Hey, this is my first time in this forum.

I went to the doctor because I couldn't concentrate at my courses ( I want to enter university in September). After various physical tests, he told me I might be depressed and prescribed Remeron.

My question is: are there any happy or positive experience with the med? because all I read are negative experiences and side effects.

There must be at least a couple of people where the drug was benificial for them and could go to school, get back to work...

So please, I want to read positive experiences.

Thanks.

Hi nop,

You can count me in as one who has found mirtazapine (Remeron) as a godsend. After 11 years of trial and error I was prescribed this medication for anxiety disorder. As far as your reading is concerned, if you move to the later pages (located on both the top and bottom left hand corners), you will find more than a few positive topics concerning mirt. And please remember, that it is the squeaky wheel that make the most noise. If you don't know what that means, it is more likely for someone with a negative experience to post about it than someone that is satisfied with it. The real statistic is that this drug enjoys about 60% positive outcomes in large studies. However, you are probably going to find 90% of the post will be negative (its that squeaky wheel thing again). And you will find the information faster that you are seeking if you do a bit of research on your own.

Other than is "dosen't work for me" the two most common startup side effects are drowsiness, which goes away once you increase your dosage to 45 mg. (the nor-epinepherine effect overcomes the antihistamine effect) and the "munchies" and subsequent weight gain. If you have ever smoke an illegal plant material, you will know what I am talking about. It is as bad if not worse than that experience. You might find an extreme craving for sweets, anything high in sweet carbohydrates. But, this can boil down to will power, when I first started it I gained about 20 lbs as quickly as a blink of the eye. Since I had been underweight due to lack of appetite before I found this med, it only left me about 10 lbs overweight. When I realized it, it was quick like I said, I just upped my exercises and cut back on my carbs and soon settled down to the correct weight for my frame. So, that is really up to you, but there have been many people here that although the med worked well for them, they quit is because they couldn't control themselves.

So, I hope that you have a good experience with mirt, it is a great med if it works for you. The stat is about 60-40 according to most studies on its effectiveness. I like I said, it was a godsend for me, an almost immediate positive experience after years of disappointment. Keep us posted on you progress, you will find a lot of caring and supportive members here.

Peace and Love.... wayne

Here is what i wrote a few days ago:



I did not gain to much waight and i only feel drowsy in the evening. Most of the time i feel far less drowsy, because i get more sleep.

Sometimes i have headaches.

Also have a look at: http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/Pos...ron-t19531.html

This post has been edited by Christopher: Apr 22 2008, 05:34 PM

Remeron has been a miracle drug for me. I was anxious I felt like I was going to crawl out of my own skin. I would wake in the night in a panic and also wake early in the morning feeling extremely anxious. I was afraid to go in to stores and could not concentrate long enough to hold even the smallest of conversations.

I started taking it 3 weeks ago and felt the effects immediately. I sleep through the night, my concentration is much better and all in all I am just in a better mood. I feel more like myself than I have in months. Down side is have gained 13 lbs which I needed because I was loosing wieght quickly before starting the Remeron but I want it to stop now thank you. Now I need to loose 5 lbs. I am 5'4 and was 107 and now 117. I look best at about 110.

The munchies is what got me... Crave sweets and carbs at night.. Need to control myself..

Thanks for the replies guys. The anti-depressants stuff is new to me so I'm a little bit anxious about it.

But I feel guilty, I say why I can't do the stuff I want "normally" without requiring the meds... I don't want to feel like a sick person who needs a med to function.

So, anti-depressants really give people that boost people need so that they start going back to school and working? And perhaps maybe in a relationship ;)

I'm not saying it's a miracle pill, I just want to know if it really helps you lift your mood so that you do the things you wanna do.

Thanks for the replies guys ;)

This post has been edited by nop1: Apr 23 2008, 06:32 PM

I've been on Remeron now for about three weeks and I have to say, so far so good. It helps me sleep and yes I do get the munchies but that's calming down. I have had far less side effects with this drug than I had with any of the ssri's. I feel less anxious and it's helping with the depression. I do find that I am still a little fuzzy in the mornings for awhile, but that should also lessen with time. I gotta say, I like it. Try to remember that all of these meds take time (4-6 weeks) to really start working.

Ok, I'm currently on my third day with this med and the side effect that totally pi**es me off is drowsiness and I'm D*** sleepy all the time. I just hope I feel the effects in a week or so.

The doc prescribed me 15mg for 2 weeks and 30mg for the remainder.

I've been on many different meds for depression and anxiety during the last 10 years and mirt has worked far better than anything else i've tried. My family says it's like having their daughter/wife/sister back again. I have put a lot of weight on (despite eating well and exercising) which is very frustrating but i've only got to remember that 12 months ago i was pretty much housebound and life really was just passing me by. I work as an editor and had been struggling to keep my concentration at work (i used to spend hours pretty much staring at my computer..and that was when i actually made it to work) but mirt has helped 'lift the fog' and i am sleeping much better and much happier. It has, literally, been a life saver for me.

Antidepressants are actually miracle pills!!!!

Belize me when I say that once over the beginner side effects some people have the rest is a joy ride.

Over the years I have had extremely good results from Zoloft, Cillift and Wellbutrin eventually. The all have their own strengths and it will get you to feel good and focus again.

Thank god for scheduled medication where would we all be without it

Thanks for replying.

What's your personal story? How did you felt when you were depressed? and how did the meds help you lift your mood? Were you able to endure the side-effects?

I found Remeron very good to start with but with time it got less effective, it did help me sleep well
i didnt gain much weight with remeron about 4lbs in 4mths! I have gained far more weight with Effexor
about 10lbs in 6mths! I think out of all the ADs I have tried Remeron was prob the best!

Remeron really works for me. I'm much more stable, and I've had no noticeable side effects either. I've been on it for nearly 3 years. :)

Hey Nop1,

This drug worked very well for with the depression side of things and was great but its didnt work with well for for anxiety and especially my OCD.

I would still be on this if it worked for the OCD at least or helped in some way.

I never had any weight gain which seems to be one major factor that I read often and this drug gave me alot of energy to do things, a bit of spring back in my life.

Isabeau

Nop,

If you dont mind me adding...

Bear in mind that if people have problems/side effects with a drug they're usually back on this board trying to get opinions / work things out.

Those for whom the drug works generally tend either to not post about it because its not that interesting (drug x works - umm ok thats it), or they dont visit this board ever again because they've got they're life back and are too busy being normal !!!!

Just bear this in mind. All the best anyway !!!! :-)