Mirtazapine - Twitchy Muscles?

[cate1980]

Hello all,

I'm on Mirtazapine 30mg taken at night, which is a tetracyclic antidepressant with sedative properties (I think). I have been on it about 5 weeks now and it has been pretty good - I can now go to sleep at night (hooray!) although don't always stay asleep. It also seems to have slightly calmed me down. It hasn't stopped flashbacks, but fewer major panics and the waking and shouting out in my sleep has reduced to about twice a week. It has also brought back a non-existent appetites. So far, so good.

BUT...For a couple of hours after I take it (evening time) I get really achey and twitchy muscles, especially my legs, which I can't seem to manage to keep still without constantly having to stretch or move about. It's a small price to pay for the relief it has given me from some severe symptoms, but nevertheless it is unpleasant and I kind of worry about it - wondering what exactly is happening to my body?

My doctor says it might reduce over time. Has nayone else tried this medication and have any wisdom to share? I'm going to stick with it, because it's by far the best med I have had (SSRIs were a disaster), but I really would like to stop having the twicthy aches!

 

[goingonhope]

Just over a month ago cate, I first started taking this medicine. Had started the full 30 mg. after two wks. instead of the one wk. first suggested and was met with flu-like symptoms and the very same twitchy restless legs. In fact, I felt the energy / restlessness / ache'ness and twitch throughout my body especially from my rib cage down and still to a smaller degree twitching in my arms as well.

I told my doctor that I went right back down to 15mg after 3 nights of this and why, because I could no longer sleep at 30mg., and he told me then ok, that's good you can stay at 15mg.

 

[suzie q]

I also experience your symptoms of achy, twitchy, restless legs that want to be stretched with no relief.

My doctor said it is called restless leg syndrome and gave me a Rx called Requip. It's primarily used with Parkinsons Disease patients but has other uses as well. I take 2mg at night three hours before I go to bed. It takes three hours to start to work, so make sure you take ahead. It works very well for me but I guess you better make sure there will be no drug interactions before you start taking.