Hi
I've been taking mirtazapine for a little over a week now and I am sleeping much better except that I have awful dreams. I used to take citalopram and had some weird dreams when I was taking them but it seems to be much worse since I changed to mirtazapine.
I wake up feeling terrible because the dreams have been so weird or frightening and it takes me a while to settle down again.
It's such a shame because before I started taking them I had difficulty sleeping, now that has improved but I'm nervous about falling asleep incase I have another horrible dream.
Does anyone else get horrible dreams while taking mirtazapine?
Hi Noddy
You are not alone, I have had exactly the same experience with bad dreams.
I have been on Mirtazapine for a few weeks now and at first I had some horrible dreams that would wake my partner because I was in tears but I am happy to say that the effect does wear off although it did take a couple of weeks so if you can bear to put up with them for a little while you will probably find that they do ease off.
Good luck
Kristal
:dog:
Thanks Kristal
It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one. Did you also find that mirtazapine made you irritable? Some days I'm in a really bad mood and feel angry for no apparent reason and I hate feeling like that. I'm usually quite a placid person. I hope it's just another side effect that will wear off 
:roll:
Hi Noddy,
Don't worry too much, the intensity of the dreams does wear off. Just give a few weeks to subside. Irritability? Not half, I wonder I kept my marriage intact for those weeks.
The many benefits of Mirtazapine are worth staying with this medication. A good nights sleep is ideal and Mirtazapine gives us that.
I hope all continues well with you.
Best wishes ,
Stephen
Thanks Stephen
I've definately been sleeping better since I've been on them and I think it has helped reduce my general anxiety a little bit but on the other hand the bad dreams and bad moods have made me feel on edge and a bit panicky.
I thought I was going crazy and it terrifies me.
I guess I just need to give them more time to work, I know other anti-depressants can take a month or more to have a positive effect so I just need to persevere and hope that it gets better soon.
I hope you are doing ok.
I have recently gone back on mirtazapine, after being off it for just over 2 months. I have also had terrible dreams which feel so real, they seam to go on forever. They can be quite frightening. I don't fear falling asleep, it's just nice to be able to get some sleep to be honest.
I don't think I can get used to the nightmares that I have but should be able to deal with them in the morning by the knowledge that it really is just a dream
I have been on mirtazapine for nearly a year now. It has helped me out dramatically. The bad dreams do pass but you will more then likely continue to have the odd one. I never had them that bad but I do still get one every few weeks. The mood swing part i still get.. at the start it was more violent (not me being violent but more extreme mood swings with no real cause or timing to them) now i still get it.. but there is normally a cause.. it is more like severe overeaction. My parner is very tolerant of it all which is lucky and has provided major support and resilience to it all. A person like that is great to have around and help you through the bad bits of it all.
Hi Noddy,
I've been on Mirtazapine for nearly 6 months now, & for the first few weeks while my dose was increased from 15 to 45 I had horribly vivid dreams too. You know how there are some dreams where even when you're dreaming, you're aware that it's a dream, but others you think it's real?? well these felt very real, & it would take me a wee while after I woke up to get round to realizing thank goodness, it was only a dream... BUT this settled down after the first few weeks, & now happens only rarely.
Before I was on Mirtazapine I'd been on various other meds, seroxat, prozac, lofepramine at different times, but this is the only one that's sorted out my sleep problems. Pre-mirtazapine I was sometimes going 3 or 4 nights in a row with zero sleep, with all the effects of sleep deprivation like visual disturbance & generally feeling like a space cadet; now I'm getting around 5 hours a night & I feel like I'm back in the world of functioning human beings (most of the time!!). It took me maybe 4 weeks or so for things to settle down, so hang on in there, you're pretty much there now. With any luck there'll be no need for you to read this as you'll be feeling better already!
Hi Noddy, you're definitely not alone!!
I switched from Citalopram to Mirtazapine also and whilst the Mirtazapine is (at last) improving my sleep pattern, I also have some fairly hideous dreams and am as crabby and irritable as I have ever been - for no obvious reason. At least, though, I am getting some sleep now whereas before I was going three maybe four nights just lying awake.
Hopefully it will all improve for us soon!!
Best regards.
When I took Citalopram a while back, I didn't get the opportunity to dream because I couldn't fall asleep even if I was exhausted.
Mirtazapine gives me a fantastic sleep every night although I do sometimes wake up feeling somewhat shaken because of strange dreams. They aren't frightening dreams or nightmares but very random. Its random people in random locations doing random stuff, all of which seems very real and it can take a few minutes for me to shake off the emotions attatched to the events that I dreamt.
Personally, I can live with it and I don't find it porblematic.
:shock: I seem to be reliving nightmares when I sleep. They tend to be me locked in some place or another and I cant get out. They seem so reall, and I cant seem to get out of them...But sleeping better, but worried as Ive had a bad few days but hinkI ve had a bug as My Becca was sick too.
:shock: :lol: Just fell out with some woman who thinks I just offend people by discussing my MHI, would anyone else agree with her?????
Seriously bad heartburn and noticed my chest has grown....this pill seems to pile the pounds on......another one of my anxieties, but feel better for the sleep. Also noticing lots of wind as well. I dont understand this heartburn thing. though I have been eating a lot of carbs oh and cheese.
its strange you should mention this. i personally was wondering the same thing.....in last nights dream i was stuck in a dark, frightening tower with...death and darkness....lurking close at hand. then i woke up. or so i thought,and i was plunged into another dark nightmare. i am only 18 years old, and i have been on mirtazipine for about a month. i am not a depressed or dark person. i certainly hope these dreams fade....theyre terrible.
IVE BEEN TAKING MIRTAZAPINE FOR 3 WEEKS NOW AND VERY NIGHT I HAVE HAD THE MOST SEVERE VIVID DREAMS THAT FEEL VERY REAL AND CONFUSING,ALSO I HAVE FOUND DRINKING EVEN ONE OR TWO PINTS OF LAGER THE DAY AFTER I AM HORRIBLY DEPRESSED ANXIOUS AND LETHARGIC,DOCTOR SAS TO STICK IT OUT,IM SLEEPING BUT AM SO TIRED AND DRAINED
Hi, ive been on Mirtazapine for about 3 weeks and i am having the most strange dreams every night, The dreams are not nightmares but very real situations with various people i know involved...i take half a 15mg tablet each night as prescribed by my GP...i sleep each night no problem but feel tired the next day, as my dreams seem so real....i have also noticed if any sudden interuption i tend to feel a shock go through my body which i have never felt before taken Mirtazapine. has anyone else ?
Hi Gomers. Yes, these weird dreams were definitely part of it for me at the beginning - plus the abrupt waking up. My dreams tended to be with people I knew too, but not in real situations - there were lots of dreams about my home (but it didn't look anything like my actual home, if you know what I mean) being invaded by various family & friends... all to do with my 'safe space' being no longer mine. I found I would get these dreams less & less as time went on - but the first few weeks they were definitely very bizarre. However the main reason I was prescribed Mirtaz in the 1st place was sleep deprivation, & I was so relieved to get to sleep at all. I've changed to Citalopram now & find that the 'heavy feeling' you describe has gone - but all you can do is sttick with it for another wee while & see how it goes. Good luck!
Im 22 and ive been taking mirtazapine for nearly three years now. Ive suffered from a few illness for the past 5years+ (the main three being depression, anxiety and insomnia) and ive found mirtazapine has helped me out alot. It knocked me out cold everynight for the first 6months then I had to up my dosage. Ive gone from taking 15mg to 30mg and now I take 45mg, I don't feel the need to go any higher than that but some nights I take 90mg. The dreams were crazy when I first started but they do subside (in fact after a while I stopped dreaming alltogether) It took about three weeks before I felt the affects of mirtazapine take an effect witch was around the same time that the bad dreams stopped. Ive since lost my job and can't afford them so ive been off them for a little over a week now and to be honest the dreams are worse since I stopped taking it, I havent had any overally bad withdrawals yet but im alot more moody and little things become a big deal. Its only after you stop taking it that you really realise the benifits of mirtazapine. I should be on something alot stronger but at the same time Ive found mirtazapine is non-addictive and easy to use (by that I mean its easy to go sleep and wake up, whereas other meds have left me very drousy and confused the next day).
Hi I have taken Mitrazapine for a week now and the dreams are pretty scary from going to sleep until waking up and I can remember all of the dreams. Another bad side effect for me is a terribly dry mouth do you find this?
Hi Sally. I switched from Mirtazapine to Citalopram a while back, & find it works better for me, although I do have to have sleeping pills as an occasional backup. I'd suggest sticking with Mirtazapine for a while, to see if your side-effects settle down. Every new anti-D takes a while to adjust to. Good luck with it.
Hi
I've been taking Mirtazapine for about 15 months and feel that I have not progressed with my anxiety as I did on Citalopram. I'm going to ask doc. if I can change. Can you let me know how you changed meds and
if you had any problems doing this.
Thanks
Hi
I had the same problem, it just didn't seem to offer any benefits for my anxiety so I discussed it with my GP who then changed me on to Duloxetine which has helped a lot more and the only side effects from that was nausea in the first couple of weeks.
Good luck