Anyone Got Any Experience With Mirtazapine For Ptsd?

[Louis Debenham]

I just came across this forum as I have recently started taking mirtazapine, I'm currently on 15mg dose each night. Its helping me sleep which is great, in fact its making me sleep a ridiculous amount, however my depression has become worse than I have ever felt it. I've been taking these about a week and a half now, I just wondered if anyone else had had this? And if its worth me carrying on taking them in hope that they will start working or if I should switch to something else?

 

[Maggiemay]

It's the only anti depressant I ever found that helped, and I've tried LOTS! But made me put on a ridiculous amount of weight! Now on quetiapine = anti psychotic and helps a lot more with flashbacks and my mood swings. Xxx

 

[rainy_daze]

@Louis: All anti-depressants take a while to start working Louis. Doctors usually say it'll take about 2 weeks to start working. I always found on anti-depressants that the first 2 weeks would feel like hell, but then the bad feelings would start to settle down. If you start feeling really bad on them, make sure you are with family or a friend, and remember you can always call your doctor for advice. And come here for a chat too.

When I started taking mirtazapine I had that happen to me (and other medication) for the first few weeks, so it's normal - also don't stop taking your medication unless a doctor has instructed you to do so (according to leaflets that come in the anti depressant box, this can be dangerous). I hope they start working for you soon (it sounds like they are helping you sleep which is great), and that you have a doctor's appointment scheduled so he/she can monitor how you are doing on them. It is a trial thing sometimes (i.e. if you read what Maggiemay says she has changed tablets - I changed a few times too over the years - the professionals know what they're doing and you'll know what feels right when they've had a chance to work).

@Maggiemay: I wasn't a fan of the weight gain, but in the end if it was a choice between being curvy and more content VS skinny and indescribably awful - I would have chosen curvy every time. It's good that the medication you're on now is working for you.

 

[Spiderallis]

Started on two weeks at 15mg then 30mg at bedtime. Tried backing down to 15mg for the last week or so, the doc asked if I wanted to try- thus far it's the most effective antidepressant for me, but I think I need the higher dose. I don't wake up frantic and screaming, I love that.

The dreams get a bit weird, but not terrifying. I gained four pounds in six weeks, but Christmas fell into that few weeks (I would've put on a couple pounds anyhow). Cutting back to the lower dosage, my anxiety is creeping back in, not sleeping well or enough, and it might be unrelated but I'm back to being achy and sore.

I'll learn to live with sleeping for 12 hours at a time, it's worth it to feel that much better.

 

[rainy_daze]

I found that I still had to take a sleeping tablet along with the mirtazapine, but sounds like once you do sleep, you're getting more than enough.

Remember changing the dosage, it can take a while to settle down, so maybe in another week or so you'll find it is back to working properly for you. If not then just tell the doctor you felt better on the higher doseage. I was on 30mg and then 45mg eventually. Every brain and body reacts differently to them I suppose.

 

[Only 1 of me]

I'm on a combination, mirtazapine, sertraline and pregabalin, topped up with diphenhydramine if I can't sleep. Mirtazapine is definitely the main thing that lifts my mood, but I agree with others about the weight gain. I've been on it now for about 6 months and I think the carbohydrate cravings have faded a bit now. I take them all together at bedtime and generally sleep ok, and I'm not sleepy during the day unless I overdo things (or have EMDR which just wipes me out). It took a while to find the right 2nd anti depressant, although my mood is better I don't like sertraline and had a bad reaction going onto it so not changing it in a hurry!