mirtazapine and weight gain - or is it just me?

[FaithLoveandHope]

Hi All, I'm on the lowest dose of mirtazapine and have been on it now for 3 months. Since going on it I've been putting on weight and no matter how much I cut out food wise, it doesn't want to shift. I don't do a great deal of exercise - I walk to work around 1 mile each way and walk to church once or twice a week which is a 3 mile round trip - but that's about it really. I have dodgy joints which makes exercising hard but I suppose I could find something if I really had the motivation to, but I guess that's easier said than done with depression. I've not decreased my exercise since starting them though so I don't know if it's me and my eating habits that's causing the weight gain or if it's genuinely just the mirtazapine. Did anyone else get weight gain no matter what they did food / exercise wise?

hi
ive been on it for nearly 2 weeks and still weigh the same.
i dont execise at all.
had you started putting weight on by 2 weeks?
i was put on it as its supposed to be an appetite stimulant as ive lost 3 stone how much weight have you put on?

It's hard to say when I started putting weight on, I can't remember really. I don't have a weighing scales (I don't dare step on one!) so I can't tell you how much I've actually put on, it's just my tummy is no longer as flat as it used to be.

Sorry is a frequent side effect

I was on it for 9 months. Gained a stone and a half. It was worth it as I was at rock bottom, it saved my life.

We often prescribe it when people are depressed and are losing weight through loss of appetite. It can stimulate the appetite.
You could ask about being changed to another antidepressant.

Do you know if the weight gain is worse with increased dose? I've been through so many different ADs with far worse side effects that I'm reluctant to change again. It has helped my mood but I'm not sure if it's helped as much as it could do tbh. Not sure I want to risk even more weight gain though!

Sorry, not a Dr, so dont know about that. Worth asking your Dr or pharmacist.

i was told by psych if you are the 1 in 3 who suffers with the weight gain it should plateau at about 3 months as your body gets used to it.
he said some people put 2 stone on in 2 months!!

I ballooned and so did my fellow patients. In the end it didn't work v well for me so switched to agomelatine (and lost 3 stone)

I've been on it for around 8 months. I've recently had a serious amount of stress and would normally drop weight at a rapid rate. I've been dieting and logging all food and exercise religiously but have put on around a stone, possibly a bit more in the eight months. I couldn't understand as I've been trying so hard and googled it. This article is long but makes a lot of sense as in mirtazapin increases fat stores mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/24/remeron-mirtazapine-and-weight-gain-what-causes-it/
I'm on 45mg a day but have now decided to reduce to 30mg every other day. I will see my doctor asap as you should never mess with these things without consulting them but I've been on and off pills all my adult life and am happy to start the process slowly until I see doctor.

Don't know how to do links properly from iPhone mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/24/remeron-mirtazapine-and-weight-gain-what-causes-it/ hope that worked

That article is really interesting Jaded , thanks.