Mirtazapine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Len...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2020

For Insomnia "I have low mood, anxiety, and insomnia. 15 mg of mirtazapine has really helped with my insomnia and anxiety. Mood is better but not brilliant. I have no intention of stopping this medication as really good overall improvement. It’s taken as suggested till 4 weeks to get overall benefits. Would 30 mg improve my mood further? But reduce sleep benefit? Thanks."

• Aan...
• June 22, 2019

For Anxiety "Firstly, I was put on Prozac by my GP, made my anxiety so much worse. I didn’t know it at the time because I had never been on an antidepressant before. I’m already very skinny, my normal weight is 113 lb, and I’m 5’5”, I lost those 13 pounds within a week. My therapist was scared for my health, so she told my parents that I needed to get off Prozac. Then I saw a psychiatrist for the first time, he immediately took me off it and put me on a low dose of Remeron. Before, I couldn't go to school, hang out with my friends, go to a store, eat, go into cars, or even go to a family event. It got rid of my derealization, and now I’m on 22.5 mg of Remeron and exactly how I used to be before all the anxiety issues. I gained all the weight back, and then some. I absolutely love eating, before, my anxiety took that away. This drug may not work for you, Prozac works for others, but I am not one of those people. If your symptoms aren’t getting a tiny bit better on any drug after a week or two weeks, change it. Please keep trying."

• Kan...
• September 30, 2015

For Anxiety "I have bad anxiety for years and I tried a few meds but they weren't working for me. Now I am on Mirtazapine 15 mg. I only take one pill at night. The first night I felt great, a little tired but the anxiety stopped. The second night was a little different. I had a few anxiety attacks but I managed to control them. I feel really tired and have a few attacks during the day but not as bad as before. I'm going to give this medicine a try and I'm going to have to go to therapy as the doctor told me it will help, since I have been diagnosed with anxiety for years. I pray this will help me and get my life back. Good luck to all of you that are having tough times with anxiety and depression."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2021

For Insomnia "I was prescribed APO-MIRTAZAPINE 15 mg at night this week. I took one quarter of the tablet last night, and my night was spent waking continuously after dreaming that cockroaches were all over my body. The dreams felt so real that they were terrifying. I was scared to go back to sleep. I'm reading a lot of positive comments, but I am scared to take this again. Did anyone else have this sort of reaction on commencement of the drug?"

• Gee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2023

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I have been taking mirtazapine 15 mg since August 2022 for my PTSD and anxiety disorder. I was prescribed this after trying sertraline and venlafaxine, neither worked, and I felt like I was losing my mind. This medication has saved me in a way, I never thought I would say that about medication, as I used to be very much against it. But life gets hard, and sometimes we need help, even if it is from a tablet. The main side effect for me is my appetite and weight gain, but to be honest, it isn’t the end of the world, and as long as you’re eating healthy foods, it’s not much of an issue. I also didn’t take them for 2 weeks as I couldn’t pick up my prescription. I had the worst anxiety and panic attacks I have ever had in my life. I don’t know if this was a side effect, but it was horrendous. So please, don’t make the same mistake as me and suddenly stop taking them."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2013

For Depression "I am male aged 55. Suffered from anxiety my entire life. Had been addicted to Ativan 3mg for 30 years. Suffered depression 6 years ago and tried Wellbutrin, Prozac, Lexapro & Buspar. I stopped taking Ativan (on my own) by tapering over 4 months. Then panic attack - fear of heights and insomnia struck. My doctor prescribed Mirtazapine after hearing my story. Started on 7.5 mg, then 15 mg and after 30 days, increased to 30 mg. This medicine has worked extremely well for me and that's why I am sharing my story. SSRIs failed. I have been on 30 mg for 45 days now and I sleep 8 to 10 hrs, depression gone, and my confidence is back. Main side effect is lack of energy during the day and anxiety is not completely gone. Give Mirtazapine a chance."

• gco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2022

Mirtazapine for Depression "I've been on this for 3 weeks, and I thought I'd leave a review since I always read reviews and have some health OCD. This third week, I've actually been singing along to songs and not only able to make it to work, but am working extra. I haven't had any terrible panic attacks like I had been previously. I am on 15 mg. I will say I was groggy the first few days, stick it out. A bit of breakthrough anxiety, but nowhere near as bad as it was. Hopefully, will continue to go well for me! Good luck!!"

• Sal...
• September 25, 2013

For Anxiety "I am taking mirtazapine for anxiety for the past 5 months now. After 3 weeks of the start of this medicine, my anxiety was gone until a couple of days ago. All of a sudden, I started getting anxiety attacks and palpitations. It feels like the effect of the medicine is gone. I am seeing my doctor in a week, and let's see what he suggests. Currently taking Xanax to control my anxiety. I have experienced that whenever I have anxiety, 5 minutes of workout (treadmill or fast walking) does help relieve my anxiety. Try it."

• Gra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 8, 2022

For Depression "In my experience, this drug was terrible. My depression was extremely bad while I was on it, and my anxiety wasn't good either. I went from being depressed to a zombie. My brain felt dead, and after passing out at night, I felt like I couldn't process my thoughts properly during the day. This was only on 15 mg. I went from being able to tone my body up quickly, as I'd always been fit and healthy and never struggled with weight around my stomach area. I went from a size 6-8 to a size 12 within 6 months! Even when I was exercising the same as I used to and eating well, nothing would work. I stopped pooping completely (still don't), the drug has completely ruined my digestive system. At the age of 27, I now go a week without doing a number 2. I absolutely hate this drug. I came off it by tapering down for 2 weeks and then went cold turkey. I was in the ED with severe panic attacks for nights on end, thinking I was dying from heart attacks and chest pains, the worst anxiety in my life."

• yea...
• April 6, 2013

For Anxiety "I've been taking the medicine for 1 week now. I read all the stories but for me it works great. I sleep more, less anxious, my appetite now.... check this out I used to wake up starving, eating until I fell back to sleep. Would wake up at 5 every morning like clockwork, I hated it. Now on the medicine, I don't wake up hungry."

• Lus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2014

For Insomnia "I started taking mirtazapine steadily for a few months. I commute to work, a.k.a. sleeping on the train. When I woke up, I was totally confused as to where I was, if I had already been at work, or if I was heading to work, and whatnot. That was a constant for the time I was on it. I stopped taking it cold turkey, it worked fine. But the thing you guys should be aware of is that it’s like putting a blanket over your brain the first few weeks. I got jumpy, skittish, and in general grumpy/aggressive. If I take one now, I can easily sleep for three days straight. So, I keep a stash when I need a break from the world and just sleep it all away. Also, be aware of extremely vivid dreams."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2019

For Insomnia "I was put on mirtazapine 15 mg back in March this year as I was having a bad spot of insomnia. I want to point out I wasn't depressed in any form before taking this drug. Once I started taking it, I suffered with rage, anger, and palpitations. I took 15 mg for 3 months and was concerned, so went to the GP to be told to increase my dose. So I did. Every day I got worse, my day was a constant panic attack. I was a paranoid mess, I knew it was the meds as I was fine before I started taking these. I told the doctors in the hospital after being on suicide watch for the 2nd time to be told it won't be the meds, and then they wanted to put me on antipsychotics and benzos. So I took matters into my own hands. I went down to 7.5 mg for a week, and my anxiety halved, and I started feeling myself again, the dark thoughts stopped, and now I'm on just 3.75 mg every other day. Awful, awful drug, it took away a problem and created more serious problems."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 10, 2019

For Depression "I don't think that this drug deserves any stars. I wish I could rate it in the negatives. It has no therapeutic benefit for me and causes a great deal of harm. I have had issues with hostility, self-harm, and dark thoughts since starting this medication. I was initially put on this medication due to digestive issues, which were thought to be caused by stress after my endoscopy and colonoscopy came back negative. I have tried to get off several times, but I experience severe withdrawal symptoms whenever I do. These include sweating, diarrhea, anxiety, heart palpitations, shivering, lack of appetite, nausea, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and insomnia. I was never warned that withdrawal symptoms existed."

• Sta...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2020

Mirtazapine for Depression "I have bipolar disorder, and during my low episodes, I experience intense anxiety, which feels all day like that feeling when you look over a huge drop (if you're scared of heights). That feeling where your heart almost jumps out of your mouth, and also with ruminating thoughts of guilt and shame (OCD-like), that are so extreme they send me into depersonalization with hallucinations. After just 1 or 2 doses of Remeron at a dose of 15 mg, during these episodes, those ruminating thoughts and anxiousness almost completely disappear. It's miraculous. They make me so numb that I feel like I could do a bungee jump and not feel anything, which at times is a lifesaver. However, that feeling of complete numbness, paired with feeling very groggy in the mornings, is what makes me come off of it when these episodes pass. Using it in this way is what works for me, although it's an off-label way of using it. With BPD, the numbness makes me split on my partner quite badly and lessens my creativity."

• HER...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2020

For Insomnia "Mirtazapine worked great for two weeks, then continuously less and less. At two months, I only noticed a small amount of sleep aid and a worsening of motivation, apathy, anxiety, and just all things attributed to depression among many other problems. Currently, it looks like any benefits from it will be gone in a month!"

• yom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 19, 2019

For Anxiety "I first started taking mirtazapine to treat my insomnia, severe anxiety, and depression. I was also very underweight. My anxiety made me feel sick to the stomach all the time, so I barely ever had an appetite. My hands would shake and sweat constantly. I weighed 75 kilos at age 16, and by age 17, I was 52 kilos (I’m 5’8 in height). I’ve been on mirtazapine for 18 months now, my appetite came back a couple of days after taking it, and I’m back to a healthy weight (maybe a bit overweight if I’m honest)."

• Kay...
• August 10, 2019

For Anxiety "Horrible! Gives me extreme heart palpitations and chest pains. I have been in a constant panic attack for a week and just went to the hospital today. My anxiety was bad before mirtazapine, but it's unbearable on it. My vision's shaky, my arms and my legs fall asleep, I'm zombified until hours after I wake up, and then it's panic attack mode. The FDA has issued several warnings for this drug. I do NOT recommend!"

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2020

For Anxiety "I just took mirtazapine 7.5 mg last night with a 0.5 clonazepam, and I usually research things before I go to bed on Google. It's become a really bad habit, and I don't go to sleep until late. Last night I was so tired I went right to sleep and didn't wake up until morning. I usually wake up after 4 hours of sleep and then have to try and go back to sleep again. I woke up a little jittery, but the sleep was great."

• Bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2023

For Insomnia "I've been taking this for the past 6 months after having severe insomnia for the past few years-just impossible to fall asleep. I've attributed it to anxiety and over-sensitivity to environmental stimuli (I sleep with a sleep mask and earplugs and still can't fall asleep). Mirtazapine helped me, I have been sleeping so well and have been less anxious. I didn't notice any changes in my weight or appetite, which was what I was most worried about since I have a history of disordered eating. It got to the point, though, where I was so worried about possible weight gain or metabolism changes due to the medication that I went off it for a few weeks-back to zzzQuil and melatonin and borrowing my partner's Klonopin now and then. I also tried hydroxyzine, which, even at a high dosage, did nothing other than clear out my nasal passages to the point of pain. Nothing worked! I'm back on mirtazapine now and feel great."

• Exh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2018

For Anxiety "This has been a great drug for me. For most of my 35 years, I have suffered with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, poor appetite, and more recently, sleep issues. This drug has improved all of them, it's not perfect, but it takes the edge off, and I can live a normal life. I will never come off this drug, as my life would be poor without it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2012

For Anxiety "I suffered from anxiety and depression for 3 months with over 20 side effects. I took citalopram and Prozac, but both only worsened my side effects. Finally, my doctor gave me mirtazapine, and almost overnight, I seemed to improve. I had my first full sleep in 3 months and felt like eating again. Slowly, over the course of 1 week, all side effects left me, and within 2 weeks, I was more or less off the medicine. 3 months later, I lead my old life again. If you suffer from sleep issues and have lost your appetite due to anxiety, give this a go. Good luck."

• dyl...
• September 6, 2019

For Insomnia "I use this for sleep and anxiety. I take anywhere between 15 mg to 45 mg depending on the day. 15 mg if it is a daytime dose and 45 mg if it is a nighttime dose, so I do not pass out midday. 15 mg is great to treat anxiety and knocks me out cold within a few hours. It is very strong and is a great sleeping aid. While I am waiting to fall asleep, I am anxiety- and depression-free due to its sedating effects. Ps: Don't let anybody tell you that the drug is more sedating at lower doses. This is a common misconception. Take 15 mg and then take 30/45 mg the next day and tell me which one is stronger, lol."

• Zom...
• January 24, 2021

For Insomnia "I was prescribed Mirtazapine for depression, as I had tried Zoloft and Lexapro, and the side effects were too much. My first night taking the 7.5 mg of Mirtazapine was terrible! After sleeping almost 12 hours, I woke up feeling extremely exhausted and tired, drunk and disoriented, and totally out of it. I also felt anxious and irritated. I stayed awake for a couple of hours thinking the tiredness would wear off. WRONG! I went back to sleep and slept another 4 hours and felt the same way. And, as others have mentioned, I had munchies and cravings for sweets. After all of that sleep, I still felt exhausted and out of it. I felt so concerned I called my doctor because nothing has ever made me feel like this, and I am very sensitive to medication. I will not continue this medication after just one night. I can’t push through feeling like a zombie for a week or two, even if in the end, this medication does work."

• wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

Mirtazapine for Depression "If you can tolerate Remeron, then it can be great. It did wonders for IBS/sleep, however, it did make me get irritated easily and helped a little for anxiety, but I was not able to give it long enough to see how much it would have helped. As I raised my dosage, I had side effects that the doctor said would not go away if I continued, so I had to stop it. I can also tell you that doctors seem to think this is a drug that is easy to get off of, but after 6 weeks and being told I can quit cold turkey, it was not pleasant and obvious withdrawal symptoms. It can take a week before the drug is out of your system, so this can last awhile. I would only recommend this as a last resort."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2018

For Anxiety "Been taking mirtazapine for 8 weeks. The first 6 were hard, as it takes a while to kick in. Still get anxiety, but it’s mild, and low mood, which is now mild too. I was taking 15 mg for 4 weeks, upped to 30 mg. Took some getting used to, with a little bit of increased anxiety for 2-3 weeks, but hopefully, with perseverance, I will get my full life back. I’m 90 percent there. Don’t give up on them, they do eventually start working, and if you lost your appetite like me, and I lost 3 stone in 6 weeks, you will definitely get it back. Sleep is a lot better. I have nightmares occasionally, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons."