Mirtazapine

[LuckyManifestations]

Has anyone else had side effects from taking Mirtazapine that are not listed in the leaflet?

I have been taking it for 8 weeks now, and after the initial side effects of being absolutely wiped out, sleeping all night and most of the day wore off, I am now what I can only described as being 'wired'. I can function better than I have for years, never need to nap in the day, rarely feel tired before bedtime and am so much sharper over all.

I also have lost over a stone as very few foods now appeal to me, my food noise has gone so I am able to make better food choices.

Lastly, I feel like I have had a personality transplant 😵
I have never been a naturally empathetic person and I have struggled understanding other people's feelings all my life. I now seem to have clarity and understanding in these areas, and genuinely care much more about other people.

I have read at length about this medication and haven't found any links to any of the above.

No, but I'm envious! I've been on it for years and sometimes take a double dose if I'm unduly anxious. It's never been anything but soporific and calming for me. I gained weight after starting it - that wore off, but it hasn't made me lose any.

I'd love the side effects you describe! In fact, are they side effects or just effects?

Its funny you should ask that becase a quick chat with Chat GPT has said the same thing - that the feelings I describe are the medication working, not side effects. I hadn't thought of it like that.

I loved mitazipine. Because I was finally sleeping everything else in my life was better.
I did put on weight but needed to and it was because I finally had an appetite.
Mentally it saved my life.

Have a look at hypomania and see if that fits with what you are experiencing.

I'm bipolar and without mood stabilisers antidepressants cause my mood to switch from depression into hypomania/mania

I had a similar experience. Felt wonderful, had energy etc.
Turns out I have bipolar disorder and antidepressants had induced mania.

Maybe it depends on the individual, your personality etc. but I have been on mirtazapine a very long time and this doesn’t fit with anything I’ve ever heard about it. The first thing I thought of reading this was hypomania. Maybe it is just it working but I would go back and get this checked out with the doctor who prescribed it.
Mirtazapine is notorious for being sedative and causing weight gain/ increased appetite. It doesn’t always do this but I have discussed being on it with dozens of people over the years and literally never heard of anyone experiencing weight loss and increased energy levels on it.
When ADs work, you just feel like your regular self before you got ill. You shouldn’t feel like your personality has changed or your energy/ mood levels are higher than what’s baseline for you.

That was my first thought too

I hated mirtazapine. I put on two stone and didn't even sleep much better. Still regretting the six months on it, two years later.

I looked it up after reading the comments on this thread. It doesn't seem to fit. I am being very productive, sleeping very well for between 7 and 9 hours each night. But definitely not manic or restless or irritable.
I will mention it at my next review though.

Im sorry to hear that.
Its odd isnt it that we all experience medications differently.

I hear you. Ive read about extensively, and only just found a brief article about a very small percentage of people who experience loss of appetite and/or changes to personality.

I have been on and off various medication for anxiety and depression my whole adult life with varying degrees of success, but nothing has worked for me like Mirtazapine has.
I can't ever remember feeling this well.

Hi OP. I am nearly 3 weeks in and still feeling very sedated until mid-afternoon, but my GP saying ro give it 3 more weeks. Can i ask when the daytime sedation started to wear off for you?

I’ve been on it for 5 weeks and sleeping better than ever. I have noticed a massive energy spike and I’m super motivated to get stuff done. I have cleared the house of clutter, sold everything that isn’t nailed down and now exercising every other day and finally not feeling like it’s a chore. I can’t believe how good I feel on it. Not anxious, still sad about the stuff that made me sad in the first place but can cope with daily life at last.

I think it was around the 3 week to a month mark.
I helped it along though by taking cold and flu capsules after lunch to perk me up.

I think feeling sad about the stuff you were originally sad about is where counselling comes in useful, alongside taking ADs.
In the past I have found taking meds lifts me enough to face counselling.