Mirtazapine to Sertraline

[Kingsley81]

Hi everyone, 5 weeks ago I was switched from mirtazapine to sertraline (mirtazapine wasn’t really giving the expected results after 18 weeks of taking it) I have cross tapered and for the last 2 weeks have been on just sertraline at 100mg. Unfortunately I caught covid 3 weeks ago, which may have added to how I’m feeling. I still feel awful. I wake early, usually 4am, and cannot go back to sleep as I’m over run with anxiety, feeling completely uncomfortable in my own skin (if that makes sense) When I get up I nearly always have a sob as I feel so bad and can’t see how I’m ever going to feel like me ever again. I’m jittery, no appetite and unable to concentrate on anything. My poor husband is so worried about me. Has anybody else struggled when first starting sertraline? Everyone I’ve spoken to who has taken sertraline at some point all said they felt grim for a couple of weeks and then started to feel better. I’m so scared the sertraline isn’t doing anything!

DD started on Sertraline and even the maximum dose didn’t help so she was put on Mirtazipine and Venlofaxine. She will be tapered off the Mirtazipine soon but she is in an amazing place now, which we couldn’t have imagined even a month ago. I am nervous of her coming off Mirtazipine but am hoping the other will continue doing the trick.
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My sister is on mirtazipine and sertraline but found the sertraline ineffective until she went on mirtazipine at the same time. I hope you get it sorted.

I’ve just got everything crossed that the sertraline will help me 🤞🏻I’m glad to hear your DD is in a better place, it’s lovely to know it is possible x

I'm so sorry you're feeling like this. I tried sertraline up to 150mg and while it never made me feel worse, the effects were mild at best in helping.
Now I've tried a whole host of medications and it's exhausting going through them. But finally I stumbled upon Trazadone which was my absolute life saver. I felt entirely like me. The side effects of hunger and sleeping were a huge positive and basically everything about it was perfect.

I've been off it for many years now but wouldn't hesitate to go back to it if needed.

Point of this is to say that what works for one person may not fit you. It's a long (and mostly unpleasant) journey to find the one that does what you need it to do but a journey that in the end is so so so worth it. If it's not right for you, then change it. But give it another couple weeks. Normally after the 6 week mark side effects do ease and things become easier. If it's getting worse or not improving then absolutely go back.
If you have to try 9 before you find the one IT IS WORTH IT!!!

I quite liked Mirtazipine at first but it gave me restless legs, something that I deemed a deal breaker. So back I went! So glad I did!

Mirtazapine feels horrible to go on and sertraline feels horrible to go on. You're having the worst of both worlds, I'm sorry.

@Kingsley81 - do you mind me asking what happened in the end - I'm experiencing similar.

Hi, Ok bit of a long story so get settled in! After my post in mid April I carried on with Sertraline at 100mg. Towards the end of May, so another 4/5 weeks of taking it I started to feel better and it stayed that way until I returned to work at the beginning of July. I went back to square one 😩 My dose was increased to 150mg but after taking this for about 5 weeks I felt worse so dropped it to 125mg. I have been taking this for 4 weeks now and am still waiting to feel better. I’ve got everything crossed it will work for me again like it did for this few weeks (which were amazing) What is your story? X

I'm really sorry to hear that. I was having awful morning anxiety and agitation, so my GP is switching me to Prozac after 3 weeks on Sertraline. I've just had a house move fall through and need to get back on the horse again, but am struggling to face it. Feel very scared. I hope I feed better and I hope you do too.