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Anxiety/Dizziness mirtazapine/seroquel

Posted , 3 users are following.

matt44290
matt44290

Just thought I would put up a post to see if anyone with similar issues/advice.  Started on 50mg XR Seroquel about 2 months ago, primarily at that time because of sleep problems and anxiety.  I found it did provide some aid to sleep, but I do not get more than 3 hours in a row (to this day), although I might get batches of sleep over night whichwhen all added up come to around 6 hours, which is prob ok?  I had to go to 100mg for a while to bring sleep about, but honestly I am not sure if I was getting extra sleep because i was on 100, or because I had simply become so exhausted I just "had" to sleep.  In any case I didn't like being on 100 as the head fog associated with that the following day was not allowing me to function until about 1-2pm.

Around 2 weeks after starting Seroquel I was also prescribed Mirtazapine 15mg (which I had researched on before hand as I was looking for a drug that would also work on helping me sleep + address depression/anxiety).  My goal here was to come off the Seroquel at some point in the very near future (also something my doc was thinking).  IMO Seroquel appears to have a laundry list of adverse affects that are not great and, quite frankly, it is seemingly meant more for bipolar/schitzophrenia than it is for anxiety.  It could be argued I am experiencing a number of those adverse side effects.  Reading up on all the side effects certainly hasn't helped in the anxiety department + I also suffer from occassional heart palps, which can be and have seemed to have become more frequent, if not slightly different in nature (longer streams of skipped beats per any given incident) than before.  For about a week or two after starting on the mirtazapine I would define my status at about 80% the way to normal, which was great.  However, over the last 2 weeks anxiety seems to have crept back in + I have a periment state of dizziness that lasts all day.  I am not sure if that is coupled to anxiety, or to the drugs themselves, suffice to say that there is a vicious circle between the two.  I have tried to exercise as I have found I get some relief from doing that, but recently I find that after finishing exercise my dizziness is worse.  Perhaps that is just my perception, however, as maybe what is hapenning is that during exercising I am not noticing the dizziness as much only to have it return in full force after completing my exercise (cycling in this case)?  In addition I have the sensation of fatigue during the day, which I imagine is because of poor sleep, but perhaps also because of the drugs/anxiety?

Getting to see my doc is not something that can be achieved quickly, any given appt takes 2-3 weeks, but I am seeing him next week.  Just wondering if anyone else has been on this particular polytherapy and had similar experiences?  My goal is still to come off Seroquel in relatively short order, but I understand that that in and of itself will prob bring about sleep probs again + other not so desirable withdrawal issues, I am hoping they won't be too bad as I have not yet been 3 months on Seroquel...

Finally I am also getting a pretty nasty sore throat with some curious looking sore patches.  Once again, from the list adverse side affects listed for both Mirtazapine & Seroquel, I see that lowered white blood cell count can occur of which the symptom would be that of a sore throat/sores.  So will look to get a blood test done.

I find it somewhat amusing/curious/disturbing that so many of the side effects of drugs used to treat folk with anxiety/depression etc actually can (in some cases) bring about things that would seemingly worsen ones state of mind/anxiety etc.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • rosemary62797
    rosemary62797 matt44290

    Posted

    evening matt, what you have just posted is what happened to me, only my killer is pregabalin, have been addicted since july,  I only took 28 x 25mg caps over 21 days  and it had got me, list of side effects horrendous, I also  have more that are not listed,  side effects and withdrawal are almost same, I feel as if I have lost my life, my identity, I look in mirror and I don't see me,  don't even sound the same, at hospital last week a nurse asked where in Ireland I came from,  I'm from Yorkshire, in England.  I am reducing but not making a lot of progress, feeling pretty desperate right now, am like a drunk, staggering, rolling, feel as if run a marathon. good thing is spent 4 hours at hospital and had a really good medical,  bloods, urine, ruled everything nasty  out.  pregab was supposed to help me sleep, but was agitated and restless all night, but was told "take it or else" all the best , hope things work out for you. bye, rosie
    • matt44290
      matt44290 rosemary62797

      Posted

      Good lord, sorry to hear you had to go to hospital.  That does not sound like fun, although glad to hear that your blood work was normal?  I definately get the "rolling" sensation as you mention. In my case I would equate that to the "dizziness" I feel.  It is hard in my case to differentiate between feeling dizzy and not because the "feeling" is constant.  Certainly looking in the mirror is odd almost like I am not focussing on myself, even though the literal focus is in perfect sharpness.  i.e. I see myself with clarity, but I am not really "seeing" myself.  Almost impossible to describe to anyone who has not experienced the same thing.  I attribute that, in my case, to the antidepressants, which seemingly help you to "not care" as much and perhaps that works its way, in some small way, into removal of recognition?  The biggest things I miss are waking up and looking forward to the day instead of feeling anxious. I haven't felt that way in some time and it was the desire to get that back that led me down the initial path of medication.  All the best to you, I hope the hospital stay helps to "reset" things for you.
  • Trikkerguy
    Trikkerguy matt44290

    Posted

    I'm wondering if a regimented exercise program would be beneficial. I know for a fact, being a 76 year old man, on meds that have rediculous side effects, and working out with weights which always makes me feel relaxed, and calm, must be the endorphins. I've been working out for more years than most of you have been around. Yes I have had anxiety problems, but they diminish after a good workout, maybe because I concentrate on the training, looking forward to the meal afterward, that feeling of accompishment. In other words my mind isn't working against me because my body is realxed. Love those weights, and a good bicycle, or trikke ride.

     

  • London_ridge
    London_ridge matt44290

    Posted

    Hi Matt,

    I have taken both meds and I would say to go with the mirt. It should help you sleep at 15 mg. I don't think you will have trouble getting off the seroquel. You haven't been on it very long.

    i wish you much luck with the mirt. It helped me sleep for the last few years. I was getting a full eight hours and I didn't feel tired in the morning.

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