Mirtazapine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• January 13, 2020

For Anxiety "I'm a 19-year-old male, anxiety disorder, and PTSD. Prescribed by GP who told me mirtazapine would help me sleep. Yeah, they make you sleepy in the first minutes. But I have terrible vivid dreams and nightmares. I get really angry at nothing, easily annoyed. Had discussions with my partner after the 1st dose. Then I took my 2nd dose yesterday, and today I woke up with suicidal thoughts, I don't wanna die. I woke up and felt so depressed and anxious! This drug is awful. I'm supposed to keep taking these, and today I should take my 3rd dose, but I won't. I don't want to harm myself."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Been on it for 1.5 years now. 45 mg at bedtime. Before taking it, I couldn't sleep, massive mood swings, bad anxiety. Had trouble being in crowds or around people. Since taking, been good, able to deal with whatever comes up in life. I sleep 8 hours a night. Takes a bit to wake up, but once awake, I'm good all day. Downside, don't miss more than two days of it, or I don't sleep, and everything goes into hyperdrive. I function very well on it, and it keeps me a lot more stable."

• Jes...
• February 7, 2017

For Depression "Hated it. Was prescribed 30 mg. Slept 14 hrs a day, restless leg syndrome, gained 40 lbs, moody and irritable constantly, and anxiety-ridden. Finally tired of this horrible drug, I researched a replacement. There isn't one. It's in a class of its own. Desperate, I cut my pills all in half and let me tell you! One week later, I'm the old me again, I feel energized after 8 hrs of sleep, no middle-of-the-night candy cravings, and I'm finally able to talk to others without wishing they'd shut the hell up! I feel like Remeron took 2 years of my life from me."

• Fla...
• June 19, 2021

For Anxiety "I thought I would share my positive experience for anyone that needs to hear it. 8 weeks after having my second baby, I started experiencing postpartum anxiety. I contacted my GP straight away and started therapy and meditation (Headspace). The anxiety was somewhat manageable until it started to affect my sleep. I was awake for 3 days in a total state of panic. I slept on the third night but started to experience uncontrollable panic about sleeping. I contacted my GP, who recommended mirtazapine 15mg. The first couple of weeks, I felt foggy and zoned out until the afternoon, so I thought I would ask my GP if I could take 7.5mg and told him about how anxious I was as I have read it is more sedating at lower doses. He agreed to halve the dose, so I did this for one night, and let me tell you it was not more sedating, and I felt anxious the next day and resumed taking the 15mg the next night, and I’ve stuck with that dose for the past month with minimal side effects."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2019

For Depression "Been on mirtazapine for about 8 weeks, started on 15 mg, which helped me sleep but made me super groggy and zonked out in the morning. Despite the grogginess, I started to feel like my old self again, so I decided to up the dose to 30 mg to see if it changed the morning grogginess. I regret doing this because it seems the higher dose has actually set me back. I’m not falling asleep as easily at night, and the depression has worsened. I’ve even had a few days in bed due to a horrible feeling of dread and gloom, so I’m going back down to 15 mg at night again, so hopefully I’ll get back on an even keel. My advice is to take it slowly, try and stay on the low dose if you can, the higher dose just seems to numb me, which worsens the anxiety and depression."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2019

For Depression "Been on mirtazapine for about 8 weeks, started on 15 mg, which helped me sleep but made me super groggy and zonked out in the morning. Despite the grogginess, I started to feel like my old self again, so I decided to up the dose to 30 mg to see if it changed the morning grogginess. I regret doing this because it seems the higher dose has actually set me back. I’m not falling asleep as easily at night, and the depression has worsened. I’ve even had a few days in bed due to a horrible feeling of dread and gloom, so I’m going back down to 15 mg at night again, so hopefully I’ll get back on an even keel. My advice is to take it slowly, try and stay on the low dose if you can, the higher dose just seems to numb me, which worsens the anxiety and depression."

• Nom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2023

For Depression "I was first introduced to mirtazapine by my doctor, who felt that my prescription of Deptran (prescribed by my former doctor) was obsolete with new antidepressants on the market. I was prescribed mirtazapine. Unfortunately, after years of long-term use, I have experienced significant side effects, including weight gain, dry mouth, memory loss, and above all, tiredness. Therefore, after many attempts to reduce mirtazapine, I experienced the struggles of withdrawal, such as poor sleep, muscle cramps, anxiety, and nightmares. Personally, I do not recommend mirtazapine and would advise against using this medication. While it may initially seem helpful for sleep reduction, I would suggest avoiding it and discussing your concerns with your doctor. As always, consult your doctor, and if symptoms persist, please don't be afraid to speak up, regardless of the circumstances."

• Cha...
• August 24, 2021

For Anxiety "I know everybody is different. I started taking them nearly 3 months ago, on 45 mg, and my anxiety has gotten worse, my depression is at the lowest, dark thoughts, can't eat, always on edge. Extremely moody."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2019

For Depression "I have been taking mirtazapine 15 mg for 7 days before bedtime for anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and it's the worst experience ever. Although early days, it has given me more anxiety, so much dizziness, and very restless nights. I feel absolutely awful and also can't stop eating. I have been going around feeling like a drunk all day, every day. It's definitely not for me, and I refuse to continue taking it ever again. Doctors should warn people about the side effects before giving it to patients so they can have a choice of other ADs. Plus, the weight gain is ridiculous on mirtazapine. It did absolutely nothing for me but stressed me out, worrying about the effects it was having on me. So, whilst it may work for others, it's goodbye mirtazapine for me."

• And...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 13, 2022

Mirtazapine for Depression "Dangerous drug caused me spasms, heart racing, no sleep, and it’s near impossible to come off. Severe anxiety, anger, shivers, suicidal thoughts. Stay clear, it may work in the short term, but long-term dangerous should be illegal."

• Bur...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2018

For Anxiety "Worst hell I ever experienced. Worked okay at first for sleep, then the side effects got worse. Started making me feel more agitated, depressed, trashed my immune system, respiratory issues, horrid body pain in muscles and joints, made me more allergic to foods, bad eyesight, horrific nightmares, suicidal thoughts, skin sensitivities, akathisia, fogged head. Worst withdrawals: shaking, diarrhea, vertigo, sweating, passing out feelings, vomiting, severe panic attacks, akathisia, terror, derealization, sensitivities to lights, sounds, smells, worse depression, agitation, anxiety off the charts, hard to eat because you want to vomit and food just sits in your stomach if you can eat, hard to walk some days at all. Itching and rashes, painful headaches, burning skin, neuropathy. Lost half my hair and skin like sandpaper. I was a beautiful woman before this drug. I have no idea if I will ever be the same. BEWARE, this drug can change on a dime and destroy you!"

• Bur...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2018

For Anxiety "Worst hell I ever experienced. Worked okay at first for sleep, then the side effects got worse. Started making me feel more agitated, depressed, trashed my immune system, respiratory issues, horrid body pain in muscles and joints, made me more allergic to foods, bad eyesight, horrific nightmares, suicidal thoughts, skin sensitivities, akathisia, fogged head. Worst withdrawals: shaking, diarrhea, vertigo, sweating, passing out feelings, vomiting, severe panic attacks, akathisia, terror, derealization, sensitivities to lights, sounds, smells, worse depression, agitation, anxiety off the charts, hard to eat because you want to vomit and food just sits in your stomach if you can eat, hard to walk some days at all. Itching and rashes, painful headaches, burning skin, neuropathy. Lost half my hair and skin like sandpaper. I was a beautiful woman before this drug. I have no idea if I will ever be the same. BEWARE, this drug can change on a dime and destroy you!"

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2023

For Insomnia "I was prescribed this medication for insomnia, and before using it, I tried several holistic approaches. Trazodone made me feel suicidal and emotional, while Benzos were ineffective. Restoril caused a severe drop in my blood pressure (70/56), and Belsomra resulted in nervousness, violent nightmares, and more insomnia. I then tried Seroquel, which made me more nervous and angry, and caused muscle stiffness and a facial rash. Finally, I was prescribed Mirtazapine, and on the first night, I took half of the recommended 7.5 mg dose. Although it helped me sleep a bit, the next day, I was angry all day. That night, I took the full dose, but it made me feel like a zombie, unable to even get out of bed. I was overcome with suicidal thoughts and depression, making it difficult for me to take care of myself. I eventually managed to raise my dopamine levels by taking Mucuna and doing a coffee enema while eating spicy food, which brought me back to some baseline. This medication is dangerous, and if I wasn't knowledgeable about the brain and my body, it could have resulted in me taking my own life. If you experience suicidal or catatonic symptoms, it is crucial to discontinue the medication immediately and seek help."

• Its...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2022

For Depression "Ok. Got a bad health diagnosis and am self-employed, so needed something to keep my emotions in check so I can work with the public for a couple of days. Lost 4 family members to suicide, 2 directly as a result of antidepressants, so that makes me nervous. Was given 6 months' worth of mirtazapine. Reluctantly took 1 pill. Slept 14 fitful hours. Woke up and felt suicidal. Couldn’t answer basic questions, dizzy, angry, falling asleep. Can’t think, depressed. Told my partner to go away for the day. Anxious, unable to function. These tablets will be taken back to the pharmacy pronto. I’m not depressed or anxious normally. Just in shock and wanted something to get me through this week. Think carefully about taking this drug. In my opinion, it’s pure evil. If I could give it 0, I would."

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2021

For Anxiety "I was prescribed mirtazapine for anxiety and panic attacks after citalopram and escitalopram made me really poorly, and I could barely function… well, started on 7.5 mg for a week, then up to 15 mg for a week, then 22.5 mg for a week… had diarrhea, nausea, post-nasal drip, which made me feel like I was going to gag all day long (Halls throat sweets, 1 pack a day!!!), high anxiety and panic, so told my doctor I wanted off… she told me to just stop then as I hadn’t taken them long… so I’m now 5 days off them and have had nausea, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, sneezing in my sleep, no appetite at all, but the worst thing I’m experiencing is emotional blunting!! I don’t feel anything about anything, and I’m not handling it very well. I just want to feel like me again. I’ve never had this, and I hope it doesn’t last much longer!! Please seriously think before starting this med because it’s been a rough ride from start to finish and beyond!!"

• T j...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2019

For Depression "Worst experience of my life after taking 30 mg of this. Slept 20 hours solid. I had slurred speech, was completely out of it, had palpitations, headache, muscle spasms, anxiety, and I was very aggressive. The paramedics were called out to me, and I was told I had a severe reaction to it. It took 3 days to feel half normal again. I would rather have the anxiety and depression than touch this evil drug."

• Dys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2018

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Appalling medication! Health professionals wouldn’t take my side effects seriously! The moment I started taking mirtazapine, I became agitated, aggressive, jumpy at the slightest sound or movement, and really suicidal. I also couldn’t stop eating - like literally felt hungry CONSTANTLY! The medication made me so aggressive that I was nearly sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Health professionals told me that I was making it up to excuse my behaviors. My son was permanently removed from my care, and I was misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Mirtazapine has completely ruined my life."

• jep...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2020

For Insomnia "For the first 2 months, mirtazapine probably helped me with insomnia with a dose of 7.5 mg, but it made me groggy and caused brain fog. It's also very difficult to quit because withdrawal symptoms are terrible (insomnia, anxiety, increased tinnitus). Also, mirtazapine causes significant weight increase, so if you are already overweight or close to being overweight, then I wouldn't recommend this medication."

• Mir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2022

For Anxiety "Do not ever take these for anxiety. I wish I’d done more research on the way an SNRI works. It increases norepinephrine, which is okay if you're very depressed, but it will make your own anxiety far worse! The sleeping effect wears off pretty quickly too, and they’re horrible to try and taper off of."

• Tra...
• September 1, 2015

For Depression "I was initially prescribed escitalopram for situational depression without being warned about startup anxiety and insomnia. After a week, I was switched to mirtazapine 7.5 mg, which helped me sleep and regain the 10 pounds I had lost the previous week. However, as the situation worsened, my dosage was increased to 30 mg, at which point the drug became too activating, and sleep disappeared. When I attempted to reduce my dosage, I got hit with massive withdrawals. I now have chronic insomnia, severe cognitive problems, and an anxiety disorder that resulted in countless additional medications, including an antipsychotic. These drugs have rendered me numb, unmotivated, impotent, and stupid. Simply stated, this drug ruined my life."

• GIN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2015

For Depression "I have been on so many SSRIs over the last 30 years. Nothing has decreased the dark place I was always in. It has caused my friends and family to try and disguise the depression. Very skeptical about Remeron. Last night was night 1, and I woke up twice for potty, no problems. Woke up, and it only took 2 hours to be alert. It works. I'm not in the dark place, I feel good. If it keeps getting better, then I thank God. For the most part, I can think clearly, just a hint of anxiety, but so grateful. Don't be afraid to try it."

• Jaz...
• February 7, 2014

For Insomnia "Just started the tablet 15 mg two days ago. Today is the 3rd day and by far the worst drowsiness I am facing. Cannot do anything in the office. As soon as I go to sleep, I wake up, maybe due to anxiety or side effect. Last both nights, I took it at 8:00 PM and went to bed at 9:00 PM, and at 10:00 PM I woke up due to a severe anxiety attack. Tried a couple of times and then finally went to sleep maybe at 10:30 PM and then woke up at 5:30 AM in the morning. After that, the Zombie Phase started and it never finished. The weekend is coming, and I want to sleep for at least 20 hours. A little better than previous in terms of anxiety and depression. I was never on medication before but was using Valium and Xanax frequently for sleep, and these were working well."

• Jaz...
• February 7, 2014

For Insomnia "Just started the tablet 15 mg two days ago. Today is the 3rd day and by far the worst drowsiness I am facing. Cannot do anything in the office. As soon as I go to sleep, I wake up, maybe due to anxiety or side effect. Last both nights, I took it at 8:00 PM and went to bed at 9:00 PM, and at 10:00 PM I woke up due to a severe anxiety attack. Tried a couple of times and then finally went to sleep maybe at 10:30 PM and then woke up at 5:30 AM in the morning. After that, the Zombie Phase started and it never finished. The weekend is coming, and I want to sleep for at least 20 hours. A little better than previous in terms of anxiety and depression. I was never on medication before but was using Valium and Xanax frequently for sleep, and these were working well."

• M m...
• July 30, 2017

For Anxiety "I have been on this drug for over a year now, and it's safe to say mirtazapine saved my life. I was having really bad anxiety for 3 to 4 months, and that brought on the depression. It got that bad, I was running into the wall to try to stop the feeling. After the doctors saw me, they put me on mirtazapine at 15 mg for 6 weeks. I dramatically saw a difference in the anxiety, but I still was feeling really down, so the doctors put it up to 30 mg and I have been on it since. I can go to my job with no problems. But every now and then, the anxiety still comes back, but I'm learning to deal with the issues that bring the anxiety on."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2018

For Anxiety "I've tried mirtazapine a couple of times for my anxiety and always found the cons to outweigh the pros. Some people can tolerate antidepressants, and unfortunately, I don't think I'm one of them. Besides the initial sedation it caused, I don't think it helped my anxiety, and I was too scared to keep taking it or up the dose because of the side effects and the concern of withdrawals that in some cases are semi-permanent. The sleep effects only lasted a week, and it caused akathisia for me. My teeth would chatter and my eyes would twitch randomly. The final nail in the coffin was that I had what I can only assume was a near-seizure while playing a video game, which has never happened to me before. It's a dirty drug with an affinity for a ton of different receptors, so take at your own risk. If you're prone to side effects from medication, I wouldn't recommend this."