weight gain

Hi I gained two stone over eight months. On sertraline 100mg now and back to eating normally with no sugar cravings and lost weight easily. Warning though mirtazapine has a lot of wd symptoms if you withdraw too quickly.

There is a thread here regarding weight gain, worth a search.

I have a friend who is taking this medication...and noticed that she is EATING more....so that is her potential source of weight gain....if she is gaining weight...she really hasn't said.  Its sounds like this medicine makes a person more HUNGRY.  So, that said...if you are eating alot (but the medicine is helping you mentally)....than try to cut back your meals slowly.

​Maybe after a period of time the appetite levels out?  Others who take this medicine may be able to tell you.  I just wanted you to know that I am observing someone on this med...eating more than usual.

Yes, most people will gain a significaant amount of weight on mirtazapine, although there are a lucky minority who don't gain any weight at all, so it's not standard, as such. I have always been very slim, probably a bit under-weight, but I gained a total of two stone after 3 years on mirtazapine. I hated it and so put myself on a strict diet and exercise program. I lost a stone and a half in my fourth year on mirtazapine, but calculated I needed a whole 500 callories less each day to stay the same weight as I did when I wasn't on mirtazapine. In addition the drug makes people eat more, so it's a double whammy! I am now in the process of weaning myself off the mirt because it suddenly stopped working for me and I was not prepared to put up with the daily struggle with my weight for no benefit. I am now down to 7.5mg from 30mg (done over a period of 6 weeks). But even on this low a dose, I am still struggling not to gain weight. I think you need to be off the drug completely before the weight issues go. It is a very powerful sedating anti-depressant. More effective for me than any other I have tried, but the weight issue is a major downside of the drug. I can't really suggest an alternative because SSRIs do not work for me. I tried trazadone and got heart palpitations. Years ago lofepramine worked well for me and I actually lost weight on it, but it didn't work the last time I tried it. Mirtazapine was a fabulous drug for me until it pooped out.

Agreed that Mirtazpine does increase your appetite. I also take Olazanpine which can have a similar effect. To some extent, you can control this by attempting to ignore the appetite cravings and try to eat normally - three meals a day, avoid potinless sugary snacks or crisps. I've also halved my alcohol consumption. So despite taking two pills which can increase your weight, I've just about maintained by weight. Just. 

This was why I quit I went from 6st 9lbs to almost 12st in a year (mine is extreme and there are other contributing factors but yes mirtazapine kick started this).

Aside from the hunger, I've seen it makes most people sleep for 12-14hours which is how I slept too, and if I tried to ignore the hunger it started hurting. Couldn't really win with anything I was doing :')

Some people can take without a problem, but these are the lucky people. For those of who are depressed, this weight gain can just make it worse and it does, this is evident on the mirtazapine forum

I really hope you can get a handle on it,  I've not heard of another antidepressant working as 'well' as mirtazapine, but fingers crossed there's a better option for you out there! Hopefully everything will work out.

In most cases mirt boosts hunger.  It is a question of whether you can fight that. I am in the same position as you. I lost 10 kg (22 lb) due to anxiety but since taking mirt it has crept on again.  However mirt cured the insomnia so I am not likely to come off it soon.  The other disavantage is "oversleeping" as  lit53944 says.

I think it is for a professional to recommend medications. 

Best wishes

 

Hi Martin

Mirt' is renowned for weight gain, me, I gained 20 lbs in a year.  P.Doctors usually advise to stay on AD's for at least 6 months, to a year.  If and when you feel well again and have dealt holistically with underlying causes and feel the time is right to either taper slowly or switch to another AD, be sure to go real slow off this little Mirt', over 3 months to come off is not a slow method, be sure to hollow out if you want support.

Wishing you well.

A BIG thank you to you all who replyed to my question on weight gain.

It looks like i will be watching my cals BUT I LOVE FOOD .

I will speak to my GP in the new year.

Cheers Martin

 

I have just been prescribed this medication and am researching it, apparently it is also used to stimulate hunger, therefore prescribed to anorexic patients