Tapering from 7.5mg - struggling with sedative effects

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Mirtazapine Zoloft (Sertraline)

November 9, 2026

Hi all, I've been on Mirtazapine for just over 2 years. I was mostly on 30mg but moved to 15mg at the start of the year. 2 weeks ago I was running out due to being away for family illness and bereavement so I cut the 15mg in half so am now on 7.5mg. I've noticed a slight increase in anxiety, but this could be our circumstances, and just generally worry about reducing. Anyway, I am struggling most with how tired this smaller dose is making me. So sleepy! I know this is to be expected. Does anyone have experience with going from 7.5 straight to 3.75? Will this make me less tired? Or should I taper more slowly? So pleased I found this online community - it's rather isolating without it!

Mirtazapine — 7.5 — 2 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 15 — 2 years — holding | Seroquel — 0 — 2 years — supporting others

7 Replies

HannaPot1d ago

LighthouseMirtazapine · active

"of" — @SpringHarbor

I found the bad feelings start after about 12 - 14 days after a dose drop. Anxiety, nausia. I am also very tired some days, especially after riding out the anxiety 😕 Some days I go lay down and fall asleep for about 10/15 min and feel better afterwards. I dont know if the even lower dose makes you more sleepy during the day. From 7.5 to 3.75 is a 50% drop. I'd rather go slow than having to go up again. My opinion 🤷🏻

Mirtazapine — 30mg — 12weeks — actively tapering. 12mg now 🤞🏼

Cosmic19731d ago

WelcomerMirtazapine · active

Mirtz is more sedating at the lower dose which is why it's used off label as a sleep aid. After 2 weeks , things should start to settle down. Then you can decide to hold or taper further. I wouldn't worry about reducing, your body will tell you if your dropping too much and/or too fast and you can reinstate the previous dose.

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

Cosmic19731d ago

WelcomerMirtazapine · active

I went 1/2 to 1/4 of a tablet without too much issue (held 7.5 for a week) , it's the sub 1mg that you really have to be careful with, particularly going below 0.5mg It's seriously powerful shit. I slept like a log, but felt fine during the day,

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

HopeNeverFails1d ago

LighthouseZyprexa · active

@SpringHarbor , Check out this article from the TC DB: https://taper.community/resources/blog/mirtazapine-withdrawal-symptoms Full of interesting stuff but here's an apt excerpt: " It also strongly antagonizes histamine H1 receptors, which is why it causes sedation and weight gain, particularly at lower doses. At higher doses, the noradrenergic effects start to dominate, which is why some people find 7.5mg more sedating than 30mg." Personally, coming from the anxiety driven insomniac crowd, i would try and be grateful for the help in sleep, relaxation, etc. I think when you get a lot lower you might have trouble with insomnia, but hopefully not. I don't think Cosmic1973 did?

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.60mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0mg at Nov 2026— completed tapering

Cosmic19731d ago

WelcomerMirtazapine · active

I dropped to 0.2 where i'm now holding and had some 'anxious' nights following a drop, but generally, i slept fine, in fact it improved as dropped and held. I also strongly advice mindfulness and breathing exercises at night which are more effective then drugs IMO

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

SpringHarbor5h ago

Mirtazapine · active

Thanks all. I understand that it's more sedating at lower doses but would like to know if I'm going to feel more or less groggy during the day at lower than 7.5mg. I did drop to 5mg last night and slept fine. Hoping for a bit more alertness today at work. I've always had lots of anxiety around sleep so being really careful

Mirtazapine — 7.5 — 2 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 15 — 2 years — holding | Seroquel — 0 — 2 years — supporting others

Cosmic19735h ago

WelcomerMirtazapine · active

I only felt groggy when I first started taking it and after a few weeks it eased off. Never felt groggy while tapering down. It usually makes you more wired, anxious. Between 3.75 to 0,3 I felt fine, slept well and quite alert every day

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

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