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In defence of mirtazapine

Posted , 28 users are following.

oldboy
oldboy

I keep reading on this forum how mirtazapine is an evil drug; how people want to get off it as soon as possible etc.  Very few posts saying it helps them.

I appear for the defence , M'Lud. 

I was on SSRI antidepressants for some time.  They countered my extreme anxiety well, but I had bad insomnia probably caused by the  AD.  I tried various drugs for the insomnia (zopiclone,  amitriptyline etc) but with little success.   My doctor suggested mirtazapine but I declined as I had read about its weight gain side effect.  However eventually I changed my mind out of desparation.  The mirt was miraculous: it completely solved the insomnia.   I felt "normal" for the first time in months. 

"But what about the side effects" I hear you say.  Well, I did get back my appetite - but no more than it was before I became ill.   I gained a little weight, but no more than I had lost.

I did have difficulty getting up in the morning and feeling groggy after that, but those lessened with time. I take the minimum mirt that allows me to get to sleep - about 11mg,  and I think that keeps the side effects down.

Mirtazapine is like a knife in that it is not evil in itself, it is how it is used that matters.   The people who say it is evil have perhaps been on the wrong dose.  Mirt tends to be more sedative at low doses; more activating at high doses.   Do not throw out the baby with the bath water!

I get the impression from reading posts on this forum that mirt is best used (at low dose) to counter insomnia or where an SSRI antidepressant has not been tolerated.      

             

     

6 likes, 79 replies

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  • evergreen
    evergreen oldboy

    Posted

    I agree that mirtazapine has been fantastic for me (apart ffrom the weight gain which I have now dealt with). I know that I may be on it for life though because I tried to come off it once and failed miserably. But it has been a very good drug for me. It has:

    ​Kept me sane

    Greatly reduced my migraines

    stopped my IBS

    stopped my morning sickness

    ​stopped my constant itching.

    ​I am now very slim and happy and have no intention of coming off mirtazapine. It makes me feel normal.

    • bexnkev
      bexnkev evergreen

      Posted

      I am glad mirtazapine has worked for you ☺I don't think I will ever come off of it either ... it plugs what is missing in my brain ... my doctor has told me there is no reason for me to come off of it ... the way I see it, it fixed me and I don't ever want to be broken again ☺all the best

      Bex

    • evergreen
      evergreen bexnkev

      Posted

      Thanks. Yes, I totally agree. It does feel like it plugs what is missing in my brain too. It makes me into a normal person. I sleep normally now too, and have come off my temazepam and also greatly reduced my alcohol to less than a bottle of wine a week.
    • oldboy
      oldboy evergreen

      Posted

      I am so glad for you.   

      I used to itch at one time but not now.  I had not realised that the mirt might be responsible.

      I too have no intention of coming off mirt, but for some reason my GP keeps mentioning it.  

       

  • sarah41
    sarah41 oldboy

    Posted

    I'm now on mitazipine and have been for about five months, it's the best one I've ever had, before I was on paroxteine and before that venlafaxine neither of which helped me! I've gained weight on them but now I've learnt how to control that side. It is one of the best medication of had, I now rarely need diazepam and have stopped the zopiclone. Im on the higest dose atm but it is working very well it's nice to see someone else who it's worked for.
    • oldboy
      oldboy sarah41

      Posted

      Thank you for replying.  It is so nice to hear of another sucess.
  • forrest
    forrest oldboy

    Posted

    I wasn't a fan of Mirtazapine when I first started taking it but now after nearly 2 years I believe it has helped me with my depression, anxiety and sleep. I have taken many SSRI's and SNRI's and think Mirtazapine has less side effects for me.
    • oldboy
      oldboy forrest

      Posted

      Thanks forrest for that.  That will give hope to people who are starting on mirt. Best wishes.  
  • Teejade
    Teejade oldboy

    Posted

    I have to say I agree with you. Other then trying to find the right dosage that worked for me I really liked this drug. I slept better, I functioned better and for 18 months I didn't have a single anxiety attack. I think like anything somethings don't work for everyone. We're all wired differently and we all have different issues. I'm not coming off the drug by personal choice, I was told I had too as they think it's causing a myalgia side effect which is making me lose my voice and the only way to determine if it is the Mirt is to come off it completely. At first I was terrified because I have come to depend on this drug but the more I thought about it I realized I was in a much better place now and I'm excited at the idea of being able to be okay without needing meds. WD are hell yes that I also agree with but its a drug and it took a good few months for it to work and make us feel better so I'm aware it's going to take the same to get out of our systems and allow the brain to re wire itself again.
    • Calmer
      Calmer Teejade

      Posted

      Hi Teejade

      I'm excited for you !!  As funny as that sounds I guess being on Mirt' for 2 years is pretty much long enough to try and face the world without it.  I too am coming off Mirt' now, in my opinion it's advisable to do a slow taper, especially after a long period of being on it.

      I read on the other page you are doing a cold turkey, and from reading the above it seems you need to come off it quickly.  I feel for you, it's a rotten drug to come off, remember the worst wd effects usually kick-in at a bout 2 weeks when BAM, it's all about anxiety, insomnia & nausea.  I sincerely hope you are one of the lucky one's - let us know how you get on, we're all here to help one another and I wish you well.

      Best wishes

      C

    • Teejade
      Teejade Calmer

      Posted

      It's weird to be able to say that I'm excited to be coming off as well. Like I'm getting to know myself again without the drug. I know that tapering off is the reccomended way but I spoke to my doctor about it and they agreed that doing is this way is the best for my circumstances. I am fortunate that I'm not working at the moment either so I'm prepared for the next few weeks and I don't have the added stress of trying to go through WD and work full time etc. I'm on day 6 now and I can feel it getting worse, the headaches and nausea is really taking its toll. Insomnia has been awful up but I finally got sleep last night so I'm hoping that it'll get better now and not worse. I think you've gotta be in a good head space before coming off these meds and have a positive outlook that it's going to get better or the anxiety will take its toll. I'll make an update in a week or two as to how it's going smile
    • oldboy
      oldboy Teejade

      Posted

      Hi Teejade

      For your information I too lose my voice when I talk for longer than about 5 minutes, however I have not attributed it to the mirt as it began 2 years before I started taking the mirt.   The specialist says it is atrophy of the true vocal cords.  I suppose it is due to age (70 years).   I have been referred for speech and language therapy.

      I really hope your WD from mirt goes smoothly.   

    • oldboy
      oldboy Calmer

      Posted

      I am interested in your second sentence.  It brings up a question that has been in my mind for some time.  Does the brain heal itself while one is taking mirt (in the same way that the leg does while you use a crutch).   I hope it does.  Do you have any information?

      Regards.      

    • Calmer
      Calmer oldboy

      Posted

      Hi Oldboy

      Your question is huge, philosophical & almost impossible to answer as there are many reasons why people get depressed in the first instance.

      But for me personally, I believe that being this AD gives some relief from the suffering, forming a bridge and giving temporary (borrowed time if you like) and space to explore the very causes and repair if possible.  Exploration can be CBT, Mindfulness, Brain Training ... whatever one has "faith" in.

      I think sometimes we have the answers to the deep inner causes of our suffering, we have to listen to what is in our soul.  Sometimes we are unable to go through this painful process .  Whether it is living an unhealthy lifestyle, drinking to excess, too much pressure on the job front, staying in abusive relationships, lonliness, low self esteem, whatever the cause of spiralling into the deep dark central well of despair.  Then we have to make changes, and it is a tough and tortuous lesson, if we stay the same there is no shift.AD's only give temporary relief I believe.

       

      Hope that answers your question.

    • Jen231963
      Jen231963 Teejade

      Posted

      hi I was just wondering how you got on with coming off mirt?

      Thank you

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