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Mirtazapine for Insomnia AND depression

Posted , 7 users are following.

NoDramaMama
NoDramaMama

My Dr prescribed me Mirtazapine 4 days ago to treat both insomnia and depression. I started with one 15 MG tablet at bedtime for two days and increased to two 15 MG tablets at bedtime after the initial two days.

So far this med has only made me miserable! Instead of sleeping I feel even more anxious and awake after taking it. I also have been having lower back and hip pain. To top it off the last two days I've had unrelenting diarrhea! !

Can anyone tell me I'd these are"normal" side effects that will subside once I reach my "therapeutic" dosage? I'm ready to throw in the towel, I don't even know that an antidepressant is something I need. M in the past I've NEVER suffered from depression pet say, I HAVE had depressive episodes always brought about by some situation beyond my control (ie; broke my neck in 07 resulting in multiple spine surgeries, followed by divorce and a host of family issues). In the past I've ALWAYS been lucky enough to pull thru sans any medication.

My current got of depression is THE FIRST that's EVER had me seek professional help. My father passed away in July 2014 after a horrible fight with diabetes, heart disease, and PAD, multiple amputations, etc. Prior to his passing I agreed as this primary caregiver for nearly 6 years. .. and my dad was MY VERY BEST FRIEND. I've been seeing a psychiatrist for grief counseling and mentioned having a terrible got off insomnia the last few weeks. .. and here I am.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Btw, I'm in the US, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Thanks!

Marla

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • NoDramaMama
    NoDramaMama

    Posted

    Btw, pardon my typos! I apologize, it's late, and I'm exhausted.

    Thanks again!

  • georgeGG
    georgeGG NoDramaMama

    Posted

    I started on 15mg. was a zombie until after lunch. Cut the dose to 5mg and that seemed to work and gradually sleep improved. It was a generic I was using. A change of maker caused sever depresion. Took amonth on original generic to get back to normal. You might wish to try a different make. Each maker has their own carrier which are untested and some can be wicked.

    I had a similar upset with my hormone therapy injection. Maker can matter it seems.

  • mvwaugh
    mvwaugh NoDramaMama

    Posted

    You sound to have every to feel depressed. I was got down by a very slow recovery from an operation to remove my gallbladder after quite a long illness. I too couldn't sleep. I was put on Mirtazapine up to 45 gms which wasn't the complete answer. To my surprise I feeling a whole load better now I am on Venlafaxine 150 gm. I feel almost my normal self, sleep better and am looking forward to stuff even or despite a wisdom playing me up. Don't give up on the idea of being in need of medication. I am in my 70s and have lived a pretty stressful life until now without medication but I am grateful to have had the help from my psychiatrist who has been able to Taylor the medication to suit me. I was a little aghast when she said I would need to be onbit for at least 2 years but so be it. I can live without drinking alcohol. All the best Maggie PS I am on both medications now.
  • davhill
    davhill NoDramaMama

    Posted

    Hi,

    I think there are a couple of aspects it's worth your knowing about. These are from both experience and my researches.

    First, trying to rationalise depression can be counterproductive. I am on Mirtazapine because, in addition to health problems, I'm in mid divorce. My depressive episode is a reaction to the stressors I'm obliged to cope with at the moment.

    This is straightforward reactive depression. The other kind of depression tends to happen without a specific reason...it's called endogenous depression.

    The other aspect concerns anxiety, which was always a big deal in my profile. Certain antidepressants have an anxiolytic effect...they reduce anxiety. Like you, I've never felt depressed but have used various compounds and found the antidepressant effect a bonus. It's typical to try to blame a medication - especially a new one - for all manner of weird things. I found it important to understand this can be anxiety at work, rather than real issues.

    To help this, I try to remember a quotation from Dr. Claire Weeke, who was a psychologist specialising in anxiety. Referring to 'false' symptoms caused by anxiety, she said, "I've seen every shade of every trick."

    Wise words.

  • Zerodark
    Zerodark NoDramaMama

    Posted

    I had bad stomach and anxiety I am 15 days in and it tough going
  • MarkHollywood
    MarkHollywood NoDramaMama

    Posted

    cut the pills in half (half of 15mg) or approx. 7.5mg... it works great for sleep! do this every night for at least two weeks. if it works great then DON'T INCREASE IT JUST STAY AT 7.5mg... otherwise increase it after 2 weeks.
  • monica53564
    monica53564 NoDramaMama

    Posted

    I was also in mitarzapine, had terrible anxiety and panic attacks, bad depression and all the "normal simptoms" related to anxiety and depresion but today I am FREE, I havent felt so well before, I stop taking Mitarzapine after a year on it (very slowly) but I also worked on myself, I am convinced we are the ones causing our own anxiety and fear and only you can cure yourself. I bought the book "The feeling great hanbook" by David Burns and it helped me tremendenly, I did all the exercises the way he sugggest and worked on myself every day for at least one hour, I also follow some other guides I found online and started practicing mindulness and meditations. Meds do not cure, only disguise the simptoms but once you are off them if you havent worked on yourself it comes back. 

    It is really up to you to heal all those emotions you never gave you the change to express and show, all that anger, sadness, etc that you have been keeping because, lets face it, that what we were taught.... 

    It took me 3 months of hard work on myself to see changes, after 5 months of hard work on myself my enxiety and depression went away and now I am more open, I express more, it's ok to feel and to show it, think about it, there is something the anxiety is trying to tell you, you need to listen and not to try to take it away with medicine, because it will never go away that way....

    Wish you all the best!

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