Mirtazipine

[Greedybilly]

Just started on mirtazipine and feel completely sedated. Anyone have experience on this? Am being weaned off duoloxetine. Not sure it's the drug for me - feel completely spannered/in a haze/ sleeping 12 hrs straight.

I used to be on this for years. It just made me feel numb. With no feeling whatsoever. I changed to fluoxetine x

I changed from Fluoxetine to this.

I found the drowsiness did ease quickly. But as Pp felt numb.

Which was needed in my case as I have BPD so it gave my body, and mind, chance to flat line.

All tablets take a while, especially when transitioning.

If you change again, I highly recommend avoiding Venlafaxine at all costs.

I hated it. And I had the appetite of a horse whereas usually I have next to no appetite.

Vile medicine. Change it if makes you feel shit. I did.

Second about avoiding venlafaxine. Avoid Avoid Avoid

Thanks all. Took my first dose yesterday evening. Completely spannered today and worrying about being able to function for work on monday :(

I have been taking it for around 9 months. It was hard at first - I take it before I go to sleep and if I don’t get to sleep within 20 minutes I get restless legs and irritated. Bad effects aside, my depression and anxiety have gone and I feel much better. The sedative effects the next day will go but you still feel sedated when you take it so do it before you go to sleep. Hope this helps!

Forgot to add I have put on 1.5 stone since I started taking it. Trying to shift it now but I think it’s worth it if my mental health is better

I found it really effective. You have to give yourself time to get over the initial side effects first. 12 hours of sleep is a godsend to my insomniac brain. It will settle give it some time ❤️

Hmmm the thing is I haven't really got time to wait for the side effects to go. I need to work/function on monday. Feel so zonked cant even get dressed. Proper spannered

I get it @Greedybilly but all psych meds take time to work.

I was on this 2 years. Yes, it is very sedating. I'm a very active person but it made me lazy and averse to both exercising and working. When I eventually came off it, I suddenly became a lot more productive and active again.

It is however a great drug for sleeping. I could sleep a really long time on it. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. I was wasting a lot of time sleeping.

It took me around 3 weeks to adapt to it and for the initial side effects to wear off.

So did people take holiday whilst it kicks in? Just really can't function and wondering about the practicalities of this....thanks all.

I'm on the lowest dose with no intention of increasing. I started it about 6 weeks ago, and the sedative effect has been a good thing in my case. I was up at night due to panic attacks and anxiety several times a week. Now, I sleep through and feel much less anxious. I haven't gained weight on it, in fact I'm in a better headspace to tackle my health and build good habits. I am really glad I went to the gp and admitted I was feeling depressed. It took me a long time to work up to saying it out loud.

I totally agree. Awful drug, made me want to literally scoop sugar out of the bowl and eat it, the sugar cravings were awful , I put on a stone in two weeks and felt drugged for a few hours after waking up every day

That's a very standard reaction.

When I took it my teeth were on edge 24/7 and it was like I was on an amphetamine. I lasted about five days before I couldn't stand it any longer. Hated the stuff.

I took it for 6 months, sedating for about 2 weeks but, like another poster if I didn't get to sleep I had awful restless legs on it and the most intense dreams. Put on 2 stones. Been off it for 4 weeks and feel so much clearer, I have lost 5 kgs.
It did get me through a really awful time, but I just couldn't stay on it. It seems, if you take it long term it is really tough to get off.
I take citalopram 40mg and have no problems at all with this drug.

I did take a week off when I started it.
For me it’s saved my life.

It happened to DH. He was like a complete zombie! However it only lasted 3 or 4 days. He's still on it and is extremely alert and energetic. Honestly it's temporary.

Thanks for all responses. I've decided to bin it and stick with duoloxetine. Made me feel sooo poorly and spaced.

I had a full on mental breakdown a few years ago and was on sertraline in the morning and Mirtazipine as a 'downer' to get me to sleep through the night. No wonder you felt so poorly you poor thing!

@Oatcookies when did you start to feel Mirtazpine working for you ?

Can I just jump on here? I have been taking 15mg before bed for about 6 months, and its worked well. I recently had the dose increased as I was feeling extra anxious, but since then I have the worst IBS symptoms. Did anyone else experience digestive upset? Im thinking of dropping back to 15mg.