Will 7.5mg knock me for six?

[Gordon64]

Me again

Doc wants me to go onto 7.5mg Mirt at night-he reckons lower dose might mean less of the mouth problems that I had on Mirt before.

When I was off work the rest that the mirt gave me was a huge blessing-I remember taking 15mg for the first time and surfacing mid afternoon.

But I am now back at work where I am under pressure to stay-my dilemma is that the lower the dose (so it goes) the higher the sedative effect.

My worry is that if I pop one of these at night and cant get out of bed the next day I really am screwed work wise.

I think my GP is excellent and he has saved my life on many occasions also gone way beyond the call of duty with appts etc...but am doubting his advice this time.

Should I seek a second opinion?

Gordon

[ElizabethJane]

Dear Gordon I'm very sorry that you are having so many problems adjusting to new meds. These are my experiences only and I am not medically trained. The first time I went onto mirtazapine at 15mg I experienced extreme drowsiness continuing into the daytime. I was still working at the time and the advice I would give to others starting this med is in the lower doses as it is extremely sedating book some time off work until your body gets used to it. I believe that you are starting the mirt for a second time? You might not experience the side effects this time but then again it could happen none of us know know what you reaction to the drug will be. If it were me I would stick with my own GP's opinion. It is not necessary to get a second opinion but then if the doubt is in your mind then maybe see another doctor in the practice. I am very fortunate as I see a psychiatrist privately and he usually discusses the pros and cons of any treatment with me. So far I am given the option as to whether I should go for it or not. So for you going back on the mirt is your choice. Your GP and people on here will support you all that we can. I know what an emotional roller coaster you have been on Gordon. I really feel for you. EJ.

[Gordon64]

Thanks EJ

Your responses have always been balanced and of a great help to me. Unfortunately booking the time off work might not be an option-I have already had so much time off and think any more would really push their tolerance to the limit.

I am just concerned that at a point where I have managed to get into the workplace this dosage might make that difficult for me.

I do trust my GP overall-I live in a relatively small town and the difference in what is provided here in terms of patient care and where I used to live just outside of Glasgow is pronounced.

I am also aware that sometimes with Ad's you do have to put all anxieties to the side and just go for it-one person's dream medication is another person's nightmare and all that.

When I was first prescribed Prozac back in the early 1990's there wasn't the same knowledge and awareness around AD's as there is now- the doc just said you were depressed and you took your medicine. Now however there is so much info out there which can be both a blessing and a curse but overall I think the balance has to be on being informed as to what we are doing to our minds when we undertake a course of these meds-luckily you have a professional who is able to give you that information.

I am not panicking but do not want to wake up early tomorrow afternoon having discovered I should have been at work 4 hours ago!!

It's a dilemma but I am stronger than I was and sure I can get it all sorted out.

Thanks again EJ

G

[ElizabethJane]

I'm afraid it is all or nothing but I barely noticed the side effects going back on the mirtazapine a second time. I do hope that you wake up in time for work. Accept that you might feel a bit wobbily and 'spacey' when you first wake up. I hope that you don't drive to work? Let us know how you get on tomorrow. EJ.

[KK77]

I believe that if a non-depressed/anxious person were to go on these drugs they'd hardly even notice side effects. It's so much harder for an anxious and/or depressed person, as not only are they fearful of getting side effects but that fear itself creates/amplifies them. It's ironic and yet at the same time tragic that we have to go through this in the pursuit and hope of getting better.

I'm no expert on mirtazapine and my experience of taking it was very short-lived but 7.5mg is a very low dose and although it is true from what I've read that it's more sedating in lower doses I still think that should be balanced out by such a sub-therapeutic dose.

I think that a person should be stable before they gradually reduce and come off a medication, especially if they've been on it for long periods of time. It doesn't mean you'll never be off them or there's no hope without them. But as someone once said, timing is everything...

Keep posting Gordon - you have lots of support here.

[Gordon64]

Hi Melancholia

You echo my feelings exactly-and I know you are right-when anxious and depressed we talk ourselves into believing all sorts of dire consequences will occur-you are right it's a helluva life.

I didn't take one last night-was too worried that I wouldn't get up for work on time but have woken up anxious as hell. I am going to take one tonight and see how it goes-I have my counsellor tomorrow and my GP again on Friday so will take it from there.

I accept I am not stable just now-while on the Mirt 30mg just 2-3 weeks ago I was in a relatively good place and enjoying life with my kids again and working. Just those bloody sore gums!!

Guess what I'm saying is yes it's meds for a while yet but doesn't mean I won't strive to be off them one day.

Thanks again

Gordon

[Deva]

Hi Gordon. For what it's worth; I went back on the mirt last night as to counter the effects of withdrawing from them so quickly. I was on 45mgs and these did knock me out as much as the lower doses. Last night I took half the 45mg (so about 22mg) after having not taken them for a week or so and I had no drowsiness at all.

As I know too well anxiety tends to make us over think things and look for problems where there might be none. Set a loud alarm to wake up and give it a go. :winks:

Best wishes to you.

[bexy1970]

hiya, ive been reducing zispin from 45mg too, ive taken 7.5 mg for last few nights and havnt foud it half as sedating as 15mg, so id saygive it a go!! xx

[Gordon64]

Deva and Bexy 1970

Thanks for your replies-I have decided to go for it tonight-at the end of the day if it calms me down a bit in the morning having got me a good nights sleep then it'll be worth it. Finding I am anxious as hell in the morning at the moment.

Another interesting point about the Mirt as well as the well documented weight gain is that at times when walking or playing my 5 a sides my legs felt like lead weights-a point I notice somebody more or less made in another post.

I will use it meantime-I don't want to be on it long term cos I have high(ish) cholesterol and it is known for making that worse (probably cos of all the crap you eat on it!!)

Ta again

G

[ElizabethJane]

Hi Gordon I hope that you begin to feel better soon and have a better nights sleep tonight. I suppose that I am one of the lucky ones and started off tall and fairly slender. I have put on about half a stone this time but last time a stone and a half which I lost. I did lose and maintain my weight whilst on mirtazapine and it was hard going but have to be doubly careful because of the lithium. Interstingly lithium never made me put on weight. I haven't had this 'dead leg' feeling that you describe but I have experienced most of the other side effects of the mirt. I still believe that it is one of the better anti ds to be on and the benefits have outweighed the negatives for me. Take care EJ.

[ElizabethJane]

Sorry Gordon but does your GP give you something for the anxiety?

[Gordon64]

Hi EJ

Thanks for your comments. Re anxiety the doc has given me diazepam which I use SPARINGLY if it all gets too much for me-my late father was on valium and I suspect in these days it wasn't so well controlled. My doctor trusts me that I'm not going to do anything daft (I'm not) and we have a good relationship. Outwith a specialist psychiatrist like your own I really think I've got it as good as I can with the health care I'm getting.Doesn't mean I don't have doubts sometimes though.

Re the Mirtazapine I have decided to go for it tonight-am waking up far too edgy and anxious and after all 7.5mg is a small dose-I'm prepared to give it a go. I would like to wean myself off it as you know though.

I'm fairly skinny to be honest but definitely noticed weight gain on the Mirtazapine-the dreaded male middle aged spread was definitely increasing. Apart from depression I appear to be in good enough health-I exercise but my one failing is my diet-divorced and alone the ready meals are too tempting sometimes!! And I must learn to cook-been saying that one for a while now!!

Another difficulty is knowing how bad my depression is in relative terms-what I can say is at the end of last year I was at rock bottom and only my two children kept me going-however I have never felt I was capable of ending it all-thankfully there is still some latent optimism within me that kept me going.

I am a long way from being "cured" just now-nevertheless undoubtedly am stronger than I was (I would never have made the workplace back late 09 early 2010) and I hope counselling has perhaps helped that.

My desire would be to go at 7.5mg and if that steadies me to taper off slowly (I know these are minute doses compared to some people on here) BUT my fear is that the deep depression is going to return, I guess am just taking it a day at a time at the moment. At least I am still at work where I have noticed that even if the night has been horrible (as many have recently) I do seem to cope just about with dealing with the public and my colleagues (most of whom are supportive)

Sorry went on a bit more than I meant to I really appreciate your responses -you and many others have been a real help and support to me.

Off to watch a bit of TV then take my pill...

All the best

Gordon

[Gordon64]

Meant to say EJ I have been on lithium in the past as well at a lowish dose

G

[ElizabethJane]

Dear Gordon I really understand the despair and misery that anxiety and depression can bring. I think that it has only been my Christian faith and a belief that things would get better. How ever bad I have felt there has always been something there to touch my soul even very briefly whether it has been music or a persons act of kindness. I know that it is swings and roundabouts on the road to recovery and I make no secret these days of my depression and sometimes anxiety to my work colleagues. Exercise although sadly neglected at the moment has helped in my recovery. Yet I dread the winter the cold and the dark. It seems a long time being winter and that is usually the time when I have needed the most help. I'll never be free of this demon but I trust that I haven't passed my depression on to my son. He worries a lot but usually has the same placid disposition like his father.

[Gordon64]

HI EJ

Nice to hear from you.

I understand your concerns re winter-it was just before winter I suffered my latest setback and there is no doubt I dread it coming round again-funny because I used to be a winter person being born 2 days before Christmas and all that but that has changed a bit those past few years.

I worry too about what this does to my kids but they SEEM happy to me and instead of saying to myself they are BOUND to turn out like me (depression and anxiety wise) I try to say who's to say they won't turn out happy in the long run.

We can only try to fight our demons as best we can I guess...

All the best as always

Gordon

[JT69]

Hi Gordon,

I just wanted to say that mirtazipine has been an enormous help to me and got me out of a really black hole and back into work after having 5 months off with depression/anxiety. I am currently taking 30mg. Yes have had the weight issue but the fact that it helped me so much far out-weighed the concerns with that....I do try to be as active as I can..the cravings do ease after a while.

I wish you well and feel for you with what you are going through...its hard but you will get there.

Take care and remember you have lots of support here.
Jo.xx

[Gordon64]

Thanks Jo

Appreciate your comments.

The annoying thing for me as you may have seen from my other posts is that 30mg Mirt actually did help me and I was getting back to something like my old self. Not so much the weight thing that bothered me as really sore gums/mouth which meant I twice had to come off it.

Anyway am still at work and seeing the kids at the weekend so one step at a time.

And the support on here has been a great help too.

Gordon