Mirtazapine for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 2)

• Mir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2013

"This pill gives me an appetite, helps my depression, helps my anxiety, and helps me sleep. I love it. I don't know what I would do without it, to be honest, and if I need to be on one medication for the rest of my life, this would be it. I have been on many pills, and I'm normally really picky about side effects, but this one is just great for me."

• K8a...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 4, 2020

"I started taking Mirtazapine about 6 months ago to assist with treatment for postnatal anxiety which eventually led to insomnia. No history of mental health issues or sleep issues. Started on 15mg, slept well from day 1. Once I felt better after about 3 months, I reduced my dose very slowly over 3 months, and now I'm on less than 1mg with no bad side effects, so I'll be off it soon. The medical recommendation for tapering is far too quick, I believe, take it slow. Mirtazapine has been positive for me to get through a rough patch. In regards to weight gain, I never weighed myself, but I think I may have put on a few kgs in the beginning, but nothing significant, and it didn't continue. No major appetite increase. Please don't let that put you off if you need help."

• lor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 22, 2023

"I have always had a problem with sleeping, even as a 7-year-old. When I turned 40, the problem got so much worse, and the anxiety from not sleeping caused me not to sleep for months. My doctor prescribed mirtazapine, and I agree with a lot of comments on here that say it saved my life. I was ready to end it all... I take 15 mg per day at night and sleep like a baby. I am now 74, so I have taken this for 34 years. Every once in a while, I tell my husband that I don't need it anymore, and maybe I should quit taking it. He says let me know when you stop so I have a chance to move out!!! This is a wonder drug. My new doctor decided that I should go off this medication for whatever the reason. I was a total basket case after 3 weeks... I don't know what I'd do if they ever took this drug off the market!!"

• Hap...
• August 2, 2015

"Have suffered insomnia and anxiety for 15 years. Slept 6 to 12 hours per week. SSRIs ineffective. Would visit Dr. every 2 to 3 months and beg for 4 sleeping tablets (I'm a Brit) because I was dizzy and almost crying with exhaustion. A new GP prescribed Mirtazapine, and I have slept a minimum of 6 hours each night from the start. Feel fantastic. Colleagues notice a difference, house is clean, bags of energy. P.S. no more horrible dreams either."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 4, 2024

"This medication was a godsend for me. Started on 7.5 mg for the first week, then went up to 15 mg for the next 3.5 years - have been sleeping 9.5 hrs a night. Just last month I started waking up early at around 5 am - not sure why. Only drawback is that it gives me the munchies. So I don’t know why I now wake up early. Maybe I didn’t thank Jesus enough? Maybe I should increase the dose by 7.5 mg? Will try."

• TRE...
• July 14, 2019

"I have suffered from insomnia for decades to the point of job loss, self-medicating with alcohol, and then sleeping days at a time once I reached the point of exhaustion. On just 7.5mg of mirtazapine, I am a new human! I truly believe a very low dose is the way to go for insomnia. I suffer from depression, and I suspect PTSD. Melatonin, Nyquil, codeine, nytol, prescription sleep aids, even pain medications like Tramacet had zero effect on my sleep. I could be so exhausted I was impaired and still not sleep. It has only been 7 days, but on 7.5mg, I have NEVER slept like this in my life. I fall asleep in minutes, I only wake a couple of times a night, and my energy level is at a place it has not been for 20 years. I am a new human. And oddly, I have adversely experienced a decrease in my appetite. I was a major stress overeater and this has completely balanced me."

• JCN...
• August 12, 2021

"It's irresponsible for people to scream in all caps, 'DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG!!!' especially after one night. ALL research supports low-dose (7.5mg) for insomnia. Anything higher is activating (there are always exceptions) on norepinephrine. Not everyone gains weight. Diet and exercise will keep the weight off if you do gain weight, just as it will without taking it. And this discussion board is for insomnia, not anxiety or depression. Low-dose for insomnia/per peer-reviewed science!"

• Atr...
• June 27, 2023

"I am a senior and expected to be calmed by this drug. It did the opposite. The 7.5mg dose made me more alert, gave me severe dry mouth, made it harder to urinate, and never gave me a really relaxing and calm moment. Even after 12 after taking the drug, I was unsteady on my feet. The problem with these sleeping medications is that they have such varied effects on people. The doctors have no idea if these medications are going to help or going to hurt the patient. Too often it is trial and error. It's like going to a witch doctor. Maybe the sleep medicine will work or maybe not. Of course, the doctors want to help, but the reality is that they actually don't any more than the collective intelligence of the posters on this thread."

• Cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2015

"It used to take me a good 3-4 hours to fall asleep at night, now it takes me around 20-30 minutes. I feel much more energized during the day and actually enjoy sleeping again. It has also helped decrease the amount of nightmares I used to have."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2024

"Honestly, thank God for mirtazapine. I usually don't review drugs, but this one really, really helped me. I took the full dose, and it knocked me out. I also slept for 13 hours, but it made me a zombie for the first day and I had extreme difficulty staying awake. It also lasted about 3 days where I was pretty out of it. I cut the dose into fourths, and I still fell asleep within 15 minutes of taking it and slept through the night. I woke up, and I was still groggy, but the benefits far outweighed a little fogginess. It led to me getting 7-9 hours of consistent sleep, whereas it had been taking me between 3-5 hours in bed before I fell asleep. I had been waking up multiple times in the night, and I was only sleeping between 4-6 hours. I've been taking it for about a month since then, and some days are better than others, but it has been pretty consistent and helpful for me, in particular with the sleep onset time."

• Dop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2016

"I have experienced sleep problems for 10 years, lost both parents, have a very busy life, house to run, full-time physical job. I was a complete wreck, worn out physically, to the point I couldn't function or speak even to people. I dreaded going to bed and sat up all night trying everything to get to sleep. I had to be up for work at 5.30, driving on motorways felt like a zombie. These tablets are my lifesaver. I've got my spark back, no side effects, only aches in my joints, but that's nothing to me. I feel human again, no weight gain which is fantastic. I was scared of the weight gain, but I have been fine. Don't be scared of trying them, they're a savior."

• BLE...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2024

"For me, very low doses of 1-2 mg work best. I cut up pills into very small particles for this purpose. I sleep well and do not have the morning drowsiness that I experienced with higher doses (3-4 mg)."

• Max...
• July 9, 2014

"I have been using Remeron for sleep on and off for a couple of years. This is the only non-habit-forming one I know of that really works. I take a tiny dose-about 2 mg, or 1/8th of a 15 mg tablet (which is tricky to do with a pill cutter). Best results if I take it an hour or two before bedtime. Sleep quality is usually very good. The only side effect is minor grogginess, which is nothing compared to what happens with insomnia. I recommend it very highly. Too bad it's not better known in the medical community."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2023

"I have been struggling with insomnia for 8 months. I haven't been able to get a full night's rest for that time, and it's impacted my life in the most awful ways. Even when I was able to get some sleep, I woke up groggy and unrefreshed. Last night, I took this pill for the first time, and I just slept for 12 hours. I woke up groggy, but it is wearing off, and I at least know I got the amount of sleep I needed. Please try this out if you are struggling with insomnia. This actually saved my life, and this is the medicine I left with from the crisis center because I wanted to take my life. Insomnia is no joke."

• Jas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2014

"I have suffered from insomnia for the majority of my adult life. It seems like my mind does not want to slow down. I now take 30 mg of mirtazapine at bedtime, and I must say that it is an amazing medication. I do tend to be a bit groggy when I first get up, but like the post earlier, it is nothing compared to the 'walking dead' feeling that insomnia gave me. I highly recommend it."

• Mat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2013

"I have tried many SSRIs which all left me feeling nauseated and with flu-like symptoms and had given up on medication until last week. I thought I would try once more with a new med. I went to a new doctor and she prescribed me Mirtazapine. Day 1, I slept 10 hours and felt very tired the entire day, although on Day 2, I woke up feeling great and cannot remember the last time I felt this good, since I have been struggling with anxiety and depression. Highly recommend this medication."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2024

"Mirtazapine has been a godsend for me. I’ve had terrible sleep for years and was recently going through a really bad stretch of insomnia. Ambien put me to sleep for 2 hours, and then I was wide awake for the rest of the night. My psychiatrist worked with me through trials of several different medications… Ambien, Ativan, hydroxyzine, trazodone, and none of them worked. Finally, we tried a low dose of 7.5 mg of mirtazapine, and I had the best night's sleep in years, and my sleep has continued to get better. I can finally feel that I am getting quality sleep. I’ve had no adverse side effects from the medication at all. I can’t believe how well this has worked for me. If you battle insomnia, I highly recommend giving this medication a shot."

• Jel...
• June 11, 2016

"I find a few crumbs of mirtazapine a great aid to sleep. I can get about 10 doses out of a 30mg tablet. I tend to use it at the weekend as it sometimes leaves me a little drowsy the next day. I was originally prescribed 30 mg daily for depression but found that way too heavy. Now it's just occasional use if I've not been sleeping too well. But super small doses are effective for sleep and you can avoid the side effects."

• Ban...
• February 10, 2020

"I was given these tablets Mirtazapine 15mg because I suffer from anxiety, depression, and insomnia. I slept for a whole 2 days. I obviously got up to go to the loo, but was walking into doors and door frames. I eventually came around but was left feeling very groggy and dizzy. I couldn’t possibly have driven a car and was unable to even make a meal. I still don’t feel back to normal after 3 days. Won’t be taking them again. I lost a whole weekend."

• Arc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2012

Mirtazapine "I have taken Remeron for 3.5 years. I was experiencing a family crisis, was anxious, depressed, and could not sleep. I have taken every antidepressant on the market. They might work for a year then nothing. You MUST go on Remeron slowly. 1/4 of the dissolving tablet for a week, then 1/2 for a week or 2. I was told never, never to start with a whole dose or to quit cold turkey. TITRATE is the key. I get real food cravings late at night. But, I don't eat. Remeron is the best antidepressant I have ever taken."

• cmw...
• November 1, 2019

"This drug Remeron is amazing for sleep and anxiety. I started off with 30mg at night. I took it about an hour before I wanted to go to bed, and it worked amazingly for me. I slept all night long, never even waking up to use the restroom, which is huge for me. I went down to 15mg about a year ago, and it still worked the same. If your main issue is falling asleep and staying asleep, along with some sleep anxiety, I would say TAKE IT!! And I did not gain ANY WEIGHT from it. Yes, it makes you hungry, but try and control what you put into your mouth and how active you are. Wonderful drug! Godsend!!!"

• KJJ...
• June 19, 2023

"I took this for 9 months for insomnia and anxiety, starting at 7.5 mg and gradually going all the way up to 45 mg. I ended up at 45 mg because the weight gain was so bad, and supposedly the higher dosage was supposed to be better for less weight gain, but my weight just kept skyrocketing (while I struggled to fight it with diet and exercise). I never fell asleep easily on this medication-usually taking at least 1 to 2 hours-but once asleep, I slept well. However, it was tough getting up in the mornings. I think it helped my anxiety, but the weight gain and struggles with craving sweets were not worth it. I gained 10 pounds in 9 months and was very depressed over this. The benefits seemed very slight compared to the side effect of weight issues. Weaning off was not an issue. Do it gradually. Went back to trazodone."

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 6, 2020

"I had chronic insomnia which crept up very quickly. I tried to deal with it using a variety of recommended methods, but as the insomnia worsened, my ability to cope became nonexistent. Sleeping tablets made me feel awful, and eventually, a doctor prescribed me a handful of Valium tablets which helped temporarily. He suggested a course of mirtazapine (15mg), and it feels like they saved my life. Stable sleep patterns and minimal side effects. Only slight weight gain, which I was able to shift quickly. I have been on them for 8 months or so and attempted a taper but went to half tabs too quickly. Had a few days of dizziness after a month or so and then an awful night's sleep, so I panicked and went back to full tablets. Thinking of a slower taper to get off them, but this seems to be a tricky thing by the looks of people's accounts online."

• Del...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2024

"About time I wrote a review here, as I've been on Mirt for 9 months. Have never written a review before, but it really, really helped me. I went through a sudden bout of extreme insomnia and developed sleep anxiety. I got put on Mirtazapine, and it helped me almost instantly. For the first few weeks and months, I'd still have quite broken sleep, anxiety doesn't go away overnight, but the tablets got me back on track massively. I started on 15, reduced to 7.5, but found around 3.75 to be perfect. I have gained no weight (I did a few lbs initially, as it made my appetite much stronger, but that calmed down after a while and lower dose). I also feel much happier, calmer, and optimistic in general, even though sleep was the main reason I started. I'm happy continuing for now! Anyone who is suffering insomnia, try this. I also listened to YouTube videos from Insomnia Coach, and that really helped too. Sending love x"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2020

"Extremely helpful for occasional insomnia. Although I don’t take it for depression or chronic insomnia, I was given some by my doctor for acute situations of mind racing and restless insomnia at night. The pills are 15 mg and take full effect in about an hour. On nights with severe anxiety, restlessness, and agitation, mirtazapine can slow my thoughts and bring forth a deep feeling of tiredness, allowing me to fall into a deep sleep. Unlike diphenhydramine, I do not experience a “fishbowl” feeling in my head, uncomfortable heaviness, and dry mouth the night during and morning after using. The one notable drawback is the long duration of action, which can sometimes cause residual drowsiness well into the morning. Oftentimes, a strong cup of coffee can help mitigate this though. Overall, having this medication available has been beneficial in preventing days from being completely ruined by insomnia and anxiety."