combining Mirtazapine with An SSRI?

[karenp]

Has any one ever combined a low dose of Mirtazapine mainly for sleep with an SSRI? I take Excitalopram but just cannot sleep on it which means I still get very low moods not much anxiety now but the insomnia is killing me. I took Mirtazapine for 8 months on its own and it never helped my anxiety at all but it always got me to sleep.

[Mark13]

Yes it's a very common option, once SSRIs, SNRIs and mirtazapine or trazodone have been tried on their own.

I had fluoxetine with 15mg mirt and citalopram with mirt. Also had pregabalin then duloxetine alongside mirt. And as you can see from my sig below, I'm on an old tricyclic plus mirtazapine.

There's a small chance of serotonin syndrome with 2 ADs, but your GP will weigh up the risks for you versus the benefits, if they are ready to try you on 2 ADs.

By the way, that's exactly what my mirtazapine is prescribed for, to treat anxiety related insomnia. It did help me on it's own from 2007-12, but then stress increased and necessitated a stronger AD in addition.

[karenp]

Thanks Mark, I have taken Mirtazapine on it's own but it didn't help at all, it just made me sleep until my anxiety got so bad it didn't even help that so I swapped to Escitalopram but just struggle with insomnia. I will ask any how and they can only say no as I take Zopiclone but it just stops working after a few nights so I have to stop and restart it.