Mirtazapine 3 weeks not working?! Pls help

[ktb123]

Hi
Have posted before, was really hoping this would help my chronic insomnia/anxiety. From day 1 I haven't slept properly through the night. A week in my GP added zopiclone also, so I'm on 2 medications now and still not sleeping.. My moods is definitely better in terms I can cope during the day, and feel calmer.. I can only describe my sleep as no deep sleep, very fragmented, as in I'll put a relax app on and hear beginning and end.. But feel awake constantly (half awake/half asleep).. basically my brain is not switching off.
What can I do apart from go back again to GP? She says give it another week. This fragmented sleep is same every night.. Is it still my anxiety keeping me awake?
Anyone else please can you relate?
Also doing sleep hygiene, exercise, keeping busy although work have let me go as I was in probationery and off sick too much so now no job but to be honest at the moment apart from financial this is not at the top of worries. I'm a single parent so no DP either..
This is tough X

What dose are you on?

It's 15mg ..

Can the gp not increase it?

I was the same, stopped getting the benefit of the sleep and no improvement in mood. Going up to 30mg seems to be helping

15mg is considered the best dose for sleep even if it's the lower dose.

If you don't want it increasing Trazadone and Amitripiline can both help with the sleep issue as well as anxiety.

I know your GP has probably informed you this but please be careful with zopiclone taken for more then 14 days it can be come addictive. I speak from experience.

There is a herbal otc sleeping aid I can suggest but I'm reluctant too with you already being on 2 sedative medications.

Il just add I'm not a HCP just a long term MH patient.

My psychiatrist seemed to think 45mg was optimal for sleep issues but I had heard something about lower doses being better elsewhere as well as pp. However, didn't seem to do it for me and 45mg worked far better- then again everyone is different. I'd had problems for years only sleeping extremely restlessly for very short periods of time, when I did actually get to sleep, and then being exhausted all day. This still happens sometimes but its not everyday and to a far lesser extent than before. I was just thinking, like unborn, relying on zopiclone isn't great, so might be worth asking GP whether she thinks increasing the mirtazapine might help as she will be best placed to advise. The trouble with zopiclone is that it can affect your sleep when you stop...

I found exercise etc doesn't help at all and weirdly it can make me worse! Maybe that's an anxiety/overstimulation thing I don't know. Recently though I've been using headspace meditation app before bed, then listening to really boring stuff in bed and that seems to be helping how I sleep a bit- less restless. As measured by whether the bedsheets are still on the bed/whether I'm a sweaty mess in the middle of the night.

Danger the doctor who told me the 15mg worked better for sleep was the same one who got me addicted to zopiclone by giving me 8 weeks worth (obviously I took them so I'm partly too blame)

Danger is right though everyone reacts differently although looking back I tried 15,30, and 45 and didn't notice much different.

Just too add op it's a lot easier increasing the meds your already on dosages then starting a new one altogether. It's just good to know there is alternatives out there.

Good luck though I always suffer when my meds get tampered with it just works out better in the long run

Unborn what do you take now, and how did you get off Zopiclone? Obviously this is my concern as I told her at my appt last week. I'm trying to make do with half and still waking in the middle of the night. I don't get quality sleep and feel tired most mornings.. Like today literally just dragging myself out of bed at 9, though I do pick up during the day. Just think it's the wrong time to increase as don't want to deal with side effects for next 2 weeks just before Xmas.. And I'm not convinced if this dose isn't working next one will!! Who knows??
Trazodone worked really well for couple of years then stopped, also I did try amitriptyline in the past so that could be another option!

Like you dangermouse always been a restless sleeper and it seems to affect me in all areas of my life.. I've tried so many different remedies, therapies costing me money and the only thing unfortunately is being reliant on finding a medication that works.

I take amitripiline 50mg. I've been on most ad's in the past and I've been stable since February (touch wood) it does help with sleep.

Have you ever tried phenergen? It's an antihistamine much better then the z drugs and non-addictive. It works for me when my sleeps really messed up. You can get it over the counter but I'd advice going through your GP.

I wouldn't rule out mirrazapine altogether a higher dose seems to work well for a lot of people. From what I remember my dose increasing was quite easy no unwanted side effects.

There is another two z drugs aswell zopidem and another but I can't remember the name. They are similar to zopiclone but have the same side effects and risk of addiction. If zopiclone hasn't worked one of the others may. They are obviously prescription only.

Failing all this your only option is benzos diazepam, xanax etc. Many doctors don't issue them as they are so addictive. I would try to avoid that road if you possibly can.

I completely sympathise with you lack of sleep is soul destroying

I must admit that mirtazapine is the only thing that worked for me. It is a bit of a relief to know that I will at least go to sleep every single night even if I don't stay asleep! I went from 15mg straight to 45mg and didn't notice any side effects at all.