Hi all,
Went to the GP today and was prescribed mirtazapine 15mg....never heard of these before, so basically looking for people's experiences please?
I have previously been on Citalopram, sertraline and fluoxetine.....the fluoxetine did help but I had terrible nausea with it, so weened myself off of them x
Hi Nicola, Mirtazapine is an atypical antidepressant, so not an SSRI or SNRI. It is VERY sedating! I was prescribed it three years ago (after a breakdown) to help me sleep. Well it certainly does that! You have to take it at bedtime, probably half and hour or so before you actually want to sleep. It will knock you right out! However, it made me very sleepy all day every day. Felt like I was doped up at times. Apparently though the higher doses are actually less sedating, but when I went up to 30mg I found it worse, so dropped back down to the 15mg.
I think it probably did help with my depression but I don't think it did anything for my anxiety. And although I tapered off how the GP told me to (after 6 months taking it) I think it was way too fast. I had a nightmare couple of months with severe withdrawl. So just to warn you if you want to come off it again - do it very very slowly!
I don't recall any start up side effects (and I find it hard to tolerate normal antidepressants). It was just far too sedating for my liking.
Hi nicola:
I've been on Mirt for over 30 years -- doses of 45, 30, 15 & 7.5 mgs. 45 was for the serious depression I suffer during the winter, 30 is for the milder depression during the rest of the year and 15 is for sleep. The 7.5 (when I was trying to wean off of it), had terrible side effects. In the past, I've taken all 3 of the meds you mentioned and none of them worked as well as Mirt. I must warn you tho, it's certainly NOT EASY to wean off of it like the other 3.
I'm staying at 15 right now. However, I also take lamictal for mood disorder and doxepin for sleep (when Mirt doesn't seem to allow me to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep). Doc told me this is the best med. for the conditions from which I suffer. I can't say it's the med for you since all our bodies are different and you didn't mention why you were/are taking anti-depression meds but my experience with it has been positive until I tried to get off of it because I thot it wasn't working. All the symptoms that I had prior to taking it roared back double when I was weaning.
I hope it works for you and it shouldn't have a lot of starting effects (it didn't for me).
Best of luck with it. I wish you well.
I am on antidepressants, as for the past 4/5 years I just can't seem to be "happy". My anxiety is through the roof...most of the time. When I am off of meds, I neglect my diabetes care (I am type 1) and my psychologist, who I saw over a year ago says it is vital that I am on some form of medication to help with my depression!
I have these weird thoughts, as if something that isn't even possible will happen! I also get paranoid alot....I hate it!
I have a 1.5 year old daughter....so am kind of worried about the drowsiness, although I have my partner here, and the GP seems to think that this is the "med" for me...we shall see!!
Ahhh I wasn't aware that it isn't a SSRI. Ah I am sleepy enough as it is with a 1.5 year old haha!
One issue I am worrying about though is the fact it can cause weight gain?? I have enough weight as it is ha
my weight bounces up and down all the time. i don't know how mirt usually affects people. i lost weight on it but i was eating super healthy at the time!
Well I struggle with my weight because when I am depressed I turn to food! Trying to be healthy at the moment though - as I want to lose weight!
yeah, me too!! I have clothes in 3 different sizes from the past three years! In the 'big' ones right now, and have only just started to do something about that. Flippin' meds don't help though . The new treadmill arrived a couple days ago (still boxed). That was an impulse buy very late the other night. Totally sober I might add...just insane from lack of sleep!
I just have the one mahoosive size, probably contributes to my rubbish mood too!
Going to start the mirtazapine tomorrow night...
Hi: My advise -- DO NOT TAKE DURING THE DAY. Mirt at 15 mgs. causes sedation for most people. I'm sorry to say that even after all these years, it never helped to lower my anxiety. I have (sounds like what you may have as well) generalized anxiety and panic disorder. I have to take xanax crumbs every 4 or so hours and 1 mg at bedtime. I have anxiety attacks in my sleep (didn't think that was possible but it is).
Another thing is to definitely watch your weight. I would find myself up in the middle of the night 1/2 asleep spooning jam into my mouth (at 30 mgs.). Thot I was lossing my mind. The craving for sweets was over the top. Doc told me the best thing to do is eat all day long -- like snacks of good food (I've found crackers and cheese in the afternoon is great) and then have a healthy dinner. Avoid carbs as much as possible. You may be a lucky one tho where the weight gain effect may not be an issue. I put it on and then when I got on the scale, I said that's it no more bowls of ice cream, etc. Weight dropped off.
My best wishes and sending vibes of strength.
Hi Nicola,
I started on Citalopram, then Fluoextine & now I'm on Mirtazapine. It definitely did make me sleepy for the first couple of months so take them before bed. They increased my appetite a lot which caused weight gain but the symptoms wore off after a month so keep at it. Everyone is different so give them a try & if after a couple of months you don't feel any better or feel worse then I would go back to the doctors.
Best of luck x
Hi,
Yes I know to take it before bed...that's the worrying thing! Sleeping before my 1.5 year old does....she rarely sleeps ha!
Thank you though
Yeah I have GAD too, my anxiety attacks haven't been so bad lately....it is just the lack of being happy!
Ahhh I don't want to eat more!! Grrr! I am trying to lose weight lol!
Also I am on propranolol for migraines....do you know if there are any known interactions with the two??
Hi Yasmine,
Thank you for your response!
I started on citalopram but I cannot actually remember what happened with them as I became pregnant so was then put on sertraline!
Ahhh well I didn't sleep at all last night really, just kept tossing and turning and then when I did sort of doze off, I woke back up! So hopefully these do help me! How easy is it to wake up when on them though??
I am back to the GP in 4 weeks....was supposed to be 3 weeks but no appointments available x
You're very welcome
I used to be the same my sleeping pattern was awful could never get to sleep or stay asleep but the Mirtz really has helped.
For the first 5 or 6 days I was a bit groggy through the day but that soon wears off. Been on them for a while now & they don't make me sleepy anymore which I miss!
Hopefully you'll see an improvement by the time you next see your GP x
Ahhh that's good then!
I am just worried I won't hear my daughter wake up....even though she is like always in my bed lol!
I hope so too! Thanks again x
I dont think the mirtazapine is doing anything for anxiety or depression so i am weaning off. Its fourth week now down about 4 or 5 mg. i am going very slowly. Can you tell me if i wont have the withdrawals till after i totally stop as im feeling mor anxious now and my mood is low. What other symptoms come with withdrawal? It would help to know.
Hi Ann, oh dear, well it may just have been me and the fact that I probably didn't spend long enough tapering down. But my anxiety went through the roof. I was having terrible night sweats and waking up in a panic every night, clutching at the covers. It was absolute hell. I can't remember if there were other side effects, like nausea or anything. I was SO anxious I think I probably did feel quite bad. It did get better and eventually stop, but I only had a couple of months of near stability before I started to slide downhill again. I stopped the Mirt in the April and was back on the pill merry-go-round by end of September.
I hope you don't have such a hard time. Like I said, I think the GP tapered me far too quickly. X
Thanks, thats interesting about night sweats (i get them) and anxiety. Its a pity you didnt manage for long before you had to start again - was ut mirtazapine they gave you or a different one then?
Took my first dose last night....only got 3 hours sleep due to Daughter being a pain!!! And boy today am I tired....drowsy and hungry!!! I feel weak as well!! x