Mitazapine- positive experiences as mum terrified of taking

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My mum of 78 has been prescribed diazepam for very high anxiety. My dad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It is helping her through but it’s isn’t a long term fix, so has now been prescribed mirtazapine. My mum is terrified to take it as SSRI have made her suicidal before. Can anyone tell me there experiences please.

It’s a different type of drug, I think it’s an SSSI. I’ve taken a low dose for a long time. I had a bad reaction to sertraline but nothing with this. If your mum is having trouble sleeping, this should help. I am not as convinced on its effectiveness at a low dose for high levels of anxiety but it takes the edge off. I did find it impossible to wean off as I could not sleep. I had some weight gain with it too. Overall, I don’t regret starting or continuing it, it helps me sleep and probably a bit less anxious overall.

Sorry to hear about your dad too, tough times for all of you.

I have been on it for a long time. I take it about an hour before I go to bed and it sends me to sleep without feeling drugged up! It’s very good for that but I haven’t noticed any real antidepressant effects. I have severe depression so take another antidepressant as well. I have not had any nasty side effects from Mirtazapine but I do get them with SSRIs.

I had terrible problems with sertraline and the gp recommended mirtrazapine. It was great. It helped me with sleep and improved my mood. Unfortunately I found the weight gain impossible to control so stopped taking it. Of all the antidepressants I have taken, it is the one that helped me the most.

Im 70 and started on 15mg two weeks ago. The reason being that they have discontinued Seroxat, my previous one, and the generic paroxetine doesn't suit me. So far I've started feeling a lot calmer but not as "normal" as i did on Seroxat but it's early days yet. Apart from it making me sleepy I'm having wierd, very vivid dreams. The main drawbacks are a numb mouth which is very irritating and a big increase in appetite.

Thanks so much for all your messages… I’ve read them all to my mum and she has taken her first tablet 🤞

I’m on it & no bad effects & have struggled with SSRI’s too. Its not that potent I find but Is sedating at low doses so really helps if insomnia is a problem. Hope it gives her a bit of relief 🤞

@GurlWithACurlhope you don’t mind me asking what other AD you take with it? I don’t find Mirtazepine effective enough for depression but also struggle with SSRI’s. I know everyone responds differently but is helpful to hear what works for others. Ok thanks & apologies for derailing your thread OP!

I don’t mind you asking. I take Citalopram with Mirtazapine. Citalopram in the morning and Mirtazapine just before bed. However, even these two together aren’t really helping. I have terrible, what I call “black moods” that tend to come over me in the evening and I have additional Lorazepam for these. I am only allowed a prescription for Lorazepam if I restrict it to 2 or 3 times per week as it is addictive.

To be honest, nothing is really working for me and my psychiatrist said that he will try another tack at my next appointment. I have a very difficult life with multiple health issues, a disabled DH and a volatile adult DS with ASD. I suppose you could say that I’m drugging myself to cope with all of this!

OP, sorry for the derail! I hope things work out for your DM in her own really difficult situation.

Thanks @GurlWithACurl for replying. Sorry that combination isn’t helping enough - it’s such a minefield isn’t it. If only Lorazepam wasn’t addictive, I’d be on it for life! I have ongoing health issues too which is proving difficult to find appropriate medication around made worse by withdrawal sensitivity that I get even when switching meds, so trialling anything new is horribly fraught & anxiety inducing. Hope they hit on something that gives you more relief - my mood lifts by the evening so is the other way round for me. Thanks again & back to your thread OP! x