New to Mirtazapine, slightly anxious

Treatment and medication
1

Hello, everyone!

I'm new to the site, literally just registered, haha.

So, recently, I have been suffering from anxiety, and that anxiety is giving me awful sleep problems. I have been taking herbal sleeping pills, which certainly help me drift off, but I wake early and very rarely feel refreshed. I went to my GP on Monday, with a list of things I have been suffering with (sleep issues, aches and pains, slight nausea, trouble concentrating, brain fogginess), and she said she felt all of these issues are being brought on by my anxiety. Now, before she prescribed me Sertraline, but something about them didn't sit right with me, so I didn't take them. Now, I have Mirtazapine, 15mg, and really all I want them for is to help me get a good night's sleep, and to stop my stupid brain from tormenting me all day, every day, haha! I don't have depression, at least not that I know of, so it did worry me slightly that this drug is classed as an anti-depressant, it is also prescribed for insomnia and anxiety? If my GP is lying to me, I'mma have to fight her!!! :P

But, really, guys, I appreciate any info you can give me. Another thing I am worried about is how affectively they work. I have a job, so if I take one of them a night, I'm not at risk of not waking when my alarm goes off or anything, am I?

- do they work?

- what side affects do they cause?

- have you been on them long term?

- is it easy to wean yourself off them?

I have been reading through other topics on here, and you all seem lovely, so I am looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Kind regards,

- David

2

Hi David . What your explaining is how I was before I was prescribed mirtazapine. . It's calmed my racing thoughts & anxiety right down.. if I do have a few days of crap sleep I get 7.5mg of zopiclone prescribed & that does the trick. I started on 15 & went upto 30mg 2weeks later ..slept 100% better on the 15mg. I was on sertraline for 2yrs before that.

3

Sharon, thank you so much for taking the time to reply, it is very much appreciated. I think the problem I am having is that I am new to taking any kind of medication; the anxiety I am experiencing is an extremely new thing that has only just cropped up. So, you actually slept better on the 15mg than you did on the 30mg? Can I ask, are you still on Mirt now, or have you gradually weaned yourself off it? I'm curious to know how that was. Also, does Mirt put you to sleep for excessive amounts of time?

4

Hi David I'm happy to help.. most people's story's are different. .

Iv been on it since December ..I couldn't keep my eyes open which was amazing as I suffer with real crap sleep.. 2weeks later I had the 30 mg my sleep went rubbish again.. & sometimes take zopiclone. . No il stay on this now as I have bipolar & severe depression. .maybe ask your doc for a lower dosage..

Yes you do get a great sleep if it works ..too much sometimes ..

5

I am going to give them a go, I figure there is no harm in it. If they help, then great; if they don't, I'll wean myself off them with the help of my GP. I think the anxiety is the cause of other stuff I am currently going through, like my body being bore and my concentration being pretty much non-existent. I am going to take my first tablet tonight, see how I get on. Did you suffer any side affects at all? 

6

Youl be fine well I hope anyway..made me feel so much better & brighter ..no I dnt get any apart from the weight gain .everyone seems to get ..

Good luck David I hope you sleep well ..

7

Thank you, Sharon! I'm brand new to the site, and already you have been amazing.

Maybe I'll post a message tomorrow and let you know how I got on?

8

Hi David

Mirt was great for me for 6 years kept my mood stable and most important to me gave me a great night sleep, only thing was weight gain but I was on 45mg.

Unfortunatley they have stopped working and Im now in the middle of withdrawal from them, 

Good Luck

9

Hi David, mirtazapine is a great medication for anxiety, depression and insomnia. First few days it really knocks you out, but this quickly gets better and you feel normal. Most people put weight on when they take mirtazapine.

10

Hey, Evergreen! Thanks for taking the time to respond. I took my first Mirt last night, next thing I knew I was feeling a little bit whoozey, and then I was fast asleep. I didn't wake once during the night, and I must have slept a good 10 hours. I woke up this morning, no side affects as of yet, and I didn't wake feeling tired and/or exhausted. :D 

11

Hey I just seen your result of last night's .I'm so glad you slept well without any side effects too.. this was the same for me .. 😴😴😴

12

Hey, Lynne! I slept great last night, and that was only my first Mirt. I woke up today feeling great, no side affects. I have heard a lot of people mention the weight gain, and that they have monster appetites while on Mirt, but surely if you are careful with what you eat, when that hunger strikes, then the weight gain doesn't have to be an issue?

13

That's excellent!

14

Thanks, Sharon! I mean, if I had to complain about anything, it would be that my throat is a little bit sore. Then, again, that may not have anything to do with the meds, and more to do with the cold weather in the UK. I mean, if a sore throat is all I have to contend with, then I will gladly do so.

15

Hi David thats brilliant mate, mirt is brill for sleeping.

I think if you have good willpower you will still be able to control your weight.

Unfortunatley I do not have good willpower and my depression makes me kind a comfort eat

I wish I could stay on mirt but they are not working for me anymore,but I had a good run of 6 years

I am really happy for you David

16

It really is, haha.

17

The weight gain from mirt is two pronged. It gives you cravings for carbs, which if you are very strong willed, you can control, but it also interferes with the way your body deals with insullin and effectively makes you gain more fat whilst not even eating any more than you usually do. I worked out that it caused me to need around 400 fewer calories a day to maintain my weight Now I'm off it I can eat loads more and not pput on the weight.

18

Thank you so much. It was nice to not wake up exhausted. I don't plan to be on Mirt long-term; the root of what's been making me anxious will be gone within a few months, and then hopefully I will be able to wean myself off them. :D 

19

Thats a great way of of thinking good luck to you

20

Thanks, Lynne! I have only taken one Mirt so far, so it is very much still early days. If anything changes, or any symptoms crop up, no doubt I will come running. Until then, I plan to remain optimistic and enjoy many, many nights of blissful sleep, haha.