Mirtazapine... Lack of energy and weight gain.

[Chellebells]

Hello, I'm new to this website. I suffer from social anxiety, GAD and agoraphobia. I've had anxiety issues since April 2011. I was on Lustral 50mg during last year, but I came off August. This is when everything took a turn for the worse, and I'm now on Mirtazapine 30mg. I have been on this since October. When I first started, I was seriously sedated and lack of energy. I was house bound for about 2 months because of agoraphobia, and I still have the anxieties that I got from when I tried out Prozac (which DID NOT agree with me).. I have a fear of passing out, especially out of my comfort zone (which is my home) and I get health anxiety too. Things are getting better, I started going back to the gym with my mum about 2 months ago but I'm still very scared to go in to town or out alone. Mirtazapine have helped ease panic attacks, but not so much anixety.. this has been helped with CBT sessions though I still have a long way to go. I have gained weight whilst on Mirtazapine (about a stone and a half) because of an increased appetite and I also get tired very easily. I sleep for about 10 hours, and even still feel tired after I've woken up. It does help me get to sleep (out within 45 mins of taking the tablet) but I'm sleeping too much and finding myself tired during the day and lack of energy. Even so at times that I feel like sleeping whilst I'm standing up. I'm partly scared to go too far of a distance (as I walk) because of the tiredness.

Has anyone else had lack of energy and/or weight gain whilst on this? And if so, have you been able to help it?

[Hidden]

Hi there...

I am taking mirtazapine,,,, im on 45mg now, Since last year, when I first started taking them they too knocked me out and still do send me to sleep, and I have had the weight gain, but I feel cos I was so bad this is a small price to pay..... I dont have a lack of energy... perhaps this is the anxiety??? I agree they dont take all the anxiety away but for me this is ok, I dont want to be sedated that much.... for me it just helps till things are back on track, and I feel able to cope without the meds.....

hope this helps........

xx

[Chellebells in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying I was thinking of going up to 45mg, would you say that there's much difference between 30 and 45mg? It could well be anxiety. I have read that it does cause fatigue, I suppose it could be because of brain and body being exhausted. Thanks again. xx

[Hidden]

Well Ive been taking it on and off for a number of years...... started on 30mg last year and I didnt feel as though it was working (although I did have an awful lot of stuff going on in my life to cause anxiety).... So I went up to 45mg..... I didnt really feel any difference.... I would go back and discuss with your gp first.... But I know when my anxiety is really bad, that I do feel exhausted.... but if Im coping Im not, so I wouldnt say it was the tablets, just more the anxiety

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

xx

[Chellebells in reply to Hidden]

Ahh right, I definitely have found it to be less sedating the higher I've gone. When I started on 7mg I was just out cold most of the day. I have found it to have less side effects than SSRI's and it's mostly the weight gain and sedation. I'm always craving sweet desserts! Not good for the waist haha. I think I will discuss with my gp and see what he thinks. I think it could well be the anxiety. I'm trying to loose the weight that I've put on with these tablets, so obviously my self esteem is quite low and my diet needs controlling more so that could be affecting my energy levels. xx

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome

I'm on mirtazapine 45mg since October last year. I've gain a stone and half but I really needed it. My dose was split 30mg night and 15mg in the morning but I was too sedated during the day so now take full at night. I walk, jog and do Pilates. I have had days where I have been exhausted but I think it's when I'm having a bad time, anxiety is hard on your body and mind. It might be worth discussing your meds/dose with your gp. Let us know how you get on when you can love eve x

[Chellebells in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! I will discuss about the dose and feeling tired with my gp, and see what he says. I do find yoga helpful with anxiety, I would like to try Pilates.

[Hidden in reply to Chellebells]

Morning chellebells

I can recommend a Pilates DVD if you are interested its a 50min one broken down into ten minute sections, the last one is stretching so you can combine as many or little as you want. You can see results quite quickly. Anything that makes you feel good and strengthens your confidence really (lara hudson ten minute solution tighten and tone pilates) it comes with resistence band. i ate my own weight in chocolate I think lol but I've now switched to snacking on almonds, dried cranberries, dried apricots which give the sweet kick without the calories. Well done for making it to the gym I don't think I could manage that at the minute love eve x

[Vonnie74]

Hi I've just been put on the same tablets havnt started yet do they help with panic attacks? Xx

[Chellebells in reply to Vonnie74]

I've only had about 2 full blow panic attacks whilst on these, so they've definitely helped panic attacks. I was getting hot flushes (as in blood rushing through me, felt like I was going to faint) and I haven't had any whilst on these. The anxiety is still there with it's physical symptoms (fast heartbeat, sweating, chest pain, hot rash across chest and face) but they still have helped. xx

[Hidden]

my wife is on it now 45mg she has also put on about half a stone . (she will kill me ) she has a very reduced appetite as well with her anxiety . def mirtazapine they are well known for it.

[Chellebells in reply to Hidden]

Ahh It certainly doesn't help the self esteem. And I've heard of people that have lost weight whilst on these?! I suppose it's better to be eating, than not at all (I was barely eating while on Prozac).. I don't think it'll be easy to loose weight whilst on these.

[Chellebells]

Has anyone else found that they get very irritable and short tempered on these tablets?

I have definitely found that.

[Hidden in reply to Chellebells]

No I dont think they made me like that generally.... agian if I was struggling with anxiety I could feel like this.....but generally I dont,,,, so I think it could be the anxiety?!!

xx

[Chellebells in reply to Hidden]

Hmm.. I'm not too sure. I'm on birth control pills, so that causes mood swings too but I certainly noticed how irritable I am on these. I feel as though I could get in to an argument with anyone, which of course is not good. Though of course could be anxiety too.. you know how it kind of lingers in the background but still plays a large role. I shall see how things go. xx

[Hidden in reply to Chellebells]

I'd go have a word with your gp... if only to put your mind at rest!! xx

[the_woon]

I have been on 30mg since April this year, which had been upped from 15mg. I've put on a stone and a half and have the most unbelievable tiredness during the day. I have almost dozed off at work a couple of times I've been wondering what to do about it as well, so it's good to know that I'm not alone!

[Storma]

Hi I'm now on withdrawal of mirtazapine I was increased up to 45mg now back to 15mg.

I'm so exhausted and my concentration is awful trying to hold a job down.

Waiting on crisis team as hit a real low now.