Mirtazapine - is side-effect of feeling drowsy and lethargic long-term?
Posted , 8 users are following.
I have started to take Mirtazipine (lowest dose, of 15mg) a week ago. It has solved my long-term problem of insomnia. However, I feel very drowsy all the time. I therefore take a nap for about two hours in the daytime, and, despite that, after 8pm or so I can hardly keep my eyes open. So I'm back to bed fairly early (say, 10pm) and then getting up at about 10am.
I have got responsibilities and can't continue to live like this, wasting so much time sleeping and not feeling sharp when I am awake.
I have read widely about the medication and the lethargy and drowsiness is a common side-effect, but it says in some places that this side-effect subsides over time.
To what extent does the feeling of lethargy and drowsiness reduce over time? Is it significant or minor please?
If it is significant, then it may be worth me persisting with the drug, but if it is only a slight reduction I can't go on like this and am considering trying a more natural remedy like St John's Wort.
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks very much.
1 like, 15 replies
daryl79695 fana
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fana daryl79695
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Yes, the doctor wanted me to take 30mg, but I myself suggested the lower dose as I didn't want to suffer so many side-effects.
Logically one would imagine that 30mg would have more side-effects than 15mg?
How drowsy / lethargic do you feel now please?
Do you feel as alert or sharp in the daytime as you used to before taking the medication?
Thanks.
daryl79695 fana
Posted
As I recall I felt fine. I saw my doctor every fortnight to give a running report on how I felt. I've been on Mirtazapine for a year now, and the only thing I've noticed is a dip in my lidibo. This is a common problem as anti-depressants such as Mirtazapine target the same chemical balance in yout brain. I'm considering coming off of Mirtazapine because of this but it's helped me through a problematic period in my life and side effects, such as sleepiness, were mild if noticeable at all.
gazs fana
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daryl79695 gazs
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London_ridge fana
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I was on 15 mg to start and the drowsiness wore off for me after a couple months, it's tough to remember cause it's been awhile. But I know for me it did go away. I would not suggest going up on this medication. It's difficult to discontinue and also why add more if it's doing a good enough job. I'd stay at 15 for two months and it you are still lethargic then maybe it's not the good choice for you. It worked well for insomnia, and anxiety ...for me.
manuelmanuel fana
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manuelmanuel fana
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jpm manuelmanuel
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manuelmanuel jpm
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norma72045 fana
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manuelmanuel norma72045
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norma72045 manuelmanuel
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alexander_39124 fana
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Alexander.
fana
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As well as studying everyone's comments, I have spent a few hours reading up on Mirtazipine online.
The literature on it also says somnolence (“sleepiness”) is a side-effect for around 54% of people who take it, which is a very high ratio.
For whatever reasons, the somnolence is affecting me perhaps more than most. After only four or five hours of waking up, I just want to hit the sack. I resist it, but that’s the only thing on my mind and it makes my day a struggle, as I am resisting my urge. It also makes me slower and less productive in whatever I am doing. By comparison, previously I could spend about 14 hours a day doing 1001 tasks without feeling much fatigue.
I am feeling delighted on the one hand that my long-term insomnia issue has finally been resolved, and I feel better as a result of that, but, on the other hand, I can’t live like this (I am aware than the impact will reduce as I continue taking it, but perhaps not significantly). If my life was settled and ostensibly successful, then I could sit on the drugs and go through several months of enabling them to benefit me, while living a more relaxed pace of life.
However, the underlying issues in my life, which are what causes the depression, would not get resolved. The docs could argue that I would then be in a better frame of mind to deal with them, but I can’t afford to only do a few routine tasks in a day and then drop into my bed. I need to be on full form, sharp, and work hard to deal with the underlying issues.
Putting the chemicals from such a powerful mediction in my body to make me more chilled out and relaxed reminds of how people take (illegal) drugs to make themselves feel better rather than dealing with the actual issues in their lives. With dangerous side-effects for me: wasting hours everyday sleeping too much, eating too much, not getting enough exercise, and ultimately being in no better a position in terms of my actual life-situation, say, a year down the line – indeed, in a worse situation, as I and the people I look after get older and weaker.
So I’m going to have to, very reluctantly, come off the medication (slowly) and then try an alternative, natural regime to get better. My Bible for that will be a brilliant book that I have been reading and trying to employ the strategies in it: improving my diet, getting fitter etc. The book is called "Younger Next Year". It has already enabled me to lose 1.5 kg in weight in the last few weeks and if I stick to a much healthier diet etc. I am hoping I can boost my serotinin levels in a natural way.
Thanks a lot again for the incredibly useful information.