I keep reading on this forum how mirtazapine is an evil drug; how people want to get off it as soon as possible etc. Very few posts saying it helps them.
I appear for the defence , M'Lud.
I was on SSRI antidepressants for some time. They countered my extreme anxiety well, but I had bad insomnia probably caused by the AD. I tried various drugs for the insomnia (zopiclone, amitriptyline etc) but with little success. My doctor suggested mirtazapine but I declined as I had read about its weight gain side effect. However eventually I changed my mind out of desparation. The mirt was miraculous: it completely solved the insomnia. I felt "normal" for the first time in months.
"But what about the side effects" I hear you say. Well, I did get back my appetite - but no more than it was before I became ill. I gained a little weight, but no more than I had lost.
I did have difficulty getting up in the morning and feeling groggy after that, but those lessened with time. I take the minimum mirt that allows me to get to sleep - about 11mg, and I think that keeps the side effects down.
Mirtazapine is like a knife in that it is not evil in itself, it is how it is used that matters. The people who say it is evil have perhaps been on the wrong dose. Mirt tends to be more sedative at low doses; more activating at high doses. Do not throw out the baby with the bath water!
I get the impression from reading posts on this forum that mirt is best used (at low dose) to counter insomnia or where an SSRI antidepressant has not been tolerated.
Hi as with all medications some work for others some don't I am on mirtazipine and have tried all doses sadly for me it doesn't work but I have read many posts where it's been great for them I shall shortly be trying an snri .Glad your doing well 😁
Very few posts saying it helped them,and there you have it.
have you ever tried withdrawing from this drug it's hell?
I also believe an AD drug should be used for exactly that,not for sleep.
If it works for you then fine,but I can tell you from personal experience the WD is horrendous for a great deal of people.
Ive taken quite a lot of medications in my life time and never had one this hard to WD from. So I say each to his own if it suits you why are you on this forum?
I think you misunderstand what this forum is for. It is a discussion about mirtazapine, not just for those whole dislike it.
Your sole reason for disliking it is that it is hard to withdraw from. That is a very one-sided argument. It ignores the huge number of people who have benefitted from it. Perhaps you did?
It is interesting that that you believe an AD should not be used for sleep. I say if it helps sleep and you need that help use it! Many drugs are used for more than one purpose. The name should not limit that.
I had 4 other antidepressants prior to mirtazipine and they just didn't work at all ... I would go as far as saying that this drug saved me ... I understand that it may not work for some but I also wish to defend it ☺ I am not on a low dose and to be fair the side effects have diminished over time ... Here's one person who will not be changing it in the near future ☺
Thankyou for the support.
You are welcome...I went to hell and back prior to taking this drug ... I also take amitriptyline (for nerve pain) ... That is also classed as an antidepressant but is used for other purposes ... As far as I can see, if the drug works for you, then great but if doesn't then that's fine too ... I can only go by my own experience ☺
Exactly it is a Discussion about Mirtazapine,but if the drug suits you why would you want a discussion on it. You don't have discussions on any other med,you do on illnesses but not on drugs.
And as you say a lot of people are saying it's an evil drug,that tells its own story,and that's there discussion on it.
Like I say if I was happy about something I wouldn't be on a forum talking about it.
Thats like being on the IBS forum when you haven't got IBS. Uh
The reason I started this thread was because many people read this forum to get information about how other people have fared on mirt. If all they find only negative posts they get a biassed view.
On this forum there are many discussions about particular meds.
It is not like the IBS case you state. I had severe anxiety with insomnia - and have taken mirtazapine for it.
This is one of those drugs that is difficult in so many ways. You replied to my post about mirtazapine..
You're right it has so many benefits.. It's like being stuck between wanting one side of it but not the other..
I was wondering if you have had any success with handling the weight side of.. I suppose I'm looking for someone who believes it is possible to stay on this drug AND fight against side effects.
I now know I probably won't be able to get off this because of the mood life and decent night sleep, do you believe it's possible to handle this drug well with self control and lifestyle change ?
I'm sorry if I don't make sense. Youre one of the only people who has something positive to say, so I'm kind of pinning my hopes on you're thoughts on living with side effects !
I also agree that all the negative post could deter others from trying it ... We need some balance ... If it didn't work for anyone, they would have stopped prescribing it!
Hi Sllymyr,
I would not be advocating mirt if I did not believe in it. I am taking it AND fighting its side effects (as in my original post), and winning!
Yes Well, I did get back my appetite - but no more than it was before I became ill. I gained a little weight, but no more than I had lost.
I support this post having been on a high dose of mirt for around 2 years now. Tried other meds to no avail. I had severe depression, anxiety and lots of sleep deprivation and hit rock bottom. I was put on mirt with venaflaxine and it changed me completely. I know I haven't gone through any withdrawal with mirt but I had an awful problem with an SSRI many years ago (seroxat). I have halved the venaflaxine but advised by GP not to come of the mirt with the winter season coming on. I now sleep soundly and actually lost weight! I had put on a lot of weight in my mental health conditions but on the new meds found the courage and power to loose weight and begin overcoming my problems. It has given me hope and confidence. I will lower the dose in the spring but cant see myself coming off the mirt fully as it has been so beneficial to me 
Your experience is much like mine Magview ... I had a horrific withdrawal from duloxetine and then went on mirtazipine ... I didn't expect it to work for one minute but it did ☺ I will face withdrawal if I have to ... I guess everyone is different and I am glad you are doing better ☺
What a lovely story!
You support the idea behind "California rocket fuel"!
I am so glad for you.
Thank you and I hope you do well
Thank you but I don't understand the 'California rocket fuel' bit! lol
I think it is a term used in the trade for the combination of drugs you are on (mirt plus SNRI). Googling it may come up with something.
More like Hotel California.