30 mg mirtazapine

[Katej48]

The doctor has advised me to up my dose of mirtazapine from 15 to 30mg but I’m worried as I’ve heard it doesn’t work as well, also surely the side effects will be worse, I’ve been getting really bad headaches, I’ve seen three different doctors and they’ve all said it’s anxiety causing them , I’m not convinced, I’ve been on the mirt 6 weeks now and been getting the headaches for 3 of them , thanks

[Dolphin14]

I get headaches with most of these psych meds when I first start them. If it's a once a day med and not contraindicated to take at night I will do that so I don't have a headache all day.

Everyone's response to meds is different. So, you have to try the suggestion by the md and see your response

[Katej48 in reply to Dolphin14]

Hi I take it before bedtime

[Dolphin14 in reply to Katej48]

Oh ok. So that's not going to help. They do say those things will go away once the body adjusts to the chemical changes. I've stopped some meds due to the headaches being really bad...with md permission. The problem is there's not much science behind the meds because we all start off with varied issues and chemical imbalances.

Speak with md, voice your concerns and come up with a plan

[Olderal]

Hello Kate, I take Mirtazapine 45 mgm per day (just before bed) and have done for several years. I 've have never had any bad side effects with it, the only side effect is a welcome one as I'm pretty sure i sleep better with it. Whether it does anything for my depression I don't know (although good sleep is probably a help), certainly not a lot but would i be worse without it ?

That won't help you much as Individual reactions to antidepressants, most of which were discovered by serendipity, are exactly that, individual. The effectiveness ,and side effects vary from one person to the next. You just have to make sure you give each drug change a chance to work usually at least 3 months, preferably a month or two longer. If you have side effects that you feel sure are due to the drug,and you can't live with them for a while then discuss with your GP who should change your drugs or dosage, bearing in mind there is a certain minimum dosage to have any effect at all. Finding something effective is often difficult and time consuming for your GP and you, but you can help by giving your GP honest and regular feedback.

GPs and psychiatrists try very hard to help but IMO medical science knows so little about serious depression that unless you're very lucky there is no miracle cure. However just knowing you are doing all you can , and the medics are also doing the best they can is a boost and useful in itself. They do at least have a lot of experience in helping.

Its a tough illness but most of us deal with it more or less successfully . There is a great deal of money being spent on real research in the USA,China,Japan and Europe, and over the next say ten years I think there will be some very big advances and treatment will improve out of all recognition compared with todays' suck it and see methods.

Olderal

[Katej48 in reply to Olderal]

Thanks for the reply, I’ve taken the plunge and took the 30mg tonight, see how I am tomorrow, probably won’t tell straight the way , I think I’ll take the larger dose every other night so I do it gradually, I’m still getting headaches but 3 gp’s have said it’s not the medication it’s the anxiety causing them, I’m not convinced , I’m on the mirt as I wasn’t sleeping , a lot of people say the higher dose doesn’t work as well as the 15mg for sleep, how have you found this? Kate