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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 10:35:09
Hi,
I haven't posted here in a while, So first of all I would like to say Hello to everyone.
Here is my question. I have been on Remeron for almost four years now. At first I gained just a little weight. But the Remeron gave me the best sleep in the world. That is what I mainly used it for.
But a few months ago my neurologist started me on Lyrica for neuropothy caused by a benign (thank God) tumor in my spine. With the Lyrica combined with the Remeron my weight has exploded. Even though I am very active. The weight has piled on.
I want to stop the Remeron b/c my sleep has improved. BUT CAN I STOP COLD TURKEY!!!!.
I also take Cymbalta, Luvox, and Klonopin. I thought that with these meds in my system that just stopping the Remeron would be ok.
BUT I NEED SOMEONE'S ADVICE.
Hope to here your response's.
BRC
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2007, at 12:06:27
In reply to Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron, posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 10:35:09
Good to hear from you but so sorry about your problems. Can you post the amount of meds you're taking . Me? I can usually stop pretty quickly but we are all different. Love Phillipa
Posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 15:45:15
In reply to Re: Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron » BRC, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2007, at 12:06:27
Hi,
Thanks for the resposne. I take 60mg Cymbalta, 300mg Lyrica, 200mg Luvox, 4mg Klonopin, and the 30mg of the Remeron.
Posted by Tony P on June 21, 2007, at 16:41:14
In reply to Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron, posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 10:35:09
I'm on Remeron (30 mg/day) & Klonopin (2 mg/day), was also taking Lexapro up until a month or so ago. I have gained over 20 lb on Remeron (and I was already overweight) so I know where you're coming from.
My pdoc says the Remeron weight gain is from altered carbohydrate metabolism, so if you're already active (as you say) it might be worth checking out your diet before tossing the Remeron, if it's still working for you otherwise. The lastest thinking is it's not _how much_ carbohydrate you eat but how refined they are, try Googling "glycemic index", "G.I. Diet" or "Rick Gallop".
If you do decide to stop the Remeron, I haven't tried to stop permanently, but I've a) skipped a dose (24 hr) with no noticeable problem, and b) gone from 30 to 15 mg / day for a couple of weeks, also no problem. Complete cold turkey is always a bit iffy but my impression is Remeron is pretty forgiving this way. I'd suggest cutting back to 15 mg for 2-4 nights, then if no unpleasant symptoms stop.
Can your neurologist, pdoc or GP advise? Or, I find my pharmacist a great help with questions like this. He knows everything I'm taking, knows more about side-effects and interactions than most doctors ever could, and his advice is available 12 hours a day -- and free!
Tony
PS maybe this thread should be moved to Withdrawal &/or Health or Eating?
> Hi,
>
> I haven't posted here in a while, So first of all I would like to say Hello to everyone.
>
> Here is my question. I have been on Remeron for almost four years now. At first I gained just a little weight. But the Remeron gave me the best sleep in the world. That is what I mainly used it for.
>
> But a few months ago my neurologist started me on Lyrica for neuropothy caused by a benign (thank God) tumor in my spine. With the Lyrica combined with the Remeron my weight has exploded. Even though I am very active. The weight has piled on.
>
> I want to stop the Remeron b/c my sleep has improved. BUT CAN I STOP COLD TURKEY!!!!.
>
> I also take Cymbalta, Luvox, and Klonopin. I thought that with these meds in my system that just stopping the Remeron would be ok.
>
> BUT I NEED SOMEONE'S ADVICE.
>
> Hope to here your response's.
>
> BRC
Posted by Racer on June 22, 2007, at 13:12:27
In reply to Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron, posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 10:35:09
That's the sort of thing I think you're best off discussing with your doctor. We can give you some of our own experiences, or some stuff we've read, but your doctor knows best about what's going on with you. It's worth discussing a discontinuation schedule with him/her.
Good luck!
Posted by Zyprexa on June 22, 2007, at 14:28:56
In reply to Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron, posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 10:35:09
If you are taking something better, and over sleeping, stoping the one you don't like can be pretty easy. I just go cold turky.
Posted by BRC on June 22, 2007, at 22:39:20
In reply to Have you discussed this with your doctor? » BRC, posted by Racer on June 22, 2007, at 13:12:27
Thanks, your very right when you say discuss it with your doctor. Normally I would, but I just saw him this week and forgot to ask. He only works Tues. and Thurs. He is a semi-retired pdoc. One of the best in our state. He actually has an entire wing of the local hospital named after him.
So, I was just checking to see what anyone had to say on the matter.
Thanks again for the response.
BRC
Posted by Oppycat on June 25, 2007, at 7:36:28
In reply to Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron, posted by BRC on June 21, 2007, at 10:35:09
> Hi,
>
> I haven't posted here in a while, So first of all I would like to say Hello to everyone.
>
> Here is my question. I have been on Remeron for almost four years now. At first I gained just a little weight. But the Remeron gave me the best sleep in the world. That is what I mainly used it for.
>
> But a few months ago my neurologist started me on Lyrica for neuropothy caused by a benign (thank God) tumor in my spine. With the Lyrica combined with the Remeron my weight has exploded. Even though I am very active. The weight has piled on.
>
> I want to stop the Remeron b/c my sleep has improved. BUT CAN I STOP COLD TURKEY!!!!.
>
> I also take Cymbalta, Luvox, and Klonopin. I thought that with these meds in my system that just stopping the Remeron would be ok.
>
> BUT I NEED SOMEONE'S ADVICE.
>
> Hope to here your response's.
>
> BRCI stopped Remeron cold turkey and started the wash-out so I could restart Parnate. I only had 1 day of mild discomfor. However, I was only taking 15mg of Remeron at that point.
Posted by rick o'shay on June 26, 2007, at 15:57:05
In reply to Re: Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron » BRC, posted by Oppycat on June 25, 2007, at 7:36:28
Hi, I discontinued remeron about 3 weeks ago (45 mg) I noticed very little by way of side effects, a little anxiety, but not bad. I was tired of feeling like a blimp! My doc rxd trazodone to help with sleep, and while not being as potent as remeron in inducing sleep, it does help somewhat. I feel a little less vigor also, possibly due to the nor-epinephrine effect of remeron. hope this helps!
Rick
Posted by Tony P on June 29, 2007, at 20:43:58
In reply to Re: Need Advice!! How to stop taking Remeron, posted by rick o'shay on June 26, 2007, at 15:57:05
How much Trazadone are you taking?
Your doc may be starting you low to see how you do -- normal practice. The therapeutic range is very wide, 50 - 600 mg / 24 hr, with 150 mg being a common starting dose, although docs seldom prescribe more than 300 for sleep.
I've taken it off and on for several years. I usually take 100-200 mg, 300 is best but lasts too long -- what I like to call an "overhang" to distnguish it from a certain popular consumer drug ;-) Oddly enough, after being on Remeron 30 mg for almost a year, I find trazadone makes me MORE sleepy, but of course it depends on the relative dose, and YMMV as usual.
Trazadone in the higher dose range (200-600 mg / day) has the advantage of being a mild antidepressant, mostly SRI but I believe it also boosts norepinephrine a bit. Check with your doc.
Tony
> Hi, I discontinued remeron about 3 weeks ago (45 mg) I noticed very little by way of side effects, a little anxiety, but not bad. I was tired of feeling like a blimp! My doc rxd trazodone to help with sleep, and while not being as potent as remeron in inducing sleep, it does help somewhat. I feel a little less vigor also, possibly due to the nor-epinephrine effect of remeron. hope this helps!
> Rick
This is the end of the thread.
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