Experiences with Mirtazapine?

[Berylkangaroo]

My GP has prescribed 15mg mirtazapine. She said this is a less stimulating antidepressant so in theory shouldn’t increase my anxiety (which is what I’ve struggled with on other AD).

I’m a bit worried about the sedating effect. I drive for work and have young children. At the moment I sleep well (around 7/8 hours a night) though I do feel tired a lot of the time. I’m worried mirtazapine is just going to knock me out.

Anyone have any experience of taking it? Did you feel completely sedated? How long did that last?

I'm sorry to say extremely sedating for me, to the point I couldn't get up some days, can't say how long that would of lasted as I had to come off it due to flashes of extreme irritation and loosing my temper really easily. It also made me extremely hungry all the time and I gained 1/2 stone very quickly.

Medication's effect people differently and what didn't work for me, might well suit you perfectly. You'll only know after a trial run op.

I’m sorry to say as well that I’ve recently had a horrendous time on them. I was depressed before but became suicidal and paranoid. I also put on a stone. I came off them cold turkey which was awful but better than how I felt. But i did sleep very well! Now trying setraline

They made me very sleepy and felt like a zombie. Definitely didn't do anything for me

I didn't find them sedating at all (although that was the reason I tried them). No real side effects but just didn't do what they needed.

I was prescribed them for insomnia...
4 yrs later I had gained 6 stone and the NHS allowed me to have Bariatric surgery.. back to normal weight now - still have insomnia but at least no longer have high bp, pre diabetes, arthritis and sleep apnoea!

I have had more positive experiences, I've been on it for 3 years now, currently at 45mg. I sleep very well on Mirtazapine, but apart from the first five minutes of the day, don't feel groggy. I did feel total apathy for the first week, which was disconcerting, and it gave me mad (but fun) dreams for a while. I also put on a little bit of weight, but only about 5 lbs which I have lost. I have two friends who take it without problems, so I would say give it a go, OP, if your GP suggests it. I'm remembering now.. my appetite did spike a bit at the beginning, but avoiding sugar and white flour seemed to tame it.

Thank you for the replies, it’s good to hear a couple of positive experiences too. I struggle so much with anything that makes me feel physically ‘off’ (thanks a lot health anxiety!) so getting through the side effects is really hard. I’m just not sure I’d cope with something that zombified me.

I've been on them for a few years now. Always take them at bed time so I can't comment on the sedating effect too much. I never sleep brilliantly anyway and always wake up tired, but I did this before I was on them.

The appetite though...I'm always starving and have piled on pounds. Currently trying to lose it but it's not easy.

I also on venlafaxine and I find the combination helps me function normally. For the first time in years I don't think about suicide every day. That's worth the weight gain for me.

I'd advise anyone to steer well clear of Mirtazapine unless they want to become a zombie, emotionally numb. Yes, the sleep is great except for the weird dreams but it feels like you've never properly woken up. The weight gain is inevitable, at least 10%. And trying to come off them is a nightmare.

Here is a tip for anyone wanting to come off mirtazapine and fight the withdrawal symptoms.

Ask your GP for liquid mirtazapine instead of tablets. Take 15mg as normal one eeek then the following week take 14mg a day then the next week take 13mg a day and so on until you are down to zero. The withdrawal side effects are truly awful but at least you'll be off the awful things.

Don't know much about it but the vet prescribed it for my cat as it's an appetite stimulant!

They saved me from a desperate state of panic and anxiety.

They were wonderful for guaranteeing a good nights sleep, every time, without fail.

They did make me crave carbs, so discipline is required to avoid weight gain.

They did nothing for my depression and in fact made me more irritable.

My creativity and flair diminished quite a bit and in the first week or so found myself not able to think clearly or compute at the same level, but this passes and I returned to almost normal. I was always aware that I was slightly sedated and not being the real me, but compared to my anxiety and panic, it was a far better place to be.

I tried 15, 30 and 45s, the only difference I found was that the smaller doses had a greater sedating effect at night time, which is counter intuitive, but what is commonly reported.

I'm doing very well on 20mg of Citilopram. Excellent for my anxiety and depression.