Anyone taking 15mg Mirtazapine with 10mg Escitilopram?

Hi Nikki 

I stopped the Mirtazapine about 10 days ago , I think. ?!

Dr has also put me on Quetiapine morning and night with 10mg Escitilopram.

Still not much better, as soon as I wake get rush of anxiety   It's awful, its usually about 5am but last night was at 12.30!!!

I really don't know what the answer is anymore , but I know I've had enough of feeling like this!!

Hi Karen

I understand. I too get that rush of anxiety as soon as I wake (or it wakes me up?!) and it doesn't let up. 

I understand your feeling about wondering what the answer is. I've not felt this bad for this long before. But I try to keep reminding myself there will be improvement at some point. 

They do say it takes weeks for things to take effect or get out of your system.

I'm sending support and strength x

It's horrible isn't it Nikki? 

Why is it happening, I never had it before on any other medication.

I try telling myself it will get better, but jeez it doesn't feel like it at the moment!

I wonder how much of it is adjusting to coming off/ going on medication. Mirtazipine really didn't agree with me at a higher dose as it sounds like for you too.

Maybe it takes a long time to adjust. It seems that way for me. 

It's very hard x

Hi Karen, I was just reading another forum and it seems we're not alone. I read some reassuring words from people who had gone through what we are and after many weeks, things improved. It seems the heightened anxiety particularly bad in the am or all day is very common when starting these same meds. When I say starting, I mean 6,8,10 weeks or so!

I've just written a reminder to myself that everything I'm experiencing is part of the chemical adjustment going on in my brain and body. When you're in it, it's hard to think isn't it! 

X

Wow that's really interesting and kind of reassuring Nikki.

At least we know it's quite common now and not just us.

I listened to a mindfulness for anxiety meditation on you tube earlier, that helped too x

It is difficult to think it when your in that anxious/panic state.

Gosh how many weeks!!!! Lol x

Thank you so much Edwina 😊

I listened to a mindfulness for anxiety on you tube earlier which helped.

Just want to see light at the end of the tunnel, like everyone does, ??

Thanks for reply. Keep talking here. Lots of people you can relate to can reasure you there is light at the end of the tunnel. Great supportive people who can share what helped them.😊??

Oh gosh Nikki no!! I knew it would be weeks, honestly ??

I wish I had a hobby or something like that to occupy my mind, I'm guessing it helps you a little, I hope it does ??

Gosh it's getting close to bedtime again I get now that I'm dreading it .

Hi Nikki 

Are you feeling anxious about your son going away too? I can understand if you are.

How much longer do you have to take the combo for before you stop 

Mirtazapine?

I used to love reading, but can't concentrate long enough now to do it.

I also top up with Diazepam during the day too, only on 2mg!! I try to leave it as long as possible but at times just have to give in.

Hugs 🤗 

Hi, i am following your discussions if you dont mind as i find myself in the same place each day. I am anxious and depressed  and have been on mirtaz for ages trying to up it but failing due to it causing more anxiety and feel like im not really here and dozy. Worse is the nightmares.  I am trying to reduce even though not better and have the nausea and need 2mg diaz daily.  Have tried so many ant deps and they dont make me better, just worse.  Can i try to go it alone with only diaz as backup, i am deeply worried. Psych isnt sure what to try next.  Concentration ot good, trying to read paper. Do you find getting out to shop even difficult?  Just want to be me again

Hi Ann,

Are you coming off Mirtazapine to go onto another medication?

I don't think I could go it alone with just Diazepam, plus my useless dr wants me to decrease my Diazepam, I'm only on the 2mg too!!

Yes I also am finding it difficult to go anywhere, I managed to get myself into the supermarket last Wednesday evening, my husband took me, and the only reason I knew I had to try was because it was his birthday the next day and I hadn't even got him a card!!

It was tough going ! I actually bumped into my mental health nurse specialist, and when I saw him for my appointment on Friday he actually said he could see that I was shaking!!

I've started listening to some mindfulness on you tube , which has helped a little.

I'd like to find the mindfulness book everyone is talking about. Apparently it's got a ball of wool or something on the front?  But there are so many and I don't know which one it is?!

Hi Karen

I ended up with a friend coming round at midday. So that helped with my son out. I find I struggle more if I'm on my own. It was good to see my friend though I do find it hard to talk lots. It's hard to concentrate and everything just feels 'off', you just don't feel yourself do you. I only see a very small group of friends/ family at the moment, people I can just be with and who don't expect anything.

I'm not sure what the plan is with the mirtazipine. I was alright when I introduced the 15mg, maybe two months ago or more. But at that stage I was still on escitalopram having reduced it (I was on it from 2011 and then anxiety hit me last summer so I've been trying different combinations) plus a low dose of pregabalin which I'd been on since last October but wasn't able to tolerate going higher. So the idea was to just be on the Mirtazipine but it all went v bad a week after I'd cut out the escitalopram and I'd been off the pregabalin for a few weeks too. I was told by a different gp to double the mirt to 30mg as my gp was away. That's when 3 weeks of utter misery started. I kept being told to stick with the 30 and it'd get better. But I was getting nightmares, extreme anxiety all day and could barely eat! So when my gp was back, I said I can't stick it any more and he said to lower it and reintroduce 10mg escitalopram. That started last Fri. It's hard to tell what's withdrawal, settling in, etc now!

I think my gp is hoping things will settle and then we can see if I need the Mirtazipine. 

Sorry, long reply!

I read Ann's comments and identify too! 

Just longing to feel like me again. I had a half hour today when I felt sort of normal. It was about an hour after I'd had a 2mg diazepam and was getting ready for my friend arriving. 

Going out to shops feels like an assault on the senses and it's hard. But I force myself to go to a local shop here and there just to practice being out there!

I find reading hard too. Hardly do it at the moment. 

Hugs to you too 🤗 

And to Ann 🤗

Hi Nikki,

I'm glad you had some company today, I'm the same, I've kind of isolated myself from people as this horrendous thing takes all my energy.

Though I did let my sister come round for a while today.

If my husbands here I feel safer but he had to go back to work this week.

It gets to this time of day and I start getting agitated again, dreading the night.

I've had a few 2mg Diazepam today too, just to try and take the edge off.

Hugs 🤗 

Hi Ann

Just wanted to say hi, I joined the conversation just the other day as I identified with what Karen had written. So welcome! 

I've been the same with trying to go to higher dose of Mirtazipine. The nightmares! The nausea, anxiety. Bless you. I've been going through that too.

Kept being told it'll be ok in 4-6 weeks but I was feeling so awful after 3 weeks I had to lower.

Try not to despair. What meds have you tried? 

I read an inspiring story on another forum (it was an old thread from 2012 and the lady had put an update in 2015), the lady had exactly the same difficulties that we're all experiencing while taking escitalopram and she thought she'd never feel any better. After 3 months she'd really turned a corner (though the initial weeks were dreadful, just as we're describing) and in the update 3 years later, she said she was glad she stick it out all those years ago and was thriving. 

So I do believe there's something that WILL work for each of us, but it's getting through these days and nights that feel dreadful. Literally it's ten mins at a time for me most days for long periods. I'm sending you a big hug x

Just a thought on that book! Is it The Mindfulness in Knitting? By Rachael Matthews. 

Sorry if that's not the one. 

x

To all of us in this conversation, oh how i identify! I can see only three of my old friends at a push as im comfortable with them. Feel the rest are judging how bad i have become with this illness.  We all need the same remedy of some sort, just life back. Isolation is horrid, anxiety is horrid, hope it can be treated for us all.  People keep asking us out or for coffee, old friends, why cant i go? Why am i afraid?  I have had 2mg diaz today. I can competely agree with the supermarket visit- ive done exactly the same, sent hubby off to get bananas while i found his birthday card! Good luck tonight and hope for better tomorrow. X

I'll have a look, thank you Nikki

Hugs 🤗 

Bless you Ann.

I hope you have a better night and day tomorrow xx

I've just had another 2mg to help with this eve. 

That's good you saw your sister. As hard as it is, it's important to let people we feel comfortable with, visit. I spend so much of the time in company feeling awkward and edgy and wanting to be on my own so I can curl up but at the same time I know that I benefit from having company and long for it when I am alone! That's anxiety and depression for you! 

It is absolute exhausting! 

Know you're not alone as you go into the evening and night. 

It will get better x 

It is exhausting Nikki!

This whole thing just wears you out!

Will be thinking of you tonight too and everyone else suffering.

Hugs 🤗 

Hi reading your posts . Totally agree when you read posts about people who've come out the other side and are looking back and saying it was worth going through this bad stuff. It's hell when you don't know how long it will go on for and every day is a waiting game. I've had reallyvdesperate times and wish I could have talked on forums like this. It's great the way you are all supporting  each other . The encouragement and knowing people are out there to talk to is great. My life is a far cry from when I couldn't even leave the house, there is hope and happy times, the thought of having to mix with people or even have people round used to be excruciating for me, avoided at all costs, just wanted to be left alone, now I have days where I think that was a good day , I went out, I socialised and I didn't worry about how I came across or if people thought I looked nervous.  Just wanted to say don't give up hope , I almost did many times, it takes time ( it's torment , but gets better) and we're all finding great people here who understand.??

Thank you Edwina, I've read some of your posts and I admire how you have come through to be where you are today.

You give us all inspiration. ??

Thank you Edwina ❤️ So good to hear your progress and encouragement ❤️

It's painful isn't it, feeling so far from how you know you truly are. I think we all need to be super kind on ourselves. Not expect too much. Little tiny steps. I'm saying that to remind myself as well! 

It's impossible for someone who hasn't been here to understand. Important thing is we all understand and like Edwina said, it does get better. 

Just little steps. Wishing you will feel supported through the night. 

Will be thinking of you all ladies x