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Always crazy hungry on mirtazapine!

Posted , 11 users are following.

sunset17
sunset17

Hi

I take mirtazapine 30mg, have been for nearly four months now. I find that I'm insanely hungry all the time, I am trying not to over eat though because I don't want to put on too much weight. Does the appetite stimulating effect ever wear off or what do you do deal with the hunger? Some days I can just feel contantly hungry and could eat one thing after the other all day long!

1 like, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • RobertT
    RobertT sunset17

    Posted

    I doubt it wears off. I was on Mirtazapine for about a year, getting up to 45mg a day, but I could not control the carbohydrate craving and weight gain. I then read that Mirtazapine causes cells to take up sugar from the blood which results in the craving. Thinking that this was not an action that would be at all good for me, the cravings unavoidable and there being a risk of developing diabetes, I tapered down from 45mg to 30 to 22.5 to 15 to 7.5mg in about 10 days, saw my doctor, and got put on something else.

    If you only take 15mg a day, and don't need carbohydrate to try to regulate other conditions like RLS, maybe with extra exercise it might just be manageable for a while.

    The relaxation I got from it was good, but already suffering with RLS which Mirtazapine exacerbates, and with what seems to me the somewhat dangerous action Mirtazapine has, I decided it wasn't the drug for me, and seemingly so have a number of other people in these forums.

  • chelbelle
    chelbelle sunset17

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have been in Mirtazipine for about 5wks now. I started on 30mg and was instantly eating like a woman possessed! I went back to the doctor after 3wks of being on them and already gaining almost a stone because I wasn't happy to be putting weight, he reduced my dose down to 15mg and I can honestly say I don't mentally feel any worse bring on a reduced dose and the cravings have now gone. Maybe worth speaking to your doctor? 

    Just wanted to to let you know that you're not alone.

     

    • sunset17
      sunset17 chelbelle

      Posted

      Hi chelbelle, thankyou!

      Yeah I know I don't know how I can eat so much and still feel hungry sometimes! I would be worried about having my dose reduced because I have been feeling so much better, I would be worried about feeling worse again. I am lucky that the hunger thing is my only issue now.

  • Robertalan
    Robertalan sunset17

    Posted

    Hi Iv only been on the medication for 2 wks now and could eat my own body weight every 30minutes iv never experianced anything like it ! If anyone has any suggestions on 1  It will go away throw time  or

                              2 Will i have to try yet another medication that is more suited ?

    To be honest im already fed up going from one to another because you have to try them for a few wks at a time and im running out of patience !

    • sunset17
      sunset17 Robertalan

      Posted

      Yeah I'm like that some days, I can just eat one thing after the other and still feel hungry. I've been looking up ways to make yourself feel fuller for longer and foods that help to make you feel fuller for longer. Going to try a few things to hopefully keep my hunger away. Yeah I don't think I'd be willing to change to another medication because of this, generally I think mirtazapine is going quite well for me, I have already changed from citalopram to mirtazapine.

      I would suggest sticking with it a bit longer if you can, 2 weeks isn't that long yet, it took me at least 4 to 5 weeks to start feeling better. Best of luck!

  • mark01943
    mark01943 sunset17

    Posted

    I have been 15g for a month now and have not had any food cravings at all, and I can feel an improvement in my general well being, so maybe going to 15g May be an alternative
  • Vickycam
    Vickycam sunset17

    Posted

    Hi Sunset, Perhaps if you lower the dose from 30 to 15mg you may not experience food cravings.   I have been on 15 mg. - off and on - for several months and wasn't hungry and didn't gain but a couple of pounds..Because it makes me sleepy I'm now down to 7.5 mg. but I'm still sleepy.  I'm going to try to wean myself off mirtazapine completely.  I did try Wellbutrin as prescribed by my doctor but it gave me insomnia.  As I  have mild depression,mostly sadness,  I hope  I can manage without it.    
    • JessC1992
      JessC1992 Vickycam

      Posted

      I just started 15mgs about 3 days ago and I'm so hungry. Is there a lower dose or should I stick it out? sad
  • chelbelle
    chelbelle sunset17

    Posted

    Hi Sunset,

    I understand your worries completely!! I thought my doctor was crazy when he reduced my dose, 3wks before when he changed my meds and put me on mirtazipine  I was the lowest of low - never felt so bad in my life. I couldn't understand how lowering my dose was going to work but it has, and can honestly say I do not feel any different being on 15mg apart from the food cravings stopping. We are all different and we all respond different but I just wanted to give you a little reassurance that I was terrified to reduce my dose too. I really think you need to go back to your doctor and have a chat x

    feel free to private message me x

    • sunset17
      sunset17 chelbelle

      Posted

      Hi, sorry I haven't managed to get back to you, I've been having some problems with replying when using the site on my mobile. Thanks, yes it is reassuring to know that you still feel well on the lower dose. A friend who i trust to give me good advice also suggested it might be worth trying a lower dose, and said to me that I can always go back up to 30mg again if the lower dose doesn't work out for me, which is true. I still feel worried about it though for obvious reasons, I feel worried about messing around with my dose when I generally feel quite well.

      Thanks xx

  • zaphod
    zaphod sunset17

    Posted

    Yes, it will calm down over time, but you have to have an iron will not to put on weight in the meantime, as I found Mirtazipine causes a wicked sweet tooth.

    All the best

    Paddy

    • sunset17
      sunset17 zaphod

      Posted

      Hi, thanks Paddy, yeah I too get temptations for sweet things!
  • Di25
    Di25 sunset17

    Posted

    Hi it's my second day on mirts still really woozy and dizzy but not half as bad as yesterday so that's good hope it will pass .... I too have been non stop eating but if I feel better on it will exercise more and hopefully won't gain weight I'm eating every 1 hour I will have nothing left in the cupboard rolleyes 
    • sunset17
      sunset17 Di25

      Posted

      Hi Di25

      Glad you are feeling less dizzy now, those early side effects should pass.

    • RobertT
      RobertT Di25

      Posted

      I think the problem is that if you exercise you deplete your blood sugar level and when you take Mirtazapine you again deplete your blood sugar level. The two are just simply additive and there's no real way to get round the problem, least of all if you weren't a big eater to start with or you need to eat to control some other condition. That's my take anyway.
    • Di25
      Di25 RobertT

      Posted

      Luckily today things have calmed down with my overeating  phew wink
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