Effexor and Mitazapine

[Bboris]

Hi. I’m new here. Suffering from anxiety and slight depression. On 75 mg Effexor for 3 weeks. Mirtazapine 30mg. For a year. Anyone on both of these? The Effexor is causing anxiety (yuck) and insomnia, even with the Mirtazapine. How long do I have to wait for relief? Is this combo worth it? Thanks!

[jencan]

Yes, I'm on both of those drugs. For me, Mirtazapine (15mg) is only good for ensuring I sleep, but the Effexor (75mg ER) seems to have lifted my depression slightly. I did suffer insomnia initially when Effexor was added, but that's improved over time. I think I've read somewhere that lower dosage of Mirtazapine is better for sleep, than the higher dose, so maybe you could try that?

[Bboris in reply to jencan]

Thanks for replying. How long have you been on Effexor? Has it caused any increase in anxiety?

[jencan in reply to Bboris]

I've been on Effexor about 10 months. It doesn't increase my anxiety at 75mg but I couldn't do with any increase in that dose----unfortunately, I can't remember why not, but I think it was because of insomnia.

[Bboris in reply to jencan]

Mirtazapine puts me to sleep easily, but it seems I can only stay asleep for 4 hrs. Do you sleep more than that? No increase in Effexor because of that?

[Bboris in reply to jencan]

How long on Effexor before you felt improvement?

[jencan in reply to Bboris]

I sleep for around 7 hours, waking up a couple of times every night, but getting back to sleep easily enough. I was on Effexor for a couple of months before I felt improvement----BUT, I did start on Propranalol (a beta blocker that helps with anxiety) at the same time as starting the Effexor & I actually think it was getting rid of that dreadful waking anxiety because of taking Propranalol that did me more good.

[MrMalvinas]

Hi,

I have taken 30mg Mirtazapine for 9 months for anxiety and depression. Initially the mirtazapine worked well for a couple of months and then I suffered a sudden very deep depression. 75mg venlafaxine was added for one month with no positive effect so I went to 150mg and after maybe one month I began feeling well and then rapidly went back to a stable normal mood. This has lasted 2 months so far and I plan to stay on this combination until the end of this year at least.

Side effects are currently minimal. I have energy again, I can work (I'm self-employed) and enjoy life where 6 months ago I could not get out of bed. I did get a lot of migraine type visual disturbances for the first month but these have now gone away

I have had many depressive episodes going back over 30 years and anxiety too, so it could be the combination that has worked or it could just be that I've come out of the cycle anyway. But my gut feeling is that it's the combination, but it took longer than expected.

I hope it works for you. Keep with it and don't be worried about the high dose. It worried me, but sometimes it needs to be that way to kick-start a recovery...

All the best my friend...

[Bboris in reply to MrMalvinas]

Thanks for your details. My problem is primarily anxiety. Did Effexor increase yours at first? Seems like it takes around 150mg to get a response. I’ve been on it for a month. Still have anxiety.

[MrMalvinas in reply to Bboris]

Hi,

I don't think it did increase my anxiety. It was quite bad anyway. It probably helped but it took a while. The mirtazapine will probably help with sleep. It definitely did for me...

[Bboris in reply to MrMalvinas]

Mirtazapine is great for FALLING ASLEEP. But the Effexor can cause insomnia...which means I have trouble STAYING ASLEEP. ARRRGGG! 4 hours of sleep is not enough. I hope these 4 week side effects eventually go away.

[Bboris in reply to MrMalvinas]

I’m on 75mg.

[Dell12345]

Hey guys, how are you getting on? I'm taking 187mg/d of venlaphaxine for anxiety and its helped but not completely.

I'm not sure whether to ask my doc to go up to 225mg/d or add in mirtazapine. Any suggestions?

[Bboris in reply to Dell12345]

I’m using minimal Klonopin for anxiety, and 45 mg. Mirtazapine for sleep and appetite. The Effexor did nothing and was very hard to get off.