Increasing mirtazpine dose

[HelloMist]

Does anyone have experience of going from 15 to 30mg mirtazpine? I'm meant to get GP to review things this month.

Started it for anxiety (after finding venlafaxine and 2 SSRIs aren't for me). But my mood has been low the last couple of weeks as well as feeling more anxious. I have a few things causing me increased anxiety at the moment but I find it hard to think back whether I've been doing well generally.

I've put on a bit of weight and feel very tired some days. Have heard higher dose less sedating but don't know whether it would add to appetite/urge to snack. Might try taking it earlier in the evening - I tend to go to bed too late and don't get knocked out by it like I did at first (I already take it 2-3 hours before I go to bed).

I realise what this sounds like but DH is against me increasing dose. (He really wasn't happy me taking ADs in first place).

For me personally it wasn't true that a higher dose is less sedating; every increase in dose (upto 45mg, although currently at 30mg) has increased the sedative effect. The carb cravings and general hunger also, unfortunately, though I've managed to control it somehow. It's all going to be very individual, though, I'm sure. For me the sedation was the main reason I was put on it (as opposed to SSRIs, although also because I'd tried several and they all quickly stopped doing anything for me).

Whatever you decide, it's between you and your GP. None of your partner's business whatsoever. He'll get to have a say about his own medications!

@WayshrineNotFound thank you for replying! Is it helping you? Sorry to hear those things have got worse.

I did take 30 years ago I think but don't remember well how it affected me.

I’m on 45mg this past month, was on 15mg for 2 months, then 30mg for 3 months.

Put on because I would fall asleep for a few hours then wake up and shit in my head would just go round and round and it’ll take a few more hours before I’d drop off again.

15mg certainly helped with sleep but not with anything else. As the dosage increased my sleep is still great most of the time and when I wake up during the night I drop back off easily. No thoughts keeping me up BUT I had my first ever panic attack in December (was on 30 mg then) and since had crazy anxiety due to work, self harm increased for a week and I spoke to my Dr and now also take Propanol whenever I feel the start of an anxiety attack.

Also had dark thoughts but one of the side effects if Mirtazapine is suicidal thoughts, I’ve had one and a 6 occasions since Oct last year of self harm , scratching a scab is mine, but not stopping, I seem to zone out when I do it. It’s weird.

Stress at work is definitely my trigger, now I break the day into ‘jobs’, from 10am - 10.30am X has to be done and I focus only on that. Everything else just has to wait. Without doing this I know I won’t cope.

I fine in saying to people ill come and see you at 10:30 but for now I have to do X

The less stress the less anxious, then the less shit goes round my head. We all cope differently

Yes I've just moved from 15mg to 30mg of Mirtazapine. I've been on it for a week now. I haven't noticed any difference in my mood yet. I am able to sleep and I think it's slightly increased my anxiety.

@HelloMist - It did help me with insomnia, and at least in the beginning with general functioning, too. After a few years on it, I unfortunately got very unwell again. I'm much better right now, and contemplating trying to come off it now, to see how that goes. (I'm having some issues that could or could not be longterm side effects from it or some other medication, so I'm going to trial to see if they go away without the medication.)

[quote WayshrineNotFound]@HelloMist - It did help me with insomnia, and at least in the beginning with general functioning, too. After a few years on it, I unfortunately got very unwell again. I'm much better right now, and contemplating trying to come off it now, to see how that goes. (I'm having some issues that could or could not be longterm side effects from it or some other medication, so I'm going to trial to see if they go away without the medication.)[/quote]
@WayshrineNotFound
Do you mind me asking what side effects you have been getting on mirtazapine. I was on it for 2 months but have had to come off cold turkey due to terrible joint pain, inflammation and tendon damage. Awful and I don’t know if they will resolve now I’m off it.

@MrsGlum

The hunger and carb cravings has been a big one for me. I haven't gained weight on it, because I've massively increased how much I exercise, and I count my calories, but I feel hungry all - the - bloody - time.

I think I also now have akathisia, ie. really bad physical restlessness, which often makes it very hard to sit still. I used to think it it was just a weird new part of my anxiety, but it's not at all linked to any mental distress (although having it can get distressing), and just feels physical. I also have bad brain fog problems with focus and memory. On top of that, I feel very emotionally blunted. I'm never particularly happy or sad or angry or anything. Everything feels meh, shrug, who really cares.

Now, I take other meds than just mirtazapine, so it could be other factors at play. Mirtazapine isn't one of the obvious causes for akathisia, for example (I think sometimes it's even used to treat it), but it can cause or worsen it. The hunger issue is big enough for me alone, though, so want to try to come off it. Ideally really I would come off the other ones, too, but I'm trying not to get ahead of myself.

@WayshrineNotFound thanks for your reply
I didn’t get a big appetite on it but I did feel very flat and grey but the worst is the joint pain, bursitis and tendoniits. I honestly think my poor body didn’t need it at all so has reacted in a major way.
I’ve now got terrible insomnia from the withdrawal. This med is truly ruining my life
I hope you get off it successfully and see if the issues you have been having disappear.