Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[theresalou]

Hi, have been on Mirtazepine 45mg for nearly 8weeks for anxiety , one of the side effects is diarohea and still getting it, mostly in the mornings, I take the tablet before bed, so just wondering if anyone else has suffered it and for this length of time- been to doc he thinks anxiety causing it but most of time I no longer feel anxious. Being sent for a colonoscopy (oh joy!) in case of other causes but my problem is that during my worst spells of being a jibbering wreck I have lost over a stone in weight and reallly struggling to put it back on. I seem to have stopped at 7st 8lbs despite eating more than i ever have! Be grateful for any help!
T.

[dazned]

Hi sorry you are experiencing this but its good to hear that your anxiety is greatly reduced.

Im on mirtazapine and not experienced this as such but must say my morning stools are much looser than they were but its not caused me any bother.
Has it always been like this since you started ?

[babyjane]

I am not on Mirtazipine but I am on an SSRI for the last 10 weeks.  The initial side effects did not last long but I am still having effects on my digestive system, not enough to make me stop the meds as I am feeling benefits now but it is something I would prefer not to have.

Some years ago my son was on SSRI for 6 months and he had digestive upset for the whole 6 months.  I think some of these medications tend to do this.

[theresalou]

Thanks for replying
To be honest cant really remember right at the beginning as was in such a state I have trouble remembering much of what went on  thro the worst of it! but started writing it down and has been going on since at least early December, and I have suffered with ibs in the past. Thinking of asking to come off them, but gp may think to soon. Am back on HRT but only since nov, so think that is begining to help and I feel so much better than the last three months, but still feel I have a way to go before I am back to 'normal' me.
T.

[dazned]

If it were me I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to stop the mirtazapine for a few months when you hrt has had time to settle down ,dont rock the boat for now 

[GypsyRoseLee]

This a very common side effect from SSRIs or SRNIs. Most people don't know that between 80-90% of your serotonin is actually created in your gut. There's only a tiny percentage of serotonin in your brain.

So it makes sense that playing with your serotonin levels (which is what ADs do) is going to cause digestive issues in a lot of people.

[babyjane]

it makes a lot of sense GRL, thank you, and knowing the reason for it makes it easier to deal with.  If they were not working in other ways I would not endure it, but I find that taking it after breakfast instead of before on an empty stomach has got rid of the nausea but still getting the churning tummy as though I am going to need to run to the loo soon (but I don't).

My SSRI is proving to be a useful tool to lean on whilst I deal with psychotherapy and drain the emotional abscess that has built up over decades.  I don't think I could do it without its stabilising effect.  Hopefully one day I will be able to stop them 

[theresalou]

Thank you for your kind replies, yes have decided to stay on the Mirtazepine for now, as you rightly said don't rock the boat!
Is isn't one of the sssri ones its tri something or other, did try sertraline at the start but had very bad reaction to it and ended up in a & e- seems I am a little bit sensitive towards certain drugs!
T.x

[GypsyRoseLee]

theresalu. Mirtrazipe isn't a tri cyclic. It's a SNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) which is a bit different to SSRIs (like Prozac or Sertraline).

I tried taking Mirtrazapine a few months ago to try and stop my background anxiety and low moods. Was told to expect to feel quite sedated and very sleepy at the beginning. But it didn't have that effect on me. I started to feel very wired and even more on edge. On day 10 I experienced a dreadful anxiety attack at work and nearly passed out. I never want to experience anything like that again. I stopped it immediately.

A couple of years ago I also tried Sertraline but could only bear it for 4 weeks as it sent my anxiety rocketing and it stopped me sleeping. Also had the daily diarrhoea, like you.

I am not ruling out ADs ever again but I clearly need to be very careful with them.

[babyjane]

I am extremely sensitive to all drugs and will usually begin on half the lowest prescribable dose just to introduce it to my system then work up gradually. I have tried a few in the past - fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, duloxetine, dosulepin (goodness that is quite a few).  I never stuck with them due to the side effects but I also suspect I was not in the right mindset and was in denial over needing anything, you know the 'but I'm not depressed' mindset.

This time I have nothing to lose except my wellbeing and my family life and it was high time I admitted the issues and asked for help.  I am on Escitalopram 5mg 10 weeks now and apart from some digestive side effects still lurking I am more stable on them than off them and they are helping me deal with some long overdue psychotherapy.

I am hoping my 60s will be a lot better than the previous 5 decades 

[crazydaisy]

Hi  theresalou,

I am on Mirtrazapine 15mg , been on it for 12 weeks and I also have loose bowels only in the morning, its been worrying me as I am usually constipated!. I have put on weight though. I did not link it to the Mitrazapine?