After several visits to A&E and a collapse at work and the doctors surgery I was finally admitted to hospital 4 weeks ago as they thought there was something wrong with my heart as I had been having near constant palpitations for two weeks!!! anyhow turns out my heart is fine seems that I've got some king of panic disorder - my work are paying for a private councilor to help with that - I'm currently taking 7.5mg of Diazipam daily just to get me through the day - I'm fine if I don't have to go anywhere - also taking beta blockers to slow my heart rate down and I've been prescribed Mirtazapine for the anxiety - at 15mg per night - it does make me sleep but seems to really give me the shakes during the night (maybe thats just the anxiety I dont know) has anyone else experienced this?
I did forget to take a dose last week at the shakes still came on as soon as I started to doze so maybe not related to the mirtazapine - I was shaking alot before I started it to then it was a visible panic shake now its just an inward 'brain' shake' if that makes sense?
The doctors just agreed to up my dose to 30mg nighly at my request as I've started to get depressed sitting at home all day and having to deal with the constant restlessness. Probably just a cycle but I'm wondering if anyone else has felt more restless as their Mirtazapine treament has gone on , I'm tempted to keep taking the 15mg as my body seems to have stopped shaking in the day time and the panic is under control at least while I'm at home - the only real reason why I wanted to up it is to stave of the depression - what does everyone think is three weeks to early to make that decision I've got another weeks supply of the 15mgs left should I just stick it out untill then, touch wood I've not had a panic attack as such in nearly three weeks just feel really shaky and agitated most of the time I dont want to increase the dose and make myself worse especially over the weekend when my GP's is shut.
Is there anyone else out there with similar experiences, prior to this episode I've never been ill enough to visit the doctors in 28 years - no history of depression, even after the panic attacks first started I still wasn't depressed thats come more recently since starting the anti depressants - but guess that could be out of frustration at being so anxious and agitated all the time.
Sorry for the long post - has anyone experienced any negative side effects when increasing their dose of mirtazapine, aside from weight gain which to be honest I'd like I've lost two stone and after three weeks I\"m less hungry than ever.
Answers on a post card. BTW unlike allot of people on Mirtazapine it doesnt knock me out for the whole nite by any means I wake several times shaking. what to do what to..........
I think you should give the mirtazapine more time to work and not change anything without speaking to your GP.It can make you a little shaky but for me that wore off after a while.You have just been through a terrible time that is hard to make sense of.Be kind to yourself and try to get plenty of rest,its difficult but you may not be able to come up with many answers right now.It is difficult sitting around at home but see it as a well earned break and allow yourself time to get well.This site is great for support,its been a ife saver for me so dont think youre on your own.
Thanks for replying, I think your right I should stick with the 15mg for now I actually got a full nights sleep last nite!! and the shakings a little better at the moment - I think I'll just break the new 30mg tabs that the doctor gave me in half for now and keep taking them.
The hardest thing I'm trying to deal with at the moment is the restlessness - I did try going back to work for a couple of hours each day last week but it made me feel awful - started to really shake and had to take so much dizipam just to get me through it - so I'm going to stay off for a bit longer. I guess getting well is more important than anything else.
its a cycle once you have a bad day you go right back down but now more panic attacks at the moment which is a good thing just allot of agitation, restless legs e.t.c.
I should have added that prior to being admitted to hospital I was put on Cipralex (an SSRI) it threw me into a wild panic within hours of taking it - my ECG reading was irregular and thats how I ended up being admitted to the cardiac unit - they determined that there was nothing wrong with my heart after keeping me in for four days - although just had a letter today from the hospital today to say that I've got to come back and have some kind of monitor fitted that I wear for 24hrs a day that records my heart rhythm just in case.
So for me Mirtazapine is the only med I can really take - the SSRI's just dont agree with me, I beleive an initial side effect of them is increased anxiety.
Hi mannotanumber, when my dosage was increased i found that i couldn't sleep and was restless, went back to 15mg and it stopped. Not on them now but they did help me with my eating problem and my sleep.
I had a feeling that would be the case I suppose that anything that stimulates your brain is going to make you a little restless - there again its hard to know weather the restlessness comes from my anxiety or not before I started them I was extremely restless - it felt like I had pins and needles in my head if that makes sense.
Glad to hear your off the meds now, and that Mirtazapine helped you. It seems to be helping me, with the panic attacks at least. I still find it very difficult to go out in public but I'm getting there slowly - each day I seem to wake up in a little better mood only more restless which is frustrating - hoping that that'll pass once my body gets used to the medication - did you find the Mirtazapine made you shake at night? I'm just trying to work out if its the anxiety or the meds.
I have had a similar experience to yourself, but wasnt amitted to hospital.
I also take beta-blockers, diazapine and 15mg mirtazapine for anxiety and social phobia. I asked my doctor to increase my dose to 30mg as I didnt think 15 mg was doing much good apart from sleeping and eating, but I couldnt cope with the increase it made the anxiety worse, aggitation, just couldnt relax, so I now take half a 30mg and am back on track.
I am also very sensitive to ssri,s and have tried many, my last one was citalopram and within hours of taking it I thought I was going mad, never again. looking back now I think I was expecting to much to soon from mirtazapine, but can now say after been on 15 mg since january I am starting to feel a lot calmer, and dont have a lot of negative thoughts.
So for now I am quite happy to stay at 15 mg. I am also on a waiting list for cognitive behaviour therapy.
Glad to Hear Mirtazapine is working for you, just out of interest how long was it before you noticed any benefit from it - I noticed some after the first week or so - but now I feel agitated all the time does that pass ?
I cant sit still but cant be bothered to get up - I'm sure you know the feeling well.
I think it was about 4 weeks when the anxiety started to lift and by about 7 weeks when I felt no anxiety. It is a gradual thing though, its only when you look back and think \"Im not as bad now as I was say 2weeks ago\", that I realised it was working.
But after the dose increase last weekend, that was a mistake, I have been feeling more anxious than normal, just hope this is a temporary thing. Or do I need the increase?????? going perservere with the 15mg for now and hope things get back to how they where.
I know that the restless thing isnt very nice, for me its like Im waiting for something just to tip me over the edge and send me into a panic attack. Take Care
I had a feeling that would be the case I suppose that anything that stimulates your brain is going to make you a little restless - there again its hard to know weather the restlessness comes from my anxiety or not before I started them I was extremely restless - it felt like I had pins and needles in my head if that makes sense.
Glad to hear your off the meds now, and that Mirtazapine helped you. It seems to be helping me, with the panic attacks at least. I still find it very difficult to go out in public but I'm getting there slowly - each day I seem to wake up in a little better mood only more restless which is frustrating - hoping that that'll pass once my body gets used to the medication - did you find the Mirtazapine made you shake at night? I'm just trying to work out if its the anxiety or the meds.
I had a feeling that would be the case I suppose that anything that stimulates your brain is going to make you a little restless - there again its hard to know weather the restlessness comes from my anxiety or not before I started them I was extremely restless - it felt like I had pins and needles in my head if that makes sense.
Glad to hear your off the meds now, and that Mirtazapine helped you. It seems to be helping me, with the panic attacks at least. I still find it very difficult to go out in public but I'm getting there slowly - each day I seem to wake up in a little better mood only more restless which is frustrating - hoping that that'll pass once my body gets used to the medication - did you find the Mirtazapine made you shake at night? I'm just trying to work out if its the anxiety or the meds.
Take Care
Dave Hi Dave, sometimes anti depr can cause tremor, which is like shaking, don't know if this could be the cause of your shaking.. i have had it myself when my dose has been too high.. just a thought.. :wink:
Just thought I would post an update for you - I'm feeling alot better today - even though I've just been told by work their going to stop my full sick pay !!! - depression is easing a bit (I've been taking the Mirtazapine for four weeks)
I didnt up the dose like the GP suggested to 30mg as I was so worried about bringing back the anxiety/shakes e.t.c and so far so good. For me depression wasn't the major problem, I've only become mildly depressed and agitated since the panic attacks started - more out of frustration at not being able to lead a normal life I think. Today I'm feeling like I could go back to work next week - but one day at a time although I will have to soon as the mortage has got to get paid somehow :-(
I'm not feeling any side affects from the Mirtazapine at the mo aside from the sedation which is a good thing - definately more hungry especially late in the evening - all day I'm fine and rarely snack apart from breakfast. I cant comment on hoe effective Mirtazapine would be for servere deppression as thank god I'm not in the place although without it who knows if I would be.
I've had one mild panic attack since I started on Mirtazapine so for me its effective in controlling those - I'm not saying its been an easy ride- it makes you feel spaced out at first and I felt very restless (I still do some days)
And I'm not entirely sure if my shaking came from the medication or my anxiety but thats definately easing up - it'll go completely with 2.5mg Diazipam and a beta blocker before it didn't even touch it.
Any improvement at the moment is a plus for me. So to all those out there taking Mirtazapine please give at a fair go it does take time but eventually for me at least it seems to be worth it. I'm just hoping the improvement continues without upping the dose. I so scared of going backwards again.
Hi. I've been suffering with anxiety for almost 5 years and I'm currently in my first week of withdrawl from 150mg Sertraline before starting on 15mg Mirtazapine. After being on Buspirone, Citalopram (twice) Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline (Lustral) I've found that with every drug you don't generally feel any of the benefits until at least 4 weeks after you start. You must remember (and my GP forgot to mention this when I first started on medication) that your symptoms (be it anxiety or depression) will most certainly get worse before they get better (that is also applicable if you increase or decrease your dose) Unfortunately SSRI's have never fully rid me of my anxiety symptoms hence the drug change. I would be interested to hear from anyone who may be in a similar situation to me and as to how you are now? Many thanks.
Hello all, I have suffered from anxiety and depression for most of my adult life and have been on and off a variety of antidepressants over the years. I emigrated to the UK 7 months ago and the adjustment to a new country took its toll and I started having terrible panic attacks and became suicidal. The psychiatrist put me on 10mg Mirtazapine which seemed to work for a while but then had to increase the dosage to 20mg as I started getting depressed again. After a few months on this dosage, I visited my GP and told him that the medication is not working. I had just left my 4th job in 6 months as I could not cope with the stress of holding down a job. He then increased the dosage to 45mg. I don’t seem to be getting any better and have put on 15kg in the time I have been on the medication. In addition to this, I have been suffering from extremely bad restless leg syndrome. Not only are my legs restless but my arms too. Actually my whole body goes into these terrible, uncontrollable and involuntary spasms. I have to get out of bed and walk around to try and stop these and end up crying in frustration as I am so tired and desperately want to sleep but cannot. I usually only fall asleep about 3.00am or 4.00am in the morning and then sleep until midday. I want to stop taking the medication as it does not seem to be working but am scared that I will go back into the severe suicidal state which I was in. Does anyone know if it is the Mirtazapine which is causing the restless legs syndrome and is there anything I can do about it?
Hi wishiwascalm. You must speak to your GP if you are suffering side effects or if any new conditions have developed. Maybe you would benefit from taking a sleep aid such as zopiclone. Good luck
Hi - I have asked 2 separate doctors at the same clinic and both have refused to prescribe any sleeping tablets saying that I cannot take these with Mirtazapine. I have however been taking half of my husband's prescribed sleeping tablets in desperation, but half a tablet does not really help at all and I am already denying him his full dose. I think that I will have to go back to the GP and see if he can take me off the Mirtazapine and try something else or give me something for the restless legs syndrome as I cannot carry on like this. Much thanks for your feedback.
Can I ask have you tried a lot of different medications? I found SSRI's weren't the best for me but they may be better for you (Citalopram and Sertraline were the best) strangely my research has told me most people did better on a slightly lower dose of Mirtazapine and had bad reactions when their dose was increased. Have you asked your GP about the possibility of Diazepam (Valium) or Alprazolam (Xanax) to use as well as a regular anti anxiety/anti depressant? If you don't feel your GP is supporting you then please get a second opinion or even look to change doctors as some are better at supporting mental health than others. Let me know how you get on!
P'S a quick Google search has indicated there should be no interactions between Mirtazapine and Zopiclone so there is no reason why you could not be given a small repeat (say 10 Zopi's a month) and remain on the Mirtazapine. Hope that helps
Hi - I was prescribed Prozac, Zoloft and Cilift (Citalopram) over the years. These did help at the time, as I was suffering from anxiety and depression due to personal issues and also the suicide of my son, but now I am more than just depressed. I feel utterly hopeless and lonely and see no future at all and am consumed 24/7 with sad thoughts of the past. This is why I re-visited my GP to say that the medication is not working. By the way, I am now living in the UK having emigrated from South Africa, so everything is done through the NHS which is so slow and frustrating. If I was still in South Africa on private medical aid, I could see a psychiatrist tomorrow and get help quickly. tablets. I also used to be able to get sleeping tablets quite easily from my GP. My GP in the UK prescribed only 14 Ativan tablets for panic attacks but said that she could not give me any more. I have only used a few of these so far, saving them for when I am really in a bad way.
It sounds like you've tried most of the SSRI's and if you've been on the Mirtazapine (at it's current dose) for more than 4 weeks and you're still feeling like this then you need to see your GP urgently. Ask what help there is in your area for people with mental health problems (for example I have Birmingham Healthy Minds where I live) Possibly consider private treatment or even residential support to ensure you are as supported as possible. Good luck
- hoping that that'll pass once my body gets used to the medication - did you find the Mirtazapine made you shake at night? I'm just trying to work out if its the anxiety or the meds.