Mertazapine and drowsiness after 7 days

[Angularitee]

I've been on 15mg of mertazapine for 7 days and still am drowsy all day. Not just in the morning. Do I need to give it more time? Anyone get over this side effect?

[Megapanda]

Hello . Feeling sleepy / drowsiness is a very common side effect with antidepressants medications . Sometimes it can take a few weeks for your body to get used to the medication . And often your sides effects will reduce . Maybe try taking your medication a different time of day unless your doctor told you need to take it at certain times . I took mine at before bed , I was on a different table though . If it's really concerning you or effecting you doing your daily activities then I would speak to your doctor , please don't just stop the medication .

[Macy-Rae in reply to Megapanda]

Hi I have been taking Mertazipine for nearly a year now I am on 45g I take 30g before bed and 15 in the morning it has been I life saver for me and can assure you the drowsy affects will where off still with and I sometimes take Anadin extra in morning which has caffeine in to wake me up for work so stick with it

[Manor607]

Hi! I have been on 15mg mertazapine for almost 4 months now ( I won't go into all my history... you can read that on my profile) But after those 4 months my closing line in the profile remains the same: " Like all meds, there are side effects. I'm feeling joint/muscle aches , especially in the morning. The odd bit of light headedness. But, (for now) I will take the minor physical discomfort over the anxiety ANY DAY. " Mirtazapine ( at 15 & 7.5 mg) has a strong 'sedative effect'. I take my 15mg at 10pm...go to bed around 10:45p...and go right to sleep. To what extent you can/want to put up with the 'daytime' drowsiness, that probably depends on your activity level. Age. Work/family obligations. I am 70 and retired. I have always had a 15-20 minute afternoon nap for years. I will say energy-wise it takes the morning + a coffee to feel energized. But, again my energy demands are very low.

This past summer, I had extreme anxiety, no motivation and low-grade depression. That is gone with this medication. So, I will repeat: the trade off...for some daytime low energy/periodic achey joints for me, is worth it. You didn't say what other options ( if any) you have explored? It's my understanding mirtazapine is rarely used as a 'first line' med for anxiety/depression( I was on Zoloft for a month --did not work 'for me' ).

As most people will suggest, you might want to talk to your Dr, knowing that at higher doses mirtazapine isn't so sedating. Thanks for letting me share.

[Angularitee]

Here is a little background. I've been on a few other antidepressants, most recently eacitalopram and effexor, but they interfere with my sleep--vivid dreams for example. And I have a tough enough time sleeping already, waking frequently and with chest tightness and anxiety. So my doctor suggested Mertazapine to help with the sleep problem and because I didn't last long with the others. Sleep is better, though I still wake frequently; but I go back to sleep quickly now. I still get a strange tightness in my chest though, only at night. I'm taking 15mg and its interesting to hear from a few people here that a stronger dose might mean less sleepiness. I'll keep going for now and five it time. But it's tough. I take the pill at night but still feel weak and lethargic all day. And lightheaded, but vertigo is something I get now and then anyway (positional vertigo).