Mirtazapine weight gain

[HadEnoughNow1]

Has anyone successfully not gained weight on mirtazapine? I’ve been taking it for two months or so now and have put on a stone, which is the weight I always used to be before getting such bad anxiety and depression so not too bothered. But am worried I’ll continue piling it on…

gained 100lbs on it, slept great though!

You gained 7 stone on it?! Did you lose it when you stopped taking it?

I've just come off mirtzaprine due to weight gain but yes it did help me sleep. Now on fluxeotine.

Not yet, only stopped it recently. Trying to decide which I want more... to sleep well or to lose weight 🙄

I’ve been on it a couple of months and my jeans are feeling tighter.

I need to sort something out as I’m happier on the medication than off it.

Annoyingly healthy food is wildly expensive so I mostly live off pasta.

I think my recent weight gain is due to Christmas and I'm hoping to get back to normal over the next 3 weeks now I've resumed 5:2 fasting.

I understand the weight gain is due to increased appetite/cravings - so my plan is to resist them!

Sadly not. I've had a half stone gain and I've previously had gastric sleeve surgery! Not had a gain in almost 2 years.

I'm going to be asking to switch to something else, as I don't think it's an appropriate med for me, given my medical history and the strong association with weight gain.

I can't sleep without it though...

I put on two stone. It worked beautifully for its purpose though but I couldn't cope with the weight gain. I managed to come off it and stay off medication but if I hadn't felt well I would have asked for a different medication.

@Fuckinora @cheeseisthebest @Northernsoullover how did you find coming off mirtazapine? Im currently taking it as a 'bridge' while I cross tapered from citalopram to sertraline, but the goal is to stop it once I am stable on the sertraline. I'm worried that's going to be easier said than done. I've put on 2 and a half stone, but the first 2 stone of that was actually olanzapine induced. The mirtazapine was marginally easier to control weight wise.

Mirtazapine made me so sleepy and hungry all the time. I went from a size 18/20 to a size 24 on it.

I gained over four stone before I pleaded with the GP to find an alternative. I did get diagnosed with an under active thyroid as well during this period (which also leads to weight gain obviously). But yes I still grind my teeth at this medication for that purpose alone.

I went up a stone very quickly on Mirtzapine, as a PP said, I slept wonderfully however! I lost the weight very quickly after coming off of it.

I put on weight within weeks and craved sweet stuff and carbs, I resisted but still bloated rapidly and got stretch marks around my back. I didn't even get stretch marks when I was pregnant!
Sleep is great on it though so I do miss that, and had the most horrible time coming off it.
They give it to anorexics and people who are have no appetite due to chemo.

What dose are you on @HadEnoughNow1 ?
Usually the increase in appetite wears off as the dose is increased. Sadly so does the sedative effect.

I put on three stone but for me it was needed and the way it has affected my anxiety is well worth it (obviously I might change my mind if I put on much more). I’m on 45mg now and my appetite has calmed down.

I’ve been on it 13m and out on 2stone 😬 When I first started it my appetite was unbelievable and I could.not.stop.eating. This did stop, but although my diet is now similar to what it used to be I can’t seem to shift the weight. Bloat easily too. Mood is great and sleep amazing so not sure what to do. Think going to really try and be strict with the diet and exercise first (big room for improvements in both areas!) and if still not shifting see GP. Previously took sertraline but this gave me insomnia!!

@SameKeyThough how did you find coming off mirtazapine?

It's only been a few days but so far the only issue is my insomnia being back with a vengeance

I was on 15mg and recently increased to 30mg. The huge appetite I had when I first started has gone but I still never feel full after a meal so have to be careful with portion size. I was only put on mirtazapine as I was on citalopram but it gave me insomnia and no appetite. I didn’t get insomnia before the citalopram.

I’ve just started on mirtapazine and I’ve noticed an increase in appetite. Doctor warned me weight gain was a problem with it.
I don’t know if I can continue with it because of the dizziness/vertigo I’m experiencing. It’s been two weeks and has only improved to the point I can walk slowly but can’t stand up fast.
I’m awake now because I didn’t take it last night.

Hi all. I am just about to stop this drug after 2 months as I cannot cope with the weight gain. I have attempted calorie restriction but feel really miserable. I have put on at least a stone. I feel very uncomfortable.

I cannot find any positive stories of weight loss whilst on the drug.

I’ve been on it for 3 months now but haven’t had any weight gain beyond the weight I put on in the first month that just brought me back up to my usual weight after not eating properly for a while during a particularly difficult period of anxiety / depression. I no longer feel hungry all the time but I still never feel full after eating a meal.

For me the weight increase is to much, I feel really lethargic and nothing fits, this does not help my MH. I have stopped Mirtazapine and feel better without it, I didn't realise how tired it made me and the vivid dreams. Looks like I might be starting pregablin instead. How is everyone else doing?

Can i ask how do you all cope with the side effects of the new medication when working? I am due back on Monday and feel sick at the thought but also worried about starting a new drug and dealing with the side effects. I am on citalopram but don't remember having many side effects on that

I've been on it 9 weeks, not gained a thing!
Makes me a little hungrier but you have to remember it's not the actual medication that makes you gain weight. It makes you more hungry so you eat more and gain weight.

I eat at the same time everyday and exercise a little more than I used to and I haven't put on anything.

It is known to affect metabolism though, I don't normally have problems with my weight and honestly was surprised by how much weight I have gained.
I don't ok now what to do, waiting for a GP call, I would rather not start a new drug.

There isn’t any scientific evidence to prove it affects metabolism. It just makes people hungry and have no “off” switch when they’ve eaten a meal. I’m making a real effort to watch what I eat and I’m not seeing any weight increase but it is an odd feeling never feeling full after a meal!

This is often prescribed to the elderly that have low mood, problems sleeping and poor appetite as it can help with all three issues.

I used it for a number of months and although it helped with my sleeping and mood I struggled to control my increase in appetite and gained nearly two stone.

I came off it and on fluoxitine and found it much better