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new to Mirtazapine........ what can I expect?

Posted , 9 users are following.

kate1708
kate1708

Hi

Just some background.....  I have been signed off work for the last 6 months with depression.  I was prescribed Proxac, the dose of which was doubled after a few weeks, but I didn't find it helped with my anxiety.

A trip to Morrisons puts me in panic mode, I recently had to renew my passport at the Post Office and was sick on the way home as it caused me so much distress.

I stopped taking the Proxac cold turkey a few weeks ago and didn't have any problems.  I didn't feel and better or any worse.

I have now been prescribed 30mg Mitrazapine - my first tablet will be this evening.  However, I have read bad things about the side affects, I don't want to put on weight or feel any more down and sleepy than I already do.

Are there any positives to this medication - surely there must be!!!!

Advice greatly received.

1 like, 57 replies

57 Replies

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  • manuelmanuel
    manuelmanuel kate1708

    Posted

    Go to Italy and have fun. No kidding
    • kate1708
      kate1708 manuelmanuel

      Posted

      That sounds wonderful....  never been to Italy - love the food, think I would like the relaxed atmosphere.....  you really don't think I should start taking the pils?  Have you had them?

      K

    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      And yes I had them Just to be more relaxed I was put on 15 mg . Now I'm in my way back. Nobody should ever start this stuff
  • mb5244
    mb5244 kate1708

    Posted

    i have been on mitz 45mg now for 3 weeks

    started off at 15mg which was terrible then up to 30mg 

    i struggled the first week or so  but am now starting to feel a bit better my anixety level has gone down

    i still get bad days but they are getting less

    i know at lot of people have had problems  

    i was ready to give up but thought i would lose nothing by giving them a go

     

    • kate1708
      kate1708 mb5244

      Posted

      Please can you tell me how you struggled......  how did that make you feel.  I am really scared to start this stuff.  My main problem is anxiety - I would love to be able to just go to the shops and not feel sick or shake.  Do you think this will help?

      K

    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      Look, I'm 42, I work as a film director and I ended up on this stuff for a silly anxiety I would like to eliminate straight away. This thing alters your system and makes you feel way more anxious...Then doctor interpret its side effects as your problems and put you on a higher dose. Unless...You wake up and realize that you are perfectly OK, you are just dealing with nasty side effects. NEVER EVER START. Embrace your depression and sped 2 weeks in Rome. It will be GONE.
    • mb5244
      mb5244 kate1708

      Posted

      how i struggled was with the seditave side of this drug which was one of the reasons i was put on it in first place

      i found to begin with i was like a zombie couldnt do anything but that has now worn off

      as for anixety side i have yet to be able to go to a shop by myself but i can go with someone which before i was unable to do 

       

    • kate1708
      kate1708 mb5244

      Posted

      Thank you for your thoughts.....  the zombie affect is something that is concerning me.  I just have to way up the pro's and con's.

      It's a positive step that you are able to shop with a friend.... something that I can only aspire too....  keep going and be strong.

      K

    • kate1708
      kate1708 mb5244

      Posted

      Are you able to let me know a little more about your situation?

      I understand if not.  It just helps me to know how other people feel.  I have never done this before, but it really does help to talk to people.....

      Thanks

      K

    • june26145
      june26145 mb5244

      Posted

      I have been on 45mg Mirt for exactly three weeks now, having been on 30mg for 6 days and 15mg for 26days. I was in hospital for a week and been home for 2 weeks now. I am awful in the morning, beside myself doesn't describe it. I don't think the tablets are doing much but am told they can take uup to six weeks before working.

      It is so frustrating. Been to see my psychiastrist (NHS) today who was useless.  She said there is nothing more they can add, I just have to wait for the tablets to start working. I cling on in the hope that they do something soon as I can't face the days much more.

  • manuelmanuel
    manuelmanuel kate1708

    Posted

    Of course! Change weather! Invest in a holiday, come to Rome...Even the most depressed perdon becomes happy...
  • clarkio
    clarkio kate1708

    Posted

    If you read about any Anti Depressant on the Net you will probably find a whole load of scary stories about side effects for each one.  I think Mirtazapine is generally acknowledged as having fewer side effects than some other ADs such as SSRIs (Prozac, Citalopram etc.)  I'm afarid each drug seems to affect different people in different ways.  For instance I took Citalopram 12 years ago and found it a miracle drug but this year trying it again I could not handle the start up side effects.

    The two common side effects with Mirtazapine are triedness (sedation) and increased appetite.  I certainly had both (refered to my appetitie as "the beast" as I would devour anything in the house!).  I found both effects waned with time but unfortunately I found that Mirtazapine wasn't really helping me But that is just my experience.  It has helped other people but unfortunately you are much more likley to read the negative experiences on the Net than the positive (when you feel well you don't feel the need to post).

    I understand your concerns, I am the same when taking any new drug.  Personally I think starting on 30mg is more likely to be a shock to the system.  Some people say the drug is more sedating in lower doses but I never found this to be the case.  Wonder if it might be worth asking your GP if you could start on the 15mg pills.  30mg is considered the therapautic dose but a lot of people start on 15mg I think.

    Hope this helps

    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel clarkio

      Posted

      First time I was put on 30mg...I fainted. Literally. I took it while walking and I fell.  
    • kate1708
      kate1708 clarkio

      Posted

      Funny I agree with you - when you feel well you don't need to post - I have never posted before so I guess I am really worried...

      Prozac didn't do anything for me - I stopped and had no side effects at all.  Perhaps it wasn't really targetting my problems.  I am still confused as to which drug targets what symptoms........  this one sounds more like a sleep thing rather than an anxiety thing.

      EEEKK.........

      Thank you for being realistic...  the net is not necessarily the best place to hear all that is good about anything!

      K

    • clarkio
      clarkio kate1708

      Posted

      I just think the Net has a natural understandable bias to reporting negative experiences.

      If you're anything like me then you obsessively search the Net for every scrap of information you can get on the effects of a drug, and whilst I think a bit of self education is a good thing I think it can quite easily add fuel to the fire of anxiety if you're not careful as it is a very hypothetical inward looking practice i.e. I worry if this drug will affect me, what might the problems be etc.

      As I say I think 30mg is quite a big dose to start with (I stepped up to 30mg and eventually 45mg).  BUt ultimately if you decide to take it you're not going to die, most likely it will just knock you out the first time you take it (my advice would be to take it at or 30 minutes before bedtime).  For me the fact that it let me sleep and also gave me back my appetite were good things (had lost a stone in weight due to loss of appetite from anxiety) but ultimately for me it didn't help to relieve my anxiety long term.

      Mirtazapine is prescribed for anxiety and/or depression but is sometimes used for insomnia or appetite due to it's side effect. If you decide to take the pill tonight try and watch some telly or something after taking it ,try not to sit worrying about the fact you've taken it, chances are you'll be fine.  Tired but probably ok.

    • kate1708
      kate1708 clarkio

      Posted

      Thanks, I tend not to do negative thoughts, ie if I'm going to take it I will and suck it up and see.  Regret is not a good emotion.  I will let you know.

      Can you tell me a bit about your situation and why you ended up on the medication.

      If that's a bit personal not to worry.

      K

    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      Kate: one month in Rome, sun, ice creams, fun and friends TARGET all the symptoms.

      And Prayer. We cannot forget Eternal Life.

    • clarkio
      clarkio kate1708

      Posted

      Was prescribed it for anxiety at the start of this year.  Often I think depression and anxiety tend to get lumped in together by GPs but for me I felt it was definitely more anxiety than depression which was the issue.  So situation was that I wasn't able to sleep, had lost my appetite almost completely (went down from 10 1/2 stones to just over 9) and generally striggling to get through days.

      Initially I felt the Mirtazapine helped on 15mg although did seem to rob me off motivation.  However seemed to stop working afetr a few months and which point the GP suggested putting up to 30mg and then when that didn't work up to 45mg.  Stayed on the 45mg for 4 weeks and felt it wasn't helping indeed felt like it was making things worse in terms of depression so I made the decision to start tap[ering off it a few eeks ago.

      Currently back down to 30mg and so far am feeling a lot better than when I was one the 45mg.  Plan to cut down again by 7.5mg each week I see how I feel taking nothing.

      I think anti depressants are often a bit hit and miss as to whether they will work for you and frequently it is a case of trying to find the one which alleviates your problems whilst not causing you excessive side effects.

      I hope if you try it that Mirtazapine is the one that works for you.

       

    • kate1708
      kate1708 manuelmanuel

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your thoughts...... however I'm not a religious person, though sun and ice cream seem very appealing!

      I'm sure Rome would be lovely, however I have to deal with my lot in Berkshire atm.

      Thanks anyway

      K

    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      Just do this:

      Discover the sun.

      You have no idea how light feeds and heals.

    • kate1708
      kate1708 clarkio

      Posted

      I agree - though I think one thing leads to another.  If a person has anxiety that can lead to depression, from my point of view its so disturbing that I am unable to do the things that I thought were normal in life.  I was absolutely fine with shopping, dealing with the kids, housework etc... but unfortunately a series of events have stopped that confidence.

      I wish I could get back to myself, I think I will.  Do you think that a particular issue caused your anxiety or was it just something that happened?

      K

    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      Mine was caused by my relationship with my wife and abrupt change of homeland
    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      Italy to Germany.

      Shock. There is no sun and people seem to be without emotions.

      First time I went back to Italy after 8 months in Germany...I thought I was in heaven. 

    • kate1708
      kate1708 manuelmanuel

      Posted

      Oh I think that Germany has it's benefits.......  great beer, sausages and a teriffic ability to attempt to overun other peoples countries!
    • manuelmanuel
      manuelmanuel kate1708

      Posted

      An Italian in GERMANY is like the atidocte in the system. The absence of Sun played a huge role. 
    • june26145
      june26145 clarkio

      Posted

      How long did you try Mirt for? I have been on 15mg for 26 days which did nothing, then tried 30mg for 6 days, then went into hospital for a week and dose upped to 45mg.  Been on this for 3 weeks now but still got unbearable anxiety and am still taking diazepam to help.

      Did you not have any relief from the tablets?

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