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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Symptoms of Remeron Withdrawal
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Symptoms of Remeron Withdrawal
by peteypete, Sep 10, 2003 12:00AM
My first panic attacks began last year (right around the time I closed escrow on my house). Shortly after, I had some non-specific (and very scary!) thoughts of suicide. I was recommended to a psychiatrist and began taking Remeron in August 2002. Since that time, I have completed Lucinda Bassett's "Attacking Anxiety and Deprerssion" program in conjunction with taking 15mg daily. By September I was already feeling better.
Needless to say, my life and the way I approoach it are vastly different today. My doctor and I decided that I would start to transition off the Remeron and live life using the skills I learned in the course. Unfortunately, I think I am beginning to have very serious withdrawal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, malaise). Basically, I feel like I contracted food poisoning. This has been going on for a week now.
My doctor is out of the country until next month, and I was wondering what your patients experience when discontinuing drugs, especially Remeron.
There are many posts regarding withdrawal on various boards on the web, and most people indicate they feel lousy. Their doctors, however, suggest that they should not have withdrawals (it's difficult to discern the truth, though).
Needless to say, my life and the way I approoach it are vastly different today. My doctor and I decided that I would start to transition off the Remeron and live life using the skills I learned in the course. Unfortunately, I think I am beginning to have very serious withdrawal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, malaise). Basically, I feel like I contracted food poisoning. This has been going on for a week now.
My doctor is out of the country until next month, and I was wondering what your patients experience when discontinuing drugs, especially Remeron.
There are many posts regarding withdrawal on various boards on the web, and most people indicate they feel lousy. Their doctors, however, suggest that they should not have withdrawals (it's difficult to discern the truth, though).
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Sep 15, 2003 12:00AM
, Sep 15, 2003 12:00AM
You should definetly expect withdrawal symptoms from Remeron. YOu didn't say how long you have been tapering off. It should be over a two to three week period of tapering off, lowering the dose, and then dose every other day, then stop.
Dear Peteypete:
I have just finished weaning off Remeron. I have been taking it since 1999. DX: Moderate to severe panic disorder. The medication helped me to get the therapy I needed to heal.
I know exactly what you mean about the "feeling as if you have food poisoning." I feel as if I have a stomach virus, which is essentially the same thing.
What other symptoms did you undergo?
My skin is itching like crazy. My doctor told me that I should expect some skin tingling, but my skin is itchy.
I also have trouble sleeping as well as I use to with the Remeron. My stomach feels as if I have a virus.
Is there anything else that you've experienced?
What other side effects or symptoms should one expect weaning off Remeron? Will I go back to my old metabolism? I gained about 30 pounds from the Remeron. I went from a ravenous appetite to a nothing appetite, just like I used to. Is this temporary until the drug withdraws?
If there is anyone out there who has any answers I would really appreciate. I tried to discuss what side effects I should expect with my pharmacist but she had no time for me. I really do not want to go to my PCP because he is not the one prescribing these medications. The PDR was no help. I work in a hospital but I do not want to ask any of the doctors because I don't want them to know my personal business.
Is there anyone out there who has been through this or knows?
Dear Peteypete:
I have just finished weaning off Remeron. I have been taking it since 1999. DX: Moderate to severe panic disorder. The medication helped me to get the therapy I needed to heal.
I know exactly what you mean about the "feeling as if you have food poisoning." I feel as if I have a stomach virus, which is essentially the same thing.
What other symptoms did you undergo?
My skin is itching like crazy. My doctor told me that I should expect some skin tingling, but my skin is itchy.
I also have trouble sleeping as well as I use to with the Remeron. My stomach feels as if I have a virus.
Is there anything else that you've experienced?
What other side effects or symptoms should one expect weaning off Remeron? Will I go back to my old metabolism? I gained about 30 pounds from the Remeron. I went from a ravenous appetite to a nothing appetite, just like I used to. Is this temporary until the drug withdraws?
If there is anyone out there who has any answers I would really appreciate. I tried to discuss what side effects I should expect with my pharmacist but she had no time for me. I really do not want to go to my PCP because he is not the one prescribing these medications. The PDR was no help. I work in a hospital but I do not want to ask any of the doctors because I don't want them to know my personal business.
Is there anyone out there who has been through this or knows?