I had my Psych appointment today, and they have prescribed me Mirtazapine to go with my Venlafaxine, as the Venlafaxine was not covering enough of my depression, but they do not want to risk changing it to sommat else and losing the benefits I do get from Venlafaxine.
I have read some posts here about Mirtazapine, and know that it makes you drowsy, that you have to take it before bed.
I am wondering though, if anyone else here has had it as a combination like this, the Mirtazapine and Velafaxine?
I have been given 30mg of the Mirtazapine, but the leaflet inside said you should be started on 15mg, is this because I am already on the Venlafaxine (225mg)? Just they did not say to take half a tablet or anything like that.
Thank you in advance for any opinions/suggestions or comments.
I hope they help my depression, as I have been really struggling with it lately.... and sorry, as I know I have not been around here as much as I once used to be, partly as a result.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
I was on 150mg venla. and 30mg mirtaz. for a while - until they took out the venla. [but that took months!]
I was so very unwell at the time, I can't remember much beyond how cruddy venla. withdrawal was... I did sleep properly for the first time in decades though.
I know that the Venlafaxine withdrawal is like, as I am very susceptible to withdrawal symptoms... I tend to know within a few hours if I missed a dose!
The Psych said that adding the Mirtazapine would have more chance of helping with the depression than trying to increase the Venlafaxine further - as I am on the recommended top dose of it already...
Since I am back at the stage of seeing and hearing things again and struggling to concentrate, motivate and not just hide or jump from high places et al... I am kind of hoping it will do something, even if just something small.
Anything is better than nothing now, and it has taken so long for me to get them to review the actual medicines. It would be nice if this one worked and I didn't have to fight for another review. I am too tired for fighting now.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Yeah, that sounds about right. My online research keeps coming up with phrases like 'Difficult to treat depression' and the Venlafaxine was the first AD to show any improvement at all (it reduced the hallucinations).
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
I was on both for a while. 150 twice a day venla and 30 twice a day Mir. It knocks you out at first but does lessen a bit. Eventually I asked to drop the Mir as I was to sleepy and trying to deal with uni then had to lessen the vena to due other medical issues.
It did help. It took a while but it kinda kept me steady for a while until I felt able to attempt to motivate myself again.
They did say it was known to increase appetite, but that it would not be an issue so long as I kept an eye on it.
Although - frankly, they said the same thing when I was initially started on the Venlafaxine.
I am waiting for the 'I am working' bit to come along.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
I hope it works, I haven't personally known anyone on this combination of medications, but I have known a couple of people who were given 2 SSRI type anti-depressant medications and I think it helped them. I believe my partner was on sertraline and venlafaxine at the same time at one point but it didn't help her, it just wasn't going to help her to be honest.
