mirtazapine and/or pregabalin
Posted , 6 users are following.
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1
Mirtazapine and/or pregabalin
I am in one of those med quandaries. Had major anxiety crisis earlier this year and , for reasons which are too dull to put here, i ended up on mirtazapine 30 and pregabalin 20. my side effects were insane, hallucanagenic dreams, terrible muscle cramping, forgetfulness, clumsiness, intense feelings, depressive/suicidal thoughts. I also wanted to eat everything. Having said that my anxiety did eventually go and my mood lifted.However because i took them both at the same time i did not know which effects to attribute to which.
Recently ( after about 6 weeks of being) on the full dose the eating, 'living dead feeling' , cramps were worse and people at work were noticing i was not functioning properly- kept losing things, forgot how to do simple tasks etc. Therefore my doctor lowered mirtazapine to 15.
Three days later and I had flu symptoms, vomitting, shaking and suicidal thoughts- generally very vulnerable and unstable sensation..
I dont really know what is going on or what to do for the best. i know Mirtazapine withdrawal can be pretty bad, and if so i would prefer to get off it before i become too dependent . having said that it may be the pregabalin that is the issue---i have no idea. Gp, though means well, seems to treat me a bit like a chemistry set.
So in summary i wonder if anyone has had similar experience and can confirm what is doing what. And also offer some advice on what they feel would be best to do. x
0 likes, 14 replies
aimee12
Posted
I have had panic attacks and high anxiety for 10 years, tried all types
Of meds, I helped myself in the end by facing my fears! But 5 weeks ago
I had a breakdown I'm only 28!!! Ever since having that my panic and anxity
Came back worse!!! So doc but me on mirtazapine 15 mg and I feel all the
Things you said above. My head keeps having suicidal thoughts and feel like
Shite tbh so tonight I'm stoping them and seeing doc tomorrow as this is not
Normal x
john2528
Posted
Guess its a personal thing been taking mirtazapine 45mg daily for 18 months following marriage breakdown and have not experienced any side effects with the exception of eating like a pig for a few months, have now got that under control and have lost weight i put on and some more.
No hallucanagenic dreams i sleep the best ever on this medication
aimee12
Posted
In that way you are lucky as its not nice at all! I just wish my anxiety would
Bugga off!!! It doesn't help that my partner doesn't understand, he says you don't have time
To be ill your a mum and told him I'm feeling suicidal he says go do it then! I feel alone as have no family
And all my friends work long hours and I'm at home 24/7 looking after my 3 children.
I live in middle of no where with no car just feel trapped!
daniel24051 aimee12
Posted
yes aimee sorry to hear am in the same way but my hun its hard keep you chin up stay strong x
john2528
Posted
sorry to hear you can not talk to your partner its hard enough to deal with anxiety & depression when supported let alone when you feel isolated and alone.
Did you see the doc about changing meds i know the first medication i was on had me coming up with some bizarre thoughts and what works for one does not necessarily work for someone else.
I also see a phsycologist every 2/3 weeks which sort of helps me set some goals and stay or get back on track at times.
I can relate to the loneliness going from a hectic family life with teenagers and a wife to living in the family home with no one needing me and no visitors from one week to the next..
I have one friend i am comfortable to confide in and at times vent to i guess when i feel its all to much, if your partner cant empathise with you it makes it hard as we all need someone to confide in to some degree.
For me focusing on my children during my darkest days was what got me through and stopped me doing anything rash (with meds a friend and phsycologist )
Hope you had some luck with your doc and meds
suze1
Posted
aimee12
Posted
Yeah it is very hard bud I suppose I just have
To deal with it! It's so hard to fight when you are
Śo low! My children are young and depend on
Me so I try fight best I can.. I'm glad you have someone
As like you said we all need someone! Suzie I'd say if you been kn them for
So many years its the side effects! I'm very aggressive
And frustrated because no one seems to understand
And it's so annoying! People are blind to someone with mental
Health issues as not visible! Think we should try make
A local panic disorder group and make it known how bad we live our
Day to day life!
mickonz
Posted
There was a bit of a twist to my story. I went back up to 30 on the mirtazapine but rather than readjusting me i got seriously depressed. so they changed me to duloxotine. then i had massive side effects of high anxiety. my dad then became ill and had to go to hospital and this sent me through the roof so i ended up on a psych ward- which is not somewhere you want to go with anxiety. any way- they whacked up the pregabalin to 400 and it seems to be doing the trick (although my faith in meds has understandably been shaken so i dont consider myself out of the woods yet. )
What i have learned is GPS simply are not qualified enough to understand these meds. No- body really understands them, but at least psychiatrists are specialised in SOME way and therefore , if i have any med questions, i am going to scrape the money together to get a private consultation if i cant see an NHS one.
In response to you kind contributers to this post: Suze- i would hang in there with the Mirt. I too was hyper and moody and having crazy dreams- but only during the side effect period. once they kicked in i actually felt great in my mood. the only reason i dabbled with it is i was getting stomach cramps, and for some reason when i tried to resinstate it it did not work the second time and i got worse. People rave about it as a drug and i can see why- it just went a bit pear shaped for me. Does not mean it will for you.
john/aimee - i know . It is SOOOO hard. I believe absolutely there should be stress wards that lookf after you while you are going on meds. The NHS talks about research stating that it is better to be treated at home - but this is all based in comparison with the old 'asylum' system. things have moved on since then. Specialsits just will not acknowledge the trauma going on meds can create. Imagine if you went to the doctors for a migraine and the doctor said - 'ill give you this pill and your headache will get so bad you will feel like killing yourself for 3 weeks, but then it will get better' you would think them insane. But thats what we have to deal with.
I would love to know if yuo agree- if you had the choice of home treatement or a hospital ward specifically designed to manage anxiety/depression while going on meds would you go in or stay at home?
keep the faith everyone. it WILL get better.
x
aimee12
Posted
You on the hospital should have a word whilst people llike us
Start new meds! I wish I was positive thinking but
At same time I have a partner who doesn't understand
And knocks me back down! X
aimee12
Posted
You on the hospital should have a word whilst people llike us
Start new meds! I wish I was positive thinking but
At same time I have a partner who doesn't understand
And knocks me back down! X
mickonz
Posted
aimee12
Posted
As made me worse!! I went to docs yesterday and there
Referring me to mental health team for an assessment.
I've been like this from age 16 now 28!! I pray it will go away
But had it so long now feels normal! I can't do anything
Normal though like going abroad or go on a boat plane train etc
I keep going for my children. There are no groups I'd love to start one
mickonz
Posted
You do know dont you that when you go on meds you may feel worse for a couple of weeks. this is normal. If you can get help form your local crisis team this is a huge help- they are brilliant. when you go for your referral ask about this. You need to start making some demands , sweetheart. make them listen to you. Take it a day at a time.
I couldnt get on on a train for 10 years. now i can. its ust th illness. you need help with it, focus on that right now. And stop blocking ideas. get on the iternet- moodzone, forums, anything. I know its tempting to want someone to come and make it better- thats true of all illness- but yuo have to get out there to look for this. it isnt going to land on your lap.
best wishes. ]xxxx
mickonz
Posted
You do know dont you that when you go on meds you may feel worse for a couple of weeks. this is normal. If you can get help form your local crisis team this is a huge help- they are brilliant. when you go for your referral ask about this. You need to start making some demands , sweetheart. make them listen to you. Take it a day at a time.
I couldnt get on on a train for 10 years. now i can. its ust th illness. you need help with it, focus on that right now. And stop blocking ideas. get on the iternet- moodzone, forums, anything. I know its tempting to want someone to come and make it better- thats true of all illness- but yuo have to get out there to look for this. it isnt going to land on your lap.
best wishes. ]xxxx