Severe anxiety, panic attacks, gad, intrusive thoughts

[absdw]

Hi ppl

I've been on fluoxetine for a while now, I've had years of no major panic attacks or other mental health issues, they all seemed to subside for years. But now they're back and worse, feel scared I'm going "mad" constantly scared, feeling worrying about everything, doubting questioning everything! It's sooo annoying and my head is tired, as am I lol!!

I've just been told my gp wants to switch me onto mirtazapine, I'm scared about taking them and need to hear others experiences with them if poss. I've taken diazepam twice this week which is tough for me as I'm an addict (years clean) and so this was a last resort really!

Thanks guys and girls

[Sands]

Hi. I'm on mirtazapine and they definately helped me. I was terrible before I started them extremely anxious crying loads and weird depressing thoughts. God it's horrible what stress can do to you! But they helped me a lot. I felt a lot brighter in the first week. Started to function again. It wasn't a miracle cure I had to force myself to get out and live normally again but the mirtazapine really helped me do that. I know everyone is different but for me they had a hugely positive impact on getting me out of that hell. Good luck!

[absdw]

Thanks sands, any other good experiences?

[amyvic]

I've just posted about mirtazapine in another thread.

It's a fab medication for anxiety and low mood! Also wonderful for sleep!

[Mark13]

I don't have intrusive thoughts as such but I do have obsessive rumination, which used to rule my life.

Mirtazapine did nothing for it, but I was mainly on 15mg, only tried 30 for short periods.

I think mirt is best for depression and mild to moderate anxiety.

IMHO the SSRIs and SNRIs are good for calming your internal voice and stopping obsessions etc.

Mirtazapine is often prescribed at low doses alongside these medications.

I'm much calmer on duloxetine (an SNRI) alongside mirtazapine. Also I found pregabalin (an anti-anxiety drug) to be really good for quietening the mind.