Mirtazapine and breathing problems/ Mirtazapine withdrawl
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi
First time posting here.
I went onto Mirtazapine at the start of March. I'd been trying to avoid antidepressants but then had to conceed that maybe they were worth a try as I wasn't getting anywhere. I was mainly prescribed it for depression, but I also have bad anxiety and OCD so the thinking was that it'd help that also. I started off on 15mg.
At first I felt it really helped; I slept better, and though I felt a bit spaced out I felt quite nice and calm and serene compared to normal. Unfortunately about three weeks in I felt like it just stopped working, though it was hard to tell if I'd have felt worse if I hadn't been on it. I spoke with my GP who suggested upping the dose to 30mg which I did. I've been on 30mg for two weeks now and haven't really felt a positive change in my mood though I know it can take time. What I have noticed, unfortunately, is that my asthma seems to be markedly worse since taking the higher dose. I'm taking more of my preventer inhaler than I've been prescribed (though I was prescribed a child's dose with it made clear I could up it quite safely) and using my reliever a lot.
I had a virtual GP appointment a couple of days ago and it was suggested that I should drop back to 15mg to see if it helped my tight chest. I asked if it was safe to drop straight to 15mg, being mindful of the fact that one has to be careful reducing the dose of anti depressants, and was told that it would be okay. I (perhaps rather stupidly) thought that as I'd only been on the higher dose for two weeks that it'd be okay to drop down to 15mg straight away.
Today I was wondering why I felt so awful (horrible headache, nausea, feeling tearful and unable to cope with anything) until I realised I'd only taken 15mg of Mirtazapine last night! I'm hoping it's that and I'm not coming down with something. So I just thought I'd post here to see if anyone had had a similar experience lowering their Mirtazapine dose and also to see if anyone else had experienced breathing issues whilst on Mirtazapine. I feel at the moment like I'm almost having to choose between feeling depressed and not being able to breathe properly if indeed it is the Mirtazapine causing the issue.
0 likes, 3 replies
sam18386 chloe74988
Posted
hi Chloe, i have responded to you because i don't believe in leaving people stuck. what i have read is worrying, i confess i am no expert but unless the medication specifically says breathing difficulties i would be inclined to ring your doctor. asthma is no joke and if yours has been caused by your medication then i don't think the medication is for you. i have never taken antidepressants but know sometimes medication doesn't help. apart from medication has anyone offered you any other support, maybe a talking therapy? we have a company here called life links who deal with mental health issues - do you have anyone like that where you are? ask to see them! good luck, it's tough, i am myself having intense counselling for assault, which is terrifying, but won't take antidepressants as they never helped me at all.
chloe74988 sam18386
Posted
Hi Sam thank you for your message. Unfortunately I have tried counselling etc, tried to avoid anti depressants for a couple of years but in the end had to conceed that I should probably try them. I stuck it out and stayed on 15mg, the effects seemed to reduce relatively quickly I think because I'd only been on 30mg for a relatively short time, and I feel like it's a bit too early to say but I think my breathing has been better since being on a lower dose. I'm going to try to have a 'phone GP appointment next week for some advice and I also did wonder if I needed to report the side effect of it affecting my asthma.
I'm sorry you are going through a difficult time with such a horrible thing, best wishes.
brit79105 chloe74988
Posted
I've read that Mirtazapine is good for breathing, I'm surprised to read that you have a problem, I guess people are different, how is your asthma now?