Mirtazapine

[SoyMarina]

Hello, I have been taking mirtazapine 7.5 for sleep and anxiety since September. Lately I have been waking after about 5 hours sleep and am unable to get back to sleep.
Can anyone advise whether it would be OK to take another 7.5 of mirtazapine to get me back to sleep?
Thanks

Speak to your prescriber.

15mg is still well within the safe dose (I take 45mg)

But you shouldn't change your dosage without speaking to the Dr first. And mirtazipene only works as a sleeping tablet at lower doses. No idea why.

Definitely speak to the person who prescribed it.

Thanks all.
My GP originally prescribed it at 15 mg but to start at 7.5.
As 7.5 worked well for a while I never increased to 15 mg but was wondering if it is time to increase now and if I could do it in split doses as 15 mg in one go is less sedating.

The lower dose has a more sedative affect. Can’t remember why but it is true, higher doses are given for depression.

Agree with the previous poster. 15mg is good for sleep but 30mg and above have the opposite effect. Counter-intuitive but true.

Just wondering if it’s worth taking another 7.5 when I wake up in the early hours.

The lower dose has a more sedative affect

This must not be universal, though I keep reading it. For me personally every increase in dose has increased the sedative effect, including a massive sedative effect from OD (which I obviously don't recommend!). Is this something most doctors say, as well? Mine has always increased the dose when I stopped being able to sleep on the previous one - although I do have depression, as well.

I started on 15mg mirt (was already on citalopram) because I was seriously depressed and unable to sleep. It worked well for a few weeks but then my sleep started going backwards again. Upped the dose to 30mg 2 weeks ago and (touch wood) it's still mostly doing the job on the sleep. I do weigh well over 70kg, though.

On hardcore insomnia nights, I sometimes add in an OTC sleep aid--promethazine or diphenhydramine. Would that be an option?

Thanks for all your replies.
I have been taking my usual 7.5 at bedtime and adding 3.5 when I wake at around 2 or 3 am...working well so far.

I'm on this medication as well, prescribed for perimenopausal sleep difficulties and hormonal low-level anxiety. I am also on HRT. I've been micro dosing mirtazapine for almost a year. My hormonal symptoms seem to be changing again, but I'm already on a relatively high HRT dose. I consulted with the prescribing doctor regarding the mirtazapine and was told that since I am not taking it for clinical depression or anxiety, I can go up and down at will. Ice decided to take 7 5 continuously because I'm tired of the unpredictability in not knowing how my night may go. 15mg and less are viewed as low doses. If I were you, I'd go above the 3.75mg consistently because if you're still having mid--sleep awakening, you need a higher dose. If you are otherwise healthy and being mindful about stress management, diet and exercise, and not experiencing negative side effects from mirtazapine, you will likely be fine.

I found it worked better for sleep at 30mg.

@WayshrineNotFound

The lower dose has a more sedative affect

This must not be universal, though I keep reading it. For me personally every increase in dose has increased the sedative effect, including a massive sedative effect from OD (which I obviously don't recommend!). Is this something most doctors say, as well? Mine has always increased the dose when I stopped being able to sleep on the previous one - although I do have depression, as well.

Yup, I'm on 45 mg and find it works really well as a sleeping tablet, also found the higher the dose the better the sleep. Although it can make for some drowsiness in the morning for the first half hour or so.

My doctor said the theory about low doses being more sedating is a myth, not a clinical fact. It's more that higher doses address depression and anxiety if that's the real issue.