driving a car on mirtazapine and venlafaxine

[dangermouseisace]

Hello. I've been told that I shouldn't drive my car on 45mg mitrazapine and 150mg venlafaxine. Has anyone else on this combination been told this? Or were they told it temporarily?

It's just that I have a new job where it is essential that I am a car owner/user…

Sorry I don't know about driving. I'm on 45mg Mirtazapine, 150mg Sertraline and 400mg lithium and driving ok (I think!) Do you mind my asking how you are doing on that combination. It's just that a psychiatrist I saw recently (on a private basis) said the combination of Mirtazapine and Venlafaxine has very good outcomes. I'm not keen as I was on Venlafaxine for a month last year and got insomnia and nausea. Even zopiclone didn't help me sleep.

I believe the law is that you must inform the DVLA yourself. Have you looked at the DVLA website?

you need to check on this list

www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving

It's difficult to say as everyone tolerates medicines differently, I for example would be lethal driving whilst taking a single dose of piriton!

Best thing to do would be to read the patient information leaflet and speak to a pharmacist who would be easier and quicker to get hold of for an appropriate answer.
However there are new laws in that if your driving has been impaired by drugs ( prescribed or otherwise) you could be proscecuted, so as well as the possibility of causing injury to yourself or others whilst on the road you could be banned/fined/ect
If there is any doubt then don't drive.

nightsky I looked at DVLA website earlier but it all seemed a bit vague with regards depression, and I'm a bit worried about contacting them if I'm actually ok to drive and they take away my license as a precaution! I live rurally so a car is essential, unless you have a chauffeur. I doubted my safety driving before my meds were changed, and it's difficult to know without getting behind the wheel and going!

Nana I've just changed from being on sertraline for 5 years, to sertraline and mirtazapine, then venlafaxine and mirtzapine. I have improved a bit but it's very early days so I don't know if it is too soon to tell! I had the lack of sleep problem with sertraline…I think mirtzapine is meant to counteract some of those problems…NHS people say that venlafaxine and mirtzapine is a good combination too.