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Thread: Coming onto Mirtazapine

  1. #1
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    Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Hi all,

    After trying cit on and off for 3 years, I have been advised to avoid SSRIs altogether by my therapist. Someone recommended mirtazapine and said it has few side effects. My therapist is a bipolar specialist and says that while I do not have bipolar, the SSRIs are likely to put me at risk of developing it, while mirtazapine will not.

    I've done some research and Mirt doesn't seem to have as many side effects. Am I likely to find it better than the cit, which increased my agitation, aggression, anxiety and provoked feelings of depression?

    Is it true this stuff starts working in only 2 weeks?

    I'd appreciate any help, I hate not knowing what's about to happen!
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  2. #2
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Hi

    I was on Fluox 30mg and it was not working so was moved to cit. Unfortunately this did not work either. I was then moved back to fluox 30mg combined with 15mg mirt and it has been a total lifesaver.

    The side effects I did find were it made me drowsy soon after taking it. I know take my meds at night so that is not a problem.

    The worst side effect has been the cravings for food, especially carbohydrates and sweets.

    I have found that this comes and goes and it is a small price to pay for the complete change in my outlook since starting this new med regime.

    Good luck

    Elen

  3. #3
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Thanks for the prompt reply. So you say the appetite increase comes and goes? Were there any other negative effects? After years of struggling with citalopram I can't believe there is a medication which seems so mild!
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    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I drew the line between hope and despair, and the line will hold.

    "Forth now, and fear no darkness!"

  4. #4
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    no probs

    To be honest the side effects were negligable, especially considering that I am still taking an SSRI.

    I spoke to a number of people when I was given the prescription for mirt and they all said the same, mirt worked great on their mood, made them sleepy at night and increased their appetite.

    It has to be worth a try especially as you are obviously unhappy with the side effects caused by cit.

    Let us know how you get on.

    Elen

  5. #5
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Hi Poet - I would recommend Mirtazapine to you without hesitation... side effects for me were almost negligible and I suffered horribly trying to get on to each of the SSRIs and failed miserably.
    I was on mirt in the Summer for nine weeks and came off as I didn't think it was doing much of anything for me, apart from helping with sleep. I then hit a low period which caused severe anxiety and some depression and went back on it. Strangely this time round I feel it's doing more for me with regard to anxiety and depression... I can feel it helping to even/smooth out the ups and downs. It seems to work in a much more subtle way than other antidepressants.
    Ingenious's posts are worth checking out on this med.

    Word of warning - you'll read a lot about mirt causing increased appetite and thus weight gain. This does not happen to everyone and the increased appetite often disappears after the first three to four weeks... that's been my experience and the experience of quite a few on this forum too. But obviously if you want to gain weight, then it's not an issue anyway.

    Let us know if you decide to try it.

    Belle x

  6. #6

    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    I had a hell of a time on SSRIs, especially Citalopram - in fact, I'm sure it made me more anxious than I've ever been. No such problems since switching to mirtazapine. It's a bit sedating, especially at first, but this is a welcome change from the insomnia caused by SSRIs. You'll also have to exercise a bit of self-control to manage the peckishness (hint: don't buy doughnuts).

    In short, in my experience, mirt is a fairly benevolent, effective drug.
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  7. #7
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Everyone: THANK YOU. I am so relieved I could almost cry. I will indeed look Ingenius up. Well, I just want to say hi to my new group of friends in the Mirt forum, if you don't know me I have been rather vocal in other forums, but I promise not to spam this one
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    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I drew the line between hope and despair, and the line will hold.

    "Forth now, and fear no darkness!"

  8. #8
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Well, as you know PhsycoPoet, I started Mirt last night, 15mg of Mirt and 15mg of Paroxetine.

    I had been on a rapid downward spiral on the Paroxetine (although it has worked for me in the past). Yesterday, before taking the Mert was the most awful day I have ever had with any meds, I can't describe how I felt but I felt like the pit of despair had completely swallowed me up and all hope was gone.

    After an amazing nights sleep (10 hours), I woke up with a smile on my face (quite literally) and depression that had enveloped me was not there. I very welcome, though odd feeling. I know it's too early to make anything of this, but considering I've woken every day literally waiting to vomit, I didn't today, didn't even feel like I was going to.

    An old friend of mine was in a terrible state just over a year ago, she had tried so many SSRI's and SNRI's and nothing worked, they all made her worse, until Mert. She told me that she felt immensly better after just 3 weeks, and by 6 weeks was feeling more like her old self (this being after nearly 6 months of trying other meds and getting to the point where she would have taken her own life). I've never known anyone in such a bad state (even I have never felt as bad as that).

    The side effects I have read about (admittedly I've stayed away from any negative posts/threads) seem far less extreme to SSRI's, and after all the weight I've lost I'll be glad to put some back on.

    I'm just goning to take each day as it comes and see how I fare, I certainly can't imagine feeling as bad as I did yesterday. It's already hard to remember just how bad yesterday was.
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  9. #9
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Unfortunately I never lasted long on this med (nor did the food in the fridge), but wanted to wish you well Comrade Poet

    When will you start and what dose?
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  10. #10
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    Re: Coming onto Mirtazapine

    Lauz, have you read my update to the cit survival guide? It's my last post in that thread. Sounds like you are like me with the predisposition towards the bipolar side (without actually being bipolar of course) and SSRIs can be quite dangerous to the mental well-being of such people.

    Mel, long time no see mate, how you getting on these days?
    __________________
    Citalopram Survival Guide
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    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I drew the line between hope and despair, and the line will hold.

    "Forth now, and fear no darkness!"

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