Mirtazapine - anyone on / been on it?

[Pelvicpaininthebum]

I'm back on Mirtazapine and feeling crap about it, even though it does work for me.

Please can anyone tell me they are on it or have been?

I just want to feel less alone.

Please no horror stories!

Yeah I'm on it. It does help me sleep but it's shit, lol. It's meant to make you put weight on but so far I haven't, so that's a positive!

How do you find it?

It is useful but the weight gain can be enormous. In fact it is used as an appetite stimulant for cats and dogs and really works. An hour after my old cat having a tablet she was ravenous for the rest of the day.
Sorry, hope that doesn’t count as a horror story.

It helps me sleep too - was hardly sleeping. Just worried I'll never sleep again without it.

It really helps my anxiety, completely eliminated it last time.

How long have you been on it?

I didn't put weight on last time, so that's actually not one of my worries, but thanks!

I've been on it for years and when I first went on it, it saved my life. I thought it had stopped doing much but every time I try to reduce the dose my mental health worsens so it probably is. I don't have any side effects. I don't think you should feel bad about taking it - it sounds as though it is what you need at the moment.

How is it different to sertraline? I’m on sertraline but feel like it’s not controlling my anxiety at the moment

It's more sedating, helps sleep. I just worry I'll be dependent on it now.

How many years? So your mental health is still stable on it? I worry it will stop working eventually.

Your mental health worsening when you reduce a dose could be withdrawal symptoms though?

Since at least 2013, might be before. It stopped working for sleep after a few years but I sleep fine now since I left the job I was doing at the time. I wouldn't say my mental health is great (but that's due to external factors at the moment) but I am better on Mirtazapine than off it. I don't think it's withdrawal as I usually try at least a fortnight on 15 (my normal dose is 30 but I have been as high as 45). It's sedative at 15mg but better for depression at 30mg or higher.

I'm glad to hear it works for your anxiety. Unfortunately it doesn't really do much for mine. Nothing does! 🙁 I was on it before for a few months but stopped. Went back on it about six months ago. Has it made you hungry/put on weight? X

Newer research suggests a much longer taper period is needed, months not weeks, so could be withdrawal syndrome.

It's stimulated my appetite, but I was barely eating before. Think it's just put me back to normal.

I've been on it, since around 2018. I was on Venlafaxine before that. I've recently reduced my dose (with GP support) from 45mg per day to 30 because of the weight retention issue (it was not helping me with progress at Slimming World).

I am grateful every day for Mirtazapine and the fact that I am on it. It keeps my depression well under control and I feel it genuinely helps me. Plus the side-effects of Venlafaxine were horrendous.

Wishing you better times ahead. x

It worked well for me but I had to come off it as I piled on weight.

Thanks for your reply. This is really reassuring.

It obviously really helps me, but I'm struggling with the thought that I need them. I know I need to change my perspective and be grateful for them. I am grateful but also feel terrible about it all.

How was coming off then? Did you have withdrawal? Did you go on something else?

No withdrawal. I’m on sertraline 200mg as well so maybe that helped. I’ve not replaced with anything.

I was on Mirtazapine for - I think - about 18 months. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. Like you, I hadn't been eating or sleeping properly and it just put me back to normal.

Had no problems tapering off when I felt ready, but that's probably because I had dealt with the underlying issues behind my depression at that point.

I don't have chronic depression so I can't comment on how it works for that.

Thanks. I don't think I have chronic depression either. I have become very depressed due to dealing (or not) with the severe sudden anxiety I've had, which led me to be near on non-functional.

I came off mirtazapine after 2 months in August and thought I'd be fine. I wasn't. Tried sertraline which made me suicidal. So I'm back on the mirtazapine.

That's a good thing! I could do with gaining a bit but I'm quite phobic of it due to ED. It sounds like it is helping you across the board. That's really great x

Thank you. Yes, it is definitely helping me. I'm just mentally struggling with needing it.

I'm hoping to access some counselling soon (previously not accepted as my anxiety and depression was too severe).

Don't be ashamed of needing medication. It's great it's working. And nobody needs to know about it anyway unless you want to share.

I was turned away from trauma therapy on the NHS so will have to go private but I can't afford it. Because they thought that it would be too triggering and upsetting for me?! But having nothing won't? It's quite frustrating. I hope you get your counselling/therapy. X

Thanks. It not that I'm ashamed. I just hate the feeling that I couldn't control my anxiety myself and I need pills to do it. It's scary that I couldn't control my brain. And even scarier that I don't know if they might stop working at some point and what then?!

Yeah I understand. I kind of see it like I am my brain and if I feel shit then I'll take whatever I can to feel better! If it stops working, and there's no major reason why it would, then there are tons of other medications. I didn't have luck with about five others, but there are still more. Hopefully it won't come to that! Xx