Mirtazapine comments!

[MrMoss]

Mirtazapine sounds very promising. I especially like the fact it's devoid of notorious side effects common with SSRI's etc and the positive side effects in the second quote below

I'd like some input from those that have actually used this medication. Please is you have not used this medication don't add to the thread. Many Thanks

Because of its unique pharmacologic profile, mirtazapine is virtually devoid of anticholinergic effects, serotonin-related side effects,[1] and adrenergic side effects (orthostatic hypotension and sexual dysfunction).

Interestingly, its side-effect profile can be used for benefit in certain clinical situations. The drowsiness, increased appetite, and weight gain that it causes are useful in patients with depressive disorders with prominent sleep and appetite disturbances.

 

[Limpet_Chicken]

This stuff gave me horrible akatisia when I took it in jail.

Watch out, its not as nice as its made out to be for all people.

YMMV.

 

[dbailey11]

What is akatisia? It's not a word dude.

Remeron causes weight gain but works well as an antidepressant.

 

[a5l6o5n2]

I'm considering getting on Mirtazapine for insomania/social anxiety since my doctor is a benzo nazi.
I have two questions about it though:
1) Does it cause weight gain because it increases ones appetite or does it actually effect ones metabolism?
2) Is it metabolized via enzyme CYP2D6? that could cause a problem since mine is often busy metabolising codeine/tramadol/DXM and I'm not sure I'm willing to give these up yet for a better life.

 

[Kenaz]

What is akatisia? It's not a word dude.

I suspect the OP meant "akathisia." According to Wikipedia:

*****

Akathisia, or acathisia, is an unpleasant subjective sensation of "inner" restlessness that manifests itself with an inability to sit still or remain motionless, hence its origin Ancient Greek α (a), without, not + κάθισις (káthisis), sitting]. Its most common cause is as a side effect of medications, mainly neuroleptic antipsychotics especially the phenothiazines (such as perphenazine and chlorpromazine), thioxanthenes (such as flupenthixol and zuclopenthixol) and butyrophenones (such as haloperidol (Haldol)), piperazines (such as ziprasidone), and rarely, antidepressants. Akathisia can also, to a lesser extent, be caused by Parkinson disease-related syndromes.

******

This letter discusses two cases of acute mirtazapine-induced akathisia.

 

[Limpet_Chicken]

Ya, typo, I was stoned to the point of numbness when I wrote that, and I type too fast.

 

[e12dsm]

remrom in okay...i took it for awhile, with some slightly noticable effects, i did help my appetite and sleep patterns a bit, but as far as depression it didnt do shit

 

[zephyr]

I was on mirtazapine for a long time and it was great for me- cipramil made me fees nauseated and this didnt. Also knocked me out like a light at night. The knock out effect was immediate as well, as opposed to th rest of the pills effect.

Am on lexparo now and that seems ok but miss the sleepiness effect of mirtazapine

 

[MrMoss]

Virtually devoid of sexual dysfunction, drowsiness and weight gain are all +'s ... it would be ideal if it also anti-depressive action (obviously).

Any other input? Subjective experiences especially when compared to SSRI's

Thanks

 

[adder]

2) Is it metabolized via enzyme CYP2D6? that could cause a problem since mine is often busy metabolising codeine/tramadol/DXM and I'm not sure I'm willing to give these up yet for a better life.

You better give up curing your social anxiety at all now if you plan to continue these drugs.

 

[robatussin]

I was rxed this and gained like 30 lbs in a week i weigh (and always have for as long as i can remember) 155. The munchies were crazy and i liked the drowsiness for a little, not for long. side effects were pretty severe with me

 

[ebola?]

It has improved my sleep a great deal.
I gained 10 lb in the first several months without increased intake of food (or appetite)...but then I lost them again.
It does not appear to interfere with MDMA.
I have been taking it for anxiety, with which it has not helped.

ebola

 

[MrMoss]

I was rxed this and gained like 30 lbs in a week i weigh (and always have for as long as i can remember) 155. The munchies were crazy and i liked the drowsiness for a little, not for long. side effects were pretty severe with me

30 lbs is ~ 15kg and 155 lbs is ~ 75kg (quick calculation) ... in a week

I weigh about 9.5-10 stone or ~ 65kg so could do with some weight gain but not 15kg in a week.

When you say side effects were severe are you only talking about weight gain or are there other side effects to watch out for? Does the drowsiness last into the next day? I would want to dose at night at the lower end of the scale limiting norepinephrine release.

At lower dosages, such as 7.5 mg, mirtazapine is primarily antihistaminergic, causing sedation, which can be beneficial in depressed patients who have difficulty falling asleep. At doses higher than 15 mg, its effect is primarily in inducing the release of norepinephrine, and is thus less sedating.

Thanks for the input folks

 

[jscript]

i took remeron at a dose of 30mg for like 4 months.

the first night i took it i swallowed it down with a couple of glasses of wine and was fucking loving it. within an hour i was rolling around on my bed laughing at nothing high as a kite. i only took 15mg to start with, and at lower dosages i have heard it has far more potent sedative effects as it targets the histamine receptors more than anything. sorry i cant provide any references for this. i had the best nights sleep in a long time and woke up feeling pretty good for a change. i figured that maybe this was going to be a great medication. it was not to be.

i found the medication VERY sedating, i was a zombie when i was taking this shit. i felt very out of it and ate SO MUCH. i have no idea how much weight i put on, but it was a lot. i was just always eating. it was like i was fucking stoned, but not as enjoyable. i also got hellish dreams taking this shit. seriously wacked out dreams. it did not cure my anxiety at all, infact it made it worse. i felt almost no antidepressant action from avanza, it was basically the stoning, which i enjoyed some of the time, that kept me on it for so long.

on the whole i would have to say i did not enjoy taking avanza and i found it WORTHLESS as an antidepressant or anxiolotic. it was however great for sleep, i would sleep fucking 12 hours or more without a problem. i was always tired when i was taking it. its a great antihistamine/sleep aid but i found it essentially worthless compared to SSRIs as an antidepressant. i agree that it does not cause sexual dysfunction as much as other antidepressants, but i believe this is because it is not working serotonin receptors anything like the SSRI class of antidepressants, and is also why it does not really give any antidepressant effects.

if weight gain, a really long heavy sleep, and anti histamine stoning (think of deliriants like doxylamine and diphenhydramine) sound like your cup of tea then avanza may be just the medication for you!

 

[maximumstrength]

I have been on remeron for over 6 months now and it does wonders for my anxiety/depression. the only real side efeect I have gotten is weights gain but I wanted that so im even happier. I started on 15mg a day at night but now take 30mg's. I also want to add that I tried every ssri and effexor before starting remeron and this is the only thing that has worked.

 

[MrMoss]

If weight gain, a really long heavy sleep, and anti histamine stoning (think of deliriants like doxylamine and diphenhydramine) sound like your cup of tea then avanza may be just the medication for you!

This sounds really really promising now
Weight Gain = Yes
Heavy Sleep = Yes
Stoning = No but Nytol/Benadryl (diphenhydramine) does sweet fuck all for me even at very high doses. I mean literally has zero effect promoting sleep or as an anti-histamine.

As for anti-depressant and anxiolytic effects they would certainly be a bonus but depression/anxiety are for the most part controllable as they are not a constant and just hit me now and again. My illicit benzo use has increased dramatically *mostly* for Hypnotic effect which has essentially killed my precious scripted Zimovane's (Zopiclone) usefulness due to cross tolerance.

I have tried an array of SSRI's and also Effexor (SNRI) all of which had monstrous side effects except Prozac (Fluoxetine hydrochloride) which did sweet fuck all good or bad

So, seems like I'm sold on this medication time to chat to my Doctor.

Two final questions ...
1. How severe is the sexual disfunction? Note: SSRI's were worse than MDMA in that respect (again except Prozac).

I agree that it does not cause sexual dysfunction as much as other antidepressants

2. Does it promote sleep or simply lead to longevity? I have problems getting off to sleep but not remaining asleep as a rule.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Newmoonrecord]

weight gain

 

[MrMoss]

^ Aye we kinda established that A definate plus in my book

 

[Limpet_Chicken]

Even on a small dose, mirtazepine can still cause akathisia in some people, perchance I am idiosyncratically sensitive to its effects, but a half of a 7.5mg dose put me in a very unpleasant state for most of a night.

 

[MrMoss]

Cheers LC .. I have taken that onboard but based on anecdotal evidence it is idiosyncratic .. it's a very rare side effect from what I can gather.

If I risked it with SSRI's and the resulting turmoil ... I'm happy to risk this almost benign substance