My husband has been on Mirtazapine 45mg for 5mths. He still has very low mood and anxiety and is angry pretty much all the time.
It has been suggested that he starts on Quetiapine alongside the Mirtazapine. Has anyone got any experience of Quetiapine either on its own or with another drug?
I take both but the quetiapine makes me sleep 18 hrs a day so don’t take it daily as I should .?
Sometimes two drugs together are used, both types may have subtle differences so that may help. I take two medications, one AD treats my Depression Anxiety and the other treats my nerve tendon damage, this makes me more comfortable when walking around..
Has your Husband had any talking therapy CBT, or any other interventions.
Remember even when we are bad with Depression you do not need to stand there and accept anger etc from the sufferer
BOB
Thank you for your lovely reply. It is good to know that you as a sufferer can appreciate how hard it can be to be on the support side, if you know what I mean.
My husband has been on a waiting list for CBT for some months now. He has recently started some private sessions so I am hoping these will help.
In the UK CBT was rationed to groups of twelve sessions so some private sessions may help him be able to move on
Are there any Mental Health Day Centres in your area generally your Husband may be able to gain support there as well. Many do CBT Sessions about 6 or 10. The staff and patients form good relationship with staff and patient. Sometimes they can also help with Anger Issues in the short term. You would also find Patients there will also not accept Anger issues, just because you have this illness does not mean people need to accept bad behavior
BOB
Quetiapine is used as an antidepressant sometimes but is actually an anti psychotic drug
Yes, we have been told it is an anti psychotic. He wouldn't be able to work though if it made him sleep that much.
I’m not taking mine as often as I should and I’m ill health retired . Everyone reacts diff to drugs but it was advised I’d sleep more , so it’s all down to how much , I guess .
I am on Vortioxetine 20 mg and Quetiapine 100 Mg. The latter is definitely more effective for my particular multiple conditions (inc. PTSD, OCD, GAD and treatment-resistant Depression) but as others have pointed out, it makes one *very* sleepy.
I have to be careful when I take it at night - within a couple of minutes of ingestion, I feel clumsy and uncoordinated and need to lie down.
Hi LAAG,
I take both. I am on 300mg Quetiapine and 45mg Mirtazapine. I was already on the quetiapine when Mirtazapine was prescribed (previously on another antidepressant). Quetiapine is an anti-psychotic / mood stabiliser and I have personally found it does keep me fairly balanced.
When I first started quetiapine it did make me very drowsy (especially at that time I was working and had to get up early to commute) but I have been on it several years now. I take both drugs in the evening, usually my mirtazapine about 5ish and the quetiapine about 9ish. That way I can fall asleep about half 10 and if I need to get up early I can do so without too much issue. I also found that if I took the drugs together I got symptoms of restless leg syndrome which was very uncomfortable, and slightly painful. However that was just me and as with any medication it affects everybody differently.
If your husband does find the mornings a problem to start with then he is allowed to request adjustment to his working hours / working conditions until his body has adjusted to it. Has his employer got an Occupational Health division as an appointment with them would be very helpful and the recommendations they make are, to some degree, protected by law.
Mirtazapine can also make you drowsy but people tend to find that it is the lower dose that makes you sleepy (I used to take 3 x 15mg mirtazapine to help me sleep rather than 1 x 45mg tablet).
A common side effect of both of these medications is weight gain.
mind.org.uk/information-sup...
Take care
Thank you Missy, your reply is really helpful. We have our own business so we can find ways to work around working hours.
Can I ask what you take your medication for? My husband is clearly depressed and there is anxiety also. He seems to have no compassion for anyone and he can make himself angry over everything. I find it quite draining at times.
This particular combination of drugs can be used to treat a number of different mental health illnesses, all of which should be diagnosed by a Psychiatrist or other mental health professional rather than a GP.
You mention that your husband is receiving CBT, don't forget about yourself. Having a mental health illness can, unintentionally, make you quite selfish and you don't notice the effect your are having on a partner / loved one. It is important that you also receive support so you don't end up making yourself ill. There are plenty of charities that offer help and support to both the "patient" and the "carer".
Have you been on Mind's website? There is a lot of very useful information and also support. I am currently getting group therapy via Mind which is different to CBT as it is not as intensive but the best thing is that there is no end date. In our group there are both sufferers (like myself) and carer's.
mind.org.uk/information-sup...
mind.org.uk/information-sup...
My clinical diagnosis (although not entirely relevant in my opinion) is Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and traits of BiPolar Disorder (BD).
Just remember to be kind to yourself as well as supporting your husband.
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