Misc Mirtazepine? Some advice

[Bitter and Tainted]

Morning all.

Right about 6 weeks ago my doc RX'd me 14 3.75 zopiclone tabs, now they didn't really help me at all, I asked if i could double dose since the normal starting dose is double that. She said no and told me to just carry on with them and they will eventually work.
Well they didn't.

Anyway I mentioned my problem to a mate who lives on my street and he's offered me benzos before, so when he said he'll give me a strip of something to help, I presumed he'd give me Diazepam, what he actually gave me were 30mg mirtazepine tabs.
I've never heard of them, apparently they're an anti-d but I don't even recognise the group they belong to.
I never take anything I haven't researched first and looking around a bit on google scares me shitless, I don't want to have lifelike nightmares if I take them, or even if I miss them one night.
Also it says they totally put you down and make you feel like you've just woke up from a coma the whole next day.
I have to be up at 6.30am and have 3 children including a 10 month old to look after so you understand why I can't be walking round like a zombie all day.

I am interested to try them and was told to "ignore all that rubbish" by mate, but i'm just not sure.
Anyone here have any experience with them?

Pros...cons etc?

Thanks! :D

 

[kokomo]

She said no and told me to just carry on with them and they will eventually work.

i cant believe a MD said this, its totally bs.


mirtazepine is a SNRI (serotonin and norephinephrine) re-uptake inhibitor, tetracyclic antidepressant tho its off-label use as a sleep aid is common in sum countries. if ur only concern is sleep imo its much better than zopiclone. its very potent somnolent (sleep inducing agent). maybe u should try OTC sleep aids tho if i were u, id go see another doc for a second opinion cuz ur doc seems dunno wut she/he is doin.

 

[Bitter and Tainted]

Yeah, she said these things take time to build up in your system....I didn't really believe it either, since she said that they NEVER prescribe it for longer than 2 weeks. *shrugs*

Anyone have any experience with nightmares/lucid dreams or any other ill effects with the mirtazepine?

 

[debaser]

There's a thread on mirtazapine in The Dark Side sub-forum. Search for it, it's not old (maybe 2nd or third page).

Here:

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=519382

 

[Bitter and Tainted]

thanks Lou Lou! :D

 

[edarrin]

Actually mirtazapine is classified as a Specific Seritonin Norepinephrine Reuptake inhibitor. It is unique in NA I think. It actually blocks 5- Ht2 and 5-Ht3 and eventually blocks 5-Ht1 autoreceptors. Which is the end result of SSRI's without the sexual and activation/excitation/insomnia issues by the SSRI's because they are 5-Ht2R and 5-ht3R mediated.

It is also an alpha 2 agonist which is the mechanism by which it increases norepinephrine. This is dose dependant. Higher doses are actually less sedating because it increases norepinephrine release. I can't post a link to were I got that as it is from work. A textbook on psychopharmacology.

It is also a potent antihistimine which makes it very sedating in the beginning. Tolerance to that develops after time. I've been on and off it (mostly on) for almost 10 years now I think. I have stopped it cold turkey and had no withdrawal effects what so ever on several occassions. It think it is the 'new' antidepressant with the best side effect profile and efficacy available. Sometimes it still knocks me out if I'm tired. 30mg dose is best for me but I sometimes lower it to 15mg to increase sedative effects.