Mirtazapine Withdrawal? Worried About Making Tinnitus Worse

[Paul674]

I am currently struggling with depression, anxiety and insomnia after getting tinnitus 6 weeks ago.

I have been prescribed Mirtazapine and have taken it twice and it works really well. The problem I have is that I have read accounts of the withdrawal from this drug and it seems terrifying.

I took Lexapro many years ago and this worked really well for me, but of course the internet is littered with accounts of how it can make tinnitus so much worse. I'd go back on Lexapro in a shot but I think if my tinnitus got worse it would tip me over the edge. I need something to get me over these first couple of months till I can come to terms with this.

Thanks.

 

[Roserosie]

Hi @Paul674 - did you end up going on Mirtazapine?

 

[Johan001]

I have now used Mirtazapine 15 mg for 2 weens. First 5 nights were good, but now it see met to stop working. My anxiety is extremely severe. I am going to top up to 30 mg now.

 

[Lane]

I am going to top up to 30 mg now.

@Johan001 -- Are you aware of the reports on this forum that Mirtazapine has caused or exacerbated tinnitus?

Please be careful...

 

[Johan001]

Hi @Lane,

Yes I am. But I have no other choice - my anxiety is so severe that I can't sleep. I have tried 4 CBT sessions but my therapist can't get through. I am so scared it's insane. I am constantly just obsessed with the noise And when she tries to explain it's non threatening nature, I can't hear it. I'm scared of going to bed. I'm scared of sitting still.

I have tried everything there is, which is anti anxiety. But it does not help. Even zopiclone doesn't help. Melatonin does not. Just nothing, really.

 

[Lane]

Yes I am. But I have no other choice - my anxiety is so severe that I can't sleep.

@Johan001 -- So sorry to hear how severe your anxiety is. Have you run across the following thread that I started last year sometime? Perhaps there's something in there that might help.

Three Supplements to Treat Severe Anxiety Symptoms

Also, in my first few weeks, I could hardly sleep at all. I somewhat inadvertently discovered that Tylenol 4 could be tremendously helpful. I hadn't been able to sleep more than a few minutes for days, and the first time I took a half tablet of Tylenol 4, I slept for several hours straight. I've since heard of a woman who was prescribed this for her sleep issues as well. I'm pretty certain it's the codeine in it that was/is so helpful.

 

[serendipity1996]

@Johan001 -- Are you aware of the reports on this forum that Mirtazapine has caused or exacerbated tinnitus?

Please be careful...

I've been on Mirtazapine for 4 years initially at 15mg then moved up tp 30mg and have had no issues with either my tinnitus or hyperacusis. I don't think it is generally considered ototoxic but it's different for everyone.

 

[Johan001]

Hi @Lane,

Thank you. I am suicidal. Very restless. I do not know whether taking the 30 mg of mirt would help or worsen it. Obviously, my doctor wants me to take it, but I am now really afraid of everything.

 

[Carlos1]

I have been on 15 mg Mirtazapine for 5 years and have had no problems.
It's helped me a great deal. Just thought I'd share my experiences.

Stay Strong

Carlos

 

[Sironketchup]

Have you tried some beer or so?
It's very normal to need some anti anxiety meds (especially at the beginning).
Talk to your doctor. Mirtazapine, Benzodiazepines, Z-Drugs, Anti-Psychotic and other drugs could be used.

 

[Johan001]

Hi all,

Thank you. I have slept 5 hours today on 30 mg Mirtazapine. Waking up to an anxious mood again.

Struggling to cope, panic kicks in.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

I want to quit Mirtazapine. After 3 years it has stopped working, and brought back anxiety back times 10!! + a lot of other symptoms, and I now know it has made my hyperacusis and floaters SO much worse.

I'm done. Just want this life to be over with.....I cant do it anymore.

 

[Tanni]

Withdrawing from this drug (which I decided to stop taking because it had done it's job and made me feel better) gave me quite a few different symptoms -- the most noticeable being that my Hyperacusis shot through the roof. Others were mostly cold-like symptoms for some reason.

But it was very short lived -- a couple of weeks to a month maybe. Once it was completely out of my system, I felt fine again.

Just wanted to let people know in case they are experiencing similar. It was quite a rough withdrawal at the time, but I have no lasting effects from having taken the Mirtazipine.

 

[Drewski]

@Carlos1
After 5 yrs, Mirtazapine still has the same sedative affect for you?

 

[Carlos1]

@Carlos1
After 5 yrs, Mirtazapine still has the same sedative affect for you?

@Drewski I would say yes pretty much.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Withdrawing from this drug (which I decided to stop taking because it had done it's job and made me feel better) gave me quite a few different symptoms -- the most noticeable being that my Hyperacusis shot through the roof. Others were mostly cold-like symptoms for some reason.

But it was very short lived -- a couple of weeks to a month maybe. Once it was completely out of my system, I felt fine again.

Just wanted to let people know in case they are experiencing similar. It was quite a rough withdrawal at the time, but I have no lasting effects from having taken the Mirtazipine.

I have started very slow taper by water titration, and my hyperacusis is spiking these days Did the worsening of your hyperacusus stabilize at any point during taper, or did it only get better once you were completely out of the drug? I dont think I can taper out completely... only reduce to a lower amount, but if this hyperacusis spike don't stabilize at some point, I don't think I can do it at all.

 

[Tanni]

I have started very slow taper by water titration, and my hyperacusis is spiking these days Did the worsening of your hyperacusus stabilize at any point during taper, or did it only get better once you were completely out of the drug? I dont think I can taper out completely... only reduce to a lower amount, but if this hyperacusis spike don't stabilize at some point, I don't think I can do it at all.

Hi Danish Girl,

I was on a low dose (15mg) and tapered quite quickly, over a few weeks. As I was tapering, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis started to spike, as well as a load of other symptoms such as anxiety and feeling like I had the 'flu for some reason. It got worse as the drug came out of my system, and peaked when I had stopped taking anything for 2 weeks (as presumably this was when it was out of my system entirely).

The Hyperacusis was the worse -- it hurt when people talked. In one instance, a colleague was eating a packet of crisps two rows of desks away and it was agony. But it was only at this peak for a matter of days.

Then it started getting A LOT better very quickly, and had completely resolved within another two weeks.

I hope this won't put you off coming off the drug entirely, if that's what you want to do? Mirtazipine is known for its tough withdrawal but it did resolve itself completely, and very quickly.

It's worth noting that the doctor did advise that I could stop taking the drug cold turkey at such a low dose. I didn't do that, but I did taper quite quickly so perhaps you will not experience the same with a slow withdrawal?

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Hi Danish Girl,

I was on a low dose (15mg) and tapered quite quickly, over a few weeks. As I was tapering, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis started to spike, as well as a load of other symptoms such as anxiety and feeling like I had the 'flu for some reason. It got worse as the drug came out of my system, and peaked when I had stopped taking anything for 2 weeks (as presumably this was when it was out of my system entirely).

The Hyperacusis was the worse -- it hurt when people talked. In one instance, a colleague was eating a packet of crisps two rows of desks away and it was agony. But it was only at this peak for a matter of days.

Then it started getting A LOT better very quickly, and had completely resolved within another two weeks.

I hope this won't put you off coming off the drug entirely, if that's what you want to do? Mirtazipine is known for its tough withdrawal but it did resolve itself completely, and very quickly.

It's worth noting that the doctor did advise that I could stop taking the drug cold turkey at such a low dose. I didn't do that, but I did taper quite quickly so perhaps you will not experience the same with a slow withdrawal?

I really hope it won't get worse. It's already agony... I went to my mother's place today and also my little sister came. We sat three people in her garden and talked at a normal level and their voices still hurt my ears I went home crying after about an hour there. Been in bed crying since... I still want to go ahead and taper down to a lower dose, but I honestly don't know if I can take it, if its going to be like this everyday for months.

 

[Tanni]

I really hope it won't get worse. It's already agony... I went to my mother's place today and also my little sister came. We sat three people in her garden and talked at a normal level and their voices still hurt my ears I went home crying after about an hour there. Been in bed crying since... I still want to go ahead and taper down to a lower dose, but I honestly don't know if I can take it, if its going to be like this everyday for months.

I'm so sorry to hear that... I have other chronic symptoms unrelated to Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, so I totally relate to a lot of your posts about how day to day living can be a real struggle.

The symptoms definitely didn't last months for me -- the really bad Hyperacusis lasted a couple of weeks. I panicked that it would be forever and cried for days. It was agony to sit in the office so I was sure that I would have to quit my job and never be able to go out again.

But it was all over in about two weeks. Hyperacusis has gone back to the exact same level as it was pre-taper.

I wish I could do something to help... Please stay strong; you know your own body, so if you feel the Mirtazipine isn't working for you, stick with the tapering. I've trying to manage AD free at the moment and it's tough, but I'm glad I did it.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

I'm so sorry to hear that... I have other chronic symptoms unrelated to Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, so I totally relate to a lot of your posts about how day to day living can be a real struggle.

The symptoms definitely didn't last months for me -- the really bad Hyperacusis lasted a couple of weeks. I panicked that it would be forever and cried for days. It was agony to sit in the office so I was sure that I would have to quit my job and never be able to go out again.

But it was all over in about two weeks. Hyperacusis has gone back to the exact same level as it was pre-taper.

I wish I could do something to help... Please stay strong; you know your own body, so if you feel the Mirtazipine isn't working for you, stick with the tapering. I've trying to manage AD free at the moment and it's tough, but I'm glad I did it.

Thank you so much dear. I can tell you are a very kind empathetic person. Even though I still hurt so bad, your post reassures me a bit... maybe this is just temporary. I sure hope so. There are many reasons why I want to taper, but actually my hyperacusis is also one of the reasons. I have felt for quite a while that the mirtazapine hurts my ears/hyperacusis, so I am also trying to help my ears by tapering... I had wrongly hoped that my hyperacusis would actually get a little bit better during taper... which was stupid maybe. I really hope this is just a phase, but yeah panic kinda sets in and you fear it will remain at this level

 

[Tanni]

I had wrongly hoped that my hyperacusis would actually get a little bit better during taper...

From my experience of being on quite a few ADs over the years, and from what I've read, it would be very unusual for any symptoms to actually get better during taper. Your body is going into shock because it's used to having the AD at a certain dose. That's why it's recommended to taper slowly... to minimise the withdrawal effects as much as possible. But you will still have them.

It's only once the drug is out of your system and you are no longer in withdrawal, or until your body has gotten used to the new reduced level, that symptoms should start to improve. So I definitely wouldn't worry that your Hyperacusis isn't getting better at this stage. It doesn't mean it won't once you're done with the taper

Good luck, I have my fingers crossed for you

 

[Giacomo1967]

Mirtazapine has worked for some people suffering from tinnitus. With Mirtazapine the less you take, the better, if sleep is an issue. I used to take half a pill of 15mg and it helped me sleep and it really lowered my tinnitus. But when the shrink tried to up the dose to 1 pill of 15mg it was hell, panic attacks and visual problems besides insomnia. So I quit it at once. The visual problems, auras took like more than a month to subside.

Maybe if I had kept the half pill dose I'd be on it until today.