Mirtazapine : afraid of losing myself & no motivation?

Question

Hi everyone !

I don't speak english fluently so please don't judge me about that :)

Before taking this medication, i had little to no motivation and i was always seeing horrific images of myself (including self injured parts of myself). I never had violents acts on myself, but was taking drugs all day (codeine) to calm down my body. I stopped codeine for a while (maybe my only motivation moment !) and never came down again. After about 5 months (maybe more) i decided to go to the GP to talk about my problems but it was so hard to explain ! My body was shaking all day, i had bad dreams which induce me to wake up very sad, and this feeling last all day long (accompanied with all those nigthmares visions... ).

After many visits to the GP, she prescribed me mirtazapine 15mg ten days ago (i started it immediatly). it gaves me a good sleep (thanks god i really need it !), but i have to wait hours to wake up ! My dreams are now really strong and clear, but not like before. They are kinda nice and apreciable (even if they are nightmares they are clearly better than before !). But now i have really no motivation. Can't do anything all day long by myslef, just waiting the night to get rest. By chance it's holydays here (i'm a french student), but i can't do my homeworks, can't do anything... just waiting on sofa or bed...

So my question is : will i be able to find any motivation with mirtazapine ? i know it's been only 10 days i started this pill, and it needs much more time to be really effective. But i'm on the end of the school year and i really need to work hard, really hard... I don't want to stop this pill cause know i have good sleep, no seizure and no horrific images in my head, but i feel like a zombie...

Is there anyone who have experienced this ?
Thanks for reading and sorry again for grammar mistakes :)
Orime

Answer

Orime

On a side issue 15mg is the starting dose and is great for sleep but an increase has a paradoxical affect as it loses its night sedation ability in some. But it a great first line drug.

Regards

Chris

Answer

Well mona I just typed a big answer and the system did not want to take it but I well get back to you later maybe its work they are doing on the system I lost everything I typed but the main thing is don't try and go off of any of these medications on your own you do need support and help from the doctor and I like to do it a medication at a time so you can find out if you really need it and it is a slow process to have it done right. But it is very importaint to have the doctor helping you go down off any of these medications because all of them need to be taken down slow and the slower the better keep in touch my friend we are here for you.And you really want to make sure you are able to go off then start to go off of a medication and find out that is not the one because it is helping you the most. etc if you try and go off of all at one time you can't tell which is causing you the problems and you want to do it as comfortable as possible.

Answer

Hi Orime, I also recently started on a new antidepressant that has left me feeling the exact same way. I'm lucky if I shower every day

Answer

Hi Chuck !

Oh don't worry this is not your message that make me feel bad. I got these feels since i realize most of the things which happen to me (this realization is really hard). Yeah my GP said to me that dreams will be weird, cause i used to speak to her about my dreams, which were really weird before taking this med. I am no upset with you or stuff ! On the contrary i'm all here to listen to your advices ! These bad feelings are just my brain dayline... I'm tryin to think about something else but it's really hard.

I'll talk to my GP about these problems and see what she says about that. I'll see her the 25 of May.

I'm sorry i can't talk you more i hard to wake up at 9 to go to school but i just wake up and now i have to prepare an oral for this afternoon..

Thanks for your messages both of you Chuck and Wildcat :)

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Just dropping in to say bonjour and I hope you're having a better day. :-)

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ori-me; Good MORNING i have to start here again I can't hit the comment line because a bug in the system... I CAME OF WRONG THE WAY YOU TOOK MY LAST COMMENT. when I said your smart. sounds like I am joking with you. after your comment, I rethink what you said back.Please believe me in no way do I want to upset you I want you to know I think I did not say it right. Like that scary dream and your teeth so I looked at the medication your on and seen these as possible side-effects of the medication I am going to put them here(((Commonly reported side effects of mirtazapine include severe sedation, weight gain, increased serum cholesterol, drowsiness, constipation, insomnia, fatigue, increased appetite, xerostomia, and decreased appetite. Other side effects include increased serum triglycerides, dizziness, tremor, vertigo, hot flash, palpitations, dyspepsia, abnormal dreams, bitter taste, decreased libido, and diaphoresis.

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See )))) Now you know all medications can have side effects this has Abnormal dreams,fatigue like being tired even when you have slept 12 hours.also drowsiness sedation.
But these are ones that do go away when you have taken this medication after a few weeks. You have said you do feel a little better you have said but sometimes the doctor does have to try different medications. when you see the doctor again I would like you to tell the doctor about these dreams that feel real. Also it is not uncommon to have to use more than one medication to help any of us. They many times start us on one medications and sometimes we have problems so they may add something with it or take one away and try again.because when you have bad dreams like this even if your sleeping you really are not getting good rest. I want you to know you are right here about wanting to do things and not being able to be yourself.I have this problem from time to time too. Much worse a few years ago.IT well get better. But I think you should talk with your doctor again and tell her or him about being so tired and these real dreams that are life like if they have not gone away by then. Please don't think all of this is in your head my FRIEND.some of this can be medication related it is common to have the doctor have to try other medications the hardest part of this is we want to be ourselves again.And you well but my friend you are smart but we don't see things the way we should this is not your fault.It can be the condition and I know you are worried about missing school feeling like you do and you can't do anything about it. This is not easy for anyone that is going through this.How long have you been taking this medication as of today? And how do you think you feel now when you think of before the medication. Now it still can be that you need to get a better level of the medication in your system but it seems like forever when we feel like you do.Most the time these type side effects start to go away within 2 weeks then you start little by little feeling better at about 3 to 4 weeks and by 6 to 8 weeks your blood level should have a steady amount of the medication in you as long as you keep taking it or the doctor might have to increase it but never increase without the doctors okaying it.See these things can happen to because you are under a lot of pressure school is hard.Right now and sometimes brings on problems like what you're having and I know your worried about papers you have to get turned in.But your more important than school at this moment.when we can't think straight we can't do our best job.I regret the way I said that last post.I know how you feel I have been there. And what you are going through is as real as you feel. And it is like one work can change the whole meaning of a sentence. and that is what I did I did not mean that you should be able to figure all of this out yourself but you are a smart young man you had the brains to know you needed help with what you are going through and found a doctor to help you. And stopped taking anything else you were taking and you might have been taking other meds to cover up what you were feeling.Thinking it was helping.But this stuff in our mind does not mean we are crazy or anything like that our mental health is as important as our physical health. I say this because I have been through this when I could not even open my door without having a panic attack of the outside. But if you continue to just sleep and when you're awake your tired and confused etc you really need to tell your doctor about this.SO the doctor may need to adjust your medication or try something else with it. Please don't get upset with me I said that part the other day and after I read it I know what you mean.all the problems your having can be helped but it takes some time and patients and help with the right medication and the doctor helping you out.And I hope you well keep writing to me or us.for support. YOUR NOT ALONE MY FRIEND AND THIS IS JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I am sorry the way my other post came out and feel bad.I want you to know you can talk with me but know things well get better and hopefully very soon.
your friend Chuck. Portland,Oregon USA. things are going to get better. trust me everything you feel is very real. And I did not mean it to sound like it did to you I understand there are many things I want to do but I can't because of fears or I get to upset in crowds etc.so I do understand. And I am so sorry the way I worded that and did not mean it the way it sounded I am here for you. And my friend Wildcatvet is also. and many others you well be okay my friend just takes time and do the best you can don't be hard on yourself my friend and again I am so sorry for the way I worded my other post I apologise.

Answer

Orime; Please don't worry we don't judge!! I think you are doing very well you just need more time and remember your not alone. Please remember do not take any other medication without your PD (Doctor knowing) what you are taking and don't stop the Mirtazapine without the Doctor knowing it is important you don't take anymore Codeine or drink any alcohol. You are not alone many people have problems like this but you are smart enough to go see a Doctor for help.If you have to you could have the doctor write a note to your school that your having some medical problems and your school work may have to be a little late. You do not need to put more pressure on yourself. And hope within a few weeks you well feel better as long as you keep taking only the medicine from the doctor. You can tell it is helping you but making you very tired this should go away and you can catch up on your school work.Please know your not alone and you are doing something about it.

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You well be better in time. And sleep, and make sure you keep eating even if you don't feel like it you must stay strong. and know things well get better keep in touch with your doctor. If you need more help feel free to write back.It is common to have problems like what you are having.but little by little try and get up and look at your homework or something to take your mind off of the thinking that is bothering you.Things well get better in time. Your a very smart young man to know you need help with this problem. And once again do not take anything else without getting a okay from your doctor.Best of luck.

Votes: +3

Answer

Orime; Really you did a very good job explaining your problem. Yes this is very common side effect when you first start this new medicine But it should get better it takes about 2 weeks to get past the side effects sometimes 3 weeks, Then many of these side effects go away and you should even feel better between taking this only as directed by your DOCTOR you should take around the same time each day as GP SAYS but the motivation should get better anytime now it's still going to be a little hard to get yourself going but you must make sure you are eating good to build yourself up and keep taking this medication this is normal how you feel but like I said it well go away and you should start to feel better soon if you continue to have problems go back to the GP and tell the doctor what is going on. Good for you with something like this you need help to get out of the bed and moving again but please don't worry this is normal.

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hope you well start to feel better soon and be able to do your homework. try not to push yourself to hard. and best of luck write back if we can help you or you have a question your doing well on the english. best of luck.and trust your doctor do not use any medication or pills that the doctor does not have you on. YOU ARE VERY SMART TO KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG AND TO SEE A GP..KEEP SEEING THE DOCTOR AND AGAIN THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS MEDICATION FOR 2 TO 3 WEEKS AND THEN IT GETS BETTER AND AGAIN TRY AND TAKE IT AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY AND DON'T TAKE MORE THAN WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS. TRY NOT TO WORRY YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. Chuck1957 USA.

Votes: +1

Answer

Hi, Orime! First of all your English is beautiful ~ you could teach English to quite a few English speakers!
You've sort of answered your own questions by saying that you know this may take some time. Most people start feeling better around 3-4 weeks (sometimes sooner) but it takes 6-8 weeks for your blood to have therapeutic levels of the drug, which is called the steady state.
As your levels build and you feel better the annoying side effects should go away. You're on a fairly low dose (the maximum is 45mg) so your doctor may increase your dose if you don't improve quickly.
Try to give it a little more time and you should have the motivation you need and the energy to act on it.
Feel free to post here any time you have a question or concern. We'll be more than happy to lend support! Bonne chance et au revoir pour le moment,

Mirtazapine : afraid of losing myself & no motivation?

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