Mirtazapine and insatiable appetite

[Mirthunger]

Posted here for traffic
im on day 5 of mirtazapine. Flat 3 nights(taken before bed) I slept really well. Last night I couldn’t fall asleep and had restless legs. Around midnight, I raided the biscuits and drank almost a pint of milk. Today, I just can’t stop eating! I’ve made a casserole-enough for 4 people(planned to freeze some) and it’s almost all gone! I also ate lots of bread and butter with it too
im currently a petite size 10/12 but really don’t like the idea of putting weight on! If I carry on like this though I’m going to need to be rolled down the driveway to work!
any advice or experience of this?
thanks

OP I had the exact same experience with Mirtazepine. It's a horrible medication and if I were you I would ask to be changed to an SSRI like citalopram or similar which treats anxiety and/or depression.

I put a stone on in 2-3 week. I literally was eating sugar out of the sugar bowl, have never experienced sugar & carb craving in my life like that. It also made me feel sleep during the day. I gave it up after about 6 weeks and the cravings and weight gain stopped immediately.

Yes, it's known for this. It's really disappointing that your GP didn't tell you and let you make an informed choice. Or maybe they just looked at you, saw that you were slim, and made the choice for you. 🙄

It’s terrible - I gained 3 stone in a month before coming off it! It wasn’t just being hungry, it was feeling like I’d collapse and die if I didn’t eat. I know it’s not the thing to say, but really do consider are any benefits you’re seeing outweighing the problems?

That effects wears off fairly quickly. Just try not to eat too much until it does (if you can!). My GP weighed me before going on them and a few months later as I was worried about gaining weight. I was conscious to try not to eat too much and I put on about half a stone I think, which then came off again.

Please ignore the posts saying what an awful medication is. All ADs can be "awful" for the wrong person (or wrong medication!). SSRIs made me suicidal, and I had almost every side effect on the leaflet including losing my ability to orgasm. I also tried a tricyclic and it made me sleep about 18 hours a day. Mirtazapine, worked really well, and I had minimal side effects. Others will find the opposite. You need to find the medication that works for you which is trial and error unfortunately. Good luck 💐

Same for me. I've been on it for years. The weight gain stopped and I've lost most of the extra - my 'set point' is 6kg (10%) higher than before, but it's okay. I take venlafaxine as well, which is also said to promote weight gain (less than mirtazapine, though).

I've got more of a taste for sugar than before - I hardly used to eat anything with sugar in! Now I get quite irritable if I can't have - well, fruit and biscuits, but I try to do more of the fruit.

It was my magic bullet, though. I can live with a larger clothes size, 'cause I'm so much less worried about shit 🤗

I've put on over 5 stone since I started on mirtazapine. I had pneumonia that started this time last year & I lost 2 stone due to not being able to eat, I've since lost another 3 stone by cutting all the crap from my diet, no sweets or snacks, just eating 2 meals a day that add up to around 800 calories. I do 2 fast days where I keep under 600 calories, instead of snacking, I drink no sugar cordial & soda water.

That must take incredible willpower especially if you have extreme hunger due to the medication.

Wow yes I couldn't lose weight at all I lirtazapineand as I was already obese unfortunately it's had an awful effect for me.

I lost a stone coming off but really need to lose at least the other 4 too to just get back where I started.

I'm really really struggling with insomnia now (been awake since 2). I miss the magic sleep. I'm taking magnesium but where life is stressful at the moembt in not sleeping and I'm exhausted and it's a vicious cycle.