Hello, I am new to this group.Have done a lot of reading, and am now terrified to take this medication. Was prescibed it for GAD and insomnia. The withdrawls sound horrific. Is there anyone with good news regarding Remeron? Has it reduced anxiety, and helped with recovering from anxiety and depression. So many people seem to hate this med. Was my Dr having a bad moment when he prescribed it? Choices are limited considering I can not tolorate SSRI meds. For those who are having success or have used it, is it worth it and would you do it again?
If you are prepared to gain around 1-2 stone in weight, which you most certainly will and become much less mobile i would say this drug is ok.
If not, steer clear
In contrast to Lorraine, I have taken mirtazapine (remeron) for the last 6 years with no gain in weight at all. I took no special efforts to keep my weight down, in fact I didn't know weight gain was a common side-effects until I read it on one of these forums! So the weight gain isn't inevitable. Also it was successful in relieving my depression and anxiety. I have experienced withdrawal effects when trying to reduce it, but I consider that a small price to pay for something that has given me back my life. I'll stay on it if necessary, although I do hope to try a very slow reduction again at some time in the future. That's just my experience, of course, everyone is different.
Thanks Pixie. Feeling even more anxious reading about everyone's horrible experiences. Lorraine,
The weight gain sounds bad for some and not others. Sounds like a weird med, but I'm weirder since I can't tolerate SSRI meds, so pretty much caught between the devil that is anxiety and the deep blue sea. X
Thanks Lorraine. Would prefer to be skinny and happy, but it seems like I can't have it all
Hi Lee
Count me in for "team Mirtazapine" ! It gave me my life back as well - I have always been on 15 mg which made me sooooooooo slkeepy for a few days, but I still managed to drive and get out with my dog. It gave me back a wonderful sleep which I had missed so much - insomnioa alone caused anxiety & further along the line depression.
I never moved up to 30 mg - I read on here that those who do (majority I think) start to have trouble again with anxiety - so if 15 mg works for you it could be good.
There is a method of withdrawal that should be undertaken - cold turky or quick withdrawal is what you are reading about that is a nightmare. There's a protocol written up from a registered charity called CITA - they no longer fully function but the method is still available. If you can't find it, in box me and I'll send you the link.
Best wishes to you, hope this helps a little.
Thank you Calmer. How lovely to read that it has helped you. I am definitely going to push up to 15 mg next week and see how it goes. Your post has inspired me so much to carry on. X
I am back on Zopiclone for sleeping because I couldnt stand the weight gain of Remeron, for anxiety I have clonazepam and for depression Trintellix and Wellbutrin.
If you can't take SSRIs Wellbutrin might be a good choice. But the comparable drugs to Mirtazapine as a tetra cyclical AD I think are
Amoxapine (Asendin) – sometimes classified as a secondary amine tricyclic antidepressant
Loxapine (Loxapac, Loxitane, Adasuve) – a tetracyclic antipsychotic with antidepressant properties; produces amoxapine as an active metabolite
Maprotiline (Deprilept, Ludiomil, Psymion)
Mazindol (Mazanor, Sanorex)
Mianserin (Bolvidon, Norval, Tolvon)
Setiptiline (Tecipul)
According to my research, mirtazapine is an SNRI - serotonin norepinephrine reabsorption inhibitor. Others in the same group are venlafaxine and sertraline. I take mirtazapine and venlafaxine together, treating depression and anxiety successfully.
HI,SORRY BUT MIRT IS A noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA) -snri's ARE A DIFF CLASS.MIRT IS IN A CLASS OF IT'S OWN
Sorry! Got my facts wrong there. Blame my scrambled brain!
Wikipedia has 5 drugs in the NaSSA group, but I've never heard of the other 4!
Yep, my research says "OTHER" - i.e. not in any category - what's that all about then ?