Mirtazapine and weight gain

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

I've been on these for a few months now - only 15mg - but omg the weight gain is really getting me down. I've put on at least half a stone (OK, nearer one stone), and for someone who's always weighed 8 stone I now have nothing that fits and am actually feeling low again because of the weight gain. I know I'm being very vain and shallow, but I'm 41 and beginning to feel very frumpy anyway, and although I'm still eating healthily it's still piling on.

Has anyone stopped taking it and reverted back to their normal weight?

[sadandbad]

I was on it a few years ago. Best anti-depressant ever! However, the weight gain was terrible. Just to reassure you though that as soon as I came off it, the weight fell off (and I was about the same weight as you). It is part of the drug so in most people will come off when you stop taking it. That drug literally saved my life when I had postnatal depression.

[Joanne0502]

OMG I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I was just in the bath crying my eyes out over my weight I can not move in my bath,( for the last two months) seriously I noticed I had gained so much weight, even to the point where people were asking "when's your baby due", I came downstairs determined to make an appointment with my docs tto beg Him for help, I couldn't understand why in two months I have gone from 12 stone to 14&1/2 stone, I went on Google and found warning mertazipine!!!!! Weight gain, which then led me to this site, I can't believe it, THANKYOU, I have suffered with depression for 8 years and have tried many anti depressants I was prescribed duloxatine 90mg and zimmavaine 7.5mg(sleeper) as I hadn't literally slept for 5 years, but a year ago my doc asked me to try come off my sleeper as they have discovered they have long term side affects I was so proud of myself when I gave them up, but went back to struggling with sleep, my doctor then prescribed mertazipine 15mg and told me to continue with the duloxatine, I gradually cut them down ( another big achievement) but again began to struggle (sleep) so he put my mertazipine up to 30mg and as explained earlier I am now two and a half stone heavier, I have no energy, I feel so low, and unattractive, I put it down to middle age spread, I'm 38 and have never been thin but I have never been this heavy not even in my pregnancy's and now I know why, I am not going to take my tablet tonight or ever again, I will ring my gp first thing in the morning and hopefully I can start on something else, and feel like me again. I am worried about my sleep and moods but I can't gain any more weight, it's not fair on me or my children ??

[Joanne0502]

Hi guys thanks to all of you being strong and open about your experience on mertazipine, I had the courage to go to my doctors and he has now changed my meds I have been of mertazipine since Sunday and I feel so much better, my stomachs has reduced I'm no longer hungry all the time, in fact I've not eaten very much at all, my emotions are ok at the moment but I have the support of my doctor, I'm very lucky he I s fantastic, I will update again in a few weeks to let u know my experience ?xxx thanks again ?xx

[LolaC86]

Hi everyone,

I've just stumbled across this thread today after searching upon mirtazapine and weight gain. I've been on mirtazapine since Jan, started at 15mg and upped to a tablet and a half .. so i guess 22.5mg! ... I've put on more than a stone, gone from hovering around 10st to just over 11st, a size 10-12 to a 12-14. When the doctor first mentioned that these might make me put on weight I wasn't concerned as at the time I really wasn't eating and I thought it wouldn't be a problem but its really really getting to me. Like everyone else I'm worried as it seems so shallow and trivial and its not a drastic thing to put on a bit of weight but its making me feel so horrible about myself, and kind of displaced, like ..t this still isn't the real me .. which isn't good as the tablets were meant to help me find 'me' again after feeling lost for a long time. I've started to get over analytical and thinking how many calories are in certain things, but still do have a horrible appetite and crave carbs and chocolate. I have just recently started at the gym and going swimming but so far have noticed no difference at all.

I was sure that I would persist with these tablets but I now have an appointment next friday with my doctor as i'm not sure i can take it any more. I was on sertraline prior to this but swapped as they increased my anxiety and made me very twitchy, it was quite scary.

I hope that my doctor will be okay with me switching, i dont want to crumble and have to insist.. otherwise the tablets do help me sleep, and i have felt better on them .. but sometimes 'just okay' if that makes sense.. i haven't much looked forward to anything or felt motivated or excited .. but ive still had plenty of bad times. I also feel like they are giving me a fake sleep if that makes any sense too .. sometimes i know ive had a bad night sleep based on how exhausted i feel but i havent been tossing and turning or feeling awake .. and i am so tired all the time.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience.. found it really interesting reading through everyone's post and helpful to know what everyone else gone through. :)

[wfrances]

im on mirtazapine- started around 6 weeks ago
its made me crave cigarettes - i havent smoked for 20 years.
ive been on a really low dose -7.5 mg and just upped to 15mg as im very sensitive to all meds and the last a/d i was on - i had a really bad reaction -they had to come out and sedate me.
i don t think ive put weight on, ill check later.

[NotAJammyDodger]

Getdown is Mirtazapine available as a 7.5 tablet or are you pill cutting a higher dose? I'm currently splitting a 30mg into 15mg but it's quite a small size to halve again. Thx.

[Hestheone]

was on 40mg mirtazapine and put on 2 and a half stone and i was big anyway,i eventually came off the mirtazapine because the weight gain was making me worse,lost the 2 and a half stone but wish i was still on the meds so i wouldnt feel so crap

[NotAJammyDodger]

What I find really frustrating is all the dietary advice you get assumes your not eating healthily in the first place. Docs know Mirtazapine is notorious for weight gain - which can so adversely effect self esteem - so why do they persists in lecturing you about eating healthily and excising (when you already do). Still, I suppose there is not a lot else they can do, other than change your meds.

[jenfeelingfat]

I have been on Mirazipine for around 4 months now and have put on loads of weight. I could not understand it but after some research I realise it is this medication. It has helped emotionally after some extremely sad and traumatic events in my life but at a high cost to my weight and appearance. I now have a muffin top as well as a sag and I stick out far too much.

Having researched the views of other people and some of the journal and book website entries I am stopping tomorrow! I could not do up a pair of trousers today so enough is enough. Good luck to everyone who is on it. I think the weight gain is certainly sufficient to make you feel worried!

[LaylaSitton18]

I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one. I used to be 8.5 stone and was healthy. Due to some time off work (due to my depression) my weight crept up to 9.5 but I could just about deal with it and if I worked out a few times a week I could get it back to 9. I've now been on mirtazapine 15mg for just over a month (although today my doctor has put me on 30mg) and I'm now 11 stone! I'm pretty miserable. Everyone keeps telling me I need to just stop eating, but sometimes I get real comfort from eating, in a way I've never experienced before. I've always loved my food but always been able to keep my weight under control. Nowadays, nothing I do helps. But then I'm so miserable I just want to curl up in a ball all day eating and drinking rather than exercise. Now I'm on a higher dose im terrified the weight gain will get worse. Not only that but 15mg knocks me out in minutes, taking 30mg might put me in a coma 😁

[laurak10]

Hi..I need some advice. ....iv read through a few posts..iv just come off mirtazapine due to putting on about just over 2 stone..i started serious depression and have tried a few different tablets.1 of my mature problems for depression was my weight.im..iv was a 12/14 really unhappy with my weight. I could do normal things..iv now gone up to a 16 and really struggling. Iv always had weight issues but never this quick .ivvv this really because of mirtazapine?? Please please someone help me.😢

[Clonakiltylil]

It is definitely because of the Mirtazapine. I tried it, was dozy the whole time, lost things, couldn't remember where I had put anything and fell asleep several times a day. And the weight gain was substantial. Up to a size 18, having been a 12. It's not off yet. I wasn't functioning, so the GP changed me to Venlafaxine.