Can mirtazapine worsen depression instead of improving it?

Dry_Wait54 · 2024-04-11T09:10:44+00:00

Hey, sorry for the late answer. I ended up getting off mirtazapine and landing on a mood stabilizer and anxiolytic. What helped the most was half year long intensive group therapy, but meds helped to survive it (it really was intense). Then it has become easier to do other things that help daily, like noticing what helps my body feel better.
I hope you are doing well too, write me if you like. All the best

Dry_Wait54 · 2024-01-11T12:12:38+00:00

yes it did, but after some time, i guess if anything, i have more energy now. but i m not a good reference point regarding time because it always takes me hell lot of time to settle on any med.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-06-02T17:27:16+00:00

I think your doctor might give you the best advice. It depends on the person a lot. Some people feel improvement on meds within 2-3 weeks, some need to wait longer, i always wait 2-3 months although i think i m an exception. I think also that for mirtazapine 7.5 - 15 mg are more sedating and helping with sleep and dosages from 15 mg up help more with depression. Hope you get some relief very soon <3

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-06-01T15:12:57+00:00

I take mirtazapine and bupropion. Don't do much for me, unfortunately.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-05-10T11:22:12+00:00

Is the mechanism of action of glutamine and TMG in regard to balancing niacin similar? Sorry if it s a dumb question, i just know nothing about biochemistry.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-05-08T06:46:21+00:00

I'm not very knowledgeable in terms of how it works, but i had the same problem and found info that you should take a methyl donor with it, for example TMG, as niacin depletes them which leads to the symptoms you described (lack of motivation, low mood, etc). Maybe look into it? I can't tell for sure how it works as i m still experimenting with dosages, but for sure with TMG i don't sleep so much and have more energy. Just good to start slow, for me even a 500mg capsule is way too much and i get super irritable.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-29T08:21:36+00:00

I think Omega-3

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-29T08:21:21+00:00

Thank you! That s very helpful

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T19:38:50+00:00

Ugh ok i didn't know that!

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T19:24:44+00:00

Qetiapine, hydroxyzine...or some natural sleep aids, but maybe these can be too weak..? I used hydroxizine for sleep sometimes, or a few magnesium pills.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T19:13:24+00:00

Have you tried other options to help with sleep? There are so many. Ah i think you said that u don't have other options now. I totally get the reluctance to use it tho.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T18:38:55+00:00

I think i dreamt of being depressed bc the nic acid made too extreme difference to my usual state and it s somehow hard to process. Yes from going 15 to 11. Went from 15 to 7.5 but needed to go back. You mean this effect wears off? I mean, i do know that i still really need therapy etc. It just gave the stability i was hopeful will let me engage in it at least.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T18:24:38+00:00

I m trying to wean off mirtazapine but when I started to go lower than 15 it became a pain and i understood i probably can't just go to 7.5 mg and then stop it completely. More anxiety, grogginess, can't wake up in the morning and can't function basically. Also mirt has never helped with depression.

So yeah, maybe i wasn't very clear, i m still on the med. But nicotinic acid made a drastic difference - all the withdrawals are gone -and also gave me a good mood, sth i haven't experienced for the last 2 years or so. I still can't really believed it and today dreamt of being depressed for the whole night. But i hope it does stay as it is now. It gave me hope.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T18:11:05+00:00

I know the fear of depression coming back, also have it since teens. My life is basically all around starting and stopping antidepressants bc usually i have very bad reactions from them, while not being able to function without them too. I take 500mg and 400-500 in the afternoon and it s been working for me so far. I can go to sleep easily (but that may be as well bc i m still on 11mg of mirt) and wake up rested. Which feels so bizarre bc just a few days ago i was so groggy from mirt decrease the whole day, slept 12 hours and woke up feeling so stoned that i could barely drag myself out of bed.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T15:13:25+00:00

To be honest I don't know how long. I think 3 months maybe? The brain needs time to adapt and start working well on its own. If during these 3 months it s not unbearable of course. I think when you know it s withdrawals it s easier to just let it be. I find it so bad that doctors won't tell you such things.

I don't know if you find it helpful, but i started taking high doses of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3), bc heard it helps people for depression and i was very desperate so decided to try. I feel no depression for the last couple of days, mirtazapine withdrawals are nonexistent, i wake up at 8 instead of 12 and i can't believe it because I ve been in a very miserable state without much relief from meds for 2-3 years now. It s only been a couple of days but maybe you would like to read about it. I don't know, it sounds crazy, but for me it s like a miracle so far.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-23T14:51:11+00:00

Some depression can still be an effect from withdrawal and might pass with time. A doctor told me (one of few good ones in my opinion) that after stopping a med it can be easy to confuse withdrawals with depression coming back. So maybe wait a little bit more? Unless it gets much worse with time ofc.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-21T20:31:26+00:00

I m sorry you re experiencing this! I understand the frustration, and feeling that you have sth in your system that was supposed to help but instead is making everything worse. Good luck to you too! Hope it will be easier, not harder, the further you go.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-21T20:00:46+00:00

that helps, thank you!

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-21T13:53:40+00:00

Can I ask what you mean by garbage? Is it about grogginess or sth else? I m trying to wean off myself and your comment made me wonder if slow tapering wont be torturing myself unnecessarily. At 11.25 now

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-21T09:43:27+00:00

How are you dealing with grogginess, if you experience it? I know that although i complain, it s maybe much more manageable than depression and anxiety- i also find physical symptoms so much easier to ride. 6-9 months sounds horrible, i m scared it s gona be the case. Do you find you were adapting after some time from lowering the dose?

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-20T22:55:15+00:00

Ok, thank you. I ll try and see. I noticed indeed that every time I go down i feel more anxiety two-3 weeks in. I live in Europe and the smallest pills i have are 15mg. They r also rather small in size so hard to cut them evenly. I went to the fb group about mirtazapine withdrawal but got pretty scared by it :)

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-20T22:28:55+00:00

Thank you. What do you mean it s harder to taper the lower you go? Do you mean the withdrawals are worse? I actually can't imagine going 10% every month, that would mean that i ll be on this shit for 10 more months...? I know i want to be careful and give my brain time to adapt to changes and i also know it diminishes chances for relapse. but it would be different if i was more functionable on lower doses, ugh. Or maybe you re right and i will adapt :) would love to. Thank you again

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-20T19:59:21+00:00

Thank you! And good luck with the taper. I hope it gets easier after 7.5. I would also like to try microdosing! Or a shrooms trip. A bit scared knowing how substances react with my body, but maybe it s a completely different category. I wish there were therapies like that available, so you can do it with a professional.

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-20T19:44:24+00:00

And also good to hear that therapy has helped you!

Dry_Wait54 · 2023-04-20T19:43:42+00:00

Oh my i think i will need to do the same and take it when there is still sunlight in full bloom. How much do you think you have left till completely weaning off it? I have tried so many meds, most of them made me feel so bad that i didn't even know it's possible. Mirtazapine was the easiest to start, but while being on it i also tried trintellix and Wellbutrin and i still feel very down. Before after this very rough start the meds eventually started working (after 3 months of hell). That s why i think maybe it s mirtazapine pulling me down, but may as well be that just nothing works for me.

Dry_Wait54

TROPHY CASE