Mirtazapine : Hi everyone I needed... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Mirtazapine

asmith49451 profile image
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Hi everyone I needed some advice please, we are in the UK. My son is 18 he has suffered from depression/anxiety since the age of 15. The GP started him on fluoxetine but we didn’t think that was working and a consultant psychiatrist weaned him off , he was still suffering from anxiety and depression , so the GP initiated him on mirtazapine 15 mg, this dose didn’t do much so he’s on 30 mg now , he’s always sleeping and I think he’s also quite drowsy . He feels that it’s helping with his mood, but I’m not sure. I have absolutely no idea what the next steps should be. I feel like I’m not helping & neither is the healthcare system. We did try counselling but he is very reluctant. We are planning on seeing a consultant psychiatrist privately. All advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Adam

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asmith49451
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LunarEcho24 profile image
LunarEcho24

A psychiatrist would be a better option over a general practitioner when it comes to properly diagnosing and finding a suitable medication. Though, in some people's case there might be other medical conditions that could be contributing to the problem, so that is something to take into consideration. It wouldn't hurt to have a blood panel done, to make sure the basic indicators are all within acceptable ranges, and that there aren't any nutritional deficiencies or hormonal problems.

As far as the counseling goes, that is tough if your son is reluctant. Therapy can only be effective if the patient is motivated to work on things and get better, and that they have a healthy relationship with the therapist. I hope that you can convince your son that he needs to try every possible avenue if he wants to feel better, and be better.

Perhaps dialing in the right meds will help, but we human being are complex creatures with many different dimensions to our being. I hope that your son can find something in life that gives him meaning and interests him and motivates him to do everything he can to get better. I hope that he can improve the basics (sleep, nutrition, exercise, mindset) as well. I believe it takes all of these things to get better, and ultimately the patient has to be an active participant.

I know what it is like to try everything, and only get limited results. Sometimes life circumstances change a bit, and that allows our minds to see new possibilities. When I was your son's age, I went through a stage of significant anxiety and depression, and it took a comprehensive approach to get me through it: self-help and lifestyle improvements, medication, therapy (including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I don't know what will work specifically for your son, but I recommend throwing everything you can at it. He's in a challenging stage of life, and adding mental health struggles to the mix is tough.

Cb1963 profile image
Cb1963

I suffered with ptsd after witnessing two horrible events, and used alcohol to hide my depression, I ended up as an alcoholic, I had to have counselling for my deep rooted problems, yes the drink had put me into darker places, and after refusing help or not acknowledging the problem I sort help, it was a long process, I had health issues from the drinking, and still have the legacy from drinking, I suffer with neuropathy, nerve damage from the drinking, and the only way I get any sleep is with mirtrazapine 45mg, I first started on 15mg and then 30mg , and obviously my body perhaps got used to the dose, hence the higher dosage now, I'm 12 + years sober, and I have had no real problems with the tablets, yes at the beginning they made me feel woosy, but perhaps some outside help with your son, if you need any further help please don't hesitate to ask, kind regards

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