Mirtazapine diary

[Sober2000june]

Hi all not posted in a while .

Ive spent last year on Douloxetine all the way up to 120mg. i have now come off it and started mirtazapine last week, so day 10. I'm also on olanzapine 15mg per day and 2mg loraz.I thought when i started i would get the knock out sleep but i struggle to get to sleep since reducing my dulox- here's hoping things improve. this week is my second on mirt and my 1st without any duloxetine.

hoping some words of encouragement for fellow mirtazapine buddies as the last 3 days have been absolute hell. so tired but pacing around.

sorry not best post, but my cognitive skills pretty poor at moment

Warmest regards,
Paul

[Sober2000june]

I guess not a poular medication:weep:

[panic_down_under]

I guess not a poular medication:weep:

No, there hasn't been many posting about it lately.


hoping some words of encouragement for fellow mirtazapine buddies as the last 3 days have been absolute hell. so tired but pacing around.

Both the olanzapine and mirtazapine can be very sedating. I'm guessing the agitation is mostly a withdrawal symptom from stopping the duloxetine. Olanzapine is probably easing it, but it seems not completely eliminating it.

[Sober2000june]

day 14 really starting to struggle. praying this shall pass soon as the anxiety is with me all day. or for the couple of hrs i geet with lorazopam. I was hoping by know it would have helped a bit more. not sure wether to try hold on or call it a day with mirt. I dont even get the tried feeling after taking it in the evening. Any kind words of encouragement would be really greatful for.

Take care Folks,
Paul

[panic_down_under]

day 14 really starting to struggle. praying this shall pass soon as the anxiety is with me all day. or for the couple of hrs i geet with lorazopam. I was hoping by know it would have helped a bit more.

Unfortunately, ADs take quite a while to work, typically 4-12 weeks, Paul. There is no way of speeding this up. :weep:


not sure wether to try hold on or call it a day with mirt. I dont even get the tried feeling after taking it in the evening.

What dose are you on, Paul? Sedating antihistamines like mirtazapine are typically most sedating at low doses becoming less so as it increases. The optimum mirtazapine dose for insomnia is <=15mg, preferably taken an hour or two before lights out. You have the added complications of possibly duloxetine withdrawal and the effect olanzapine is having on histamine receptor binding.

[Sober2000june]

Hi Ian,

I am currently on 15mg of mirt.

Kind regards Paul

[medesis]

I was on Mirt for a couple of years. A real life saver for me so stick with it. Bit of a bugger to come off but looking at your nickname its not as bad as the old sauce! Mine is feb 2008 by the way. Nice to see a friend of Bill W's on here.

[Sober2000june]

Thanks for your support Medesis; Lovely to have a fellow trudger. I keep telling myself that i am one of the sad unfortunates that the meds won’t work. My last psychiatrist is in the fellowship as well. Once again thanks for your support because week three of this mirt is destroying me. I really appreciate your support in this. Living one minute at a time at the moment. Take care my friend:hugs:

[medesis]

Are you doing Zoom meetings? If so which ones are you going to. Private message me the codes and we can meet each other at a meeting. "God bless you and keep you - until then!"

[Sober2000june]

Managed to watch a movie last night and chill this afternoon watchng ASMR video. tonight anxiety still running the show with its bedfellow depression. anyway onwards and upwards ODAAT

Paul:hugs:

[Sober2000june]

day 21. I know its only 3 weeks but this seems to be getting worse every day. Struggle to get to sleep felt like i was jumping out my skin - ended up tking zopiclone( havenent taken one in over a year.

any encouragement please:weep:

[panic_down_under]

day 21. I know its only 3 weeks but this seems to be getting worse every day. Struggle to get to sleep felt like i was jumping out my skin - ended up tking zopiclone( havenent taken one in over a year.

I think it's time you sought advice from your GP, Paul. Clearly mirtazapine isn't working as a sedative for you, just the opposite it seems. Although uncommon, such paradoxical reactions do occur. Plus 15mg is unlikely to be enough to effectively control your anxiety. Imho, it should have been raised after a week to 10 days and I don't see the point of staying on an inadequate dose for any longer than necessary.

[medesis]

Really sorry haven't kept up with you. I've sent you a PM. Hope the Mirt is working now.

[Sober2000june]

psych stopped the mirtazapine said i should be getting some benefit after 4 weeks. So now im on no AD and to wait a fortnight to seeif shell put me on an AD. really not gelling with this shrink. I really miss the one i was seeing private but shes unwell. so trying to survive on Loraz and olanzapine

[Sober2000june]

There was a mention of Chlomipramine. beenon it before for a couple of months.

[panic_down_under]

psych stopped the mirtazapine said i should be getting some benefit after 4 weeks.

Four weeks still at 15mg?


so trying to survive on Loraz and olanzapine

If you need it definitely take the lorazepam, but avoid taking it just in case as BZDs actually worsen anxiety and depression over time. If anxiety hits suddenly you can speed up lorazepam's response by crushing the tablet with your teeth and holding the powder under the tongue for a few minutes before swallowing. Not a great taste, but it usually doesn't linger.

PS:


There was a mention of Chlomipramine. beenon it before for a couple of months.

Clomipramine (Anafranil) is the most potent of the TCAs, and a more potent SNRI than the meds classified as such. While mostly used to treat anxiety disorders on the OCD spectrum, it can be highly effective for the others and also depression. What was your experience with it?

[Sober2000june]

nor sure what med im getting next if any? got to wait until 15th to see shrink

[pulisa]

My son was put on vortioxetine (brintellix) after going through the range of ADs. It's another option and available on the NHS. Doesn't appear to have any side effects.

[panic_down_under]

My son was put on vortioxetine (brintellix) after going through the range of ADs. It's another option and available on the NHS. Doesn't appear to have any side effects.

Is your son getting good results from it, Pulisa? The newish SSRIs like vortioxetine seem to work well for some and not at all for most. Which isn't rare. There are a number of meds like that. Guess, it comes down to clicking with a particular combination of biology.