 mg and stay there for a while, then try to reduce gradually. I don’t know if reinstating could help me. I have a headache and I’m getting worse day by day. If we’ve caused some damage, could increasing the dose again help me?

5 minutes ago, Gilda said:

Hi, last night was terrible. Pain in the solar plexus. I used to feel anxiety in my solar plexus, but not pain. This morning I’m very agitated and I still have this pain. The tinnitus has increased. I’m wondering if I should go back to 7.5 mg and stay there for a while, then try to reduce gradually. I don’t know if reinstating could help me. I have a headache and I’m getting worse day by day. If we’ve caused some damage, could increasing the dose again help me?

Sorry about last night. If your increase in symptoms is 'true WD' then increasing the dose can help with this, if it some injury, then increasing won't help. I have felt that the timing of your last drop seems inline with the worsening of your symptoms, which is why In suggested you might consider and updose. Have you decided what you are going to do about your pill?

Before going down to 6.8 mg—when I’m not even stable on the dose—I wasn’t feeling this bad. It coincided with the reduction. I was unwell before too, but not like I am now. I think this is withdrawal. I’m also convinced that the medication is harming me, but I wasn’t this bad before cutting the dose. Unfortunately, it feels like a gamble.

I don’t know if the tinnitus might improve a bit or if the pain could subside. As for the pill, I haven’t decided yet—for now I’m continuing by cutting it with a knife. At this point, I don’t think it’s the instability of the dose, but rather the fact that I reduced it.

Unfortunately, I have a very unstable nervous system because of the benzodiazepine I stopped in December and all the medications I took in March, including Remeron for two days. After stopping it, I developed anguish in my solar plexus. At this point, I think it was those two doses of Remeron that made me feel unwell.

Then after a month I started Remeron again, and the anguish in my solar plexus went away, but I felt emotionally numb and depressed. That’s why I thought about starting to reduce it. I didn’t expect this hell that I’m going through. I didn’t have all these symptoms before lowering the dose.

I feel trapped. If I increase the dose again, it feels like it will be impossible to stop it. A psychiatrist suggested I take lemon balm, but he had also told me to cut the dose in half for a week and then stop Remeron—so I don’t know how reliable that is.

@Gilda it sounds to me like the cut that has caused this worsening.

16 minutes ago, Gilda said:

A psychiatrist suggested I take lemon balm, but he had also told me to cut the dose in half for a week and then stop Remeron—so I don’t know how reliable that is.

I don't honestly think there is anything that helps WD except time (apart from updosing and RI can be helpful), often adding in other things makes it all worse, sometimes it doesn't, but I would be careful going down the route of trying things.

Medications, Supplements and Other Substances in Withdrawal

I usually take magnesium chloride at 6:30 PM, but yesterday I was out and didn’t take it. I’m worried that this change might have made me feel so unwell last night. Maybe my body had gotten used to it.

10 hours ago, skamen said:

Cara Gilda, non sei sola. Anche la mia sofferenza è immensa. Ho ridotto gradualmente il dosaggio di Mirtazapina da 5 mg per 7 mesi e l'ho interrotta il 20 marzo a 1,5 mg. Prima di allora, il mio sistema nervoso centrale era estremamente sensibilizzato a causa della brusca interruzione di 3 psicofarmaci prescritti dallo psichiatra. Ero già all'inferno quando ho ridotto gradualmente la Mirtazapina. Ma non ho avuto scelta perché l'antidepressivo mi ha gettato in un'anedonia disumana. Dopo l'ultima dose di Mirtazapina, questo inferno è diventato insopportabile e dura ormai da più di 40 giorni: orribili picchi di cortisolo notturni e mattutini, non riesco a dormire, terrore, agonia, vampate di calore, sudorazione, prurito cutaneo, acatisia interna, dolori muscolari, dolori al plesso solare, depressione chimica, depressione infernale, orribile anedonia, irrequietezza... Ho perso 20 chili (pesavo 61 kg), non sono in grado di funzionare, prego di sopravvivere ogni secondo, è un inferno in terra. Ma qual è la nostra soluzione? Soffriamo di lesioni cerebrali, non c'è niente da fare, è crudele quello che i medici ci hanno fatto. Continueremo a sostenerci a vicenda, dobbiamo sperare e confidare nel tempo e nella capacità del nostro corpo di ritrovare l'omeostasi.

@skamen Hi, I’m sorry that you’re feeling this bad too. You have the same symptoms as me—I have exactly what you have. In addition, I have tinnitus and a feeling of blocked ears. At this point, it really seems like the elimination of mirtazapine is causing these symptoms.

In February I had taken only two doses, and when I stopped I developed a deep, visceral anxiety, but without pain. I should have waited. But I didn’t realize that it was the discontinuation of mirtazapine that made me feel that way, because that week I had also taken other medications. Now I understand. The problem is that now I feel really unwell, with many more symptoms compared to February and March. I’ve been taking mirtazapine for a month and a half.

From what I understand from your story, you reduced mirtazapine over 7 months and you feel this bad. Did I understand correctly? Did you taper over 7 months, or did you take it for 7 months? Were you feeling unwell even while you were reducing it? It seems to me that at this point it doesn’t matter how this poison is reduced, and that it’s really its elimination from the body that produces these effects, especially since we had taken other medications before.

How did you manage to taper? What method did you use?

14 minutes ago, Gilda said:

I usually take magnesium chloride at 6:30 PM, but yesterday I was out and didn’t take it. I’m worried that this change might have made me feel so unwell last night. Maybe my body had gotten used to it.

I wouldn't worry too much, it may have, and I think it is important to keep things level in WD. Avoid the variables.

31 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Sinceramente non credo ci sia nulla che aiuti con l'astinenza se non il tempo (a parte l'aumento del dosaggio e l'assunzione di RI che possono essere utili), spesso l'aggiunta di altre cose peggiora la situazione, a volte no, ma sarei cauto nell'intraprendere la strada di provare cose del genere.

Farmaci, integratori e altre sostanze in fase di astinenza

@Chippy I wanted to try taking lemon balm, but at this point I won’t do it. What is “Ri”?

Just now, Gilda said:

@Chippy I wanted to try taking lemon balm, but at this point I won’t do it. What is “Ri”?

Ok, WD is so severe I don't think these things really help, and often just make things worse. RI is reinstatement, for those off the drug.

35 minutes ago, Gilda said:

I usually take magnesium chloride at 6:30 PM, but yesterday I was out and didn’t take it. I’m worried that this change might have made me feel so unwell last night. Maybe my body had gotten used to it.

Usually you can have some effects from certain supplement changes, but it is only short term symptoms and not a long term thingy (assuming it's not cns supplements, and even then it depends what), it's best to keep it the same, if you want to end it, I wouldn't worry too much about it as the changes will be temporary.

21 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

Se questo ti aiuta, ottimo! Il mio organismo rifiuta categoricamente qualsiasi integratore durante questo processo, tuttavia, il corpo potrebbe abituarsi, ma per ora questo è il tuo ultimo problema. Continua con il dosaggio regolare, in seguito non dovresti avere problemi a interromperlo.

Thank you, I don’t know if it helps, but at the moment it seems like my body can’t tolerate any changes. I can’t believe we’re feeling this bad. My tinnitus is unbearable. I really wish I could stop Remeron and wait for my nervous system to heal. But I know that unfortunately I can’t do that. I’m not even sure whether it would be right to reinstate it, considering I suffer from kindling. When I was taking 7.5 mg, I felt completely emotionless. By lowering the dose a bit, it seems like my emotions have slightly come back, but the price I’m paying is too high. I have extreme agitation on top of all the other symptoms. I never imagined the tinnitus could be this loud. I don’t feel like doing anything.

11 minutes ago, Gilda said:

Thank you, I don’t know if it helps, but at the moment it seems like my body can’t tolerate any changes. I can’t believe we’re feeling this bad. My tinnitus is unbearable. I really wish I could stop Remeron and wait for my nervous system to heal. But I know that unfortunately I can’t do that. I’m not even sure whether it would be right to reinstate it, considering I suffer from kindling. When I was taking 7.5 mg, I felt completely emotionless. By lowering the dose a bit, it seems like my emotions have slightly come back, but the price I’m paying is too high. I have extreme agitation on top of all the other symptoms. I never imagined the tinnitus could be this loud. I don’t feel like doing anything.

Right there with you @Gilda this uncertainty is killer and staying there only intensifies everything so I choose one option and give it a chance, it is impossible to know otherwise, choose one option and stay with it long enough to see if there is any possible relief.

So sorry you are suffering so much, I wish there was a known quick and easy solution.

@Gilda, I have taken a high dose of Mirtazipine, 30 mg, for one year. I started to decrease it in June 2025, when my CNS was already hyper-sensitized from the cold turkey in March 2025 after quitting 3 psychotropics. In September 2025 I was reduced to 5 mg. All the time I was in Hell: awful cortisol, brain fog, hellish depression, total numbes, no even smallest emotion, inner akatisia, muscle pains... From September 2025 to March 2026 I was reducing the 5 mg of Mirtazapine to 1,5 mg by dry cutting. It was always a Hell but the biggest explosion started I stopped the poison, on March 20: unbearable cortisol spikes all the night and morning terror, feeling of dying, terrible inner agitation, lack of breath, zero emotions, a real scrap. Since then the horror continues, nothing helps my suffering. I cannot read, cannot watch TV, no motivation for nothing, I am as glued to the sofa... I tried acupuncture, EFT techniques, yoga nidra, magnésium, Omega 3... Nothing helps. I pray the Time for help.

So sorry to hear what you’re going through @skamen 💕

8 hours ago, Gilda said:

Thank you, I don’t know if it helps, but at the moment it seems like my body can’t tolerate any changes. I can’t believe we’re feeling this bad. My tinnitus is unbearable. I really wish I could stop Remeron and wait for my nervous system to heal. But I know that unfortunately I can’t do that. I’m not even sure whether it would be right to reinstate it, considering I suffer from kindling. When I was taking 7.5 mg, I felt completely emotionless. By lowering the dose a bit, it seems like my emotions have slightly come back, but the price I’m paying is too high. I have extreme agitation on top of all the other symptoms. I never imagined the tinnitus could be this loud. I don’t feel like doing anything.

Unfortunately, you must choose between sticking with this reduction and hoping that the symptoms ease in time (but nobody can say how long), or going back to 7.5mg and sticking with that and hoping to stabilise there, if that dose was a bit easier and you tolerated it a bit better. It does sound like cutting the dose down has caused significant worsening of symptoms for you.

Whichever you choose, I'd recommend sticking with that option for a while.

15 minutes ago, skamen said:

@GildaHo assunto un'alta dose di Mirtazapina, 30 mg, per un anno. Ho iniziato a ridurla a giugno 2025, quando il mio SNC era già ipersensibilizzato a causa della brusca interruzione del farmaco avvenuta a marzo 2025, dopo aver sospeso 3 psicofarmaci. A settembre 2025 sono sceso a 5 mg. Per tutto il tempo sono stato all'inferno: livelli di cortisolo altissimi, annebbiamento mentale, depressione infernale, intorpidimento totale, nessuna emozione, acatisia interiore, dolori muscolari... Da settembre 2025 a marzo 2026 ho ridotto gradualmente la dose di Mirtazapina da 5 mg a 1,5 mg. È sempre stato un inferno, ma l'esplosione più grande è iniziata quando ho smesso di prendere il veleno, il 20 marzo: picchi di cortisolo insopportabili per tutta la notte e terrore mattutino, sensazione di morire, terribile agitazione interiore, mancanza di respiro, zero emozioni, una vera lotta. Da allora l'orrore continua, niente allevia la mia sofferenza. Non riesco a leggere, non riesco a guardare la TV, non ho motivazione per niente, sono incollato al divano... Ho provato l'agopuntura, le tecniche EFT, lo yoga nidra, il magnesio, gli Omega 3... Niente funziona. Prego che arrivi il momento di ricevere aiuto.

Hello everyone, yesterday afternoon I started taking magnesium chloride again, and the solar plexus pain did not appear last night. With the reduction of mirtazapine, the only positive thing I’ve noticed is that I’m not irritable anymore and I’m more tolerant with my coworkers. I used to get very angry, but only after I had started taking mirtazapine. Everything else has remained unchanged. The morning panic attacks last longer. My head has felt heavy since yesterday.

The tinnitus is horrible, especially when the rotating sound is added. Today I noticed it happens a little less frequently, and when it does happen the sound is slightly different. Last night the rotating noise disappeared while I was in bed; usually it’s always there before I fall asleep, while the other sounds always remain loud.

The subjective akathisia is coming back in waves, along with anguish in the solar plexus area. The pimples on my face are improving. I wanted to try adding magnesium malate during the day. Actually, magnesium glycinate should work better, but I’m afraid of glycine because I’ve read that for some people it can cause agitation, and I’m already agitated.

Today I worked, but unlike the other days I felt a bit confused. Unfortunately, I still have severe pain in the upper part of my neck, which causes headaches. I also still have pain in my back and legs, but if I move around a bit it decreases. I’m trying not to keep my neck bent down all the time. Thank you for the support.