Mirtazapine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• 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."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

For Insomnia "Firstly, I'd like to start off by saying that I do not suffer from depression. Just really bad anxiety and insomnia. I find that this is helping me sleep at night, but I am still having to take extra strength melatonin on top of the mirtazapine. The sleep is great, but I've noticed one thing. I've been getting these crazy dreams only on the nights that I've taken melatonin, so clearly there's some sort of connection between taking it vs just taking mirtazapine. Last night, I thought I woke up, but I was in another dream (pre-lucid), which, to be honest, wasn't that scary. Mainly because it was a pretty cool dream, haha. Anyway, it's been a 50/50 chance of either having a nightmare or having a rad dream, and the following day I can remember the majority of the dreams. Just thought I'd mention my 2 cents' worth. As for being tired or groggy the following day, I'm actually fine. I take it right before dinner time, and by 8-9 am the next day, I'm good to go."

• jus...
• February 9, 2020

For Anxiety "Prescribed mirtazapine for anxiety, sleep, weight loss, and acid reflux pain. 2 months, 3/4 of a 30 mg tablet and still sleeping 9 to 10 hrs per night. Brain fog is still present, but I don't feel completely impaired. Anxiety is returning, and I feel emotionless. I also feel like I'm at 90% mental clarity, and I get random moments of fatigue and the desire to nap. My weight is slowly coming back after dropping 20 lbs in two months. Med leaves you trapped in your own body for two months: dazed, blurred vision, and exhausted. It helped me, but at the cost of freedom, work, relationships."

• Fly...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 8, 2025

For Depression "It is a massive disservice when people come on this site and post things like 'worst drug ever, ruined my life, became suicidal' to the point that these types of comments should be blocked. Remeron has helped millions, including myself. Its side effects are weight gain and tiredness (why taking it at bedtime is recommended). Keep your other imagined side effects between you and your physician."

• Nat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 5, 2018

For Hot Flashes "I have taken mirtazapine since 2006, both to reduce my severe face flushing (rosacea) as well as to help with depression and anxiety. It works very well for all of those three for me. I noticed an improvement within weeks, and I love how it took away the deepest depths of my depression without numbing me or altering my personality. My anxiety is also significantly reduced, and I no longer flush and burn all the time (I'd say it helps reduce about 50% of them). I also sleep like a log on it, typically 8 to 9 hours straight, with very pleasant and lively dreams. It took a good few months, however, to get over the side effects of drowsiness, tiredness, itchy legs, and even some 'brain zaps' in the beginning. The only side effect I notice is increased appetite, never feeling full, always being hungry, and despite sticking to the same amount of calories as before, weight gain. I know that is the biggest fear of many people. But the quality of life this med gave me outweighs (lol) the downsides."

• XxS...
• August 29, 2019

For Anxiety "I started mirtazapine 24 days ago, and I must say they have been great for me. No bad side effects. I’m on 15 mg. I wouldn’t say I sleep great on these, but I get enough. I did feel tired the first week of being on these when I woke up, but that’s faded as the days have gone on. I have put weight on, but I wanted to as I lost 2 stone with anxiety and didn’t feel like me. Everyone is different, this is just my opinion. I do feel a lot better now, can do things I thought I’d never do."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2011

Mirtazapine for Anxiety "I was suffering extreme anxiety, weight loss, and insomnia due to a diagnosed medical condition. I tried several sleep aids and SSRIs. Nothing worked. Because of the weight loss, I was prescribed Remeron. It was a miracle for me! I slept through the night for the first time in months, relieved anxiety, and I started gaining weight. Over time, my anxiety went away, but I stayed on because I loved having an appetite (I had no appetite for years). I guess I stayed on too long. After 6 years, I decided I should get off. I was dependent. I suffered flu-like symptoms for weeks-nausea, exhaustion, gastrointestinal upset, feeling like a low-grade fever. I finally got rid of the nausea, but if I'm off for 2 weeks, the gastrointestinal upset creeps in. I now take 3.25 mg 1X a week."

• Deb...
• August 1, 2019

For Anxiety "I started mirtazapine when insomnia and fear came together, keeping me up at night. I have a history of approx 6 years plus of terrible OCD. This medicine helped me sleep the first 3 nights at 15 mg, but no more. My GP added zopiclone 7.5 mg half tab nightly, which works. Mirtazapine makes me want to binge eat straight after taking it, so bedtime is good to avoid eating. Has helped pretty well with anxiety and fear, but not OCD - the words remain. This pill is better than sertraline for me and worked quicker, within days for the worst anxiety. I am thinking of upping to 30 mg as I am a bit slow and OCD may improve? This medicine was fine from the first dose, just a bit of tiredness, no weird feeling. Sertraline and fluoxetine made me feel odd for weeks before they began to work, but not this pill, immediately fine, I just felt more like 'me'. Recommended."

• Wea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

For Anxiety "Prescribed 15 mg initially for anxiety/depression. Recommended by IBD consultant (irritable bowel disease) instead of SSRI as I had microcolitis with a possible link to an SSRI I had taken. Literally have felt much calmer overnight. I know this may also be psychosomatic, but the difference feels real. From uncontrollable crying every day to getting on with life. Just into the second month and, to date, no truly horrific side effects, definitely massive carb cravings in the first couple of weeks, weight gain, and tiredness after long sleds, welcome! But nothing a coffee and a shower in the morning couldn’t shake. Did not up the dose at my review meeting, although my doctor recommended initially increasing to 30 mg, as I feel loads better and don’t want to increase unnecessarily. Some scary reviews on here, but in my experience, the positives outweigh the bad. One thing that I have experienced is a nasty taste in my mouth all the time. Anyone else?"

• Cra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2017

Mirtazapine for Depression "I've been on Effexor for several years and suffered severe sexual effects, so I went to the doc and he started me on Remeron. For the last three years, I've been training cardio 5-6 times a week, had lost 10 kg, and felt quite proud of my body. Now, at just over three months on Remeron, I started feeling my clothes getting tighter, am feeling fat, bloated, and lethargic. I can't train with the intensity I am used to and just want to go to bed earlier and earlier. I weighed myself the other day and, to my horror, found I'd put on 11 kg. I don't feel I've been eating much more than I used to. Of course, the realization that I've lost everything I've worked for in recent years has made me feel pretty bad, and I'm not sure I want to continue."

• Phi...
• August 2, 2015

For Insomnia "I was given 15 mg caplets and told to cut them in half. 7.5 mg the 1st night. Slept well but a little groggy the next day. Didn't get much accomplished. 2nd night same dose and the next day was a total loss. Just sat in my chair all day. No energy or drive. Then I tried to further the dose by cutting 15 mg into 7.5 mg and then into 3.75 mg. That's next to impossible due to the shape of the half tab. One night you get a decent dose and the next you get the smaller quarter and it doesn't work. Too bad they don't come in 10 mg tabs. For me, a big guy with lots of body mass, 3.5 mg would be a good dose but it's impossible to get with any accuracy."

• Buz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2022

For Depression "I was put on 7.5 mg of mirtazapine for depression and anxiety after I had been on Zoloft and Lexapro. Zoloft stopped working for me, and Lexapro I had a negative reaction to. I was put on mirtazapine to help treat my anxiety and depression. Yeah, I regret that. I've been on it for almost 3 months, and I am incredibly tired to the point where on the weekends I can sleep up to 18+ hours. On the weekdays, when I get up, I find it incredibly hard to stay awake for longer than a few minutes, as I'm passed out sooner after I wake up. And when I'm up, I stay tired for another few hours, making whatever I do in the morning incredibly hard. I used to be able to run on 5-7 hours of sleep and not be so tired the next day, and I was able to do things. Now, I need at least 18 before I can even THINK about trying to do something during my day, which has overall severely impacted me."

• Rov...
• December 16, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Two great benefits are one, not being depressed or very little, and two, sleeping very well. The bad side effects are unfortunately also very extreme: eating voraciously at night, getting up in your sleep and hitting the fridge, and the other is the inability to be awake and be efficient at work in the early morning hours. The latter has been particularly detrimental to my career. Everybody is different, yes, but I've seen many people posting some or all of my symptoms on various webpages. My wife and son are very concerned now for almost 10 years, and nobody is suggesting better alternatives. While the benefits are still there, the overeating and tiredness have gotten worse every year. I feel trapped. It's either go insane or be fat and jobless."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2019

For Depression "I know everyone reacts differently to meds, and I'm glad this has helped so many, but for me, mirtazapine has been a nightmare! So spaced out, lethargic, diarrhea, headache, chest pain, vision disturbance, and more. Was taking 15 mg once a day. No more! I can't take SSRIs or SNRIs, so my doc tried this. Never again! This is horrible!!!!"

• jus...
• January 6, 2020

For Anxiety "I have been on mirtazapine for about one month for GAD, increasing the dose from 7.5 mg to 30 mg. The disorientation and tiredness are life-altering. Complex tasks are hard, ability to focus, tiredness, lethargy, and blurred vision are all side effects that last into the next day. I still feel anxiety, but less intense and no panic attacks. I have read that I should give it more time at the higher dose, but there is no way I could do that outside of managed care. I was given Ativan to bridge the gaps after a panic attack sent me to the ER at 7.5 mg mirtazapine, but don’t want to be hooked on a benzo that I can’t get later. I’ll share that 0.25 mg of Ativan did take the edge off if it got too bad. The mirtazapine might be helping the reflux pain as it is almost nonexistent, but the price for losing that pain is constant disorientation. I may be premature in my assessment, so I’ll come back in 30 days and share an update, but this is tough going."

• jus...
• January 6, 2020

For Anxiety "I have been on mirtazapine for about one month for GAD, increasing the dose from 7.5 mg to 30 mg. The disorientation and tiredness are life-altering. Complex tasks are hard, ability to focus, tiredness, lethargy, and blurred vision are all side effects that last into the next day. I still feel anxiety, but less intense and no panic attacks. I have read that I should give it more time at the higher dose, but there is no way I could do that outside of managed care. I was given Ativan to bridge the gaps after a panic attack sent me to the ER at 7.5 mg mirtazapine, but don’t want to be hooked on a benzo that I can’t get later. I’ll share that 0.25 mg of Ativan did take the edge off if it got too bad. The mirtazapine might be helping the reflux pain as it is almost nonexistent, but the price for losing that pain is constant disorientation. I may be premature in my assessment, so I’ll come back in 30 days and share an update, but this is tough going."

• Gil...
• February 22, 2016

For Insomnia "Prescribed 7.5 mg (half a 15 mg pill) at night for sleep. First night, I accidentally took a whole 15 mg dose when I was supposed to take half a pill. Experienced some shortness of breath at first and felt what I can best describe as being drunk for the next two days off that single dose. Stumbling and dizzy with a tiredness I have never felt in my life. It did what it promised and knocked me out, but for two days in a row. I realized I took the whole dose but was nervous to try it again. After 3 weeks of bad sleep, I tried it again at the prescribed 7.5 mg and was much better. It does take time to adjust. I am now on week 4 and for the most part, sleeping through the night. I did gain 7 lbs, though, induces a crazy appetite."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2015

For Anxiety "Might try this one again someday. Was on it 3 weeks. Sleep started off OK but got worse with time, along with feeling more anxious and exhausted each day. 3rd week, I'm lying in bed and start to panic. Try to get up and collapse on the floor. My brain felt like it was being lightly electrocuted. Broken sleep and nightmares the rest of the night. Next day around 3 pm, I started to feel better. Great even and slept great that night, but the night before freaked me out so much I swore to never take it again. Withdrawals were horrific. Worst thing I ever experienced. Still, that one day and night was amazing and think it might have been the one if I stuck it out another day or two. Weird reactions, I know. It works great for my dad."

• Lin...
• January 5, 2014

For Depression "I was given mirtazapine as an add-on to my treatment with Zoloft for major depression and anxiety. Made me extremely tired to the point where I almost couldn't form a sentence and didn't care about anything but sleeping (and eating). It did help a little with the anxiety, but not at all with the depression, it made it worse since I had no energy whatsoever."

• Abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2019

For Insomnia "I was prescribed these tablets for my insomnia and anxiety, they were 15 mg tablets. I decided I'll half them and take them at this lower dose. Took it around 9 pm, it started to kick in about 11 pm, and boy did this small pill make me so sleepy. I ended up sleeping on the couch, had vivid dreams, then woke up, went upstairs to bed, felt drowsy, and went back to sleep. Woke up the next morning and I felt horrible-groggy, hot flushes, sore throat, and weak legs and arms. Also felt tired for the rest of the day. Will not be taking these again, binned them."

• Jon...
• January 14, 2016

For Depression "Very strange antidepressant with severe side effects. I've been on many different SSRIs over the years, finally settling on sertraline, which has served me well. It did, however, cause me to sleep too much, so my GP suggested I try mirtazapine. I'm only a few days in, but I have to say this stuff is more like a powerful sleeping pill than an antidepressant. Far from solving my sleeping problem, this stuff has exacerbated it! It hits you really hard and sends you to sleep for 12 hours! The rest of the day I feel like a zombie: dizzy, exhausted, and with strange visual disturbances (everything looks several shades darker and somewhat fuzzy). I'll keep trying for a few weeks, but I can't imagine it will be worth sticking with them."

• Ins...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 13, 2022

For Insomnia "I am a 40-year-old male with lifelong insomnia. As I've gotten older, it's gotten almost unbearable - 4 hours a night, tops. Any depression/anxiety I have ever felt has truly only been about my insomnia. I have gone through meditation therapy, CBT, anti-anxiety meds, antidepressants, CBD, Ambien, benzos, everything to try and help. The only thing that ever directly helped me sleep was Xanax, and the addiction potential terrified me. SSRIs made it worse, both CBT and meditation were helpful tools, but I was still struggling. Mirtazapine has been a big help. Yes, the first week is bad - you will feel foggy and lethargic ALL DAY. But it wears off. It is not a miracle drug, but it is a HUGE HELP. I finally feel sleepy at night and can easily fall back asleep when I wake up. Now I have great nights and occasional OK nights. The terrible and zero sleep nights are over. This combined with CBT-I has been more potent than any other treatments. I hope this helps - there IS a way out of it!"

• Cho...
• June 15, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been on 150 mg Sertraline for quite some time now. Lately, I've really had a lot of difficulties in life that have led to my anxiety going through the roof. My Dr. recommended weaning Sertraline down to 100 mg a day, and she then prescribed me 15 mg Mirtazapine. I take Sertraline in the mornings (always have, and it suits me), told to take the other before bed. I've only taken 2 Mirtazapine so far, started Thursday, as I was worried how I'd feel and my husband was home Friday, so I figured if they made me feel terrible he'd be home with me. All I can say is I slept really well but continued to feel sluggish and tired during the day. Took the 2nd one last night before bed. Woke and had a cuppa around 7:30, then slept till 9:30. Got up, had cereal, and figured I was still sleepy, so went back to bed. I didn't wake until 1:30! Surely this cannot be normal. Is it? I'm scared to keep going with them if I'm going to end up sleeping the days away. Any advice? Anybody experienced the same/similar at the very start?"

• ExC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2022

For Anxiety "After the birth of my daughter, I suffered with extreme anxiety-anxiety about anything and everything. My anxiety increased to ridiculous amounts and I was hospitalized twice with severe panic attacks. I went to my GP, who strongly advised me not to go on medication. I had lost 5 stone in just under 18 months due to how awful I felt mentally. I looked bad, felt awful, and honestly thought I was going to die. I went against the doctor's advice and remembered that a close family member had been on mirtazapine for similar issues and it worked wonders for them, so I asked another GP if I could try it as a last-ditch attempt at fixing myself. They agreed, and 8 weeks later I am back to my usual self. It worked on my anxiety within 48 hours, felt very tired in the mornings to begin with, and my appetite really increased, so I have gained 1 stone in the 8 weeks so far, but I look well and feel human again. I've also found my pain levels have reduced with my chronic health condition too."

• jro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2019

For Insomnia "I recently got a script from my VA doctor for mirtazapine for mild to moderate insomnia. My starting dose I was started on was 15 mg about an hour before bed. It only took about 30 minutes before I felt the need to lay down because I was starting to get wobbly and drowsy. I slept like a baby all night! The only issue I have is being so tired the next day. I got about 7 solid hours of sleep, which is what I think my body needs to feel fully rested. I could barely stay awake, I was drowsy all day, and couldn't stay focused at work. I'm assuming you need to sleep for 9 or 10 hours on this medication. Maybe I'll give it a try on a Friday night when I have the opportunity to sleep in a bit."