Sertraline vs Mirtazapine

I don't know what effect that it will have on you, but I was originally put on 30 mg at night and I had to reduce it to 15 mg because of its sedative effects in the morning. Even then if I had to not take it if I had an appointment in the morning eg with the bank where I needed to be on the ball.

In fact, I was sleeping 9 hours on it. If it has the same effect on you I don't see how you can work or do an intellectual activity in the morning.

Now I have come off it I am sleeping 6 hours.

Hi. I started on 30mg for a month, then reduced to 15mg for the last two months. This drug has been brilliant in reducing my anxiety and it's helped me to sleep every night BUT I've put two stone on in weight. I can honestly say my eating pattern has hardly changed. Gone from a size 12 to a size 16 in such a short time. I've decided to try and wean myself off this drug, so started on 7.5mg last night.

I'm also seeing a psychologist weekly which is helping my depression. 

I know everyone is different, but please prepare yourself for possible weight gain over a short space of time. 

15mg is the normal starting dose. It is the most sedating antidepreesant available becuase it has to completly block the H1 receptor before the it blockt the HT2 receptor to a degree high enough to have an affect.

Sertaline has a short half life of only 1 day so would be out of your system in 3-4 days leaving you clear to start anyother AD med. Mirtazapine is normally a 3rd line option SSRI being the first and then an snri or similar affecting tca.

Do you have kids to look after? If they are very young this med will affect your ability to get up in the night, particulaly the first week.

Try to take the med as early as possible in the evening to reduce next day drowseness/sedation but take it at least 2 hours before you want to go to sleep.

Hi,

I was on 100mg of Sertraline, came off it in Feb, found it was making things worse for me after a year of being on it. IBS affected etc. Now starting Mirt too, on day 2. I'm easing myself in with 7.5 mg to see how I go. Drowsy, mood all over the place but it is helping me sleep which is what I need. I'm hoping the mood will level out after a few more days. Feeling tearful but not crying for long. As is usual with these types of drugs I feel a bit weird but it seems to be taking the edge off my anxiety already! I've gotten to the stage where I'm holding my breath with the GAD so with that & SAD I've had to turn to meds again. I can't seem to get past 8months without ADs I've had SAD for years. Just went for a walk in the Sun & feel a bit wiped out. Iam getting over having flu though. I can't comment as yet on the appetite as I'm craving carbs with the SAD anyway. IBS is bad so I'm not overeating. Sometimes that nasty condition has it's advantages!! 

 

Hi Mazza

not sure if this helps but I started on mirtazapine 15mg 3 weeks ago, I had to reduce it to 7.5mg as I could not wake up.........slept to 2pm so way to drowsy. I take it at 7 to be awake for 8 but feel foggy for an hour. It as gave me the munchies but I had lost weight due to my health so only gaining what I lost .  I would try it as it as helped my mood.

Debbie

hi i started sertraline 2 year gone from 50mg increased to 150mg the sertraline did not really agree on its own with me, but everyone is diferent, i then had the sertraline reduced to 100mg and 30mg mitazapine that was inreased to 45mg the mitazapine give me really vivid dreams and increased appitite stick with it if you can,it helped me apart from dreams and stuffing my face i also have 20mg tamazapam and 200mg quetiapine as i have psycotic episode im level but detached hopefully it will stay level

 

I have been on Mirtazapine for 2 month and totally the odd one out as I've lost almost 2 stone. Was hoping for the munchies that everybody said but they haven't come yet. I started on 15mg and slowly worked my way up to 45mg..I found the lower doses more sedative..I don't feel shattered at all throughout the day on 45mg,yet they still help me sleep.

They have worked wonders for anxiety and are just starting to work on the depression. 

I've noticed the biggest changes in the last 4 week while on the higher dose.

Cant be sure if I had side effects as I came off Citalopram with no tapering and straight on to the Mirt so if I was feeling anything,it could of been withdrawal.

xxx

Thanks for your helpful replies. I took my first one last night and forgot to take it early so I'm completely stonkered this morning, staggered a bit! I will have to take it a bit earlier in future. I certainly slept though! I've got 30mg tablets so I suppose I could attempt to cut them in half but it would be difficult.

It's interesting reading your different responses. I wish I'd asked for smaller dosage to begin with but you have to trust a bit, don't you? I might still have some Sertraline in my system as well. 

i will have to try and not put weight on as that would make me more anxious. It's early days though, isn't it and I suppose i have to give them a proper try.