Mirtazapine is ruining my life ( weight gain )

[Jennyjen92]

I was on sertraline 50mg had to taper off them because they were giving me bad headaches they put me on mirtazapine 15mg stupidly I said yes without doing any research I’m a binge eater and I have a weight problem in the space of 2 weeks I’ve put on 6 pounds before this I’d lost a stone and abit and was doing well it’s made me so low from the weight gain my depression is so bad I’m like a zombie I’m having pain all over my body, very agitated I’ve never known a drug so bad it’s ruined my life in 2 weeks, every time I take it I’m scared I’ll put on another pound when I take it I want to eat the world it’s awful I am asking for advice on a safe way to taper off I’ve already tried cutting the pill to 7.5 this made me the same want to eat and so tired even worse than I was on 15mg could I do every other night when I weaned myself off sertraline the doctor told me every other day and I was fine but I’ve heard mirtazapine is hard to come off thank you

My DB was put on this to help with chronic insomnia. He lasted two weeks and felt so dreadful was told to stop taking it immediately as the doctor thought he was having an adverse reaction to it. He was so restless he couldn’t stay still (like restless legs but all over the body), wasn’t falling asleep till 5 or 6 am and felt generally unwell.

when he was first prescribed it I thought it sounded very promising ( I also have chronic insomnia and depression). I asked my GP if he thought it could help me. I’m on citalopram and don’t feel it really helps me). GP said it’s no better than other antidepressants and is known to cause hunger and weight gain. I’m glad I didn’t try it too. I shouldn’t think there’ll be a problem getting off it after 2 weeks but you need to ask your GP what to do. DB was told to just stop after 2 weeks but he’s not in the UK, so I’m not sure if that would be the recommendation here. I hope you will soon be off it. It sounds to be causing you a lot of awful side effects.

It’s soo awful I have been very restless on them myself like very tired but can’t sit still have to do something pacing about they ether make me sleep or not sleep very very agitated on them yh the weight gain has been horrendous this is what happens when you cancel face to face appointments they would see I clearly have a weight problem and this wouldn’t of happened I feel like just throwing them in the bin tbh my gp didn’t even tell me that it could cause hunger and weight gain witch if they would of told me I would of said flat out no how was your DB coming off them how did he feel

You poor thing. I don’t know how DB has been as I last spoke to him on Monday and he’d just spoken to his doctor and been told told to stop taking them . I’m going to phone him tonight. It sounds very similar to what he went through with the intense restlessness. He was so exhausted but like you say, just had to keep moving to try get comfortable. My GP mentioned weight gain straight away when I asked about it. It is obviously well known and your GP should have been aware that for someone trying to lose weight, it wouldn’t be appropriate. DB did say he thought he was hungrier too. But he’s very lean and has always had a small appetite, so I don’t think that would have been a problem. Like you, I’m trying to lose weight and am doing well and don’t want a drug that is likely to make me feel ravenous. I hope you get some good advice and a much better alternative very quickly.

I was on that for a few months and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Coming off it was horrible I'll never take it again. Way too many side effects and I was eating until my stomach hurt and I still felt hungry.
Got stretch marks on my back due to the amount and speed I put weight on. Horrible stuff.

Thanks so much for your advice

It’s soo awful worst antidepressant I’ve been on by far yh I’m eating until I want to throw up and I’m still hungry which isn’t like me I haven’t got a massive massive appetite I often binge eat when I’m depressed but this is like on another level of hungry it’s like you haven’t eaten in weeks and you need to eat right that second

It's horrendous and like you I started it not knowing about the weight gain. I'm not big but the speed I put weight on was frightening and I craved junk constantly. They say it doesn't mess with your metabolism but it did mine and I still haven't lost the weight and it's been two years!
Apparently they use it for anorexic and cancer patients which would make sense and it probably is a good treatment for some people.

I would ask to try something else if the weight gain is an issue because it doesn't stop going on

If you have the time watch this video about overeating.

And if you fancy it try this one about mental health and diet.