Mirtazapine anxiety - HELP PLEASE !!

[Andyroo66]

Hi

been on 15mg Mirt for just over 4 weeks for anxiety and depression

Ive found it very physically stimulating all round but since week 2 anxiety has been very high- some nights Im in shear terror and some days I feel so uneasy in myself its unbearable- I believe this is akathasia due to the excess noradrenalin.

Some days just a horrible inner restlessness and uncomfortable feeling (psychological anxiety)

Have shaking legs in the morning and an urge to move . Also my tinnitus is worse

My psych isnt happy about it but reckons if i must i could halve the dose

I am sensitive to meds and think 15mg for me is possibly equivalent to double or triple for other people

I know everyone is different to meds but can anyone advise on these points?

1. should I taper down from 15mg or just cut in half ?

2. is 7.5mg compared to 15mg less stimulating/more sedating?

3. would the lower level tend to reduce anxiety or would the reduction (if fast) cause more anxiety?

4. I used to take 10mg amitriptyline and it sorted me fine (cant take it now due to long QT) - any idea what the equivalent mirtazapine dose is? I'm not sure if it even works that way as they work on different receptors

thanks, looking forward to some advice, fed up of this illness, need to be back at work!

[a_work_in_progress]

Hi Andy not familiar with this medication but I hope can find your answer. 🤗

[kenster1]

hi you could always half it and try for a week or two most meds can take up to 8 weeks to kick in.ive heard the lower dose actually has a better effect but im not qualified on that one.im on the highest dose mind you.

[Andyroo66 in reply to kenster1]

thanks, whats the better effect on the lower dose? Is that for sleep?

[Andyroo66 in reply to kenster1]

Thanks, how were you week 4? The longer im on it the worse I feel in some ways. Have the most terrible inner anxiety feeling that is constant! That's the reason I want to take the dose down

[kenster1 in reply to Andyroo66]

hi to be honest I was more or less ok apart from binge eating and tiredness but that wore off after a few weeks.in general I was ok but folk on here have previously said about the lower dose works better for some people don't know why or if true mind you.

[Elfje]

Hi there I hear you

Now if the anxiety is too worse

Take a half

Stay it this way

Say too your doc the give something in the beginning a benzo

Benzo is for anxiety

Anti depressant for depression mostly they combined it

I know because I have anxiety PTSD and adhd nice it's a bomb

So I know because i have try mirtzapine and jeezes also so much anxiety

I stopt could not cope anymore

So now nothing I can take anymore a anti depressant

Also for some it's ok for some not

Talk too your doc it's important 💗

[Andyroo66 in reply to Elfje]

thanks, they want to add in pregabalin for the anxiety but I am very wary of it, i tried gabapentin before i took mirtazaoine and i made my anxiety much worse. I want to go on amitriptyline but not allowed as I have long QT. Another GP suggested I switch to tradozone- is that a good drug for anxiety?

[Elfje in reply to Andyroo66]

You know what the best drug is for a really bad anxiety

That is low verry low dose off olanzapine

Trazodone is for sleep

And higher dose is for depression

Now anafranil is verry good for anxiety but he'll for started up because in the beginning you have again more Anxiety

But again they give activan with it

I know it's not easy

[Andyroo66 in reply to Elfje]

Thanks, I think both olanzapine and anafranil may prolong the QT so I cant take them. Well Anafranil does for sure, not so sure about Olanzapine. Ativan is a benzo- i have diazepam but avoiding taking it. I'm trying to ride it out at the minute as hopefully the anxiety will subside once the Mirtazapine settles in.

[Elfje in reply to Andyroo66]

I understand

I have it also not with olanzapine but only a month than stop

But I understand you

And it's bit stuppid if you have diazepam not the taken it when it's describe by a doc

If you need it than you need it

[Arlene99]

I was on 7.5 then up to 15 for several month then back down to 7.5...which I think has a more sedating effect. However, had to increase to 15 again as depression became a problem, so for the forseeable future I will stick at 15.

[Loughborough53]

Hi…. I take 15mg built up over seven weeks. I too am drug sensitive , they make me drowsy when I take them, but sadly I feel no different, still depressed! How long do they take to work? Also psychiatrist is tapering me off benzodiazepine so it is hell.

I would take a HALF 7.5. I did this and I felt light headed for a while,but that stopped. Do it slowly? It’s easy to cut them in half