I tried SSRIs earlier this year and gave them a good try for 12 weeks but my experience was nothing short of awful with extreme anxiety especially in the mornings.
However, even though I was quite determined not to go any further with meds as I have recovered from spells of GAD several times in my life, I did get very low and desperate about a week ago and the doc has asked me to give Mertazapine a try.
I am on day 5 of 15mg which the doc intends to increase to 30 in a few days.
I have felt very drowsy and found it difficult to rise in the mornings but I knew this was likely to happen so it was quite nice to get some better sleep. This morning I woke early again and with some high anxiety. It was a little disappointing and I did start to worry about the medication. Anyway I have exercised today ( I go to the gym and swim as this really helps with my anxiety) and I have calmed down a bit.
I know I shouldn't take too much notice of bad posts about Mertazipan as there will always be odd horror stories, but I just want a bit of reassurance aBout their effectiveness. I am 61 and retired and really struggling with anxiety this year. If a medication is going to help me recover along with CBT which I am in the midst of then fine... I am willing to stay on them. But I have a really bad habit of worrying that it will help in the short term then will cause problems later, especially withdrawal.
I have to say that so far apart from tiredness they seem quite gentle, but I am not feeling any positive effects yet. I still get spells of feeling that I want to do this on my own, without medication, but without the distraction of work, it has been difficult this time around. Silly really as I have no real stressors now!
Phil