Mirtazapine: how was it for you?

[StrawberryTheCat]

I've just completed day 3, and honestly, I think I maybe feel worse than before. I'm getting irritated, angry and snapping at my husband and kids, which is only making me more depressed. I feel dreadful. I'm taking it for perimenopause/PMDD, and for these few days on my cycle, I normally feel fine, good even. But having started the mirtazapine, I feel utterly dreadful... very depressed, irritable and generally rubbish.

So I guess I'm just hoping that will go away, and the antidepressant effect will begin.

Those who have taken it, did you feel like this, and did things improve?

I wouldn't recommend it at all.

I lost 3 stone when I came of it.

I was still depressed when I was on it. I took it for years. The tablets made me very hungry and that's why I put so much weight on.

I'd never take that medication again.

I use it to help me sleep, it dampens down my anxiety and has a side effect at the lowest dose for some people to help sleep. But I've been on it a couple of years now and need to come off it - not sure how I'll manage tbh. I tried following a protocol given by the GP but it was too fast and literally made me feel like a crazy person. I need to taper down much more slowly. It's a worry, but it has helped me cope with a very difficult patch so I don't necessarily regret it.

I found it utterly useless. It made me put on weight but didn’t help with sleep, which was the reason I was prescribed it. I had absolutely no problem coming off it though.

I didn't get on with it at all, it made me so hungry all the time which was not helpful, it also made me feel numb and didn't help with my anxiety really at all. It did help me sleep but wasn't worth it for the other side effects.

Oh dear, this doesn't bode well 😆

I was on sertraline throughout 2024, and that did help for a few months, but then the effect seemed to wear off. I did feel awful for the first few days on that, but then things improved, so maybe there's still hope for me 😬

What antidepressants have worked for you? Any recommendations? I know everyone's different, but it's still good to know!

I am definitely more hungry, but I'm trying to ignore it, and not over eat... pretty irritating though, as it's making it harder to lose the Xmas weight!

Husband having success using it for sleep, finding it really helpful.

I used it for sleep - was amazing. Really helped, wouldn’t have made it without it.

put on three stone though.

I like it. Feel less anxious and definitely helps me sleep. I felt very groggy in the mornings for the first week or so of taking it, but I started taking it slightly earlier in the evenings which helped.

For me fluoxetine worked well.

I don't think I put weight on with that one.

I really like it.

I’ve been on it for five years, maximum dose for three years. It honestly saved my life.

Give it time and keep an open mind.Explain to those around you that you may not be you for a bit. I slept a lot when I first started it.

I want to try lowering my dose just to see if I can but I’m afraid to be without it.

I switched to Trazadone, which is amazing to sleep. Not cause hunger either.

It suits me. I tried five other antidepressants first and Mirtazapine is the only one I can take. It hasn’t affected how much I eat. It helps me sleep, I think it’s a good drug.

I'm on day 2 so watching this thread with interest. I've been feeling a bit spaced out.
I've previously been on Citalopram for years but the side effect of excessive sweating became a nightmare.

Are you taking it for depression too? I also feel a bit zombified, though I think that was slightly better today, for me.

Have you got the munchies? I'm definitely more hungry, but I feel like I can hold out until meal times... just hoping that doesn't get worse 😬

It's the only anti depressant that has ever worked for my DH. Once he got used to it the tiredness decreased, but he put on a lot of weight taking it.

It did help but I put on so much weight. The hunger was intense. I could eat a massive dinner and feel starving an hour later!

@StrawberryTheCat
I'm on it for depression and anxiety. My sleep is all over the place so my GP is hoping that will improve as well.
No extra hunger pangs yet, hoping I miss that side effect.

It has improved my anxiety dramatically and I sleep better. I haven't put on weight and my appetite is less. No side effects.

I'm on day 4 now, and I'm still getting angry over nothing and feeling so guilty and depressed. Please tell me this is just starting side effects, and they'll go away? 😣

@Autumnalmists I've just been prescribed Trazadone and on day 4 but struggling with side effects. How did you get on initially on it?

OP you need to give it at least 6-8 weeks to take effect. Stick with it

I get sugar cravings with it, not actual hunger. It's worth it for the amazing sleep I get. As a chronic insomniac it's life changing.

Anxiety much better too.

My DH takes it. It's helped him massively but I'm sorry to say it took 6 weeks to work. That's a long time but it does work. At first he had the normal symptoms - hunger, putting on weight, feeling groggy but they don't last. He's now slimmer than ever and not craving carbs anymore.

I took it for 6 years and put on roughly 3 stone. To come off it I had to look up how to taper off it , it’s also known as ‘Remeron’. I tapered off and suffered minimal side effects. If I was at your stage ( op) I’d stop now and not take it. I’m so very glad I’m free of it, I’ll never take anti depressants again.

Why would you not take it? Can you explain? Did it help you with depression?