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Original poster

Been prescribed Mirtazapine when I'm already grossly overweight. Any experiences?

38 replies

FatTablets · 03/03/2020 09:20

I've been on citalopram and sertraline previously.

I went today as everything is just so much worse.

I was prescribed this.

I'm 5ft5 and 17 stone :(

He said it may increase my appetite. I said I was already really depressed about my weight. He just sort of moved onto the next thing.

Got home and read this...(pic)

I don't know what to do

Should I take it?

Been prescribed Mirtazapine when I'm already grossly overweight. Any experiences?
OP posts:
Gilead · 03/03/2020 09:35

Go back and ask for duloxetine. Works in the same way but doesn’t make you dozy or cause weight gain. I’d also complain about being prescribed Mirtazipine , under the circumstances.

PurpleFrames · 03/03/2020 09:35

It didn't affect my appetite at all. I'd go with your docs advise and then if you have bad side effects you can always change again ?

GlitchStitch · 03/03/2020 09:38

I was prescribed it just over a year ago. I couldn't stop eating and so came off it as I had lost some weight and didn't want to undo my hard work. I take Venlafaxine now, it's been brilliant for me.

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Original poster
FatTablets · 03/03/2020 09:41

I don't want Venlafaxine. DP is on it and he's absolutely addicted. Gets the brain zaps etc...

I wanted to make a double appointment and ask for help with weight loss but chickened out cause I just feel so anxious

OP posts:
AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 03/03/2020 09:45

I take both duloxetine and mirtazapine, and haven't noticed any changes to my weight. I am overweight too and to be honest mirtazapine is the only thing that stands between me and a complete breakdown (I know this because I came off my meds for a short while last year and it wasn't pretty). For me it's a miracle worker, it is the only one I can tolerate and it also helps me sleep. The duloxetine is prescribed for my sciatica not my depression/anxiety, and before I started taking it the anxiety was under control just from the mirtazapine.

Original poster
FatTablets · 03/03/2020 09:49

Relaly andnon?

So it helps with anxiety an depression?

My DP took it years ago (he has a 30" waist) and it's the only time in his life he's ever got a bit fat

OP posts:
SquashedFlyBiscuit · 03/03/2020 09:52

I was on mirtazapine and it was both wonderful and awful. It calmed my anxiety which was fantastic, but I was a xombie and couldn't stop eating. Dr asked me to perservere as in theory if less anxious i might eat less... but I just ballooned. I took myself off as I really am struggling with being morbidly ovese in the first place...

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 03/03/2020 09:53

They want me to try citalopram but Im not terrified to try anything. I also always feel aefully sick for the first 2 weeks.

march1st · 03/03/2020 09:54

I was prescribed it last year at 22 and a half stone ... it did help me immensely and I didn’t gain weight but I also didn’t lose anything for a long time . I am now losing weight - lost about a stone and a half since Christmas - but that’s through very careful eating and exercise and hasn’t been easy .

I’m being weaned off it this week - as it seems to have hit its ceiling in terms of helping me now - and am dreading that as whilst it doesn’t help the anxiety during the day it certainly whips it away at night and helps me sleep !

carlyclock · 03/03/2020 09:56

I think the key is to be prepared. My GP tells me that yes; my steroids increase my appetite, however it's up to me what extra food I eat. I can choose carrots over chocolate. Very basic explanation I'm afraid but ultimately if you prepare for the increase in appetite by having some good snacks in and not a pile of chocolate for example, then it can be managed.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 03/03/2020 10:01

I felt like an utter zombie and couldn't stop eating on it. I'd try something else tbh.

Original poster
FatTablets · 03/03/2020 10:08

Carley, I understand that, but even without the extra appetite I cnat control my eating. If I could prepare myself and eat well I wouldn't be 17st in the first place.

My poor mental health and food addiction are interconnected.

OP posts:
Abelino · 03/03/2020 10:17

I put on weight so easily with it, despite the alleviation of depression symptoms meaning I could get back to exercising regularly and quite intensely. I probably ate a little more than I did previously, but the rate at which weight increased wasn't fully explained by appetite alone, I don't think.

One word of warning if you do switch to something else - follow any guidelines your doctor gives about tapering off it. I stupidly just stopped taking it, and the nightmares I had that night still haunt me! It sounds ridiculous, but it was the worst night of my life; I'm sure that doesn't happen if you're sensible!

Elsiebear90 · 03/03/2020 10:18

I’ve been on it for years, at first it did increase my appetite massively, I’ve always been quite slim, but I became literally obsessed with food, it’s all I could think about. I was going to the gym 5/6 times a week and still gaining weight. It was a miracle worker though, allowed me to sleep and really helped my depression and anxiety at the time and the increased appetite only lasted for less than a year.

I’ve been on it for about 5/6 years now and the only issue is I really struggle to come off it. I’ve managed to cut down my dose by 50% which was a huge achievement for me, but it is ridiculously hard to come off Mirtazapine when you’ve been on it for a long time. You get terrible anxiety and insomnia from even the smallest reductions in dose, so you have to taper off very slowly.

Nooch · 03/03/2020 10:20

As you say increase in appetite is a really common side effect. IME it's not unusual for someone to put on 3 stone when prescribed Mirtazapine or Olanzapine.

If you already struggle with eating and your relationship with food it's not going to be as easy as just watching what you eat is it OP. It is really tough but it sounds as if you are asking for more help but you struggle to communicate that to your GP? Can you go back and explore alternatives/additionaliinterventions to medication?

WokeyMcWokeface · 03/03/2020 10:22

I was prescribed this and it definitely increased my appetite. I refused to continue taking it and my doctor put me on Trazodone instead.

whiplashy · 03/03/2020 10:24

I was obsessed with food for the week I was on it (couldn’t stand it any longer) especially carbs. Couldn’t stop eating. Also it made me feel really drugged in the morning (took it at night)

Depressedbywork · 03/03/2020 10:27

Mirtazipine really caused me weight gain, exacerbated because I did not know it was a risk. It made my MH much worse and I came off but too late for weight and MH. I had to change.

Princessfaffalot · 03/03/2020 10:32

I’ve been on it for years and yes it has made me balloon but to be honest I’d rather be fat and less anxious, able to sleep and not suicidal to the nervous wreck I was. Before I took it I was suicidal and totally spiralling out of control. I’d rather be fat and happy!

Original poster
FatTablets · 03/03/2020 10:35

I'm not fat and happy though.

Being fat is making me miserable.

I cnat gain any more.

I'm 17 stone ffs

I'm going to go back tomorrow. See another doctor.

I'm not going to start them

OP posts:
CatSmize · 03/03/2020 10:36

It was a lifesaver for me in terms of helping my insomnia and really taking the edge of my depression. However, I gained 10kg every time I took it despite previously never being able to gain weight even if I tried.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 03/03/2020 10:45

fat it wasn't prescribed for depression, just anxiety - I wasn't depressed at the time I went on it (a few years ago). But after a bereavement last year I became depressed and it does help.

Blackredblack · 03/03/2020 11:28

I gained a stone in the month I was on Mirtazapine. It actually made me more anxious because of the weight gain.

I’m currently taking brintellix and duloxetine. For me, this is the combination that works best. Ask your GP if you can try a combination of antidepressants as that sometimes works when all else has failed.

Brintellix is a newer antidepressant and afaik can only be prescribed when at least 3 other antid’s haven’t worked, although things might’ve changed.

Duloxetine is one of the very few that helped me lose weight. However, it is a nightmare to come off. It’s best to read up on it. There’s loads online about people struggling with severe discontinuation syndrome from duloxetine.

Nooch · 03/03/2020 11:36

Good for you OP. Why don't you write down what you want to say before you go in so you don't get overcome by anxiety in the consultation.

If you think eating is a major problem for you, could you ask about a referral to your local Eating Disorder Service? And have you been offered/tried any other interventions for your MH difficulties?

nearlyfinished1moreyear · 03/03/2020 11:41

I gained 1st 6lb because as soon as I took my meds I was starving! After 2 month I decided to start the keto diet (was going on holiday and didn't want to be overweight). Surprisingly I lost 2st in a month and a half.

I'm still on mirtazipine but my cravings have left, I don't know if this is due to the diet. It is a good drug regarding depression but it's not really done anything for my anxiety.

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