Mirtazapine - does it get better?!

[sherbetmelon]

I'm just starting my 7th week on 30mg Mirtazapine, previously I was on 40mg Citalopram and 150mg sertraline before that.

I started 2020 on sertraline and ended on mirtazapine. I was on sertraline as I was breastfeeding but when I stopped mid year I could finally change as it just wasn't cutting it. Anxiety was sky high and panic attacks so frequent, so it was time for a change.

Citalopram had the opposite effect, anxiety was under control but depression worse than ever. I have a toddler and work full time and I'd never been so low in my life I just couldn't muster the energy for anything.

So now week 7 on mirtazapine and I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. My anxiety is back to being unbearable and controls my life. I'm so depressed and just feel sad all the time. I've put on so much weight and need to hear some positivity to stop me ringing the doctors begging to change again.

I'm struggling to differentiate between reasonable sadness and anxiety due to what's going on in the world or what's caused by my anxiety/depression. I'm a key worker and work is awful right now which doesn't help.

Those on mirtazapine or those who have gone through multiple medications to find the right one for them... please reassure me it gets better. I just can't go on like this.

Hi I'm not on that medication I'm on citalpram 30mg just upped from 20mg as I'm suffering with terrible anxiety it's really upsetting isn't it what it is that makes you panic if you don't mind me asking

Hand hold. I've struggled starting every new medication I'm now wondering why I bother they just don't seem to help me anymore.

Anything and everything, I have had it my whole life, made worse by awful PTSD from childbirth in 2018 and now I just worry about everything.

Have you been on fluoxetine before? Can be very good for anxiety. Ideal dose being 40mg. Maybe ask the GP? You would start on 20mg.

Honestly I put on about 10kg+ on mine, felt numb and so sedated all the time and the withdrawal to come off them was ridiculous. Honestly felt less depressed off them than on however my anxiety is crazy so it definitely helped that.
I think after 7 weeks you can definitely ask for a review

@PeanutButterFalcon that's really good to know I feel the same. I'm just not happy. Will call tomorrow

@OliverBabish no I haven't but that was the other medication we considered when I came off Citalopram. It's just so hard to know what to choose and how long to give it before changing again

Dh is on it, he’s weaning off it now it didn’t help.

@sherbetmelon I would give it a go - I know many people with varying degrees of anxiety who have done well on it

I just don't know how long to give mirtazapine. I'm wondering whether to max out on it as I've always taken the max dose before.

I'm just so upset it hasn't worked I'm so fed up :'(

@Fluffycloudland77 how long did he give it if you don't mind me asking? How is he coping weaning off it?

If it’s not working I would tell your doc. He may up it or try something else. My doc added veneflaxine to the mix three weeks ago and they are meant to work well together. Hopefully this flat feeling will pass xx

Oh over a year. He’s more anxious when he steps down but then he becomes more like himself again.

I was on it for a long time and it never changed but unfortunately I couldn’t take much else and didn’t have it in me to keep battling the doctor so lived with it. Apparently the higher the dose the less sedating it is but I didn’t notice much difference personally

Has anyone had ect therapy. I’ve heard this is quicker than waiting for AD to work ? Not sure if it’s a last resort but meant to be effective x

I started on citalopram last April. It made my anxiety worse and I couldn't sleep. GP suggested mirtazipine instead which has worked well for me. I have found it works better at a lower dose. The higher dose made me a bit shaky. Might be worth considering.

Yeah the lower dose is for sleep I’ve asked to come off it and have a review next month. Hopefully get sorted out xx

My DH was on Mirtazipine for a few months after Citalopram wasn't helping him. The GP prescribed it mainly for its sedative effects, to help him sleep. I can honestly say those few months were his lowest point and I'm including in that, the time before he got help with his depression. He was like a horrible stranger when on Mirtazipine. Bad tempered, mean, nasty, unaware of other people and their feelings, and often just like a zombie due to the sedative effect. He also put on a lot of weight due to being almost constantly hungry. Our oldest DC begged him to come off it so he was eventually prescribed Venlafaxine which he's now been on for 3 years with no ill effects at all.
If you are unhappy then speak to your GP, other anti depressants may suit you better.

I made the GP change me off this after only two days, the hunger and drowsiness was unbearable. If it's not working please phone the GP!

I hate mirtazapine. It did nothing but turn me into a mean bad tempered eating machine.

Im on mirtazipine and propranolol. The 2 together seem to work better than anything else I tried (have previously had fluxotine, amitriptiline, serialise and citalopram)

Serialise = sertraline

I'm mirtazapine 45mg and it helps anxiety massively. I spent many nights too anxious to sleep and now I have very little anxiety. I started on 15mg this stopped working increased to 30 this stopped working now I am on 45 and it's not stopped working thank goodness.

I’m on mirtazipine and have been for about 6 years. For me it’s been amazing, yes the weight gain has been hard but I’d rather be fat and happy than skinny and suicidal. However it doesn’t work for everyone and I definitely think you’ve given it long enough to have had an effect so speak to your doctor. I spoke to mine a while ago wanting to come off it to lose weight and he prescribed me trazadone which is meant to be good for sleep and anxiety but unfortunately I had a severe allergic reaction to it! Annoying as it would have been ideal for me but maybe it’s another you could mention to your gp. Hope you get there soon, mental health is so debilitating x

I'm on mirtazapine being honest I found paroxetine to be best for anxiety and depression but it's a absolute nightmare to get off really bad withdrawal.

I’ve been on mertazipine for two months and I know what you mean about feeling like a zombie. They added venaflexine. I haven’t put any weight in as I can’t be bothered to make good half the time. Get the munchies on a night time end eat all the wrong things. I’ve been off work two months and I’m worried I’ll never go back. Looking at houses to rent incase this happens. My best friend is telling me not to do that as I have still plenty of time to get better. Arghhh!! X