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Could the mirtazapine have stopped working after 3 years?

Posted , 4 users are following.

evergreen
evergreen

I have been really happy on this drug for three years now and envisaged staying on it for ever because it suited me so well. I was on 15mg at first which stopped working after a few weeks and then went up to 30mg which I have been on for three years. My depression has been controlled and I was sleeping really well. Before the mirt, I had to take temazepam every night, but for the past three years I have only had to take it once a fortnight or so, but it is very difficult to get doctors to prescribe it now. Anyway, I have suddenly stopped being able to get to sleep. I have frequent need to urinate and my heart is beating too fast when I can't sleep. This used to be only a couple of nights a month, now it is every night virtually. Also, my depression and anxiety have suddenly worstened.

Do you think the mirt has stopped working? I am reluctant to up the dose if it is going to poop out again, as it will make it more difficult to withdraw from it should I need to. Has anyone else been on this drug long term and had similar experience? I have a doctors appointment a week tomorrow, but was wanting to hear others' experiences before I go. Thanks.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Mermaid3011
    Mermaid3011 evergreen

    Posted

    Oh Evergreen I am so sorry to hear this! 

    If Mirt is actually giving up on you there is either the option of going up with the dose or trying one of the other second generation antidepressants. 

    I have issues sleeping as well. Falling asleep and staying asleep. My pdoc gave me the choice between Mirtazapine, Trazodone and clonazepam with something else I dont remember.

    In the end I am sure your doc can suggest something that may help you. Maybe it's just a period of a few bad days and you'll get out of the dark valley soon.

    I so wish it for you!

    • evergreen
      evergreen Mermaid3011

      Posted

      Thanks, Mermaid. I actually had a better night's sleep last night but I did have 3 glasses of wine and watched the film, 'Gone Girl' until I couldn't keep my eyes open. But at least I didn't need the temazepam. I am not sure if it's the mirt pooping out or not. I feel better today but I do have some real worries (have to sell our dream home as husbands job is looking very insecure and we're mortgaged up to the hilt), and some other equally serious worries, so it may just be that life is challenging me at present and the mirt is not enough to keep a lid on things.
  • lynne82155
    lynne82155 evergreen

    Posted

    Hi

    Ive been on 45mg for about 6 years It was been great controlled my depression

    gave me a good night sleep moods been ok, only bad thing is the weight gain.

    In December I started having anxiety attacks which I have never had throughout my 16years with depression.

    At first the anxiety was not interferring with my mood but the longer the anxiety has gone on and the more symptoms I get I feel my mood in plummeting.

    Anyway now my gp wants to change  my meds to sertraline obviously weaning me off the mirtazapine first.

    But could my so called anxiety actually be in fact mirtazapine has stopped working and im getting withdrawal symptoms??????

    Im really confused, all I know that whatever I have got at the moment is making me unable to function

    • evergreen
      evergreen lynne82155

      Posted

      Yes, it could very probably be the mirt stopping working. It's called tolerance withdrawal. I got the same thing which is why I came off mirt. It worked really well for me for four years, helping me with sleep, anxiety and depression. But then I started to get intermittant episodes of real anxiety and insomnia. It was worse than I had ever had before. I decided therefore to come off the mirt. I started to feel better as I withdrew from it and feel absolutely great now. I am so pleased I came off it and didn't just try another AD. Mirtazapine had helped me so much but it stopped working and seemed to turn toxic to my system as I had frequent nighttime urination, and low blood cell counts. However I have come off it and my depression has gone. I have a lot to thank mirtazapine for. If I were you, I would do a very slow taper off mirtazapine and see how you are drug free before trying another AD. You may be well! You don't know until you try it. It isn't easy, but listen to your body and take it as slowly as you need to.
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