Mirtazipine. Does it do anything?

[orangeandlemons]

Have been on 15 mg two weeks, then upped to 30 just over 2 weeks ago.

I don't feel like I am taking anything. Still have mild anxiety, feel sort of flat and grumpy. No noticeable moodlift as yet, but don't feel terrible either.

No big side effects, but tbh I am wondering if there is any effect. Doesn't feel like any other ad I've been on. The sort of cushion effect isn't there. This is what worries me more than anything.

AM on them for anxiety.

[orangeandlemons]

Don't feel any level of resiliance at all, which is a real worry

[TheGruffalosbitch]

How does your anxiety manifest? Do u have panic attacks. Useful to remember ad's are not happy pills like many people think, they are more like mood stabilisers which help u to feel normal

[orangeandlemons]

I have been on ad's that have made me feel a lot better than this, but as I get older the side effects have become unmanageable in the start-up phase for me.

I jst feel vaguely anxious all the time. Very very vague knot in throat, butterflies in stomach, sort of vague teeth clenching. Like very mild panic easily agitated, sort of feel it wouldn't take much to push me right over into the state they were meant to pull me out of . tearful too

[orangeandlemons]

I can only describe it as having no cushion. Am on 'em for life but do't feel any level of protection from them at all.

[TheGruffalosbitch]

I know it can take up to 6 weeks for these to really kick in. I'm in the process of coming off of paroxetine (which I gave Ben on for 10) years so I can go onto Prozac. And I feel much like u have explained. Being in the edge of a major attack. Do u feel u can manage your symptoms got a few more weeks to give the tablets a chance to get into your system?

[TheGruffalosbitch]

Is there a reason why you can't take/haven't been prescribed SSRI's

[orangeandlemons]

I can manage symptoms, but qulaity of life not fantastic. Self harming thoughts too. I would have expected some effect surely after 4 weeks?

Lol at ssri's.(not . They send me into terrible terrible side effects, either suicidal or sky high anxiety.

Why are you coming of paroxetine? That's the one the consultant wants me to take

[TheGruffalosbitch]

Paroxetine is fantastic drug. I went from wbeing a nervous wreck huddled in a corner (10 yrs ago) to being able to live a panic free life. It has a very short 1/2 life which means u get withdraw effects if u forget to take it. The withdrawal effects are the worse of all the SSRI's the reason I am changing is (sorry if this is tmi) but I have had 10 yrs of no libido and inability to achieve orgasms which is a side effect. They actually give this drug to to men who suffer from prem ejaculation. If u think u are going to be on these tablets long term and then I would consider it as they are fantastic. But coming off of them is very very hard, it has actually been compared to heroin. This is my 5th attempt!

[orangeandlemons]

Yes, I haveheard they are hideous to come off. I do better on TCA's. There is one called chlomiprimene which is similar to Paroxetine. It made me feel fantastic...but I just couldn't stop eating at all. Much worse than anything else I have ever known. Mirtazapine which is also meant to be another eat your head off drug has had no affect on my appetite at all. But I have heard Paroxetine is another eaty drug?

I wish I could take it, but am allergic to prozac, sertraline gave me terrible anxiety and made me itch and escitalopram made me want to kill myslef. So I don't get along with SSRI's tbh. I just wish this crap I'm on would actually DO something

[TheGruffalosbitch]

I have been on it 10 years had 2 babies and prob 1 stone heavier. I do have to reign in my eating though. I would be sceptical about going on another SSRI if the others have such a bad affect on u. And I agree after 4 weeks you should be seeing some sort of improvement in ur anxiety. How u tried CBT?

[Lulumama]

I find it really sedating, if i take it after about 7.30 at night, I am zonked til about 9 - 10 am the next day ,worse if I have any alcohol. I was prescribed it primarily to help me get to sleep, which it definitely helps with and to enhance the effect of the other meds ( effexor, 300 mg ) so in those two respects it's been good, but have gained a lot of weight which is making me feel gloomy . but i'd rather be able to sleep !

[orangeandlemons]

But did it lift mood or anxiety?

It seems to do jack for anxiety. DD pestering and can feel knot of panic in throat even at that. Feel overwhelmed by her, when really she isn't doing much.

Been on ad's for ever, they always helped with being pestered or agitated. This don't seem to do anything.

[Lulumama]

anxiety not really the issue for me, lifted mood more than Ads alone for sure, but still not quite where I would like to be but it's helped definitely

[TheGruffalosbitch]

I think you should go back to your gp. And explain it to them u really should be seeing an improvement in ur anxiety levels by now I think x

[orangeandlemons]

It appears to have done very little for mood at all, very slight lift at first, but then sort of gone down.

[orangeandlemons]

Lulu, How come you are on two ad's? Effexor is another Ad isn't it? Isit because Mirtazapine is reckoned to be crap, and you need a decent one to top it up?

Isn't that combo called Californian Rocket fuel?

[Lulumama]

it is, I was prescribed the mirtazapine in December at an appt with a psych. as had gone as far as could go with the effexor via GP and was not really getting anywhere, also having problems sleeping, so the psych. prescribed the mirtazapine . I'd been on Ads for 9 months before I was prescribed the mirtazipine.

[Lulumama]

deffo would not describe it as rocket fuel , I find it sedating

[TheGruffalosbitch]

Mirtazapine does have a really sedating effect. I'm always much more anxious when I'm tired. Could the sedating effect be increasing your anxiety?

[orangeandlemons]

I don't feel sedated. Quite energetic really

[Lulumama]

have you been referred to a psych? I find that they are far far better at tweaking the dosage of meds and finding a good combination and /or dosage

[orangeandlemons]

Yes I have seen a consultant.

She suggested two SSRi type drugs which I am too scared to take due to horrible history with SSRI's.

[Lulumama]

ah, is it not worth another try as you are not having much success ?

[orangeandlemons]

Because I have had awful issues with SSRI's
Allergic to prozac
Sertraline worked well twice. Third time made me feel happy/suicidal/terrified and fearless at the same time as well as making me itch
Escitalopram by week 3 I wanted to kill myself, Crisis team had to be involved.

So, I don't really want to go there with another SSRI

[kizzie]

Hi sorry to hijack your thread. Im on clomipramine and just wondered how you got on with it other than the eating. Im on 35mg which is quite a small dose (?) Its quite rare to see someone else who has used it so just interested in your experience. Thanks
Re mirtazepine - i havent taken it so cant offer advice on it - but would say it has often taken at least 6 weeks for me to notice any improvements with ads.
Hope you start to improve soon.