Mirtazipine for anxiety

[DIB69]

I have PAF with a recent 24 hour episode ( the first in a year) GP has suggested Mirtazipine 15mg for anxiety, depression and insomnia. As anxiety in particular is affecting my quality of life I'm considering following his suggested regime. Until now I've only taken 7.5mg as an occasional aid to sleep and feel anxious (ironically) about taking this drug continuously and at a higher dose. Does anyone have a similar experience?

[Hidden]

Ive not taken Mirrazipine but have taken Zoloft( sertraline) for anxiety and depression. These drugs are more effective taken on a daily basis as they maintain a steady level in your blood stream. Most of these drugs take weeks or a month to reach their full effectiveness. I think controlling my anxiety has alot to do with controlling my a fib. I havent had any a fib in 2,yr which I contribute to life style changes, heart meds and managing my anxiety. Good luck with everything. Hoping your a fib stays gone as it is an annoying anxiety maker!

[Ppiman]

I would definitely try it but with care and not overly high expectations.

My experience is several years ago and was very negative indeed. Zispin, as it is also called (such a sweet name for such a potent drug), left me feeling utterly dreadful and unable to function properly. The nearest description I can give is dull and zombie-like. The effects lasted throughout the following day. Despite making me feel extraordinarily tired, I still didn’t sleep at all well and it did nothing whatsoever for my anxiety or low mood.

Mirtazapine acts as a very potent antihistamine, so is rather like an ultra strong Nytol.

There’s a website somewhere where users report their experiences with drugs. Some clearly found this drug very useful. but some also suffered my own awful experiences with it, with several commenting that such potent drugs should not be so lightly prescribed by GPs.

My overall experience with several treatments for insomnia, anxiety and mood disorders is that no drug works well and most, including this one (and most especially SSRI antidepressants), are - for some people - truly dreadful products.

The older tablets like diazepam may well be risky for some (about a third, I gather) in terms of addictive potential, but they at least do calm anxiety rapidly and well. I believe that in the USA, this group of medicines - benzodiazepines - is still the preferred choice for treating anxiety disorder, but in the UK, the GP profession has fully decided they don’t like the drugs, and it seems that that’s that. Psychiatrists still do seem to use them, however.

Steve

[Hatten28]

Hello I have recently been prescribed Diazepam for panic attacks,brought on by three severe episodes of A fib, did not want to take them as I realise they are addictive, however they were very good and felt better after a week so stopped taking them, four days later the panic attacks were back with a vengeance so took a half a tablet twice a day, which was enough to calm me down.

Now I only take a quarter of a tablet when necessary the panic was affecting my stomach, producing lots of acid, desperately trying to overcome this without medication.

Never had panic attacks previously, and really don’t like it, I also try deep breathing. Strangely I feel worse first thing in the morning upon waking,I have found that mind over matter is the best solution, but cannot always find something or someone to alleviate the fear I feel.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Bolander]

I was prescribed Mirtazipine at 15mg a day for a combination of depression and insomnia and have found it very effective with no apparent side effects over two years. I now drop off to sleep very quickly and feel fully alert when I wake so in my case there are no problems. I also been in NSR since a cardioversion, but this may not be due to taking Mirtasipine.