Mirtazapine Misery

[Attendreetesperer]

I feel stuck and terrified. I had some really traumatic things happen, I was attacked and needed surgery, and I was extremely down. Mainly because I couldn’t sleep. I could battle through in the day but not at night.

So I had people telling me I needed to see my gp as I wasn’t myself and I knew it but I’m terrified of doctors unless it’s a must. She put me on mirtazapine.

Before I was on them. I was never suicidal, I was depressed. Now I’m numb, I sleep 12-13 hours a day when I can. Other times I can’t sleep. I have no happiness. No sadness. Nothing. I’m a zombie. I drag myself up and carry on but I shouldn’t be allowed. I feel this medication is so strong it’s dangerous as I’m in a world of my own. In the past three weeks I’ve gone from 30-15 and the insomnia is unbelievable and I’m shaky and anxious.

My bmi was 31 before I went on them and I’ve put two stone on since being on them. I don’t think she cared for my well being at all.

Can someone tell me their is light at the end of the tunnel.

My friend had the same- switched from an antidepressant she’d been on for years, to mirtazepine, because GP wondered if depression might be a factor in some symptoms she was having. It pole-axed her - awful dreams, cognitive function plummeted, rapid weight gain…she couldnt bear it after a few weeks and switched back to the original drug. Awful - she’ll never get those weeks back.

This has been two and a half years. I’ve been so scared to stop them as I can tell how strong they are that I’m petrified of how worse things could get. If they could. The nightmares - some have been so vivid I honestly have questioned whether they are memories. Lucid dreaming. I have waking nightmares, every night, where I wake confused and terrified remembering the whole nightmare.

What I feel angry about is wouldn’t a short course of sleeping tablets or diazepam for me to have the rest my body needed for a few weeks, settle and establish a pattern. But no those drugs are evil and awful. But mirtazapine. Brilliant. I’m really not seeing that at the moment.

I am honestly a zombie. A walking, driving,working zombie. I shouldn’t be doing any of them it scares me

You're right not to stop them unsupervised - but nor do you have to remain on them, there are other options that your GP can oversee a gradual switchover. Mirtazepine just doesn’t suit some people.

I couldn't ignore this thread, so I thought I'd share my experience which may give you some hope.

Initially I was prescribed setraline, and over the course of several months my dose was boosted up to 150mg per day, yet still did nothing for me.

After going to a private hospital and being prescribed Mirtazapine, it finally started to help.

The lower doses can be worse than higher in my experience, but it may be the case you need something else alongside it (especially so to help sleep or intense negative thoughts)

For that I have a medication called quetiapine which is on a "PRN" basis, so I take it as and when I need it.

If insomnia is a big issue, I was prescribed zopiclone and found that helpful.

The only thing I would say is resist benzodiazepines even if they're suggested by a Dr, as that leads down a bad path in my experience.

Talk to your Dr and explain everything and they'll know what the best way forward is.

I wish you all the best with your journey to better health!

You need to talk to your doctor.

i appreciate your help but the doctor who put me on a strong antidepressant when I was already really overweight. The pharmacist when giving me my first dose said I’m surprised she’s started you on those. They are strong.

a month ago I reached rock bottom. I’ve never left the house in my pyjamas and I did have a coat that goes to my knees but I sat in reception crying and to her. She said you have five minutes and wouldn’t give me anything to make me sleep. I hadn’t slept in three days. I got in the car and cried.

I love my Mirtazapine. It was added to an ongoing Venlafaxine prescription, which turned out to be as close to a magic bullet as it's reasonable to hope for - that is, not a magic bullet at all but made life tolerable for a change. Antidepressants do numb your feelings, unfortunately. We take them because we're overwhelmed by unwelcome feelings; they're a bit of a blunt tool.

My experience of weight gain with antidepressants is that it slows down after a while and eventually stops, then you're able to lose weight by the usual methods. It may be that your dose is too high - or even too low - but I concur with the previous poster that a combination of meds could be worth trying.

So, yes, do see your doctor. Try for a psychiatry referral, as shrinks are allowed to prescribe different combinations of meds where GPs aren't. I really hope you start to feel better soon

Thank you for your kindness ♥️ I wish I had a trusted gp who could help me, but I don’t.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend seeing a specialist privately.

I see a Consultant Psychiatrist who has been a breath of fresh air compared to my experience battling with my local GP.

Remind yourself that things can and will get better in time.

I'm not sure where you are, but if you're anywhere near London I can signpost you to some services that I've found really helpful.

I'm o this but never had side effects. I came off them cold turkey which isn't something I'd recommend but I was only on them for about 6 months. Now I take the odd one as needed if I feel overwhelmed. But they make me exhausted. They help me sleep.

Have you tried stertraline? I found that quite good at a low dose

Mirtazapine is not “stronger” than any other antidepressant. If it’s not suiting you though and you are having lots of side effects you need to talk to your doctor about coming off them and/or swapping to something else.