Mirtazapine and Increased Appetite: What Users Say (Page 2)

• kay...
• March 17, 2009

Mirtazapine for Depression "Although I can't take tricyclics, I can take Remeron. I have treatment-resistant depression, and this is the only antidepressant I can tolerate (I have been on every type of antidepressant except Wellbutrin). I don't know why it works so well on me, but it saved my life. My weight had gotten down to 112 lbs (I'm 5'7) and I looked like a corpse. I've been on it for a good 8 years or so, and it still helps me sleep. The hunger side effect subsided for the most part, a good thing because I gained too much weight back at first, then leveled out at 130 lbs. Some of my family have tried it and it knocks them out for the night and the next day. Also, they've complained of a 'hangover feeling' after they wake up. Many doctors told me it's a good medicine."

• Ban...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

For Anxiety "Mirtazapine is an amazing drug. I used to wake up every morning shaking, fists clenched, very fearful and anxious. This completely subsided after 2 weeks of taking 7.5 mg of mirtazapine at night. I am also taking 100 mg of Desvenlafaxine in the morning, but I am considering dropping it and just taking mirtazapine. My appetite has increased a lot, which is partly due to the easing of the anxiety. I have picked up 2 kg but am training 4 times per week to compensate. It doesn’t help with sleep to the extent that trazodone does, but by tackling the underlying anxiety, I am now able to sleep with only 7.5 mg of mirtazapine. Initially, I was taking both trazodone and mirtazapine at night to sleep. I am also seeing a therapist that specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which deals with distress tolerance. The combination of therapy, exercise, and mirtazapine is undeniable. I have been on every conceivable antidepressant, and none have been as effective as mirtazapine for my anxiety (and resulting depression)."

• Uma...
• April 13, 2020

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I've been on mirtazapine 30 mg for 5 months now, and it's definitely the only medication I've tried that seems to be effective. I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and it has helped me quite a lot with that. My anxiety has been reduced significantly, and I no longer feel depressed. At the beginning, I did have difficulty waking up in the morning and staying awake due to the grogginess I felt, but now, I don't have this problem at all, and I even find myself waking up at 6-7 in the morning naturally. The only downside to this medication is the fact that it'll make you so, so hungry to the point that it can become quite painful. All you want to eat is chocolate, sweets, ice cream, biscuits, etc., and the cravings are quite difficult to deal with. This does gradually decrease over time, and it does become easier to manage. You can definitely combat these side effects if you find them becoming an issue."

• hip...
• March 18, 2014

Mirtazapine for Depression "After trying these for about 5 weeks, I had to go back to the doctor to change. I felt worse than I'd ever felt in my life. I was so angry all the time for no reason. I cried more than I did before taking medicines. For the first time ever, I was thinking about suicide. It also gave me a massive appetite and I gained about ten pounds, which I didn't need. So, these definitely do not work for me. Fingers crossed my new ones will."

• Fay...
• November 30, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I've been on mirtazapine just over a year now for postpartum depression and OCD. I was unable to eat or sleep. Anxiety so severe that I was constantly throwing up. Panic attacks and intrusive thoughts. I was a complete mess and couldn't function. The only side effect from this medication was increased appetite, especially for sweets. This medication has been a lifesaver!! Helped with insomnia immediately along with appetite. Took a couple of months to help with my depression and about 5 or 6 months to help with my OCD/anxiety. Strongly recommend this medication!"

• MrP...
• January 3, 2016

For Insomnia "This has changed my life. I have long-term insomnia with night terrors and a major depressive disorder. The first night I slept like the dead. I did find for a couple of weeks that I was tired during the day also, but that has now faded. I still sleep well most nights, and it's natural sleep. I don't feel like I've been drugged. My moods have significantly improved too, everything has become more tolerable and easier to handle. My lowest moods are nowhere near as low, and my good moods are better than they've been in years. I do find my appetite has increased, but as someone who has struggled all my life to gain weight, it's not really an issue."

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2020

Mirtazapine for Major Depressive Disorder "I gained 25 lbs in 6 weeks on Remeron. I was 125 lbs when I started the medication and now I’m bordering on overweight. Luckily, when I stopped the medication, the weight gain stopped. It helped slightly with my chronic migraines and did not make me sleepy. I feel it did improve my quality of sleep somewhat, but not enough to continue gaining weight at that rate. I did exercise and watch what I ate, but it just made me too hungry. It had no effect on my depression, unfortunately, and I feel much worse about myself after gaining all that weight. Ketamine therapy has been the only antidepressant to work for me yet."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 5, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on mirtazapine for just over a year now, and it has done wonders for my mental health. I have struggled with anxiety and depression since my early teens, and this has worked wonders. I definitely noticed an increase in my appetite, so I have gained a bit of weight, but it's worth the mental stability. I'm on 30 mg a day, I started on 15 mg, but this wasn't a high enough dose. The only thing I'd note is that going off this cold turkey is a terrible idea. I missed a week because of a mistake on my doctor's behalf, and the withdrawals were terrible. I had the sweats, couldn't sleep, barely ate, and my depressed and anxious thoughts came back really strongly. Luckily, after three days of being back on it, I'm starting to feel better. Overall, I'm so happy this medication has worked for me and brought back a quality of life I'd been missing for years."

• LJM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 25, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "Mirtazapine is an underrated medication for mood & anxiety disorders, perhaps due to it being used at insufficient doses. The 30mg dose has worked well for me for many years now. Side effects are mild, with an increased appetite an hour or so after taking the tablet and a dry mouth in the morning being the only two I've experienced."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2015

Mirtazapine for Major Depressive Disorder "Having failed most SSRIs, Remeron was a real surprise. It calmed me, helped me sleep, helped me focus, but most importantly had almost no side effects. My appetite went crazy the first week but mellowed out afterwards. I get pretty drowsy about an hour after taking it, so I only take it at bedtime. I had to drop from 45 mg to 30 mg due to it amping me up rather than sedating. Works fine, no tolerance type effects unlike Z-drugs."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2012

Mirtazapine for Depression "I've been on Remeron for nearly two weeks now, and I can feel my mood elevating and depression decreasing already. Also, I'm now getting full nights of sleep, which is also an amazing feeling. The only downsides I've seen so far are some grogginess in the morning (though that has been less and less noticeable) and ravenous hunger (this has not gotten less). Luckily, because now I'm starting to actually want to leave the house and do stuff, I've been able to work out pretty consistently this past week, and hopefully that will counteract the effects of me eating the weight of a horse every day. I've tried more antidepressants than I can count on one hand, and this is the first time in a long time I've started to feel better."

• LMF...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 17, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I find this medication amazing! I can sleep really well on it although I have quite epic dreams which I remember when I wake up. Mirtazapine makes me feel peaceful and calm. I feel in control, less panicked and with the added bonus of sleep, I feel my overall mental health is improving. My appetite has increased but I have been told that it will stabilize after 12 weeks. I have no loss of sexual function and feel more in tune with myself than ever before. I am being observed for bipolar and mood disorders. This medication is a godsend to me. Only thing I can say is if you need to be up early take it 10/12 hours before you need to get up, I take it between 7 and 8pm and get up fresh at 7am."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2020

For Depression "This drug really worked for my depression and insomnia. It really helped me, but... I just could not control my appetite. As soon as I woke up, my first thought was eating, and after eating, I was thinking what to have next. My hunger was so out of control that I would eat until I was sick. I ended up gaining 25 lbs in 2 months. I had munchies from dawn to dusk. It was horrible. I don’t know if anyone else had this happen, but I had to get off of them, and since have lost 20 lbs of the 25 I gained. I would recommend if you can control your hunger, because I sure couldn’t."

• Lac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2022

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I started taking mirtazapine after I was suffering from PTSD and waiting for CBT. I wasn't sleeping, and my intrusive thoughts and flashbacks meant I couldn't do basic tasks. After the initial 2 weeks getting over the side effects (headaches, sleepiness), I was back at work, sleeping and functioning normally. They were an absolute lifesaver. I did feel a bit hungrier at first, but that has gone away now. My experience has been very positive. I'm from the UK, so I can't help with insurance experience."

• ED...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2013

For Depression "In reading through these reviews, I really was very skeptical. But... After close to 1 month, I actually have the feeling as described 'the veil has lifted'. I really feel better! The increased hunger has subsided. I coped with that by eating lots of oranges and apples (very filling)! I sleep well and wake up feeling rested. So, please do not give up. It does work. Concentrate on the good, not the side effects."

• mfs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2014

For Depression "This has seriously been my miracle. After trying 5 different SSRIs with horrible side effects, Remeron literally saved my life. I was given it during a hospital stay (I was suicidal). The only side effects I've experienced were sleepiness (in the first few weeks) and increased appetite (ongoing). Personally, my depression caused me to have no appetite at all, so the increased appetite was a welcome effect, although it may not be for others. I can sleep, I can eat, and - most importantly - I can live. I can get out of bed in the morning and live my life. I am on 45 mg once a day (at night). With this medication, in combination with CBT and mindfulness meditation, my depression is almost completely gone."

• Swe...
• January 17, 2016

Mirtazapine for Major Depressive Disorder "My experience with Remeron is short. It worked wonders for me, but I stopped it as it causes awful weight gain. 21 pounds in 4 weeks. I looked pregnant. It made me more depressed. I would just eat. It does something to your brain that makes you feel as though you are never full. At night, I would sneak food. I could not stop. I was at 30mg. I've heard 15 mg is worse for weight gain. Also, this drug is also given to elderly patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and also given to people with eating disorders (bulimia and anorexia). As I said, in one respect, it did wonders for me with anxiety and depression and stopped the voices in my head and helped me sleep. But I couldn't go through gaining any more weight."

• gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2014

For Depression "I was seriously depressed! Thought I would never be the same. Remeron has been a lifesaver! It took 2 weeks before I started to feel the effects and at 5 weeks I feel like my old self. Side effects for me were sleepiness in the first week and has not been bad since. A few headaches and a lot of eating, but I need the weight anyways. Don't let the weight side effects keep you from trying Remeron. They will subside. Give this medicine a try. Well worth it."

• med...
• September 7, 2018

Mirtazapine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have taken this med for over 2 years. I've been suffering from insomnia, anxiety, and depression my whole life. I found that nothing could help. Every night I tossed and turned, waking up every 2 hours. The first night I took this, like magic, I slept a whole night without waking up. And every night since then it has worked. However, BEWARE, it will make you binge eat. You have NO control over it. Studies say weight gain from this med only affects like 15% of people. Use look at the reviews on here and across the internet–it's more like 90%. I've always been skinny, and I put on 14 pounds within a month of starting it. I quit for a week, which made me extremely depressed and unable to sleep, but I immediately lost all the weight. But I was so depressed, it hurt, so I got back on it. That's why I give this a 7, it's a conundrum, it helps so much with insomnia/depression/anxiety, but it makes you FAT. Don't try this med unless you've tried ALL other SSRIs and sleep meds."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Cymbalta, Effexor, Trintellix, and Prozac. Prozac was good, but Remeron/mirtazapine works better for anxiety by far! I started suffering from anxiety when I was 12, and Remeron/mirtazapine has given me 'wings to fly.' I can drive relaxed, and I don't ruminate over things and make myself sick with worry, so in turn, my depression eases up because I'm not consumed with dread. The only downside is I feel hungry ALL the time, but I use willpower. For snacking, I cut up celery and carrots and drink cold green tea instead of eating anything and everything because if you're not watchful, I guarantee you'll put on a lot of weight. I basically had to get used to being hungry. All the best."

• fai...
• November 18, 2015

Mirtazapine for Major Depressive Disorder "Just started taking this med again. I've been on more than I can count over the years. The only downfall I've had is the daytime foggy feeling which I'm hoping will subside over time. I've only been taking this less than a week and my depression symptoms have greatly improved as well as I sleep well every night. Appetite has gone up for me as well but not a concern for me at this point. Very happy overall. I will post again in a few weeks to give another update"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 16, 2013

For Insomnia "I started taking 15mg before bedtime about 9 months ago. It really helps me fall asleep within 45 minutes of dosage. For the first month or so, my dreams were very lucid and intense, but they have subsided with time. I do not feel drowsy the next morning, but refreshed. I was unaware of the increased appetite side effect until I read more about it lately. I do believe I have experienced that but has not been a real issue. I highly endorse this medicine but would only take before bedtime. It was prescribed to me as a sleep aid so not sure why it would be taken any other time of day."

• cjo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2015

Mirtazapine for Major Depressive Disorder "No matter how much sleep I got, I was constantly tired. I could barely function during the day. And when I was functioning, I wanted to eat everything. In 2 months, I ended up gaining 15 lbs, which definitely did not help with the depression."

• fl2...
• February 13, 2016

For Anxiety "Mirtazapine has been a lifesaver for me. I had severe anxiety to the point I was feeling suicidal. I couldn't function, and my obsessive thoughts were constant. I couldn't sleep more than one hour without waking up from a panic attack. I started taking 50 mg of Pristiq, and five days later, I was put on 15 mg of Mirtazapine to speed up the process and help with sleep and appetite. I took the tablet an hour before bed and was knocked out almost instantly, sleeping the whole night. It's been four days since I started Mirtazapine, and I am able to go to work, etc. I am still feeling a bit anxious, but it's bearable. It definitely increased my hunger, but I don't give in to the cravings! I eat normally, if not less. I will see how it progresses, but only good things so far!"

• Dyl...
• June 11, 2015

For Anxiety "I must say, mirtazapine was extremely helpful for my anxiety and depression, along with taking fluvoxamine for anxiety, depression, and OCD. A lot of the physical symptoms of anxiety as well as mental symptoms have diminished. Concentration has also improved. Although the weight gain from increased appetite and the sluggish feeling in the morning have become problematic. I have my mind set on discontinuing."