need help getting off mirtazapine (and with lack of empathy)

[BrainstormWithJace]

i know first off all im going to be discussing this with my primary doctor. But a little background on my history. Ive been on one ssri or antidepressant for the majority of my life. Im 25 now and been on them since i was 17. My doctor upped me to 30mg about a year ago. This past month ive slowly been tapering myself down and im now at 15mg at night. I have many reasons for wanting to get off... To name a couple, I find it very difficult to relate or feel empathy to any other human being. This includes my immediate family. Im unsure if i may have another underlying disease like narsasism or bpd. Im currently prescribed concerta 32mg Mirtazapine 30mg and restoril 30mg. I sometimes abuse my restoril and use it for its anti-anxiety effects. i use to you cocaine by iv/crack/snorting. i also use to love using opiates but never was able to do as much as i liked. It just feels without these drugs i was unable to relate or care about anyone else. I want to be able to relate and have meaningful realtionships with other people. If i dont i believe im doomed. And i feel that the ssri is interferring with that empahty (if it is not due to aanother underlying illness). I was wondering what advice you have if anyone feels like i do about other people. Sometimes i wish pain other other people... especially those that have things that i desire. I do not believe in god but im afraid of death because of the uncertaintly of what happens onces i turn to dust. i am wanting to go into the nursing field because i think that will help me connect also. i know this is a poorly written post but i would appreciate any advice because i need help. thank you

 

[Allein]

I have great difficulty at times relating to other people, in particular their view of reality and how it seems to differ from mine or maybe more how can I be sure they are experiencing the same reality as me. I don't think much of this is the same as what you are describing but I can relate to some of what you are saying although I do have empathy my problems are more around derealisation and disconnection, which mirtazapine made worse.

I can't answer your question of do I feel the same way as you IMO thats never possible, you are you and you have a unique view of the world/reality which I don't believe you can truly share with another at all levels, to me thats part of the deal if being a conscious being

Are you seeing a psychiatrist or counsellor ? it sounds to me like you really need more professional help, feel free to PM me I'm always intersted in others view of this thing (reality) we all seem to be taking part in

 

[AfterGlow]

There are no withdrawals symptoms when you discontinue Mirtazapine. I was on 15mg for a year and it was up'd to 30mg for another year. When I no longer needed it, I simply stopped taking it one day and suffered no ills effects.

You will need a taper plan if you plan to discontinue Restoril (temazepam) and Concerta (methylphenidate). They both can cause withdrawals.

You must have been prescribed all of these drugs for a reason. Why don't you explain how you are feeling to your psychiatrist and let the doctor decide which drugs are appropriate to treat your mental illnesses? If you don't believe your doctor is making good decisions for you, seek out another psychiatrist.

 

[effie]

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time. Do you have any friends or trusted family members you could speak to about this? I understand the lack of empathy makes it harder to do this, but it might help.. I also think discussing this with a psychiatrist is the best plan.

Your post doesn't seem to be so much about tapering mirtazepine (and as AfterGlow says this shouldn't be a problem, plus you're planning on speaking to your doctor about it) but more about how you feel at the moment and asking for some support and help with this. I'm going to send it over to The Dark Side forum which is full of lovely people who want to help!

Hope that's okay.

BDD > TDS

edit: changed your title a little too, hope that's alright.

 

[tigershark]

ive been on only one antidepressant for the last six years,mirtazepine(remron,SP?) and for one reason or other have had to discontinue it for periods of time and never had any withdrawl but thats just me i guess. unlike some of the scary stories ive heard about some SSRI's. Mirtazepine is an SNRI,and it was the big seller for major depressive disorder back then. i, sometimes wasnt feeling depressed any longer. I wasnt feeling ANYTHING! But if I stop for too long I relapse into major deoression,so I just keep plugging(not that kind of "plugging") away. I dont often hear of too many folks who take remron. Im curious>>>did you ever feel positive things from using it?

 

[BrainstormWithJace]

thanks for the advice. wasnt able to see doctor today but hopefully monday i will be able to see my doctor i dont have a shrink. mirtazapine at first kept away my depression but now its only effect is to get me to sleep. i am unable to sleep unless i take at least 15 mg of it. like i said previously the temezapam helps calm me down a bit but doesnt exactly get me to bed. i think these srri and snri really messed up my reality. for example sometimes it feels like this (conversation, movie, car, person, etc) isnt real but this passes and im returned to a semi reality of ok, maybe this is real and then i just go about my day in a haze. thanks atm23 glad to know im not the only one here that thinks this way.

 

[ericmm1331]

I have been taking it for almost a year with good results. I'm currently on 45mg's and my only complaint is not being able to sleep if I don't take it. Unlike what a lot of people report I have never felt any of the "zombie" effects from any anti depressant except paxil.

I have been using a low dose of cannabis(.2 to .3), once at night time and it is has really been helping my over all mood/outlook on things. With the low dose of cannabis and remeron working for me, I'm the most happiest I have been since I can't remember when and I love having the motivation that comes along with being happy.

I was doing good a lot better with remeron, but since starting a medically benefiting dose of cannabis once a day, I just keep progressing and progressing as I check the months off the calender. It's great how immediate family members are more excepting of cannabis after they learned just how much it has helped

 

[suessmayr]

I was on mirtazapine at 60mg until about 7 days ago. Since stopping I have had intense difficulty sleeping and have used either temazepam, stilnox, doxylamine or a combination of these to get to sleep. I feel like mirtazapine was great for anxiety but essentially useless for depression. Actually, it may have made it worse by increasing lethargy and apathy generally.

I think if you feel numb that you should review all your meds. Temazepam and methylphenidate are powerful drugs. Also, it's likely that any anti-depressant would cause you to feel numb and empty. They often seem to do this.

 

[jagman95]

brainstormwithjace> hi how u going,i have been diagnosed with depression,years bak i was started on effexor,horrible drug,felt like i was on speed all time,couldnt sleep etc,was on methadone at the time,got swapped to mirtazapine,was on 30mg for about 2 years,help in sleeping etc,was still depresssed,got put on lexapro,(escitralpam),something like that,found that to wind me up 2 much,also,mirtazapine isnt a ssri,its a tetracilic drug,anyway,back on 30mg of mirtazapine,didnt have the horrible withdrawals,brain spikes etc,got them from effexor,currently i am on,30mg mirt,15mg valium,mogadon at night 4 sleep,the most promedet thing u will notice is sleep,or lack of,being on amphetamines will make u lose emotion,talk to doc bout amphets,they r bad,anyway,good luck with it all mate

 

[footscrazy]

for example sometimes it feels like this (conversation, movie, car, person, etc) isnt real but this passes and im returned to a semi reality of ok, maybe this is real and then i just go about my day in a haze. thanks atm23 glad to know im not the only one here that thinks this way.

This is actually a typical symptom of anxiety, and since it sounds like you do suffer anxiety, it's possible this symptom is due to that and not the medication at all.
The feeling of unreality is a protective mechanism the brain uses when it's under huge stress - it's the same thing as people describe when they say 'everything slowed down' before their car crash, or whatever.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like your particular medications are working for you, so speaking to your doc is a good idea, but have you also tried other methods for dealing with your anxiety? Like CBT or meditation? Anxiety is very responsive to such things, and for anxiety disorders, medication works best as a crutch to get you through some of the impossible days and harder aspects of behavioural and cognitive therapy. In other words, medication can help you deal with the symptoms of anxiety, while you make the cognitive and behavioural changes that actually address the problem.

Some people do need medication though and I don't know your diagnosis - regardless though, positive behavioural changes such as CBT, meditation, exercise, a healthy diet and all that good stuff are only going to help.