Mirtazapine

[Gardenlover2020]

The doctor has prescribed Mirtazapine for my anxiety as I’ve tried fluoxetine & Citalopram and didn’t get on with them .

I have IBS-C and I’m worried that it will make my constipation worse than it already is . I asked the doctor about this & she said a lot of the side affects of all the antidepressants were constipation & diarrhoea .

I know the only way to know for sure is to try them as the anxiety isn’t getting any better & is always escalated when the IBS gets worse .

I just wondered if anyone was taking these antidepressants & how they were getting on with them .

Thank you as always 🙏 for any help & advice .

[RickyW]

I've tried mirtazapine in the past, but I'm more IBS-D. The first time I went on them they worked a small miracle. I was in a pretty bad place, and they helped me see my anxiety for what it was. Remember once just walking out into town and thinking "oh this is what its like just to be able to be outside not worrying".The subsequent times I've tried, they didn't work so well, but I'd still give them a go!

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to RickyW]

Thank you for your encouragement& the experience you had with them .

I want to try them but I had a very bad reaction to citalopram & had to call an ambulance I was so ill & it’s made me very wary of trying them & also because of the possible constipation they can cause , but I need to as the anxiety is awful some days .

[Julie-1958]

I did not find they affected my bowels but I was on a low dose they really helped with sleep though.

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to Julie-1958]

Thanks that’s a help , the dose I’ve been prescribed is one tablet 15 mg

[edwangy]

Sounds like you're getting more anxious about the things that are supposed to stop it. Have you tried weaning off them all and see how you feel? They may even be the cause of you constipation (?)

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to edwangy]

I have tried weaning off the laxatives, under the guidance of the gastroenterologist but things started to slow & I was advised by the consultant to switch from the Senna I was on to Bisacodyl & I haven’t tried reducing them since then as I’ve been waiting for a transit scan which has now come through for next week , so I’ll wait until i get the results from that before I change anything.

[miriam661m]

Hello I was on that medication for about a year. I don't recall it doing anything to my IBS-C but it sure made me gain a lot of weight. I think the ones that you've been on in the past were very activating and not necessarily great for anxiety. Have you tried Zoloft or Lexapro which are less anxiety producing?

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to miriam661m]

I’d be glad if I gained some weight ! After watching my weight all my life , I’m now far too thin since getting IBS so for once it would be welcome !!

I haven’t tried Zoloft ( sertraline) but I’ve got some in the cupboard that the doctor prescribed a while ago , a different doctor prescribed Mertazapine as she thought they might suit better as they are from a different family of antidepressants

[Cat68]

Hi I've been on mirtazapine in past prior to ibs issues and found them helpful with few side effects but do make you sleepy so good to take at night. I'm thinking of starting them again as struggling with ibs symptoms haven't been officially diagnosed but mainly ibs-c as well. I tried sertraline but they gave me diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Hope you get on ok and they help xx

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to Cat68]

Thank you , I’ve been wary of taking them after I had terrible sickness & diarrhoea from taking Citalopram , it was frightening how one tablet could make you so ill . Hence my reluctance in trying a different one , but the drowsiness would be good as I do wake up in the night with my heart racing , which doesn’t help in the bathroom department 🙄Thanks for sharing your experience , it is a help & I’m sorry you’re struggling with the same problems too xx

[Jackie1612]

Hi I have taken Mirtazapine on and off for some years. I now take half a 15 mg tablet at night to help me sleep.I didn’t find it changed my IBS – D at all. It didn’t do much for my anxiety at the time.

Sertraline did help the anxiety though, and it’s also helped with the diarrhoea. So it might not help as you have IBS-C

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to Jackie1612]

Thank you , that’s interesting as Sertraline is supposed to cause diarrhoea, it’s listed as one of the side effects, just shows how differently we all respond to things .

[Manor607]

I have been on mirtazapine 15mg for two months (taken about an hour before bed). A definite improvement in mood/anxiety/depression. As people have mentioned, lower doses have a sedative effect . That is the one side effect I don't like as it takes several hours into my day before shaking off the effects..just a ' low grade tired' . I sleep through the night, with occasional waking ..but go right back to sleep --which was always a problem before. I would wake at 2-3am and just toss 'n turn, ruminate , OCD etc. Not since being on the mirtazapine. No problem with stomach/bowel issues. It definitely increased my appetite and I put on a few pounds, but I had lost substantial weight over the summer with the anxiety/depression. So could afford to add a few. Will have to keep an eye on that side effect. For me, the more troubling side effect ( especially if it continues and worsens with time) is joint/muscle ache. Not constant. But , when it hits it's just about every joint ...all at once... ankles/wrist/fingers/ hips/knees etc etc, But again, doesn't last long. For now the improvement in mental health far outweighs the current side effects. Take care.

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to Manor607]

Thank you , that’s really helpful .I still haven’t taken it yet as I don’t sleep for much more than 5 hrs but it’s fairly okay sleep & I don’t want to feel anymore tired than I already do , which I’m frightened off with this antidepressant, also the constipation isn’t getting any better and I don’t want to make it even worse 🙄

The anxiety is really bad some days & bearable other days , so I’ll see if I can get it a bit more under control with The CBT I’m doing .

Thanks again for your help & take care too x