Help Please (Mirtazapine Withdrawal, Tinnitus Going Mad)

[Wendy A]

Hi, hope some one can help, was on Mirtazapine for 2 weeks tapered off as made tinnitus worse, been off 12 days now and withdrawal kicking in but the worst is its made my t worse again, it's like a loud tinkle but then shoots like an electric feeling through my head and neck, was up all night last night and I'm sure tonight will be the same as I can't sleep through this horrible feeling in my head and neck, having really stupid thoughts as well just fed up with fighting this as I'm not winning.

 

[Mad maggot]

Hang in there Wendy. You ARE winning. Sounds like hell to me and you're still keeping on so if that's not strength and winning I don't know what is. As they say in America: you go girl!
I've read about withdrawal from some meds and this seems typical. Don't be afraid to see your doctor for help if you need it.

 

[Wendy A]

Thanks for the reply,didnt expect it to be so bad i was on such a short length of time ,its the shooting shock waves thats the worst,cant sleep ,which then leaves me in not a good way x

 

[Wendy A]

please help, withdrawing of 3 weeks of mirtazapine and tinnitus is going mad, more sounds, electric zaps, how long do these last as I cant sleep and all I think about is ending it but I have a son and don't want to leave him.

 

[noisebox]

I dont know this drug, but do you mean you were on it 3 weeks? Whatever the drs say about coming off, double it or even treble it. They always tell us to come off way too fast. Dont worry how long it takes just go slow slow slow. break tablets or get it in liquid for so it can be done slower.

 

[Wendy A]

yes i was on for 3 weeks i think its called remeron as well,been of it for but this last week its going mad,way more soumds and pain ,loud ringing,should i go back on?

 

[billie48]

Over the years reading many forum posts, I think Remeron is used quite often by tinnitus sufferer for depression and mood control, and many use it for sleep. There seems to be rare reporting of it affecting their T. Even on these links talking on the side effect of Remeron, no mentioning of T being one of them. Saying that, each person's drug reaction or tolerance is different. Have you checked with your doctor on the problem? Can this be a co-incidence that T spikes by another cause? I sure hope your spike will calm down. Try to keep calm & give it more time as stress and anxiety are bad for T.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/remeron-side-effects.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

In the meantime it may be beneficial if you can use some masking sounds to mask the spiking T so you won't be so anxious. I used to mask at bed time, on the go, at work etc. Masking will help the sufferer to know that there is a temporary sanctuary from the T scream. I have known people who use masking as a continuing tool to cope with T for decade. So don't panic. Take it easy and wait it out a bit. Talk to the doctor about your drug problem. Take care & God bless.

 

[Wendy A]

Thanks billie ,yes i use masking but this electrical pain that is shooting through my ear is a pain as well as a noise and its contsant ,im not sure how much more i can take,im so tired.

 

[billie48]

If the pain is constant and not noise induced, you may want to see your doctor or an ENT to determine what causes the pain. If it is noise induced you should still see the medical folks to determine there is nothing structurally wrong inside. If the medical folks say you have nothing wrong at the ears, then perhaps you have severe hyperacusis or misophonia issue. One TT member @Telis has reported that he has pain when hearing sounds. Perhaps he can comment on your condition. You may also ask @Dr. Charlie, a TT member, about your condition as he is a retired ENT who has hyperacusis issue himself. Search out his threads and start a conversation with him or just post on his threads. Make sure you put a @ sign before his poster name to tag him so he is alerted of your post.

 

[Steve721]

Did your doctor suggest that you stop taking the mirtazapine after three weeks? If so, did he or she say why? From what I can find on the web, mirtazapine is an antidepressant that can take several weeks to work, so I'm not sure why your doc would take you off of it after just three weeks, particularly if it was working for you. If I were you, I'd talk to your doctor and tell him or her what's happening, and he or she might put you back on the drug (if it was his or her idea to stop it in the first place).

When I first got T, my psychiatrist prescribed trazodone (for sleep), clonazepam (as needed for anxiety), and an antidepressant. I decided on my own to reduce the dose of trazodone and clonazepam, which was a bad idea; my anxiety came roaring back. After six weeks, my anxiety was greatly reduced, and I was able to taper off the clonazepam with no problem. Everyone has to make their own decision about the drugs, but if it's between being able to function on the drugs vs. being a complete mess without them, then give me the drugs.

 

[Wendy A]

Hi,has anyone had a spike from coming of drugs?i came of 4 weeks ago the spike started after about a week and a half after with all the other side effects,just wondered how long they last,the spikes that is?was only on the drug 3 weeks!! thanks

 

[glynis]

Hi WendyA,
Because the medication works on the brain any messing with it with meds can cause a spike.
Antidepressants take 4-6 weeks to work on the brain so can be4-6 weeks after before your back to your base sound so just give it time ...lots of love glynis

 

[Wendy A]

Hope so glynis done 4 weeks so far ,im losing the will to live ,wish i had never taken them x

 

[Wendy A]

I have started having a fast blowing in my ears also pulsatile as well since stopping mirtazapine ,was only on them 3 weeks but they were making my t worse ,stopping them has made it worse again,this blowing is so depressing it seems to blow my other t around if that makes sense,i can feel the cold air on my ear as it blows,does anyone have this weird t.its been about 6 weeks now,my reg t started about 5 months ago.

 

[Wendy A]

hi,has anyone had really bad reactions to coming of meds,was only on mirtazapine for 3 weeks ,made t a bit louder so came of and now my t is way worse,pulsatile started as well,and the noises sound like metal and electric,im getting brain zaps ,i can feel and hear my brain mis firing ,i get a wind or current running through my ears real fast,and i can feel the inside of my ears twitching ,im at my wits end its been 8 weeks and its getting worse,my ent said hes never heard of these feelings with t ,its like my brain is being re wired and i have a front row seat,so hard every day as the noises are horrible and change daily but they all sound like electricity and metal,i guess no one else has had this?

 

[glynis]

Please contact your doctor in case he can give you something to settle these unwanted withdrawals to help you...
Doctors or out of hours service .
It could well be extreme anxiety brought on with medication withdrawals.....take care and please get seen...lots of love glynis

 

[Wendy A]

to scared to take meds as 3 weeks has caused this ,my ent is sending me to a neuroligist ,but hes going to want to put me on meds ,i dont see this stopping and i just want to gibe up,every day is so hard x

 

[glynis]

There are medications with less side effects and slow release ones to help you .. .
Not all meds are nasty and they will know what to give you .
You are having trouble so now time to try another route to find one that works for you......their is help ...sending lots of hugs....lots of love glynis

 

[Wendy A]

Thanks Glynis ,need it xxx

 

[Tweaker]

Wendy

I have been on mirtazapine for a couple of years. I've got down to a quarter of a 15mg tablet but my tinnitus is also very bad with eletrical sounds, like a live wire. I don't know if it is related to the mirtazapine or not. It's very difficult to completely stop mirtazapine because of the insomnia but I would be happier not to take it to see if my tinnitus settles down to like it was a couple of years ago. I noticed if I took half a tablet or more my right eardrum would vibrate when I was lying down. This was definitely related to the mirtazapine because if I go down to a quarter it stops. If I go back up it starts again. That's what makes me wonder if it is doing something else to my ears to make my T worse. Anyway, perhaps try a low dose until you can get off it. You shouldn't just stop these types of medications.

 

[Aaron123]

This is disconcerting. I'm working my way off benzos but am taking 45 mg of remeron. In fact I switched to it because of reports of it helping with tinnitus. (It didn't for me.) Once I get off the klonopin, I guess I will start on the remeron but I will clearly have to do it slowly as well. sigh.

 

[Wendy A]

Hi tweaker,was only on 3 weeks and when i stopped i was a quarter of a 15mg tablet,but i just could tell it was changing things and now 8 weeks of and my brain is all over the place ,i can feel my brain mis firing and shooting out electrical pulses,its so scary preying it stops ,wish i had never taken one of those tablets.

 

[Wendy A]

Hi,does anyone know how long it can take for brain to go back to normal after stopping meds,was only on them 3 weeks,been of them 8,last 2 brain has having electrical current running through my head and electrical sounds like being zapped ,my ear drum feels tight and vibrates which then goes through my eus tube ,its getting me down beyond belief ,any one with knowledge on this its so scary ? thanks x

 

[Aaron123]

Sorry to hear about your problems. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer about how long things might take to settle down. When is your neurologist appointment?

From reading about benzo withdrawal, I do believe the brain zaps and such should settle down. I have problems with my ear drum feeling "tight" when I have been stressed and have been holding tension in my jaw, temporalis muscle, etc. Working on relaxing those muscles sometimes helps, and if it doesn't a session or two of physical therapy usually does. Did you have any TMJ issues before this started?

I do have a few questions. Did you start Remeron to help with tinnitus (like I did) or for some other reason? What dose were you on? How did you do the taper? What other meds/supplements are you taking?

Since your situation is more withdrawal related, you might try one of the AD forums such as http://survivingantidepressants.org/ Brain zaps and sensations of electrical current are not uncommon benzo and AD withdrawal symptoms, and you may find more information at one of those forums. (I have no experience with survivingantidepressants.org, I just know of its existence from looking into tapering and withdrawal.)

Good luck.

 

[Wendy A]

yes i was given it due to lack of sleep etc to do with t,15mg,did that does for aound a week then tapered of ,ending on just a quarter of a tablet as it was making my t louder,if only i knew what would happen,this is hell,not on any meds now to scared. thanks

 

[noisebox]

Wendy I can understand how bad you feel. Have you been back to your doctor about this? Maybe go back on a tiny dose to help you out. Oral for a small dose of propranolol to calm you down. If sleeping is still an issue can you get somebody to get you melatonin from Europe as we can't get it here, unless you are over 55 that is. That helps with sleep.

 

[Aaron123]

I completely understand having a reaction that is out of proportion to the dose and length of time. I was prescribed NuVigal for daytime sleepiness. I took a sum total of 2 pills - one whole one and 2 days of 1/2 - and it sent my system completely out of control. The stimulants set of an anxiety attack that lasted for weeks. It also unfortunately is what set off my T in the first place. I know none of this helps you except possibly that some of us can relate to taking "normal" doses for short periods of time and having things happen that are all out of proportion. If it helps, it took awhile, but I found an equilibrium. I also continue to see the doc who prescribed the NuVigil. She and I are both very careful with meds now. I start on low doses, etc etc.

It also got me started on benzos on a daily basis. I did suffer some brain zaps during a too quick withdrawal and am taking a very long time to get off them now. In your case, it is hard to see how you would need a very long taper off a low dose. Again, you might try one of the AD forums or benzobuddies. They have more experience with this sort of thing so you will likely find more people who have gone through what you are going through - particularly with Remeron.

 

[Wendy A]

Thanks,dont think i could ever take another dose of that after what its done to my ears ,to scared to take anything now ,my sleep is ok its just the rest of the day that i want to jump of a bridge

 

[MariaH]

Hi Wendy, I sent you a PM. Please don't despair. I took Mirtazapine for a few weeks and got a terrible case of T. My ear drums starting vibrating, heard my heartbeat in my right ear, had electrical zaps in my head and legs, and last but not least: I got various sounds in both ears. I am happy to report that almost two years after I stopped taking the meds, I am doing much better. The T in my right ear is almost gone, I no longer hear my heartbeat in my ear and the zaps are gone too. I am still having rough days though, especially since I still have one loud sound in my left ear, but I have hope that it will reduce over time too. Stay strong Wendy. You may have a long road ahead of you, but things will get better. My advice: stay away from meds! Also from melantonin. Its not a natural med: most melantonin tablets are synthetic (manmade).
Stay strong!!
Maria
PS: I don't think drugs.com and Wikipedia are very reliable sources for finding out about side effects. I haven't reported my side effects and I don't think I'm the only one. Registering a side effect is a lengthy and official process... which means that most side effects go unreported. I don't think a patient who has pretty much lost all hope will bother going through that process.

 

[snow86]

After all the ADs Ive been given I thought Mirtazapine was pretty harmless for the T.

After reading posts from @Tweaker and @MariaH Im completely sure its not. Because I can confirm the same symptoms.

Since im taking Mirtazapine/remeron (8 months now) I got new electrical sounds and I also get the vibrating sensation in my ears on on regular basis. And it is still getting worse.
Ive been already down to 7,5MG when I was taking Trobalt but then I went back 15 mg after my trobalt trial ended.

Sh*t I need to get rid of this poison. I already have no drive left because of my extreme T which is killing me every day. Dont know if its possible to cope with the withdrawal at this point. But those f**king electrical sounds and vibrating sensation must get better...its not possible to endure that.