When I was on this drug I had a really bad sugar craving and well I dont really eat a lot of suggery things its normally salty. So it was bad, I just wanted cake and sweets all the time, in fact I would leave the house just to go and by cakes. I suppose it wasnt all that bad because I actually left the house, so there was a little postitive on there.

I also felt really bloated and like sick especially at night.

I am no longer on this drug and have returned to normal weight now.

Mosaic

The only one i have is sedation, i sleep from 11pm to 1pm most days. even more so since i started on 30mg.

I am on about day 16, Took my meds at about 4:30pm as I was unsure if I took it the night before, But when I tried to sleep that night it was very weird, I would have a dream then wake up when the dream ended, this happened about 3 times before I drifted off to sleep properly.
So far the biggest feeling would be cravings, If I really try to think about what I am craving, I guess chocolate would be close, but I can't think of the exact food I am craving which can make it frustrating.
The other side effect is a feeling of disassociation with the world, As if I am seeing all this while I am in a virtual reality chair, its just like a foggy haze - I am not sure if I am just supposed to accept this, or if this is what the med is supposed to feel like when its working, It just feels like my mind is half asleep when the rest of me is fine.
I am thinking about going back to citalopram/ecitaloram which I only had minor jaw clenching and a small amount of excitement as an effect, the reason I am on Mirtazapine is because it helps with sleep and anxiety better.

Meds act differently with different people. I started taking 15mg of Remeron/mirtazapine about 5 years ago for anxiety and sleep, I just uped it to 45mg. It does help me sleep alot better. I do get cravings, especially for chocolate, but I've always loved chocolate, I keep a bag of Hershey's Kisses here at my computer, a true life saver. I've had no side affects, some people comment on weight gain, but I try to excerise alot. I don't remember if I felt necessarily sedated, but I was exhausted from not sleeping well for several months and it felt good to sleep again. Good luck with whatever works out for you.

I had a strange reaction to Mirtazapine but I'm unusually sensitive to lots of meds and have had weird reactions with others too. I started on 15mgs and was slightly sedated but that wore off after about 3 days. i was finding I was groggy in the mornings but it passed with 2 coffees. I was sleeping brilliantly, 8 or 9 hour s a night which was lovely. My appetite increased a little. After two weeks I was feeling much less anxiety and thought they were brilliant. Saw my psychiatrist and she increased them to 30mgs and I carried on as before. 6 days in on the new dose I started to develop agitation. It was really extreme. Inability to sit still, panic attacks, constant movement in my legs and arms. I felt like I was going totally mad. Was needing to take 20mgs of Diazepam at a time just to sit still! Saw my psychiatrist and she said I'd reacted to the effect it had on Noradrenaline at the higher dose. Apparently a pretty rare thing but it was hellish and took a good week after stopping the pills to settle down.

Like I say though, this is apparently rare and I do tend to have some freaky reactions to my medications. Effexor did this to me too. Don't be put of by my tale as I'm a rarity apparently. One thing I would say was that for me the intial side effects of appetite gain and sedation passed very quickly and were bearable, so worth bearing with.

Haven't noticed any troubling side effects.The tiredness wore off after a week which was unfortunate because my Insomnia
started creeping back again.Now,I don't think there is a pill that is going to cure it

Im on about day 16 now and have noticed the feeling of anger, its not just over nothing tho, for instance, in situations where i'd normally be quiet when someones doing something I feel is wrong I start to get angry now.
Like my friend I have known for most of my life goes through my room when I go out and he thinks its funny when I confront him about it - its weird how he knows where everything is and it really ***** me off Privacy should be available to everyone, why should someone feel like they have the right to go through someone elses property for no reason.
Also at work when I need some desk space and there are other employees there showing people how to fix something, but its like a small battery charger and I need room for a sale or some and they will not move over but just take up the whole desk - next time im going to say, sorry I can't serve you, you will have to wait for one of these guys to finish first, at least the customer will see I actually have nowhere to go and they might give the guys at work a go - before going on these meds I would get anxiety as the customer would be waiting and staring and I'd try find a space but nothing was available until finally someone moved - by now the customer is restless and it just stresses me out.
hope these don't sound petty, its what im going to do when I unleash this anger thats the worry
but I think it will remain verbal.

Side effects: (1) terrible sedation and "foggy headed feeling" , however I have continued on this medication because it is the least offensive, side effects wise , of all of them for me.
(2) weight gain, hunger and food cravings: I don't eat any sugar and little carbs, but still gain weight very easily and cannot take off the 20 pounds that I have gained from the med.
It certainly may be that I am so floored with the fatigue/sedation that my body is unable to tolerate good aerobic activity....

good luck everyone,
gigi

Hi!

Looks like I'm the only one who got dumb and clumsy on Remeron. (... although "foggy headed might describe it.) I remember being so frustrated that I kept knocking things over and hurting myself. I would reach for something and knock it over instead.

Maybe there was something else going on with me at the time.

For me, sedation is a bonus with any medicine. Maybe I should try Remeron again some time - many folks seem to like it.

Penguin,

Maybe the clumsiness wasn't because of the Remeron... Depression in itself can make you pretty foggy headed...
Trust me, I'm clumsy (Remeron or not)

Take care,
Autumn

This post has been edited by Autumn: Jan 8 2007, 03:58 PM

15mg at night

Hungry and weight gain. Also a bit "foggy" , especially in the am, but not enough to limit any actions. However sleep, anxiety, and most of the depression issues are much better after 4 weeks.

Tomac00,

Glad you found some relief in Remeron...
Hopefully you'll continue to do well!

Wishing you all the best!

Autumn

well i've been on it for 7 days and so far i've noticed - dizzyness immediatly after taking it like i've had too much to drink, dry mouth, anger - lashing out over daft things and on the plus side i'm starting to sleep better

Torchwood

Hi all! I've been visiting the different threads under Mirtazapine/Remeron. Since I'm a newby to this drug I read entire strings of posts. I am a 51 year-young female. Just started 15mg Remeron about 1 week ago; only on full dose 4 days because I wanted to start slowly in case I reacted badly. My sleep is slowly getting better, which is the primary reason I was prescribed this. I am on Lexapro 10mg for GAD and depression and that SSRI exacerbates my insomnia. My other sleep aides have pooped out and I've attempted to use Trazadone for sleep, but caused heart palps and high b.p. Hope this one doesn't. So far, I've immediately noticed an improvement in my general mood and I find it calming as well, which is great for my GAD. I am very hopeful regarding Remeron and appreciate the other posts I've read. A lot of people on different sites have stated that they slept like in a coma the entire night the first night. Well, my expectations have been falsely set by those comments, but I'm going to wait it out regardless. I know how long it took for the Lexapro to really do its job, so I don't expect immediate results here either. I think I slept nearly 6 hours straight last night and that is miraculous for me! I'm all for sedation I've layed awake far too many hours of my life and insomnia is not my friend! Gimme sedation any day. I'm hoping it continues to sedate me every day for the remainder of my days. Har! But, if it helps with depression and GAD, great! I'm not giving up my Lexapro, but I think this combo (an SSRI and Mirtazapine) could be great RX for the millions of us who suffer GAD, depression AND insomnia. Nice to be here in the forum. Cheryl

I was on Remeron for 6 months and experienced legs cramps/restless legs and hair loss

giggio26

I remember having restless legs, but I didn't think it was because of the meds... Hair loss, that's new one I mean, I didn't hear anyone mention that before.

How are you doing nowadays?

Thanks for joining!

Autumn

I took 30 mg of mirtazapine for over 6 years and found the med very good in helping me sleep and helping with the depression, but I felt it wasn't helping any more and I went up to 45 mg for a month and then up to 60 mg. I was on the 60 mg for about a month when I started experiencing what appeared to be diabetic symptoms-everything smelled fruity-my breath-my skin-my bed sheet wreaked-my clothes-anything that touched my skin-and evertime I inhaled its all I could smell. My pdoc told me to quit the mirtazapine and have a blood test...my blood test was in the normal range...so I've been off the med for a little over a week and I don't feel to bad...so far no side affects from quitting...and the smell is finally going away...but I don't know what caused the smell...or this reaction...a pharmacist said that its not recommended to take over 45 mg of the mirtazapine...has anybody else experienced these symptoms?

Hi Now,

I haven't experienced any of the symptoms you described. It doesn't sound too good. I'm glad you're doing more or less okay now. I also thought 45mg to be the max dosage of Remeron (although some other members also went up to 60mg).

Take care of yourself!

Autumn

Thanks Autumn

I read today that one of the possible side effects of mirtazapine is infection...so maybe the high dose caused some kind of temporary (I hope) infection...I don't know...I think its getting better...at least I don't smell anymore and the ringing in my ears isn't so bad. I do think that the high dose was stringing me out though. I have been feeling pretty good and I was going to go cold turkey on quitting the mirtazapine...but today I started feeling dizzy with a little nausea...so I took a lower dose of the mirtazapine and will call my pdoc tomorrow to see what he wants me to do.

I had some stressors going on in my life at the time that were getting me down and I felt that the med wasn't doing the job so I asked my pdoc for the increase...that was my mistake...increasing the dosage wasn't the answer...learning how to deal with the stressors is what brought peace of mind.

But I do think that mirtazapine is a good med and it did me well for many years without any side effects.

This post has been edited by now: Mar 18 2007, 05:32 PM

Now,

Yes, do ask your pdoc's advice on coming off or lowering the dosage! Keep it safe!

I'm so glad to hear you're learning how to deal with the stressors in your life! Meds can support you on your way to recovery but you need to tackle the issues underneath. I love your attitude Keep up the good work!

I hope you continue to do well!
Keep us posted!

Love,
Autumn

This is the way I felt after starting 30mg of Remeron just after about 7 days. After talking to my doctor, he told me I had to decide which was more important my mental health or some side effects that would more than likely go away after a month or so. What he didn't understand is taking this medication made me feel even more crazy then before I started taking it. I chose to not take it anymore. Whether or not it was the best decision in his eyes, I feel it was the best for me.

still get drowsy and lethargic 3 years later, lucky i take it at night :)

Fingaz,

I also found that it continued to make me drowsy half an hour after taking it. Luckily I didn't experience any trouble during the day after being on it for a few weeks.

Hi Autumn,

i take one in morning and one at night. in the mornings, if i don't go to work, that means i don't drink coffee, which means i have a nap a couple of hours after my dose. If i go to work (which i do, except weekends), that means i drink coffee and it usually isn't a problem for me.

Good to here from you again.

Weight gain but I was very thin so nothing serious. None other here.

still after 3 years? urgh.. I'm struggling with remeron. I'm not sure whether it's helping me or not. I seem to have gone backwards since I went on it. 3 years and still feeling drowsy and lethargic doesn't fill me with much optimism =(

Justme,

I'm sorry to hear you're still struggling with the drowsiness. Have you mentioned this to your doctor? It's great to be able to sleep when you're having insomnia... But if it makes you want to sleep all the time and it troubles you that much during the day, maybe there's some other solution.

Let me know how you're doing and what your doc thinks!

Hang in there!

Love,
Autumn

For me, the drowsiness is a good thing. Also, the drowsy effects only seem to last about 3-4 hours after it is taken, if you take it in the morning, just have a few cups of coffee. that's what seems to work for me. If you take it at night (most people do) , have it an hour or so before bed.

take care everyone :)

Hi now!
I am very pleased when I hear people who have been on mirtaz for many years and it is still effective. I've been sleeping very well since I started Remeron about 5 mos ago. I am a worried that it will fizzle out like all of the other sleep meds I've tried all of my life. It is a very inexpensive drug at $5/mo for 30mg dosage with my insurance. I normally take 22mg or 3/4 of a pill. That seems the correct dosage for me so that I don't wake up after every dream, which I did at 15mg but went right back to sleep. Maybe I should try 15mg again to see if it will do the trick now. Anyway, I'm talking to myself here. Har! I love this drug in combo with my SSRI of choice Lexapro. Life is good at the moment. I don't understand about the fruity smell... very weird. Do diabetics experience this? Also glad to hear you can go cold turkey and not have monstrous withdrawal sympts. Are you sleeping though? That's my main question for you. After 6 yrs of 30mg, are you experiencing insomnia?? Cheryl

Hi Autumn,

I only just saw this reply, sorry for not replying to it sooner! oops!

I'm now off remeron and feeling heaps better for it!

I hope this finds you well !!

Take care

justme
x

Justme,

No worries about the late reply! I'm just glad to hear you're feeling better!

Take good care of yourself!

Autumn

ChrisB,

Akathisia is a frequent and common adverse effect of treatment with antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drugs. This syndrome consists of subjective (feeling of inner restlessness and the urge to move) as well as objective components (rocking while standing or sitting, lifting feet as if marching on the spot and crossing and uncrossing the legs while sitting). Antipsychotic-induced akathisia can be classified according to the time of onset in the course of antipsychotic treatment (acute, tardive, withdrawal and chronic akathisia). Reported prevalence rates vary widely between 5 and 36.8%. Numerous risk factors for acute akathisia have been described and the exact pathophysiology of akathisia is still unknown.

Since akathisia is a drug-induced adverse effect, optimal management involves its prevention rather than treatment. Standardised titration and the use of novel antipsychotics are successful measures of prevention. There is a paper reviews different forms of therapeutic approaches for the treatment of akathisia. Based on the available literature, propranolol or other lipophilic beta-blockers seem to be the most consistently effective treatment for acute akathisia. There is nothing in the literature to guide a clinician when treatment with beta-blockers fails. Addition of benzodiazepines would appear to be a sensible next choice, especially if subjective distress persists. If all of these drugs are unsuccessful, amantadine or clonidine can be tried. Other agents that have been investigated include ritanserin, piracetam, valproic acid (sodium valproate) and tricyclic antidepressants. Evidence on the treatment of tardive akathisia is unsatisfactory.

So the diazepam was right on...

Peace and love.... w

I've been on 15mg Mirtazapine since on last Friday (5 days) and I am feeling dreadful.

Saturday and Sunday were just a foggy blur - I felt completely out of it like I was severely jet-lagged. I had dizzy spells. I had headaches. I had muscle pain.

I was so bad and out of it, my mum had to arrange to get my dog put into a foster home because I couldn't possibly look after it :(

Now I feel like I am badly hungover. Constantly. I feel constantly sick yet sort of hungry too. I am very very thirsty, but the thought of drinking anything makes me gag (weird I know). I drank some cranberry juice last night and threw it up!

I have put on a lot of weight (unusually) over the last couple of months for no real reason. That in itself has made me depressed and filled me with complete self loathing to new highs. I feel less like eating sweet things now on mirtazapine (even fruit) but want starchy, salty things. I'm in a constant feeling of stress about my weight. I can't look in the mirror because I just see a fat blob.

I have bad headaches still and sometimes feel dizzy/majorly spaced out. I feel more angry towards everything. I actually feel more depressed and suicidal.

Although I slept better at the beginning, last night I couldn't get to sleep (ARGH) and woke up quite early (ARGH AGAIN).

Someone please tell me it will get better :(

EDIT: I should add this is a change of medication - I was on 40mg Citalopram before this but was changed because it was having absolutely no effect whatsoever.

This post has been edited by KateBushRockz: Jun 19 2007, 07:18 AM

It does get better with time but also it seems to diminish as the dose goes up. I felt the same way on 15 in the begining; it went a way after a few weeks. As I moved into 30 mg taken at night the "groggy" feeling really lessened.

Hang in there and give it a chance !!!

(((((KateBushRockz)))))

How are you doing?!

Autumn

my doc started me a on a higher dose because apparently side effects are supposed to lessen as the dose increases. i was on in for about a week but couldn't stand the side effects. i felt completely haxy and disasociated from everybody and everything. i didn't feel real.

t1gerlily77,

to DF and the Remeron room.

Yes, for some Remeron seems to cause fewer side-effects on the higher doses...
Then again, there've been others on these boards who mentioned they started to feel terrible after an increase in dosage.
I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out for you!
I hope you and you doc were able to find a solution?

Take care,
Autumn

This post has been edited by Autumn: Jun 25 2007, 09:30 AM

hmm now that I've read the drowsiness/hazy side effect that many are experiencing, I realized that it happens to me! I guess it didn't occur to me before, but I usually feel fatigued a lot of the time, even before I started taking medication (symptom of depression?). It doesn't bother me a lot though, since I've gotten used to it and I perform my daily duties fine...

What bothers me primarily is the weight gain, then the dry mouth. Does anyone have bad breath because of the dry mouth???

Can I ask what kind of an infection you might have? Also what did you smell like? I'm reading all of these side effects and cant help but freak out!!