I am currently taking 30mg of mirtazapine daily and it's really helping my mood, sleeping, anxiety and everything. I was on 45mg but my doctor lowered the dose as it wasn't making much of a difference and she didn't want me to gain weight unnecessarily and mirtazapine has been linked to weight gain.
I am trying to lose weight at the moment (healthily - cutting out junk food and daily exercise and I am quite overweight so it's a good thing) but it's going slower than I'd like, so I was wondering if the mirtazapine could be slowing my progress? I didn't notice any weight gain when I actually started taking the medication, but I am aware it could be making my weight loss slow down. Is this possible?
If so, I would quite like to change my medication, but am conscious that it is helpful so don't want to end up worse off. Is there anyone out there who switched from mirtazapine and found a different medication helpful? For reference I have so far been on fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram.
Hope this makes sense and sorry if it's a stupid question!
I've been on mirtazapine for a few months, but I found that after a few weeks the weight gain started to level and eventually I was able to loose weight while on it. But my experience is probably very different (or very similar) to others' experiences.
I do think that it's possible to loose weight on mirtazapine, I was able to loose some weight while on it after a while, but at the same time I think it can definitely slow down the process of loosing weight.
I think for me it increased my appetite massively so as long as you don't actually eat any more on it I don't see why it should affect weightloss. It may affect your will power purely because the urge to eat becomes so strong but not actual weightloss.
Just wondering if you've thought of being referred to a dietitian? I'm going to see one due to weight gain from clozapine. Just thought i'd put that out there as you say the medication is helping in more than one way.
sticks and stones may break your bones but words can tear your heart out.
I'm quite biassed so bear with me but basically Mirtazapine made me eat so much, or in any case I somehow put on so much weight since March.
I hate the drug but different horses for different courses.
All I will say is if you have given it a reasonable amount of time and YOU don't feel good (side effects are important) then go see your GP and if they don't listen get a second opinion. I was given a fob off of an answer the first time..
I think for me it increased my appetite massively so as long as you don't actually eat any more on it I don't see why it should affect weightloss. It may affect your will power purely because the urge to eat becomes so strong but not actual weightloss.
This.
Mirtazipine won't make you gain weight, eating more than normal will.
The drug may increase your appetite, but it will *not* affect your metabolic rate so the drug itself cannot cause weight gain, but it can encourage you to eat more (which, whilst a challenge to not eat when you feel hungry, is something that can be helped by a dietitian/meal plan where you eat more regular meals to aid hunger pangs).
It's not really weight gain I'm worried about, it's more the fact it could be slowing the weight loss down, but it sounds like that isn't the case - thanks Jodie. My willpower is fine and I'm not constantly hungry or anything which is what I felt when I very first went on the medication but that side effect soon went away.
I'm eating within my calorie limit and doing plenty of exercise, it's just not going as quickly as I hoped. But, I guess it's better for it to go slowly! Thanks everyone.
Mirtazipine is scientifically linked to weight gain, not just appetite increase BUT only affects 1% of people taking it and can in turn affect speed of weight loss. I personally didn't gain weight from that itself but still don't take it cos it's too much of a risk for me mentally. If it's helping aswell as you say it is i'd stick with it. I know people who take it and have done for years without a weight issue, it really is different for everyone. Sorry there's no cut and dry answer x
I put on weight whilst on it, only the second time though (the first time I was just on mirtazepine and put on no weight), but I was on quetiapine as well which also has a side effect of weight gain so it could have been the quetiapine to be fair... To be honest, I probably could have done with it but my mind did not like it at all. I have since come off both and half lost half the weight that I gained (I came off both at easter) so yeah...
I did not keep tabs on what I was eating at all though and just ate when I was hungry so that could have been another reason. I guess if your eating well, keeping tabs on your diet and doing lots of excersize you should be fine though. I found it really helpful both times so I would hasten to say, stick with it and have a chat with a dietician if you are really worried.
The world is just illusion always trying to change me.
You will find wonder wherever you can, and spread joy whenever you are able.
I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure, that had long appeared dead, divide within me. - Frankenstein.
I'm just coming off mirtazapine because of that, it would just stimulate my appetite wayyy too much, despite the fact it was otherwise helpful. But as long as your eating healthy stuff and staying in the calories I can't see that it should hinder you :) they say that the slower you lose weight the longer it stays off!
Hi guys, I just want to reiterate that it isn't weight gain I'm worried about, it's the fact it could be slowing weight loss by affecting my metabolism. This isn't the case as far as I can tell. I'm eating well and doing plenty of exercise and the weight is coming off, I just had a week where I didn't lose and I was worried the meds might be affecting it. Thank you all for your replies but like I said, it isn't weight gain concerning me x
Sorry, I completely misunderstood... But I guess as I was eating more I wasn't metabolizing it as fast because I was eating more so really, it didn't effect my metabolism...
I'm sorry if that is ridiculous to understand. It worked in my mind...
The world is just illusion always trying to change me.
You will find wonder wherever you can, and spread joy whenever you are able.
I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure, that had long appeared dead, divide within me. - Frankenstein.
