I'm new to this forum and am hoping some of you may be able to tell me positive stories that can allay my fears. As a result of major depression after having my first child, I've been on paroxetine for about 10 years, mostly only around 10 mg/day, intermittently 20 when I've had bad episodes, which have been getting more frequent over the years. (I also see a therapist - that's ongoing.) Recently a series of very tough life events sent me back into a major depression, with suicidal wishes, and the various people I've seen - don't ask me exactly who, I get very confused about the different roles of various NHS mental health professionals - have advised a change to Mirtazapine. The thought is that the paroxetine has probably stopped working, plus I have constant sleeping difficulties with which Mirtazapine should help. I start 15 mg/day Mirtazapine on Monday and after a week of that along with my normal 10 mg paroxetine, I drop out the paroxetine, and a week later we review the Mirtazapine dosage. I've been warned, and read, that when you first start Mirtazapine you can be VERY sleepy. To be honest I wouldn't mind this for a while, I have a big sleep debt to make up, but I' wouldn't want it to go on too long. I know no drug suits everyone so please if Mirtazapine's not suited you don't tell me as I'm scared about the change already! But if you have a positive story please do tell me as then I'll feel less scared. Thank you for any support and help.
Hi Alison , hope you'll be in a good state of mind soon once your on Mirtazipine. I think that 15mg will be good for you and im glad your being reviewed a wk later. I was put on 30mg some 7-8yrs ago for Major Depression 2yrs later i was put on 60mg and stayed on that dose for another 5yrs and then 5-6mths ago i reduced back to 30mg. I havn't had any issues with Mirtazapine over the entire past 7-8yrs. I do suffer from Insomnia over the past 7wks but this is due to the Withdrawals from coming off Zyprexa Wafers 7wks ago. As far as Mirtazapine goes you should be fine hopefully . Hope all goes well in next wk for you, take care and best wishes. Lloyd from Oz
Hi ive been on mitrazapine for about a year i felt it worked for a short period of time only then they kept upping the dose i put on over 2 stone on mitrazapine so now im tapering off im down to 15mg. Im so so sleepy on 15mg so i take at night. Everyones different so it could work for you but too be honest a lot of people have been not liking it at all n trying too come off it. One thing i will tell u is that do not drink alcohol in it maybe just me but i found i was terrible depressed days after n anxiety thru the roof. Im now tapering off n hardly tough alcohol now just a 2 spritzers occasionally n im doing ok so with me i certainly feel better not having too much alcohol anymore x hope this helps x
First let me say, everyone is different, so ignore the horror stories lol. I've been on mirtazipine for 5 months, 15mgs, it gives me a great sleep & I don't have to fight with negative thinking. The only down side of it for me is weight gain, but better than alternative. It's been voted 2nd best tablet for treating depression/anxiety, amitriptyline being first. Enjoy the rest when you change over, don't worry about being sleepy during the day to start with, it wears off. All the best
Hey! I’ve been on Mirtazapine for last 5 months, increasing my dose to 30mg after a couple months as I felt it wasn’t being as effective as it had started, and I have to say it’s been a generally good experience. I get to sleep almost every night (takes me an hour to kick in) but does make me very groggy in the morning which could be my early starts for work (5am) but that passes after I’ve had chance for breakfast. It stems my negative inner dialogue mainly or when I find myself in a ‘hole’ it’s more short lived not a prolonged period of days/weeks. Of course during my time using it I was getting some counselling so had an ‘outlet’ which finished over a week ago so I’m not completely sure whether I’ll move to the max dose that’ll all depend on the next several weeks.
All in all I’ve found it helped me, oh it did make me quite peckish but being a tad skinny that wasn’t such a bad thing and after a few months that tapered off a bit too. Hope this helps!
Hi... I've been on mirt for about 6 months, I'm not going to lie at first it was a rough ride with side effects. I started on 15mg but quickly moved up to 45mg. It took about 8 weeks to notice a difference in my mood but I am also on venlafaxine 150mg a day they was added when the mirt wasn't working alone. Now I'm doing alot better, I av the odd down day like today but it's usually around my periods. I hope mirt works for you as it eventually did for me. Although I had to make lots of life changes also like moving myself out of a stressful home environment. Keep us posted at how you do. Leanne x
Hi! I’ve been on Mirtazapine for the past 3/4 months I think. I have depression (quite severe due to suicide attempts a few years back and continued suicidal thoughts) with some anxiety and insomnia. My insomnia wasn’t *severe* but it was getting to the point where I couldn’t get up and sit through my class, I wasn’t able to pay any attention I was just so tired. When I went on Mirtazapine 15mg, I immediately started sleeping more. There were still days when I couldn’t, but these have completely disappeared at this point. Maybe a week or two into it, I haven’t felt anything special and happy, but I definitely felt better and like I could actually do something for a change because I wasn’t so tired all the time. I had more energy and could get myself to do things I wasn’t able to do anymore such as studying or even making myself something to eat (which also led to weight loss). After a month and a half I started noticing I was more motivated to do things and go see my friends, hang out with people again and go do my shopping! It was the best feeling to be able to do all these things again The only negative I noticed is the excessive weight gain, but for me the positives outweigh it, I just try to be conscious of what I eat and how much I eat in a day and I haven’t gained more weight so far (I lost about 10 pounds though after I noticed the weight gain, so it is possible to lose weight on it). It really works for me!
Hi Sarah... In all honesty I find it hard to get motivated in a morning. Once I'm up and I've showered though I feel fine but I do have to push myself to get up. Xx
I have taken 2 months to go from 30 to 45. Been ok but do get some withdrawal symptoms poping up. But side effects of mirt are very like the wd symptoms so hard to tell what is going on.
Mirtazapine will help you with sleep and depression. It’s fast acting and you take it at night. I came off it for 4 months but I went back on 7.5 mg because insomnia came back. I think the switch is a good call. Good luck
Hi. I'm discontinuing mirtazapine as of tonight. I don't want to cloud your perception, but I hate this drug. Some people probably respond better to it than myself. I had bad side effects, even at very low dose. Restless legs, restless arms, hand tremors, nausea, brain zaps, feeling like you just want to stay in bed all day and being totally unmotivated to do anything. I'm not a doctor, but I would stick to 7.5 mg to start and see how you do. The next day after taking it you will likely feel out of it and very sleepy. This will pass soon, but possibly you will still be lethargic, just not as much as you will be after taking your first dose. Lower doses, i.e., 15 mg and below, are more sedating. Higher doses, i.e., above 15 mg are more activating and used more extensively for depression. Lower doses are for anxiety and many use it to treat insomnia. I took the drug for one month and I'm done. I just can't function on mirtazapine. The drug is quite potent; even a small speck after you cut it up will likely have an effect. Listen to your body and decide if it is right for you. Just understand that you may turn into an irritable, antisocial, agoraphobic hermit that stays in bed all day - not kidding. Also, some people claim this drug causes them to be jittery. I definitely experienced the jitters, pretty much every day. To me it seems like akathisia, but it's a little different - imagine drinking too much coffee and feeling like you just can't relax. This drug is paradox in so many ways. I took it as I was having difficulty sleeping and my appetite was suppressed. It resolved both of those issues, but the side effects are a major drawback and not willing to wait it out to see if they go away. I'll figure out another way to eat and sleep. Hope this helps, but just one opinion among many.
Hi. Curious to know how you actually feel in the morning. As for myself, I feel really nauseous, just want to stay in bed. The drug makes me jittery. As the day goes on, the jitteryness is reduced so I can only assume that mirtazapine is the culprit as I take it at night. I will be discontinuing mirt as of tonight. I can't stand this drug. I'd rather just pop a benzo for sleep for the time being. Looking forward to getting back to my normal self after being in a daze for a month.
I feel like i am coming out of a coma. Not nauseated. Kind of dizzy and heavy headed and disorientated. My eyes will not stay open like they are rolling into the back of my head