Misc Mirtazapine making me a zombie

[ThomasD]

Been on Mirtazapine for around 5 months now. At first it was helping a lot, the only side effect I got was fucked up dreams and sedation while on it (the usual side effects) but no increased appetite at all. Only on 15mg.

I felt like it was helping, as I became more generally insightful and positive about life. However i'd also had a very positive Ketamine trip a few days before this, so maybe it was the Ketamine producing anti-depressant effects. Either way, neither work anymore. Mirtazapine has left me void of panic attacks and psychosis, and I haven't experienced a break down since I started taking it. But I don't care about anything now. I do not feel love towards my partner, I do not feel empathy, I do not feel happy at all nor sad. I just sit here and do nothing. It has helped my anxiety a bit and it has helped my breakdowns, but it's done nothing but worsen the depression. I don't know what to do, should I up the dose or get off it? Because it's clearly doing something if I feel void of positive emotions now. I can't enjoy anything - i've always had this problem, but Mirtazapine has worsened it considerably. Should I get off Mirtazapine? SSRIs also made me void of emotion.

Without Anti-depressants, I have breakdowns, my emotions are unpredictable and extremely intense. With them I have no emotion at all. I don't know what to do, Anhedonia is killing me... and I've been coping worse without weed because i'm so bored all the time. I can't enjoy anything, hobbies, masturbation, sex, love, games, music, socializing.... what the fuck am I supposed to do with my life

 

[Steady Scootin]

Are you seeing a doc, or what? I'm not familiar with what you've been taking, will research a bit in a few.

Regardless, I've been on meds in the past that were working great for periods of time, before they quit working through no fault of my own. It's something that happens sometimes, unfortunately, and trust me, know hiw disappointing it can be. If seeing a doc, definitely bring it up. If not and assuming you're within a safe dosage range, I'd certainly try a bjt higher dose before abandoning it.

 

[Jekyl Anhydride]

It might not hurt to get a second opinion and possibly work on rotating meds before one gets all used up and leaves you back at square one.

 

[Tubbs]

I'd go talk to a doctor, most doc's would agree those are unacceptable side effects. I've experienced what you're talking about OP it is horrible.

 

[ThomasD]

Thankyou for the replies. I'm seeing my GP soon about it, had already planned to do so. I've tried coming off weed, but the absolutely horror and torment I have to face without it is out of this world. I have aspergers, severe depression and anxiety, anhedonia, dissociation, depersonalization, derealization, BPD and the likes. I suffered with this before weed. Weed has always been a treatment for me as well as a high. Pretty much all of the above disorders are put in the background when im high, except aspergers of course. In the most recent attempt at a T-break I was close to suicide. So I think the addiction comes second to what I have to face without it, despite how much its draining my money.

The mirtazapine, yeah I want to get off it immediately. I'm scared about withdrawals, I already can't handle anything as it is. But other than that its just giving me bad dreams, sleep paralysis, impairment and extreme dissociation in the mornings, complete apathy most of the time etc.

 

[Backfromthebrink]

All I read was can't enjoy masturbation.....sounds like hell..

Only kidding dude, just trying to lighten things up a bit .

Seriously though, that doesn't sound good at all... I've been prrscribed mirtazapine once but hated it and didn't take it...SSRIs and SNRIs do nothing positive for me so I just don't take them at all

I would go and see your doctor and explain how you're feeling.... unfortunately/ there's limited advice we can give you here other than that I'm afraid......good luck bro

 

[Jabberwocky]

Do you have a specialist you could do the psych med stuff with OP? GPs generally don’t have much training with that kind of stuff.

 

[MrRoot]

Mirtazapine is the most awful drug I have tried for Bipolar issues but the side effects make it somewhat effective sleeping aid atleast. It truly makes you a zombie even for the morning after and I use it really rarely as I don’t like how it makes me feel.

There are other drugs in the same class which may be more suitable for you but I would recommend trying to get to see a psychiatrist for evaluating them.

Abilify is what I’ve been on for years and I have never had any side effects from it but it might vary from person to person.

 

[Lorne???]

Mirtazepine is, at low-moderate doses a very potent H1 antagonist/inverse agonist

Would recommend changing medications; I at least adjusting the dose- It us very similar to seroquel, an atypical that is also a powerful a sedative/hypnotic and mild Ad among other things

 

[Scrofula]

Well, hold on, because didn't you say it was working very well up until you ate some ketamine on top of it?

You posted five days after the ketamine trip and decided mirtazapine no longer worked for you. I don't know how long any afterglow lasts with ketamine, but I'd wait at least a few more days before deciding your antidepressant no longer works and you're doomed to despair and ejaculatory anhedonia (which as a sertraline user for many years I resent--it does get slightly more . . . better-than-not-orgasming).

I wish people would use more caution combining powerful psych meds when they rely on one to function. Hopefully you let the mirtazapine wash out before your ket experience, and just need time to ramp back up to where you were. But if it's not working (a couple weeks from now), then tell your doctor, and be honest about the ketamine.

 

[zephyr]

Meds like mirtazapine and others for mental health are supposed to be monitored regularly especially when first using as they suit some and not others.

Def se your doc and explain how you're feeling and usually there are 2 or 3 other options to try instead.

If theres no improvement you'll get referred to a psychiatrist.

Usually people get referred to psychologists too as popping pills isnt the cure for anything.

Ketamine is great and all but dont have mirtaz for a few days before and after. Its pretty shit and can see why you feel weird.

I used to just benzo out after a k binge and wait a few days for. Mirtazapine but switched to effexor later.

 

[Trabbamab]

Very strange reaction and I am sorry you are going through that. I was prescribed 30mg of mirtazapine a day some years back and it was actually very mild for me. I don't know really how much of an anti-depressant effect I got off of it but it really helped me sleep. This was very welcome for me because I cannot tolerate SSRIs, like....at all.

However, all psychoactive medications can affect people in vastly different ways. It sounds like mirtazapine just doesn't agree with you. Luckily, to my knowledge mirtazapine is kind of an oddball of an anti-depressant and I don't think it has many cousins in the pharmaceutical world beyond a few very rare tetracyclic antidepressants. So there is a world of other medicines to try out to find something that works better for you. Just let your doctor know and they can find something else for you to try. Hopefully all of the side-effects will clear up quickly once you stop taking it.