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Mental health

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Original poster

Mirtazapine

13 replies

username1987a · 07/12/2021 18:25

Have been prescribed mirtazapine for GAD and depression. I have been reading horror stories about it for weight gain, sedation and other things. Anyone tried this and was it any good? I can't do SRRIs as they make me very anxious and am in a hole right now regarding depression.

OP posts:

flowersforyou · 07/12/2021 18:31

I was on martazapine and it would give me really bad hunger shakes if I didn't eat within 20 minutes. I would eat a full meal and be starting after and it just made me even more depressed.

Shannith · 07/12/2021 18:34

Marvellous stuff for me. As long as I take it in bed when I want to go to sleep.

It makes me drowsy and my sleep is amazing now. Before taking it I used to cope on about 2-3 hours a night and that nearly sent me over the edge.

I've tried all the others and this is othe one for me with the least side effects. I would t take it in the daytime - I have a couple of times and I was like a zombie.

It did make me hungrier but I did t give I as it's not "real" hi her iykwim and it abated after a few months.

Mimimayhem18 · 07/12/2021 18:37

I have tried it, it was a good antidepressant but it did cause weight gain. I found the best thing was to try and plan low GI meals with lots of protein, and trying not to have as much sweet stuff in the house, although this would be difficult at this time of year I admit. I did gain weight but not a ridiculous amount this way.

pastypirate · 07/12/2021 18:50

I started it in September with beta blockers. When I increase the dose it makes me eat like mad and I gained weight but that settles down again or it did for me. Still feel really fat though.

Poochnewbie1 · 07/12/2021 21:05

It has been a life saver for me. It has made me gain weight though and I do have to take it before bed…but it helps me sleep.
I did initially feel worse when I started and then again whenever my dosage was increased but after a few weeks it would settle. I’ve been taking it for nearly 2 years now and don’t think I’d want to be without it.

Original poster

username1987a · 08/12/2021 16:50

I'm already on a medication that increases appetite so I'm not looking forward to adding another one. It seems to work for people though. I'm starting on a really low dose to start with to see how I get on with it.

OP posts:

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/12/2021 16:56

It made me an evil bad tempered grumpy witch, I really didn’t like it. It wasn’t particularly good for sleep and made me eat a lot.

pastypirate · 08/12/2021 17:36

@username1987a

I do find the appetite increase settles down after a while. When I started it I couldn't get the food in me fast enough but it's not like that now.

Iamnotmad · 08/12/2021 19:14

I put loads of weight on. It made me crave sweet foods and carbs, and I would just eat ravenously. It also knocked me out at the beginning of treatment, I'd be so groggy the next morning and literally have to drag myself out of bed. I took it in combo with citalopram, unfortunately, it did not work at all for me.

NotAnotherPushyMum · 08/12/2021 19:17

I’ve been taking it for three months now and it’s been a miracle drug for me. I’m sleeping better than I have for years and I’ve been able to return to work and function properly. I take it at night and haven’t noticed any increase in appetite.

Notgettingbetter · 08/12/2021 19:19

It makes me sleep very deeply - I don't wake up to go for a wee during the night and wake up sweating and desperate! It has increased my appetite too but I don't really mind. I take it along with venlafaxine. I think it's helping my depression a bit.

pastypirate · 08/12/2021 21:33

@NotAnotherPushyMum

That's really encouraging as I'm on long term sick leave with anxiety just now.

NoelFieldingsShirt · 08/12/2021 21:49

I’ve been taking it for about a month now to combat severe anxiety & insomnia which I’ve developed as a result of health problems. I take it at night as I was previously waking up with awful panic attacks after only a couple of hours of sleep and then be awake all night. Now I get around 4.5 hours which is still not great but still an improvement.
Haven’t noticed any increase in appetite but I’m only on a low dose.

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