dam new here. a widow one month and grieving not sleepinglosing weight am trying remeron so dopey in am. how long does it take to adjust? HIGH ANXIETY ADVICE ?
Hi Judi - firstly I’m so sorry for your loss. In terms of the Mirtazapine, what dosage are you taking? I suffer with bouts of severe/acute insomnia and the related crippling anxiety so I completely empathise. Mirtazapine is the only thing that helped turn a corner for my insomnia (Zopiclone = made things worse, Diazepam = helped for anxiety but not for insomnia) but it definitely took time for the side effects to go. Just a couple of weeks ago I was posting the same questions here that you are. In my personal experience (and everyone has their own) I initially started on 30mg but found it too stimulating and that it actually disturbed my sleep (I was waking every 30 mins or so even when I did manage to get off). After speaking to some people and understanding that it is more of a sedative at a lower dose, I dropped to 15mg after about 10 days and that was almost immediately much better for my sleep. I have now dropped to 10mg and my sleep is continuing to improve. I also started taking Escitalopram (an SSRI) at 5mg at the same time as the Mirtazapine as you are able to take them both together. Now that my sleep is getting much better my intention is to stay on the Escitalopram for my anxiety problems and to very slowly taper off the Mirtazapine, because I don’t want to be on it for long. In terms of side effects I would say the first 3 or 4 days I felt like I’d been hit by a bus the next morning and couldn’t do anything at all- this is completely normal. It eased slightly after that and it has taken just over 3 weeks for me to now feel no side effects the next day at all. Hang in there - I would say if in 3 weeks time you are still (a) not getting any decent sleep and/or (b) still feeling terrible the next day, then it may be time to reassess with your doctor. But it does take around that time for your body to get used to it, in my experience. One thing I would add is that I was worried before taking it that I would be “addicted” to it to get to sleep (because I have huge previous psychological insomnia issues) but I don’t think that is the case - I believe it has just helped my brain to get back into a normal / natural sleeping pattern. Hope some of that is reassuring to you - I wanted to post it as I read so many nightmare stories about Mirtazapine I wanted to say something a little positive! Those side effects will get better if you can hang in there for I would say 2-3 weeks. Take care xx
I am also widowed and suffering unbearable grief.
i am taking mirtazapine 15 mg. it helps with sleep but makes no difference to grief