Handhold please - starting Mirtazapine

[Londubs]

Hi everyone,

I've had an awful couple of weeks suffering from a dreadful anxiety episode that seems to have come out of nowhere. It's been absolutely terrifying.

I was prescribed diazepam to get me over the first few days and then I started on Brintellix (form of antidepressant) on Saturday. I had a couple of days where I felt slightly less hideous but I think the adjustment period has just ramped up feelings of anxiety over the last 24 hours and I'm in a horrible place. Went back to my GP today who said I need to persevere with the Brintellix but in the meantime has prescribed me 7.5mg of Mirtazapine for 2 weeks at night. She says this will help with sleep (which would be amazing). From the reading I've been doing it sounds like it might also dull down some of the hideous anxiety spikes I'm having whilst the Brintellix settles.

I'm so scared of how I'll feel after taking the Mirtazapine tonight. Does anyone have any positive stories of it helping with sleep? Or helping to adjust to antidepressants? Really appreciate any replies or experiences.

Yes it absolutely helped me with sleep and reduced overall anxiety. No side of effects of note.

Dont suddenly stop it though, speak to your GP and have a proper winding down plan in place if you decide it’s not for you.

Thank you so much, that's really reassuring. Do you feel like it was an immediate enough effect? Really don't know how many more days I can put up with these horrible symptoms.

It was immediate in terms of helping with sleep. The anxiety took a little longer if I remember correctly. But getting a good nights sleep for the first time in months and months made a huge difference in itself.

The AD’s will take some time to take effect - it’ll be a bit of a rollercoaster to start with. Hang in there and feel free to DM me.

Prescribed it for high anxiety a couple of months ago. The relief from the anxiety was almost immediate within hours of the first tablet.
I don't have trouble sleeping, so can't really comment on that.
However I had to stop taking it before the week was out due to its sedative effects. It was taking me until 4pm the next day to 'come round' from it.

I think if I had been able to take some time off work while I got used to it, I might have stuck with it as I loved how it made me feel.

This is so encouraging to hear, thank you. I'm off work at the moment anyway luckily so I don't mind too much about grogginess.

I have found mirtazapine a life saver. No side effects at all (after being horrendously sick on sertraline). Helped me with sleep very quickly, and longer term with depression and anxiety.

I love Mirtazipine. I start to get anxious in the evenings so I take it around 7pm and go to bed at 8, and am out like a light, all night. Being asleep early prevents my evening anxiety.

I’ve been on it around 18 months. I sleep all night on it, I hadn’t slept well for years before, so it’s been a game changer for me. I still have occasional anxiety but it’s helped me lead a “normal” life after a period of high anxiety and depression.

The only side effect I struggle with is weight gain, I have put on over a stone which I cannot lose, which I hate. But if it’s that or go back to normal sleep and barely functioning I’ll take the weight.

Thank you so much everyone. I've just taken it now so hoping for a better night's sleep and a bit of a reduction in the anxiety 🙏