....I am still anxiety ridden and get tense during the day. I have to admit that I thought this drug would help my anxiety, but in the end it has not helped as much as I would have liked.

I started my feedback on Mirtazapine in the thread below...
http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/Mir...ine-t29689.html

This medication has helped me in two areas, sleeping at night (I get extremely sleepy 30 minutes after I take it,), and with my appetite, (I am now a size 34 in the waist because of the eating binges I have after taking this pill as well. So basically, I get really sleepy and really hungry at the same time. I have never been close to a size 34 in the waist in the past which speaks to the effectiveness of this medication. Before I started it, I had no appetite, but now I can at least eat and sleep, even though I have a gut now and had to re-stock my pants wardrobe.

However, I still get tense during days, even on weekends when I should be relaxed. And the only thing that settles me down right now is Klonopin. I take it 5 times a week average. But I am concerned that I have become too dependent on Klonopin as my psychiatrist has told me that Klonopin is a terrible long term solution. I use klonopin before social gatherings because I know I will feel normal and more relaxed. Yet, it kinda sucks that i need a pill just to function in public.

I also wanted to mention that I will have nose surgery for a deviated septum in 3 weeks. Now, I would like to believe that being able to breathe very well through my nose again for the first time in years will help my anxiety. But at the end of the day, after taking .5 mg klonopin an hour before writing this post, I feel pretty good with my deviated septum. Yet 3 hours ago, I was tense, for no good reason.

Anyway, 4 months into Mirtazapine, I hope someone else who is considering this medication will get some benefit from my feedback. If you are anxious or depressed and you have NO appetite to eat ever, this medication will fix that problem. Also, if your anxiety or depression prevents you from going to sleep at night, this medication will also solve that problem.......but as far as fixing my anxiety, I started this in late February and well....I was hoping by now that I would not be anxious anymore......not only do I continue to be anxious, I now need Klonopin to do my job well and feel normal through the day.

I am fixing to try out a new psychologist, and fixing to start doing swimming exercises on a more frequent basis. I did some for the first time last weekend and loved it.

This post has been edited by jbii: Jun 22 2009, 03:15 PM

Hi jbii,
I am at 8 weeks with mirtz, taking 30 mg. I certainly agree with the sleeping and eating, but I have to say that at least at this time I am beginning to have whole days(like today) with no anxiety and a good mood , so I'm hopeful. I'm glad that you are meeting a new psychologist. Perhaps in discussing this with him/her you may find an answer. Also, keep swimming! Part of what helps me is my 6 days a week excecise regimen. It's good for you, although I understand how hard it is to push through the "FEELINGS" sometime. Keep posting and let us know how you make out. Wishing you peace and wellness........POPI

I have been on remeron for 6 weeks now and still waiting for some relief. Morning anxiety and depression are the worst. I am now on 30 mg each night and along with ambien cr I am getting about 6 hours of sleep. Then I am awake to the anxiety again. I see my doctor in another two weeks and I keep hoping that she can suggest something that will help. Should I be taking something in addition to the remeron? Thanks for your help. It is so helpful to know that other people know what I am going through.

Wow, your experience with Mirtazapine sounds about the same as mine.

I'm on it to reduce depression and OCD. Seems to work for the OCD.

But I am chowing down on every piece of food I can find, and I no longer do any exercise, because this drug seems to have induced tremendous apathy. Without Mirtazapine, I'm up at 4:30 and jogging, swimming or cycling by 5:00 am. Without the darn drugs, I can keep my weight at about 155 lbs. Now I'm up to 175 lbs and climbing with no end in site. Also, I'll lay in bed until 10:00 am. Honestly, I think this drug makes my problems worse, and during the day at work I have MASSIVE bouts of tension and racing heart rate.

Is there something else other than Mirtazapine that would work ? To be honest, I think two beers a night would be better for me than this drug. At least after two beers I feel like getting up on the morning and getting on the bicycle for a good long bike ride.

Mirtazapine to me seems like medical marijuana. Sleep, eat, sleep, eat. Eyes glazed over and minimal interest in anything.

What about Lexapro ? Pristiq ? My problem is that everytime I ask my Dr. about different medications, he just gives me the same old prescription for Mirtazadope.

I'm bi-polar and I have been on 30mg of Mirtazapine for two years for my insomnia which is chronic... and oh boy you are right I might as well smoke pot but I'm in recovery so I can't! I have gained 30 pounds while eating a strict diet, no sugar, no bread - just fruit, veggies and fish! It is a struggle to exercise...but I manage 3 - 6 days a week to get in a serious workout. I have been trying to get off of the Mirtazapine, but I can't sleep without it. I am so frustrated though! My shrink keeps telling me that Mirtazapine should only make gain about 4-5 pounds and then level off... I guess he's saying that it's my fault, the 30 pounds! He says "well some women get matronly in middle age"! I ask you! Old geezer! I'm 46, look 36 and am a total hottie even with 30 extra pounds, but the extra weight is making me even more depressed! Anyway, I am going to get a second opinion... I'm tired of being told that I don't know what is going on with my body.

I tried Abilify but it gave me racing brain and anxiety but it has worked for other people... It doesn't sound like it would be good for OCD, but I'm not a Dr.
I was on 3mg Klonopin a day for six years until my shrink moved away and now no one will prescribe it for me. The thing is it really worked for me. I know the dosage sounds like it would knock out an elephant but I was energized and productive and feeling "normal" on it...

I feel trapped and like no one is listening to me and that I'm supposed to tough it out... And I've been doing all the "natural" stuff too... Mindfulness meditation, DBT, Yoga etc etc.... I really wonder why I bother with all this?

Don't you just hate how nature made the most effective plants/meds for us to cause dependence, withdrawal, and addiction. Its like mother nature hates us or something. Why did nature have to create such a horrid re-bound effect??!!! Why?!!!!!!!

This post has been edited by PetersKeys: Jul 23 2009, 11:39 AM