Mirtazapine

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Hi,

I've been on Sertraline (100mg) for nearly 2 years, along with a 9 month course of Olanzipine (2.5mg). I decided I wanted to come off the Olanzipine and I've been on Amitripitline alongside the Sertraline. I take occasional diazepam and a daily beta blocker for my PTSD.

My GP has suggested Mirtazapine but doesn't want to do anything until I'm a bit more stable because I'm having quite intense therapy. She also wants to see what my Psychiatrist says. She thinks Mirtazapine will a good "all round" medication as I suffer with PTSD and depression, along with an eating disorder.

I've started intense therapy and I'm finding it very hard. I spend a lot of the session looking at the floor and crying. I hope it'll get easier? Does it get easier to talk about the past? I've only managed to write it on a piece of paper for her.

Thanks for listening,

[Patch.]

I am on Mirtazapine, along side quetiapine.
It will work differently for different people. I personally find this a good medication. I felt a bit agitated when I first went on it, but that went away quite quickly. It's good for sleep and it can help with some anxiety symptoms too.

If you are worried about fiddling about with your medication while you are going through intense therapy, I'd talk to your GP about that.

Is there anything about Mirtazapine which you would specifically like to know? :)

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Thanks Patch. My GP doesn't want to change anything during this intense therapy.

Does it cause weight gain?

x

[Morpheus]

Mirtazapine can, like many other psychiatric medication cause weight gain yes. I was on it for a short while many years ago, mostly to help me sleep, but actually refused to take it later on when i was hospitalised for anorexia.

However i have heard of many people where this drug has completely changed their lives for the better so i would say it is worth a try if you feel you could need extra help. Not everyone gets weight gain as a side effect also but it is listed among the side effects it might cause.

[tiptoes]

Mirtazapine was the only thing that pulled me out of severe depressive episode. I was on it with quetiapine and found that my weight stayed about the same. I was only on it for about 4 months in total though as it started causing hypomanias.

[Patch.]

Like the others have said, it can cause weight gain. I gained a bit of weight on it, however, the benefits far outweigh the downside of weight gain. The weight gain can be controlled with eating healthily, and getting a healthy amount of excersize. Also, snacking on healthy snacks like fruit and yogurt instead of junk food helped me.

[Copernicus]

I did gain some weight on Mirtazepine, but we're not talking a very large amount. (And of course some people don't gain on it.) It shouldn't have anything like as much weight gain as Olanzepine though. It's a good one to try if SSRI anti-depressants haven't worked that well and is very slightly sedating so you may need less diazepam too.

Not sure about the therapy as I haven't had that issue but I think you're doing well to tell her stuff by notes if you've only just started and it's really hard.
x

[sherlock holmes]

I take Mirtazapine alongside Trazodone. Mirtazapine is taken at night before bed as it is fairly sedating.

Mirtazapine can increase your appetite which may lead to weight gain if you don't eat a balanced diet and exercise healthily.

The first time I took Mirtazapine it completely took away my depression and urges to self harm, but it stopped working after a year. I had a few years break and recently went back on it. I think it's helping a bit with my anxiety.

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I think I'll give it a try when I'm a little more stable.

x

[talaiporia]

Good luck. :)