1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine - weight gain!!!!

Posted , 67 users are following.

bekstar
bekstar

Hi,

I've never posted on a forum before but wondered if anyone could give me any advise.

I was diagnosed with depression just before christmas, I had quite a traumatic year with a series of bad events occurring, I was also getting married which I think was the only thing keeping me going, looking back now I realise I was slipping into a depressive state for about 2 months before I finally broke. I fell into quite a catatonic state being unable to function at even a basic level, it was as if my brain had just shut down.

The doc started me on sertraline but this made my anxiety so bad that I couldn't even go into my back garden, unable to leave the house or speak to anyone for a month, he then gave me citralopram, this reduced my anxiety but gave me insomnia, so I spent another month sleeping (or rather not sleeping) on my sofa and only getting a few hours of sleep here and there.

So my doc decided to try mirtazapine, my depression has reduced dramatically but I've have gained a lot of weight, which at first I thought was a welcome side effect compared to anxiety and insomnia but now this is really starting to lower my mood again,

When I was at the beginning of my illness and was unable to function, eating didn't even enter my head and I lost around a stone and a half (my usual weight sticks around 10 - 10 1/2 stone) to 9 stone, I looked really unwell at this weight, but since being on mirtazapine I have gained 2 1/2 stone in the first month (I'm into my second month now) and it's just staying there. I have tried changing my diet and exercising but I'm stuck at nearly 12 stone.

I look overweight, none of my clothes fit me and the worse part is that I look 6 months pregnant and because I am only just venturing out again after months of solitude, a lot of people think that I am pregnant and that's why they haven't seen me, I'm struggling to keep my smile and tell people I'm not as I am infertile and this has been one of the issues that led to my depression in the first place.

I'm not sure if anyone can help, I guess I'm just looking for advise on losing the weight or whether I should change my meds (again!!!!)

5 likes, 147 replies

147 Replies

Prev Next
  • Hitman86
    Hitman86 bekstar

    Posted

    Hi all. I've been following this thread a while now and thought I'd share my 2 cents.

    This thread is full of negativity about weight gain. Yes, it will happen - if you allow it. I've been on mirap for 3 months now. Started on 15mg up to 30 mg and up to 45mg. I moved back down to 30mg as I felt it worked better for me in terms of a better mood. I was was not aware of the weight gain early on. I gained 3kgs in a week. I was shocked and found out the reason was the Mirap. I am a 28 year old male and went from 86kg to 89 kgs.

    I chose to exercise for 80 minutes a day( brisk walking/running/resistance training). And eat healthy with the odd treat. I decided that to combat the weight gain I had to increase my metabolism. This was done through exercising. I drink warm lemon water every morning before breakfast to kickstart the metabolism and also walk before work.

    I now weigh 84kgs.

    Yes I would have lost a lot more if I wasn't on this medication and yes it is hard work to keep the weight off. But my point is - BE POSITIVE! Weight gain doesn't have to happen. You don't need to go overboard with a new healthy routine. Start off slow and enjoy the challenge!

    Good luck all

    Nick x

    • karin35584
      karin35584 Hitman86

      Posted

      Glad it's so easy for you!

      You are aware of the saying, don't judge until you have walked a mile in that person's shoes. Maybe it's just your male opinion versus a woman's!

    • Hitman86
      Hitman86 karin35584

      Posted

      It's far from easy. I know that.

      I was just trying to offer some positivity to the thread.

    • evergreen
      evergreen Hitman86

      Posted

      Well done! It is especially hard to not gain weight when you first start on mirtazapine, so to have lost it, you have done exceptionally well. But it sounds like very hard work! I have an active job and single handedly care for up to 8 horses at any one time, so that's all the mucking out, turning out, exercising etc. I therefore work physically hard every day, seven days a week, and I still put on a stone and a half. I admit though, it has made me really enjoy my food when before I didn't and so that was probably the main cause of my weight gain. However, my weight found a level and then plateaued, so I figured this is the time to lose the weight. I have lost all but 6 pounds of the weight I gained, and that too is slowly coming off.

      Losing weight IS hard work. It takes effort and will power. Mirtazapine creates a strong urge to over eat and so I think that it's probably even harder to diet when you are on it. But then I think of it this way; most obese people have a problem with over eating and yet some of them manage to lose a huge amount of weight. Sadly most do not. I see being on mirt as giving you a similar relationship with food as an obese person. Some people will be able to lose the weight, but most will not. It must be even harder for an already obese person, I would think.

    • Hitman86
      Hitman86 evergreen

      Posted

      I agree with your points. It's the food cravings that are most difficult. Well done to you losing the weight gained too.

      I hope I don't come across as gloating on this at all. I just want to let people starting on mirtazapine that weight gain can be managed( as difficult as it is) and it is important not to be put off by mirtazapine by this side effect as it is a drug that has helped me with my severe depression.

      It's a sad side effect of the drug and it's unfortunate. I was nearly going to stop the drug after reading the comments on here. But please be positive!

    • evergreen
      evergreen Hitman86

      Posted

      Yes, I agree. It is a very good drug. It has really sorted me out. That is for sure. smile
    • carolyn79
      carolyn79 karin35584

      Posted

      Agree Karin. The vast majority of people on this med gain significant weight despite watching food intake. Read up on it and it appears to slow down metabolism and liver function. Good news is I have stopped it three weeks and list 8 lbs already

    • carolyn79
      carolyn79 Hitman86

      Posted

      Problem is this is a drug for depression and finding the energy and interest in being healthy weight is so much harder to achieve. I am off it now and within days noticed my appetite drastically changed.
  • MDF
    MDF bekstar

    Posted

    First time poster here.

    28 year old male... started off 9 stone before taking Mirtazapine 15mg, always been a slim person... put on 3 stone in the first month of taking them! It's been about 8 months since I began, and now my weight stands at 11 and a half stone. I was very happy to hear that these meds made you put weight on as I've always been self-conscious about how skinny I was... unfortunately all the weight has just gone to my belly! Went from being about a 29 inch waist to a 36 inch waist! As people have said on here, it's the pregnant look... and on a young male it's not a good look! I was hoping for more spread out weight, but this is not the case. I've always had problems with my eating habits due to a stomach condition, and always had problems with insomnia, both for as long as I can remember... this solved both, but the results on the belly are rather unpleasant. I decided to go vegetarian 3 weeks ago in the hope that might shift some of it, but to no avail so far. Considering stopping taking them, but I've already tried most others available, and the side effects range from restless leg syndrome, to anxiety. This forum brings me a bit of relief, knowing that it's definitely the Mirtazapine that's made me look like I'm about to give birth. Going to go see my GP this week, and I will probably tell him I want to stop taking them as I'm FED UP of only being able to fit in joggers hahaha.

    • nosnikam
      nosnikam MDF

      Posted

      HI MDF

      I have been on Mirtazipine for 3 and a half years now and your are right - the pregnant look just doesnt go well on young males, or like myself, reaching 50 females!!

      the only time I have been able to lose weight is when I did an 'all fruit' diet - I managed to lose 8lb in 10 days and there it stopped.  No matter what else I did I just couldnt lose any more.

      Having gained over 2 and a half stone in the time I have been on them it is soul destroying but remember - the weight can be shifted once your depression is under control.

      I must add that I had weight increase again when I reduced my dosage from 45 to 30 but you are on 15 so hopefully it wont affect you as much.

      Good luck and good health x

       

  • nosnikam
    nosnikam bekstar

    Posted

    Hi Everyone.  I have been reading some of the posts on here and it does make me feel normal that I am not the only one who has gained significant weight whilst taking Mirtaz.  I have been on Mirt 45mg for 3 1/2 years now and gained over 2 stone in weight.  I have battled this depression and do feel like im winning so thought I would make a trip to my GP about reducing my dosage with a view to coming off them completely.  My GP is excellent and I tust him implicitely.  We agreed to reduce to 30mg and I have been taking these for just over a month and still doing well ....... only with the change in dosage, even though reduction, the weight gain has started again and I have gained another half stone!!!  I am due back to see my GP on Monday to get some advice.  I know the weight can be shifted once I am off the medication but I cant tolerate any further weight gain as it is now contributing to self hate  

    Keep the posts going on here and support each other.  I have taken comfort in many of these posts and certainly dont feel alone now.

    Heres to hoping for a better future. The weight can be managed once the depression is managed.

    I have gone from not being able to leave the house for 18 months to now in a full time job and have got friends (I locked myself into my own world and wouldnt let anyone in including my husband and children who have all been very supportive and understanding).  I go out occasionally but still struggle with crowds but I am back to work - feeling valued - socialising - speaking to people and the main thing is I dont have a melt down if someone knocks on my door or if my youngest wantes to play in the garden.

    Keep the faith!! Life really is good even if we cant see it just now.

    good luck everyone xx

  • pat39741
    pat39741 bekstar

    Posted

    Had this discussion before recently and it ended with me having to stop taking remeron. Or Mirt.

    I gained over 30 pounds and although I slept and felt better I could not afford to gain any more weight or buy a new wardrobe. So I stopped taking it. Good luck getting off the medicine it was easier for me as I set the weight loss goal over my sanity.

  • melanie_11183
    melanie_11183 bekstar

    Posted

    I've just arrived home after been to Dr's for same thing. I have put on 20 kilo since June which is when I started mirtazapine. I've now been taken off it so we will see what happens. I have been going to slimming world group and wasting my money.
  • jobro
    jobro bekstar

    Posted

    Personaly i cant wait to put weight on ..i am finding i am getting blurred vision..should a stay on mirtazapine ? Jus started them last wk on 15mg and to double it next week
  • milly28
    milly28 bekstar

    Posted

    Hi bekstar,

    I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression in 2011... I tried all sorts of anti depressants Mitazapine being one of them... Looking back it possibly helped my mood slightly in the sense i could function more however the food cravings!!! I felt like i was on steriods! I inhailed my food whilst looking at others plates in the hope i could finish their plates off too! I ultimately put on about 3-4 stone, my face had ballooned however i was blined to this weight gain because of my mental state. When it was highlighted to me i did eventually go back to the doctor and get my medication reviewed. I am now on the right medication for me thanks to the help of the priory. However the weight is still on, ive found it very difficult to lose and tried all sorts of diets.

    To read that you have accepted your weight gain and feel its a part of you is how I coped. It shows strength of character! You've come through a lot and now its time to embrtace your curves! When you are at a stage in your life where you feel ready to address your weight you will manage well!

    smile

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.