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Coming to Mirtazapine (15mg), from Fluoxetine (40mg).

Posted , 17 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Greetings,

I have read a number of experience from this forum both about Fluoxetine when I was taking it at 20mg before I went up to 40mg, and then some of these Mirtazapine experiences before I switched.

Today is the first day on Mirtazapine, I took it last night before sleep at 15mg.

I woke up this morning feeling like I'd been drugged with chloroform!

The feeling lasted throughout the day, I had to drink a hell of a lot of coffee to make it through seminars today, and then fell asleep when I got home.

Does this effect diminish after taking the medication for some time? I can't possibly continue like this, I won't be able to function! After two weeks I am supposed to go up to 30mg.

I realise it makes you sleepy, that's why you take it before bed. But does the extreme drowsiness through the day get any better? Could it also be that fluoxetine is still in my system because I only stopped that yesterday after cutting down from 40mg to only 20mg for a few days first.

I appreciate any advice you can give me.

0 likes, 40 replies

40 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I understand that fluoxitine can stay in the system for up to 2 weeks. This was told to me by a psychiatrist as I am about to start a course om mirtazipine. Hope this helps
  • scottydog
    scottydog

    Posted

    Good Luck ........

    I went from prozac to mirtrazapine and felt the same, in fact I felt spaced at times, however my mood is 110% better and Im sleeping however be prepared for the weight gain.

    Im now on the 30mg tablets and feel a lot better but Im concerned about the weight issue.

    Be aware of that.

    Ange

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I've now been on it for a few days. I still feel really sleepy when I get up but it isn't quite as bad as the first day. It just takes longer to wake up in the morning. I think it's had some effect on my mood already, if only in the sense that I haven't felt really bad since I started.

    Plus I'm getting to sleep which is good. And I have finally got my appetite back!!

  • Pooh_bear
    Pooh_bear

    Posted

    Mirtazapine has strong sedative effects in the lower doses. These drowsy feelings which continue during the day should go off after a week or so. You should not attempt to drive if you are feeling drowsy. Hopefully the benefits of the drug will start to kick in too.
  • trudyb2008
    trudyb2008

    Posted

    Hi,

    I too was prescribed Fluoxetine by my doctor. I recently visited him in the last few days and he has transferred me to Mirtazapine. On evening one I felt like I was drunk,my vision was unreliable and I felt quite woozy.It is now night four and those symptoms have passed. I was told by my doc to leave it about four days before switching to another drug so switching straight over like that isnt advisable as one drug needs to be out of your system before you start another.Hope this helps....

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    I just want to thank you for your posts they have restored my faith in starting mirtazapine. I was on fluoxetine for 4 weeks and have never felt so awful, I am now on a week off and dread wakening in the morning but I have to get this out of my system before starting mir. I worry about the weight gain as I also have had no appetite on flu and have managed to drop a few pounds however if mir does make me feel good perhaps I will want to be out and about doing more and won't veg in the house eating (fingers crossed) Does anyone know if it's okay to have a glass of wine when taking mir.

    Thanks again. smile

    • Pippa1364
      Pippa1364 Guest

      Posted

      Well I've had wine with both Mirt and Prozac! Prozac apparently has a relatively short 'Hang Time' in the body according to my GP and you only need to allow a day or two before starting Mirt.

      Other SSRI's take longer to get out of your system.

      I'm sure alcohol wouldn't be advised though. However, when I started taking Prozac around it's release time. I kept the patient notes and it actually said that there were no known side affects with alcohol. However, today's notes do not say this. Prozac can make you feel very jittery and anxious in the early days and the wine counteracted this for me. As for Mirt. with it's sedative affects, I wouldn't advise it until you adjust to it as it will exacerbate the sedation. Moderation is the main point but the odd glass should not affect you much at all.

      Hope this is useful to you.

  • Brain_Candy
    Brain_Candy

    Posted

    I only experienced drowziness after I take the dose which was great for me since I take it at night. I feel sort of cloudy in the morning, but I haven't experienced the 'zombie' feeling you and other people have reported.

    Unfortunately, my mood hasn't improved (if it has the amount is negligable) and I've developed a full-blown anxiety disorder with derealisation/depersonalisation and frequent panic attacks. Therefore, I'm going back on to Fluoxetine as soon as I've tapered off the Mirtazapine for a few weeks.

    I'm glad others are having success with Mirtazapine though, and I wish you all the best of luck.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi,

    I've also been prescribed mirtazapine after fluoxetine as the flu made me feel dreadful, however my g.p said I had to give the flu a week to get out of my system before starting mir and also after a few days of taking it you apparently wake up feeling refreshed. I have big hopes for this drug but I'm a little scared of taking the first one (tomorrow eve) as I felt sooooo bad on flu. Fingers crossed and good luck to you guys.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    :D I was on fluoxetine for years and it didn't seem to work for me. I told my doc that I'd been on mianserin years ago. He prescibed mirtazapine 15mg and to my amazement I soon started feeling GRRrrreeat! The only problem I find with them is that I can't stop eating. Will increasing to 30mg make that worse?
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Oh wow, im so glad to be reading all this, i have just come back from seeing my Phciatrist (cant spell) and after 9 months on Flu she has prescribed me Mirt as i had bad sleeping patterns, so im looking forward to taking them tonight and will get to bed early just incase. But this weight thing dont sound good for me as i have a bad self image as it is already so this is a slight worry, but I have hope again, but am concerned as i have to be weened off 150mg Flu and not looking forward to the side effects, really im just posting to know that apart from the side effects and weird dreams etc, do the positives outweight the negatives, was it all worth it!! are the benefits to Mirt worth all the side effects.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi, I have been on Flu for 8 months which I am now coming off & have been taking 15g Mirt for the last 3 weeks. I take 20g Flu in the morning & Mirt at night. The doctor said that these two drugs are safe to be in the body at the same time. The side effects that I have had from Mirt are weight gain, night sweats, aching lower body & very vivid dreams. But now after 3 weeks I am starting to feel better about things & more positive. I sleep much better & don't have the drugged feeling when I wake up, that only lasted about 4 days when I started taking them. I have filled my fridge with fruit to snack on & drink a lot more water as I never feel full. I will give the Mirt another month to see if the positives outweigh the negatives. Good luck.
  • Mikethorpe1968
    Mikethorpe1968

    Posted

    Hi i've found all this information really helpful.

    I've been on prozac 20mg for the first month with no improvement so dr increased the dose to 40mg and again no improvement over the two weeks to date.

    Saw the Dr today and has put me on mirtazapine 15mg at night (first one being tonight) and i've got to reduce my prozac down 20mg for a week and then one 20mg tablet everyother day for a week.

    I might post a daily report on how this has affected if people would be interested?

    thanks alot

    Mike

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    hi all,

    My partner has been prescribed mir and took his first one last night....its now 3pm and he's been asleep since 1am last night, previous to this his sleep pattern has been all over the place due to his depression. I am worried and a little scared to be honest with you....I never experienced depression before and although Ive read many websites on how to help your loved one, I still don't really know who to help him or what I can do to help him...

    sorry im rambling!

    He's on 15mg....will his sleeping get better in the sense of not sleeping all the time? He wont be impressed with the weight gain...oh dear!

    I love him dearly...and just want to help!

    C

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