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Mirtazapine for GAD experiences please

Posted , 4 users are following.

Guest
Guest

hi there,

Im a 26 year old male from the UK, I suffer from GAD and have been on SSRIs(escitalopram,citalopram, fluoroxitine) for the past few years to treat it and generally these drugs worked very well...ie I was as close to normal as i think i can be.

Main side effects were sexual dysfunction, and recently I developed gastritis from fluoroxitine and had to come off it.

So as I was at a bit of a cross roads on what to do next I decided to give Mirtazapine a go as ive heard it has no sexual side effects to speak of.

Ive been on it now for about 2 weeks, I started on 15mg at night for the first 12 days. I feel that my anxiety is definetly reduced and that the drug is working. However Im experiencing a lot of drowsyness in the day time. I feel like I never quite wake up. Ive read a lot of material on this drug and theres some evidence to suggest that the drug is less sedating on higher doses. So ive now been on 30mg for the past 2 days. Feel much the same so far. My appetite has also increased but isnt too hard to resist with a bit of will power. Havent put on any weight yet anyway.

Im really hopeful that this drug will work so im willing to stick it out for another month or so, but if the drowsiness doesnt improve I dont know if i can continue with it for much longer.

Has anyone had any positive experiences with this drug, and does the drowsiness ever wear off? Or at least to a point where its managable?

Ian

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Oh one more thing....the SSRI induced sexual dysfunction I was experiencing has reduced a lot since switching to Mitazapine . (Reason enough to persivere with it for me anyway). Although I should add that its not completely back to how I was when I wasnt on medication. Ive read that certain neurons related to sexual arousal become desensitised to stimuli after extended use of SSRIs (about 4 years for me). So it can take a while to regain completely normal functioning. But considering that, Ive seen a big improvement in that paritcular problem already (2 months off SSRIs).

    Ian

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    stick with it ian im on 30mg and the drowsiness has started to go infact im waking up early now but still feel tired when i wake up early , ive been on anti-depressents since i was 18 im now 31 and must of tried all ssri's and they all give you sexual dysfunction altough i got told that taking buspar helps altough when i had some of my dr they didnt help at all , ive read that a high strengh of the herbal tablet ginkgo biloba helps , but for me if this mirtazapine works for my anxiety and depression and panic attacks and at the same time can let me function like a man with my woman then this tablet is for me , if i was you i would try to stick it out for at least a month and half , my dose is going up to 45mg when i see my dr next as im still not myself when the depression kicks in but im willing to ride it out so good luck mate .
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Thanks Carter, Im gonna take your advice for now. Im off work till 7th of Jan so am hoping that in this time Ill get used to it and can go back to work feeling fine. I spoke to my doctor yesterday and asked him about the drowsiness...he agreed with you and said that its pretty rare for the drowsiness not to eventually wear off, but it can take up to 4-6 weeks. He wasnt too sure about the higher doses being less sedating, and now ive tried 30 mg neither am I, its much the same. But let me know how you get on with 45 mg, would be interested to know if its any better for anxiety or less sedating. Currently Im noticing a slight mood lift and a reduction in my anxiety , although to be honest Ive not really left the house much lately so havent really tested myself yet still getting used to it all.... fingers crossed.

    Cheers

    Ian

  • terry49
    terry49

    Posted

    :lol:I am 51 and have been unable to work now for over 3 years and have taken most of the available meds,all of which till now had no effect on my performance. Actually they improved things. Who needs viagra.I have taken 30 mg of mirtazapine now for about 15 months, I don't feel any better.

    I have gained 70 lbs, feel just as bad, worse now because of the additional weight . My sleep has improved marginally. The dopiness in the morning has reduced for me finally. Since beginning mirtazapine, any sex drive i had is gone, and performance is a thing of the past. Much to my wifes displeasure. I have requested a change but my doctors have not done so, maybe after tomorrows visit. My anxiety is the same, but my panic attacks have lessened both in intensity and frequency. When I go out my anxiety increases alot and I cannot wait till i get home and away from everything. Hope all works out for you!

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Well that sounds like youve had quite the opposite experience to me, people are so varied. Ive had a lot of problems with SSRI induced sexual dysfunction but I found that they *almost* completely killed my anxiety problems which, if untreated are severe like yours. Sorry that your not having any luck on mirtazapine. Obviously Im just starting out on it so cant really gage how well its working yet. But I do feel a mood lift and reduction in my anxiety, I dont feel great mind you but it feels 'under control'. This is quite similar to how i remember feeling at the beginning of taking citalopram or fluorixitine, except that now sex is a lot more enjoyable. To be honest, thats enough for me right now.

    If I were you though Id definetly get back on something that you know works well for you, if mirtazapine doesnt work out for me im gonna fall back to citalopram for instance, as it worked well before.

    Ian

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Ive been on mirtazapine for 6 weeks now so I thought id write an update. At about the 4 week mark I really felt the drugs starting to kick in.....this caused me temperary increased anxiety and emotional instability for a few days but after that it leveled out and started to feel much like being on a SSRI, abeit with drowsiness and appetite increase. Over christmas I put on 2 pounds, which probably isnt all that bad considering. My eating patterns have pretty much returned to normal except for an odd snickers bar at tea breaks (but i can live with that). Ive managed to return to work and seem to be getting by ok....I feel that my social skills and concentration have taken a dive a bit because I still have anxiety symptoms through most of the day, but they are reducing as time goes by. Im still finding it hard to get out of bed, and am drowsy for much of the day, ive noticed that a few pints of beer or glasses of wine will make the drowsiness much heavier for the following day so have cut down on drinking (not sure if i like this)

    Im also very sorry to discover that Ive developed a lack of libido again , this is putting a strain on my relationship with my girlfriend sad It hit about the 4-5 week mark once the mirt effects became apparent. Im considering cutting down to 15mg in a couple of weeks to see if that helps. Dont know what else to try, ive been on 3 different classes(SSRI NASSRI, and tricyclics) of antidepressent now and they all have caused this.

    In conclusion, im getting relief from my anxiety and have returned to work...but am quite distressed that I still cant really enjoy sex. Im at a bit of a loss, I think i better go and speak to the doctor again

  • naieka_62256
    naieka_62256 Guest

    Posted

    Hi their

    I have been on mirtazapine for about 6 weeks, I have also experienced the drowsiness in the morning but it is now wearing off. As to regards to my sex drive I have found a very weird side affect, my sex drive is at the highest it has ever been. I have always had a high sex drive but this is unreal, as soon as I'm awake I feel horny to the time I go to sleep. Has any others on here experienced this side effect.

    Thanks

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