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Mirtazapine - feeling awful

32 replies

Minxmumma · 30/10/2022 08:09

Morning, I take mirtazapine but the constant feeling of a grotty hangover every morning and horrible nausea is dragging down my mental wellbeing even more.
It's helping me sleep but not really helping my anxiety, panic attacks, constant state of fight or flight and depression.

My family frown on the use of anti depressants so no one I can ask. Very grateful for any advice

OP posts:
1pink2blues · 30/10/2022 11:16

Hi,
I'm really sorry to hear that your feeling unwell from the Mirtazapine 🥲♥️

Please see my post from today xxx

sending you lots of love and healing hugs 💖

Namechangenye2021 · 30/10/2022 11:19

Definitely speak to your GP again. Mirtazapine helped my sleep too but I found the cost wasn’t worth it as I felt so angry all the time. Definitely ask them for more options you can try.
I hope you find something that works for you soon.

TimidOwl · 30/10/2022 11:23

Talk to your GP. Mitrazapinr

TimidOwl · 30/10/2022 11:24

Mitrazapine turned me into an angry, always on edge jerk. I took it for seven days before I couldn't take it anymore.

1pink2blues · 30/10/2022 13:48

hi , here is a snapshot of how I’m feeling

this is my own experience not saying it’s the same as everyone else’s or will be *

I have just started to take Mirtazapine ( 15mg) 4 days ago .. ( after venlafaxine 225 mg)

I get a hangover groggy feeling in the morning ( although don’t fall straight to sleep in the evening )..which the taking of them makes. me very anxious,every night , when taking the meds as I hear this will pass .. but with little ones to care for it’s scary 😦

i also feel dizzy and lightheaded throughout the day .

I havnt felt sick .. all though I’ve read on the packaging leaflet it’s a common side effect.

i have felt extremely agitated and emotional since beginning these and the the most horrible side effect is come 9/10 pm each night before bed and creeping up a few hours beforehand my legs around my knees literally go stiff and sort of ache , but it’s more the stiffness ( exaggerating an old knee injury from years ago ) and my back ..😦… my legs feel like the skin is almost too tight around them and I’m hunched over going to be struggling to walk and climb the stairs .

maybe the mirtazapine is that strong ( ie will work wonders hey 😩) but I know that if I go back to my Gp after such a short time he’ll dismiss it as not sticking with it .

im scared , scared and upset that I either deal with the reason I’ve been started on these in the first place or do I just put up with these symptoms / side effects?

Austin7 · 30/10/2022 14:31

Hi - I'm desperately struggling with panic and anxiety and have been on mirtazapine 45mg since July. I started on 7.5mg in Feb and built up whilst gradually coming off paroxetine which after 25 years' seemed to have stopped working for me. I had a brief respite from anxiety for about six weeks on the dirt but now it's back with a vengeance.
I'm scared too and don't know where to turn. I spent £1500 since Jan with Psychiatry Uk who charge me £180 for 25 mins. There's a timer counting down, whilst I'm trying to express how awful I feel and I feel there's no genuine interest from the psychiatrist.
I also get that weird tightening of the legs too and overreact to the smallest thing. Struggling to get gp appt too. I've started to cut down to 30mg to see if that reduces the panic and hope that helps.
I don't think you should put up with these symptoms no - I genuinely think mirtazapine may not suit you. Incidentally, I didn't even experience the hunger pangs and appetite increase that most people report.I
I'm going to try to get gp appt tomorrow as I can't afford to waste any more money with psychiatrist.
Hope that helps.

Austin7 · 30/10/2022 14:32

oops not the 'dirt' the mirtazapine !

HateMyJob12345 · 30/10/2022 20:01

I just started taking mirtazepine 4 days ago and also really angry..l had no idea it’s a side effect! It has brought my appetite back and helped me sleep the first three nights so going to persevere I think.

Zuve · 30/10/2022 20:07

Yes I had that, threw it away a few days later. It was, awful. Instead I went down the herbal route and nytol worked well for me, no problem either

1pink2blues · 30/10/2022 22:18

Really hope your Gp listens to you and acts on it .xx

nobody should have to visibly watch a countdown of time whilst trying to express their feelings and asking for help with their mental health , whilst been charged for the privilege 😡… that’s is atrocious at the very least .

This post has really helped me not just think it is all in my head regarding my physical symptoms and mentally also . I am going to contact my Gp tomorrow and ask to be taken off this vile medication . I cannot sit this one out I’m afraid 😧
i

Best wishes in finding a medication / combination that suits and I hope the panic / anxiety subsided even a little for you whilst you are waiting x

1pink2blues · 30/10/2022 22:22

I am exactly the same , I’m bowing out after 4 days on this medication 😩

may I ask if you were prescribed another medication after stopping the Mirtazapine ?

1pink2blues · 30/10/2022 22:35

Austin7 · 30/10/2022 14:31

Hi - I'm desperately struggling with panic and anxiety and have been on mirtazapine 45mg since July. I started on 7.5mg in Feb and built up whilst gradually coming off paroxetine which after 25 years' seemed to have stopped working for me. I had a brief respite from anxiety for about six weeks on the dirt but now it's back with a vengeance.
I'm scared too and don't know where to turn. I spent £1500 since Jan with Psychiatry Uk who charge me £180 for 25 mins. There's a timer counting down, whilst I'm trying to express how awful I feel and I feel there's no genuine interest from the psychiatrist.
I also get that weird tightening of the legs too and overreact to the smallest thing. Struggling to get gp appt too. I've started to cut down to 30mg to see if that reduces the panic and hope that helps.
I don't think you should put up with these symptoms no - I genuinely think mirtazapine may not suit you. Incidentally, I didn't even experience the hunger pangs and appetite increase that most people report.I
I'm going to try to get gp appt tomorrow as I can't afford to waste any more money with psychiatrist.
Hope that helps.

(sorry I’ve replied twice 🫣.. one without quoting your Original post ) ….

Really hope your Gp listens to you and acts on this asap !! xx

nobody should have to visibly watch a countdown of time whilst trying to express their feelings and asking for help with their mental health , whilst been charged for the privilege 😡… that’s is atrocious at the very least .

This post has really helped me not just think it is all in my head regarding my physical symptoms and mentally also . I am going to contact my Gp tomorrow and ask to be taken off this vile medication . I cannot sit this one out I’m afraid 😧

Best wishes in finding a medication / combination that suits and I hope the panic / anxiety subsides even a little for you whilst you are waiting x

1pink2blues · 30/10/2022 22:39

TimidOwl · 30/10/2022 11:24

Mitrazapine turned me into an angry, always on edge jerk. I took it for seven days before I couldn't take it anymore.

I’ve replied twice to your post .🫣.. original reply I didn’t quote your post …

I am exactly the same anger / tolerance wise I am bowing out after 4 days on this medication 😩

may I ask if you were prescribed another medication after stopping the Mirtazapine ?

Cooroo · 01/11/2022 09:16

Oh dear ! I've just been prescribed this and came here to see how people got on with it. Now I wonder if I should bother taking it!

Any positive experiences? She said it would be a low dose but I don't know what till I collect.

Cherrycee · 01/11/2022 09:28

Cooroo · 01/11/2022 09:16

Oh dear ! I've just been prescribed this and came here to see how people got on with it. Now I wonder if I should bother taking it!

Any positive experiences? She said it would be a low dose but I don't know what till I collect.

Yes, I took it for a year and found it very helpful. It made me feel like myself again.

To the OP and others, it takes time to settle, it doesn't work instantly. Side effects are worse in the beginning while your body adjusts to it. Four days is nothing.

The worst side effect for me was weight gain but I lost it again once I finished the medication. I made sure to taper off it extremely slowly (slower than the GP advised) as I had read some negative stories from people who dropped their doses too quickly. It worked out fine for me.

Minxmumma · 01/11/2022 13:00

Sadly I've been on it for 10 months and muddled through thus far.
I think these things are different for everyone and you do have to give it a proper chance

OP posts:
twentythousand · 01/11/2022 13:04

Zuve · 30/10/2022 20:07

Yes I had that, threw it away a few days later. It was, awful. Instead I went down the herbal route and nytol worked well for me, no problem either

If a herbal placebo fixed your insomnia, you never needed proper medication in the first place.

The others in this thread should speak to qualified medical professionals rather than getting advice on their health from anonymous Mumsnet users.

Marcipex · 01/11/2022 13:09

Mirtazipine made me feel like death. My husband tried to wake me next morning and couldn’t. I could hear him as if from a great distance but I couldn’t respond.
I only took it once.

HateMyJob12345 · 01/11/2022 14:59

Anti-depressants don’t work straight away, you all need to give them time. I am on day 6 and honestly the side effects aren’t as bad as a previous anti depressant I was on (citalopram). I have read good things about mirtazepine based on scientific articles and am prepared to give it at least 2 months before I decide whether or not it’s for me.

Cooroo · 01/11/2022 19:21

Well I am now resolved to take the 4 weeks I've been given. My greatest fear is anger - if I feel angry I will go straight to bed!

VariationsonaTheme · 01/11/2022 19:32

Cooroo · 01/11/2022 09:16

Oh dear ! I've just been prescribed this and came here to see how people got on with it. Now I wonder if I should bother taking it!

Any positive experiences? She said it would be a low dose but I don't know what till I collect.

I’ve been taking this for over a year now and have only had positive experiences - better sleep patterns and level moods. You really won’t know unless you try it.

Bramblejoos · 01/11/2022 22:09

15mg Mirt for the first 2 weeks made me very sleepy, lethargic and hungry. Then moved to 30 mg and it’s great. I buySleep well.

Bramblejoos · 01/11/2022 22:09

Ignore the buy🙄

ShutYerYapAndGetOnWithIt · 01/11/2022 22:14

I've got long-term depression. I'd been on Citalopram for many years before they stopped having any effect. I started on Mirtazapine about 5 years ago, but the transition from one tablet to the other was awful. I persevered, and I'm glad I did. I've been on maximum strength Mitrazapine (45mg) for about 4 years and been fine.

VerifiedBot2351 · 01/11/2022 22:16

Coming off Mirtazapine is a nightmare.