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[GalwayGirl]

Hi all

I was on citalopram for 11 weeks but could not get on with it - was awful experience for me. The insomnia and body pains were off the scale and i basically slept on average for 2 hours a night and many night of no sleep. I then tapered off but did it too quickly against my better judgment and then bombed into awful withdrawal and had the worst insomnia of my life - 1 week of 6 hours sleep. I succumbed then to taking Mitazapine to help me sleep if nothing else before i went completley crazy. I am 3 days on it and have slept - it feels very strange to be actually sleeping for the first time in weeks. But i feel dreadful and the fatigue is off the scale - i know this is to be expected and i am utterly depleted from no sleep but i really dont like this out of it stoned feeling. It reminds of bad times on cannabis as a younger one and i feel quite tripped out. It doesn’t feel quite as ‘clean’ as citalopram although that was unbearable from sleep point of view. I am having a hideous menopause and not stable on hrt still struggling with progesterone and overall i am a mess and not worked for 6 months. I have found it hard to accept i need to be on ADs - and dont want to keep switching as will drive me crazy and i know is not good but i have been Recommended sertraline too - just wondered if anyone has any advice of:
coping with Mitazapine
switching ADs too often
Success story for sertraline as supposed to be v good for hormone related depression - but also any views on insomnia ?
Thank you xx

[CrispyChick]

Sorry, I don't really know the answer. But wanted to post a hug. 

If you've seen any of my posts, you'll know, I too, am having the most horrific peri ever. And, now, once I finish my latest trial, I'm going to stop all hormonal messing and go on antidepressants myself. I need out of my brain and the constant overthinking.

I already take 5mg escitalopram. So I'll stick with that and increase to a therapeutic level. Glad I never stopped it completely. But 5mg dies nadda for me.

If you've only been on the mitazapine for 3 days, I'd say it's probably ok to switch now. However, as it's a drowsy causing one - you will lose that effect. 

And, for what it's worth, I totally understand your point about acceptance. I've been on escitalopram at a decent dose a few times previously. Never for depression. But right now, I'm more concerned about my ability to get on them. Cause I actually really really want to calm my brain. 

Good luck with what you decide. Xx

[GalwayGirl]

Thank you so much for your message of support - i am desperate to find others in the same boat - it would be great to connect if possible ? I can’t seem to DM yet as not posted enough or something ? Thank you again and I would really like to connect if possible. Well done on taking the decision - its so hard but its great you are already on something that you can just increase. A friend of mine is on that and she said it has been great for her. I wish i just switched now rather than tried to come off. I cannot seem to get stable on anything - 6 months on and been completely hysterical again today its just unbearable ! Xx

[Emmia49]

Hi!

I have been on mirtazapine 30mg since June 14 this year.

It's true, in the beginning you feel groggy when you wake up in the morning, you feel absent and very tired.

These are the typical effects of mirtazapine at the beginning when you start the therapy.

These effects slowly disappear between 1 and 2 months - only after 3 or even better after 4 months you feel completely normal.

It helped me sleep, the night flushes disappeared, I no longer have anxiety and depression. I am in perimenopause, I am 49 years old, I have not had a period for 2 months. Hormones: Zero.

I hope to cross the bridge to menopause this way.

Hang in there and persevere, it will get better for sure!

I wish you all the best!

Emma

[SarahT]

I have been on mirtazapine for just over a year. I was having severe cyclical mood swings\pmdd. Initially my GP said to take it (half a 15mg pill) just on the week prior to period. However i found it so successful in helping me sleep I stayed on it all month, with my drs knowledge.
I will say when I first took 1\2 a tablet, rather bizarrely I stayed awake all night and slept during the next day.

So the next night I tried a 1\4 tablet,  about 30 mins before bed, and it worked. For about 3 weeks I did feel zombie like in the day, but my body adjusted to it. I have heard some say that smaller doses seem more successful than a larger dose?

So, for me the 1\4 tablet worked well on my horrific cyclical moods, and benefits my sleep. It may be worth trying taking it at different times? It does take a while for the affects to work.

Incidentally, I also take amitriptyline, for fibromyalgia nerve pain. This is also used primarily as an antidepressant \anxiety med. Again, I have had to wiggle the times I take this ( several chronic health conditions means I have to space all my meds out ). I take the amitriptyline 3 hours before sleep to avoid the zombie affects next day.

I never accepted oral progesterone, the huge hormonal fluctuations were a nightmare for me, and opted instead for the mirena coil, felt hormones were more stable in a way.  I was never expecting a total 'cure ' with hrt, just a better support form it. Fair to say perimenopause for me was diabolical.

I wish you well.

[GalwayGirl]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post - much appreciated ! I wish i could have faith that i could get on with it, i am so torn as i so need the sleep but how my mind feels is very unsettling, but my hormones are all over the place too. So glad things are working out for you all.
Bw
Sinead

[SarahT]

Sinead
I believe trying to hold your nerve,  waiting a suitable time ( generally a few weeks at least ) for meds to be hopefully affective is one of the worst things. Its because we are so desperate with such awful symptoms. Perimenopause can, for some, almost drive you insane, I felt for sure it would never get better. Took a lot of adjusting, over a year to finally get hrt  settled. The mental health side was the worst for me. Cant find the words to describe it.

Touch wood, i have been stable for about a year now. I was also whats know as in Late Menopause... Am hoping, age 58 I may actually be post meno now. Maybe...
Just know that people here do know how you feel, that you arent alone in this.

[Gnatty]

The grogginess is very normal when you first start Mirtazapine. For me it was a much better side effect than the anxiety caused by other antidepressants. If you can stick it out it does wear off but you continue to get the sleep benefits and of course all the other therapeutic effects. x

[Kathleen]

Hello GalwayGirl.

I just wanted to add my sympathy and send you a hug.

I am on HRT and an AD but I suffer from constant mood problems. I am up and down like a yo-yo and it's exhausting.

My surgery have suggested Pregabalin as it apparently has a calming effect. I don't particularly want to take any more medication but it may help.


Wishing you well and keep posting.

K.

[CrispyChick]

Gnatty - are you saying mitazapine doesn't cause in erased anxiety/mood issues as start up? Like the ssri do???

I struggle so much with start up. But then,bum the sort of person that would be knocked out by a tiny dose of anything. So I'm probably better with the increased anxiety side affect. 

Galway girl - there's nothing to say you have to start on recommended doses. I have liquid drops of escitalopram, so when I start increasing, I can do so slowly. Note Sarah T started on 1/4 of her mitazapine dose.

If you are on full dose, maybe reduce for a bit?

And yes, if you ever want to swap again, there are charts showing how to taper on/off depending on what you're on and what you want to switch to. There's no need to come of completely .

Did you find the citalopram helped you, apart from the insomnia?

[Gnatty]

Hi there, well yes indeed for me. Mirtazapine is an SNRI which is slightly different to the SSRI types. My Dr really rates them because they help you sleep, you don't get start up anxiety and they don't affect your sex life! I'm not saying they are for everyone and some people do find after a while they out on weight with them. I stayed on them for about a year after my hysterectomy and oophorectomy and I think they probably saved me from a complete mental break down which I was in the process of having..

[GalwayGirl]

Thank you all so much for your support and advice - it really helps to know you are not alone - even though i am most of the time! My anxiety riddled brain is in so much conflict -part of me desperately wants to try with nothing as i suffer so badly from side effects then the other side is you have to get well and accept this…..and yes Mirt is less anxiety inducing but it is making me feel odd and quite irritable which i hate.

Does anyone else also have very strange body pains and balance problems? The main reason I can’t go out anywhere or cope in social situations is that my body feels so locked up and tense and i feel like i will constantly lose my balance and find it hard to walk far or sit anywhere in comfort - this got very bad on citalopram and just got worse when i stopped them too quickly. I know it sounds mad just keen to see if anyone else can relate ?

[Katie1980B]

I too have had absolute nightmares with antidepressants.

The only one that works for me is fluoxetine 20mg. Any time I’ve tried to increase, its impact has been horrific. I’ve tried citalopram and mirtazipine - no good.

My Gp has also prescribed a low dose propanolol for when my anxiety gets really bad, but I haven’t taken any yet.

I actually added an additional 25mg Estrodot patch to my existing 100, and that helped massively with anxiety.

Keep trying to find something that works for you. You know what’s best for you, so don’t worry about going back to your doctor if something isn’t working.

The other thing that’s helped me (as a chronic health anxiety sufferer) is an app called “Dare”. They have some great resources which talk you through how to manage and cope with attacks.

Hugs though, I know how hard it is x

[GalwayGirl]

Thank you so much Katie that’s so helpful. I couldn’t reply to your DM as i haven’t posted enough or something.? As soon as I can I will as I would love to chat more - I am honestly at my end today and feel there’s no way out x.

[Peripurple]

My son takes Mirtazapine and I also work in mental health, the biggest mistake people make is stopping ADs early, they all have side effects unfortunately, but truly you must give them at least 4-6 weeks for the side effects subside and the AD to work effectively before deciding to change.  It’s so difficult I know but try to stick it out.