Mirtazapine experiences please?

[Bev62]

been 2 weeks on 15mg mirtazapine & feeling worse than when I started. Probably had 3 good nights sleep in that time.
been for Docs review this morning & she says I need to up to 30mg for it to make any difference for depression/ anxiety. She's prescribed low dose Zopiclone for sleep.
I'm desperate for some positive news here.
Anyone been in a similar position & out the other side? I'm so scared I won't get better & that this is my life now. I guess many people take this & recover & don't feel the need to post anymore but if there is someone out there that can give me some words of encouragement I'd be very grateful.

Mirtazepine can help sleep at low doses which probably had some effect at the 15. However, 30mg is the minimum therapeutic dose & it will usually take a good 4-6 weeks to notice any difference. It can be increased to 45mg if needed but there are lots of other antidepressants if mirtazepine doesn’t work for you. Try not to use the zopiclone long term because it’s addictive. There is another, newer medication for sleep called arrant. Depending on your GP they may offer this instead. It’s not addictive. Try to practice good sleep hygiene; this is preferable rather than something like zopiclone.

Mirtazapine made me put on nearly 20 kilos.

I put on a stone in a month . Literally could not stop eating

i know 3 people that have been on this. one fell asleep standing up, another fell down the stairs because of the level of sedation and the other craved sweets and lost her teeth. i'm on venlafaxine and find it very helpful, i would be in a psychiatric ward or an urn without it.

also, promethazine has been a lifesaver for sleep for me.

I couldn’t wake up on it and it made me fat.

I swapped onto Fluoxetine because the Mirtazapine just didn’t agree with me. The weight gain was unreal and I didn’t feel they were doing much for my depression. I went back to see the Mental Health Practitioner and he suggested Fluoxetine as they have had good results working alongside perimenopause symptoms. I feel like a new woman since changing.

Like everyone else,I put on weight. However I felt amazing. The happiest I've ever been. Food tasted delicious, everything was great, I slept really well.
I was sorry the doctor made me come off it (because of the weight gain) - I would have stayed on it quite happily.