MyTherapy Discussion Forums

Š1995-2016 Phillip W. Long, M.D.

Mood Disorder Community

Nickname:	Password:
Save Password

All Forums

Depression: Medications

Mirtazapine (Remeron)

mirtazapine

New Topic

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Page: of 16

mikemo
Starting Member

7 Posts

Posted - 09/05/2005 : 19:28:02

This medication works great for me! The only negative side effect is weigt gain. has anyone else had this side effects?

michael johnson

emjayvan
Starting Member

5 Posts

Posted - 09/28/2005 : 23:57:53

I've been taking remeron (mirtazapine) for 7 months now. I noticed that one of its side effects is weight gain as well. I've put on about 12 lbs in that time. However, it's great to have an appetite again considering that I didn't eat regular meals before I started taking the pills.

The other side effect I noticed was that Remeron made me very drowsy for the first few months. I guess that's why they say you should take it an hour before bedtime. It would take me an hour or so to fully wake up afterwards too. Have you had this effect?

As far as its effectiveness for my depression is concerned, I found that Remeron was pretty good at preventing me from spiralling down into despair. However, I'm still struggling with low self-esteem and an unwillingness to live up to my true potential.

Remeron isn't a cure-all, but I sure do feel better than I did in those dark days before I started taking it.

NeeNee
Starting Member

14 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2006 : 04:36:35

I've just started Mirtazapine and I'm not sure I can persevere through this initial awful feeling. I am a sleepy person anyway and although I take the medication last thing at night, it leaves me feeling like a zombie for almost the entire morning the following day. I have been going back to bed after breakfast and then feeling completely spaced out until around lunch time when I start to pick up.

I know it's early days and will take weeks to feel the benefit but with a family to get ready for school and nursery in the morning I am not sure if I can see this through.

I plan to speak to my Dr this week and see if I can change to something that will suit me and my lifestyle better.

I also can't bear any weight gain. I'm struggling to shift extra weight anyway so the thought of piling on the pounds does nothing for my morale.

GuitarPlayer 1
Starting Member

2 Posts

Posted - 04/19/2006 : 08:56:40

Ive been on this Mirtazapine for almost 4 years ,Im diagnosed with PTSD and Panic disorder, after about a year I developed a"ringing" in my ears, and every time I get my blood pressure checked its "High"
Ive put on maybe 50 lbs since I started it...
I ran out and called in my refill, and a member of the school personel agreed to go pick it up for me , well lo and behold she didnt show up to drop it off to me , and I missed my regular dose
(10 pm) last night, expecting to have withdrawl , I readied myself for that , and much to my surprise the ringing in my ears is gone
I didnt feel groggy when I woke up , In fact I jumped out of bed
and cleaned the entire house!!!! Im going to ask my Doc to taper me off this stuff....any suggestions?

Regards, GuitarPlayer 1

mistress-bondage
Starting Member

11 Posts

Posted - 05/16/2006 : 09:29:38

I thought I would just add my experience to the forum for other people to read.

I had been on SSRI's (mostly Fluoxetine) for the last year but due to the sedation side of things, not to mention the fact that my sex life was non-existent I asked to be switched to another med. In England, we dont get to see psychiatrists and psychologists until we "meet the criteria" for the NHS, and even presenting in A & E threatening suicide meant I did not qualify. So until now, I have been relying on my GP prescribing my medication, and to be fair to her, the majority of her working day is spent with old ladies discussing ailments such as stress incontinence rather than being a specialist in mental health. So all she can tell me is what the medication book tells her. Ie diddly squat.

So finally I get to see a Community Psychiatric Nurse (again, not medically qualified, cant prescribe or make recommendations). Under duress from myself I stated he was the person I am in touch with who has the most practical experience with people taking medications and their mental health and could he recommend one that was less sedating and had less sexual side effects. He said, that he thinks people tolerate Mirtazapine quite well.

So I call my GP (am unable to make an appointment, she is booked up for a week in advance and you cant book any further than that!!!) and she agrees with the CPN to prescribe Mirtazapine. I wean off Prozac for three weeks (thinking ok ok you psyched yourself up for this, just get on with life). I start the Mirtazapine (15mg per day at night). Within one hour I am dead to the world and sleep 14 hours after the first dose. The first day after the first dose I feel like I am drunk. This continues for the next week. I cannot function at work and am signed off. The doziness does not wear off within the first week and I can sleep and eat, unfortunately, for England. I mean eat - your brain does NOT tell you when you are full. Until you are so full, you could be sick! So on day eight of feeling like i have spent the last week in a daze I notice that my pulse is racing and i am short of breath. Which continues for the next day and a half. At which point i decide to stop taking the medication right then and there. I am currently awaiting to see my doc (and i have eventually got an appointment to see a psychiatrist yay!!) to see about switching yet again or even going it natural - 5HTP or St Johns Wort. I will keep you updated in this regard. At the moment my head is clear and I am coherant (unlike when on Mirtazapine) but there is also the stinging clarity that I do not want to live like this forever and the very distinct possibility that if i do not feel like I will recover, then I will simply end the torture for myself.

adptj
Starting Member

12 Posts

Posted - 09/10/2006 : 06:53:37

I came off Effexor last year, mostly because I was getting no sleep. Mirtazapine did absolutely nothing for me! I still didn't sleep, it didn't help my depression/anxiety. In fact the only thing it did for me was put on 13kg (about 28lb in 5 weeks!)

Needless to say I soon came off that and went on to Zoloft, this still hasn't been a success and am now in the process of going onto Edronax, only started 2 days ago so don't know how this will go for me. Fingers crossed.

Jane
From Aus

humph
Starting Member

2 Posts

Posted - 10/09/2013 : 17:01:32

wow, this is mad u should say this because i felt exactly the samre, i was in a very baD PLACE, DEPRESSED N CRYING N GETTING ANGRY 4 CERTASIN REASONS, I WAS POUT ON CITALIPRAM BUT THEY JUST MADE ME WORSE N WENT BK TO DR N THEY TOLD ME TO GO ON MITAZAPINE,. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAVE VERY LOW SELF ESTEAM, MY CONFIDENCE WENT N EVERYTHING N FOR ME THAT WASNT GOOD, (OOPS CAPS LOCK ON N DIDNT NO LOL) i felt worthless n u cudnt of got a more confident n independent swomen than i was, ive not had them for 5days now n dya no wot, i ell mint! feel sexy! which was a no go b4, feel bk to my self, but cyud u tell me is i dangerous to just stop like tht........i was on a 45mg a night, but felt mint, best iv felt in months tbh, but is it dangerous top stop without weaning hun x

quote:
Originally posted by emjayvan

I've been taking remeron (mirtazapine) for 7 months now. I noticed that one of its side effects is weight gain as well. I've put on about 12 lbs in that time. However, it's great to have an appetite again considering that I didn't eat regular meals before I started taking the pills.

The other side effect I noticed was that Remeron made me very drowsy for the first few months. I guess that's why they say you should take it an hour before bedtime. It would take me an hour or so to fully wake up afterwards too. Have you had this effect?

As far as its effectiveness for my depression is concerned, I found that Remeron was pretty good at preventing me from spiralling down into despair. However, I'm still struggling with low self-esteem and an unwillingness to live up to my true potential.

Remeron isn't a cure-all, but I sure do feel better than I did in those dark days before I started taking it.

warblaster
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)