Last chance with medication.

[Ragdoll15]

Every type of antidepressant seems to make me feel worse but I feel I need something to help me. I am now taking mirtizapine for the second time round and am feeling awful after taking two tablets. I feel this is my last chance with medication. Can anyone tell me that it will get better because at the moment I just don't know what to do, whether to persevere with them even though I feel terrible or just to stop taking them. I am suffering severe anxiety and depression with agoraphobia.

[lillyofthevalley37]

It's really up to you whether you take medication or not

I think it is better if you can do without drugs and try to manage a better lifestyle with long walks good nutrition and a stoic attitude

Mirtazapine is a strong drug it helped me when.I had serotonin syndrome because mirtazapine is not a serotonin drug it is a serotonin receptor antagonist, there are lots of health horror stories of mirtazapine withdrawal on the Internet

I only took one whole 15mg tablet and a few halves and the serotonin syndrome stopped but my nervous system was a bit shaky afterwards

Maybe drugs don't help you and you might have to manage your condition without them

Natural remedies include

Flaxseed oil

Fish oil capsules

Evening primrose oil

Strong multi B vitamin

Zinc

[Ragdoll15 in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

Thanks for your help. Yes I think I might be one of those people antidepressants don't help. Strangely I did try mirtizapine about six years ago and it did help but had to stop it because of it giving me ocular migraines, I suppose our bodies change over time. I will definitely look into taking supplements that you suggest. Take care!

[car103 in reply to Ragdoll15]

It is all so trial and error. Psychiatric drugs hopefully address symptoms. Natural supplements do the same. I think it is all about finding some way to manage the symptoms to be able to function while working on the underlying root of what is causing the anxiety or depression or whatever you are experiencing. Just don't give up because you've been trying for awhile. You deserve to feel good. And don't settle. Good luck. I wish I had the answer for me as well.

[Ragdoll15 in reply to car103]

My daughter thinks that I somehow assume I will feel bad before taking them and somehow make these symptoms worse. I know I am afraid of them after so many bad experiences while taking them. It's hard to know whether to stop them or keep perceiving with them and hoping things will improve. Take care!

[Hidden in reply to Ragdoll15]

Many people Ward have fears of these drugs and generally these fears are unfounded. Possibly your fears are irrational and you need to gain confidence taking them.

I have been on this type of medications on and off since my teens and now at sixty nine I still take these medications, in fact when my GP was withdrawing medications AD drugs are still been taken I am happy to take them.

BOB

[Hidden]

Are you allowing enough time for these medications to work, upwards five weeks

BOB

[Ragdoll15 in reply to Hidden]

I probably don't take them long enough because of the awful side effects I experience. It's hard to know what to do. Five weeks seems a long time to feel so awful. Having said that I will try to perceviere with them. Thank you for your help. Take care!

[Hidden in reply to Ragdoll15]

About 5 weeks to start getting used to the drug, it is important you do not keep asking for a change. You will be ok and hopefully you will feel better over time and treatment

BOB

[Ragdoll15 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reassurance it really is helpful.

I was on paroxatine years ago which helped me so much but had to stop it when they found that I had an anurysm which had to be operated on and unfortunately they stopped the paroxatine because it clashed with the aspirin which I had to take to thin the blood. Since then I have not been the same with medication and have been sensitive to everything. So I am hoping and praying that the mirt will help me somewhat.

[LiveandLetLive42]

I was about to give up on medication. I'm so glad I didn't. I tried adding Abilify to my Zoloft and it's awesome!!

[Ragdoll15 in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

That's great news, glad you found something that worked!

[LiveandLetLive42 in reply to Ragdoll15]

Thanks!!

[Hidden in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

How has the Abilify helped you

[LiveandLetLive42 in reply to Hidden]

It’s something to add to an antidepressant if it’s not working the way it should. For me, I noticed the difference within a few days. I was more upbeat, happy, motivated and not so anxious. I like Zoloft and it was managing, but I could tell I needed something else. My friend suggested Abilify because it helped her. I couldn’t believe the difference!

[Ragdoll15]

Are you getting any side effects from them?

[Bela64]

Hi Ward 146 I was just reeding you post ; and omg I’m exactly some you on medication , I have tried so many .and zero good effect only bad ones 😫what are you taking now? I started a new one 4 days ago Escitalopram 5mg and praying that this one works 🤞🏻So far I tried sertraline,duloxetine , Prozac. Paroxetine , amitriptyline, I give Than all the time needed for it works 6 to 8 weeks but nothing....I was taking amitriptyline for 5 months with very little help . But lots of nasty side effect.. btw I hope you found something to help you !? Keep me up to date if possible.. best wishes. Bella

[Ragdoll15 in reply to Bela64]

I'm not taking anything at the moment because there doesn't seem anything left that I haven't tried, but I really do need to feel better. I might give venaflexine another try but I don't know I must ask the doctor. I think they are losing patience with me but it's not my fault. I do hope the Escitalopram works for you will pray for you that it will. Let me know!

[_Nope_]

I also have anxiety and agoraphobia, and at the time I tried mirtazapine I had really intense (but situational) depression. I thought it was awful...the doctor told me it should help with my anxiety as well as the depression, and I don't think it did either. Honestly, I think it made me a little bit worse. And I slept like crazy (16-20+ if my husband didn't wake me), I was constantly exhausted like I hadn't slept at all, I had trouble remembering things (what day it was, parents birthdays, to get up for work, etc). I cut my pills in half even and still had all of these problems. I called and asked for a lower dose and my doctor told me that was the lowest (If I remember right it was like 5mg tablets; so half would've been 2.5mg). I just ended up quitting cold turkey after like a month or so because it made my life so much harder (I was told since I was taking the lowest dose that quitting suddenly was okay). The doctor tried to tell me that I needed to increase the dosage to get the desired effects on anxiety and depression, but I really think I would've been in a coma if I had taken any higher of a dose. I hated this medication. Ultimately it's your decision, because you know what's best for you, but I had a horrible time with mirtazapine.

[Ragdoll15]

It's no good taking something that makes you worse or causing awful side. effects. I don't think doctors have a lot of knowledge of antidepressants. They just go 'by the book' but everyone is different. I believe that the higher dose of mirtizapine is supposed to be less sedating that the lower doseage for some reason. Good luck with finding something that suits you!