Mirtazapine and sertraline

[Joker93]

I have been on mirtazapine for 5 months, 30mg, I have now been on 15 mg for almost a week. At the end of the week I have to start 50mg of sertraline, literally the day after my mirtazapine dose finishes. I am really worried that this isn't the best thing to do, but my doctor isn't giving me any other choice as they have discontinued the prescription for mirtazapine. I want to come of the meds altogether. Isn't it better to taper of the 15 mg and not start another one?

[8421]

Hi, have you told your gp that you want to come off all medication? Maybe he is trying to give you a medication that has similar effects to mitrazapine?!

[Joker93 in reply to 8421]

Yeah I have informed them that I want to come off the medication altogether. His response was to go on the sertraline for a month and then just stop taking them. I know this isn't good advice, but I don't know what to do. My last mirtazapine tablet finishes tonight then all I have is the sertraline. I have been on sertraline before, and unwisely I stop taking the 200mg cold turkey, I felt okay physically, but I don't want to have to do that again for a second time with the mirtazapine.

[8421 in reply to Joker93]

I have been on sertraline for many years! I don't know much about mitrazapine but I'm sure your gp feels that you need it. If you are unhappy about it I think you should contact him and ask for more information and why he feels you need it. Like everyone else medical professionals may have differing opinions but surely your gp knows your circumstances better than any other professional. I know it's scary and unsettling but you need to make him understand how you feel about it. Good luck

[CristianRZ]

Lots of people are in the same situation as you . I’m on 30mg for 7+ years now . I’ve been on and off meds . If you want to quit mirtazapine you have to taper it down by half each week untill you get Around 3.75 This is the best Way . Otherwise you’ll get forgetfull and clumsy for a month or so ..

The only problem is that anxiety or depression might come back ... this is why i continued my medication . And i don’t really think i will be off meds again . Two times came back ...( i have Crippling anxiety issues)

Anyway . Knowing the fact that your doctor thinks you need another antidepressant “sertraline” It means either mirtazapine is not working for you either you complained about weight gain / hunger or sleepiness..

For me mirtazapine is the best .. because if i can sleep fine i have energy to work and be normal . I was skinny before and now i’m normal so it helps

[Joker93 in reply to CristianRZ]

So the reason they want me to come off the mirtazapine is because my cholesterol is a little high for my age, but they know my family history and it is full of people who have high cholesterol so I don't understand why they advised me to go on it in the first place. I think what has thrown me most is that I don't feel like I have had a choice in any of what's going on. I work in a prison and have spoken to several of the mental health and psychiatric nurses there, and both sides have advised me that I shouldn't be getting told to do it this way.

[Ruggerhead]

I have been on both, the reason i was given is that the Mirtazapine helps with the uptake of SSRI and vice versa, ie that they work well in tandom, an SSRI can actually cause increased anxiety for a while, and insomnia, the Mirt has a sedative and weight gain attribute to it. I have myself found it easier just to taper myself, ie over a few weeks drop down about a half ie 30 to 15 to 7 to 31/2 etc as i have also been on and off a few times. The Mirt works well for sleep, the SSRIs not so much for me. But its a kind of trial and error thing, but in my own opinion tapering someway is best advised.