1. < Depression & Anxiety

How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work?

Posted by roadqueenie @roadqueenie, Apr 18, 2020

I’m being switched from Viibryd to Mirtazipine (slowly) over two weeks. Mirtazipine started at 15mg and I’m now at 30mg and I take Buspar 10mg for depression and anxiety. I also take Ativan 1mg three times a day. My questions are: how long has it taken these drugs to build up and help symptoms and can the anxiety and depression make me feel physically sick? I just don’t feel well, don’t fell like doing anything except laying on the couch or recliner, I have no motivation to even go for a car ride with my husband and it’s scaring me. I’ve had a complete blood work up and I’m healthy! But I’m nauseous most of the time and food doesn’t appeal to me so I’m living on bananas, rice, ham and other bland food. Anyone else been through this please and thank you?

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tricia7 | @tricia7 | Apr 27 9:59am
In reply to @grandmael "Thank you for your reply tricia. It is greatly appreciated. I am also on antidepressants almost..." + (show)
@grandmael

Thank you for your reply tricia. It is greatly appreciated. I am also on antidepressants almost all my life. I am 74 now. Have more anxiety recently - always worried about getting sick. I would just like to get back to some kind of normal. I have also been heavy all my life up until three years ago when I started losing my appetite and losing weight. It is very upsetting.

I hope you find something that works for you. God Bless

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You sound just like me. I’ve been trying to get back to some kind of normal for 4 years. I got sick with Lyme disease in 2020 and it set off something awful. Changed my life. Unleashed viruses such as EBV and HPV. My labs usually show I’m fighting an infection. I’ve lost over 40lbs after losing my appetite and nausea. I feel you about this being upsetting. My PCP insists this is because I’m depressed. I’ve since started seeing a counselor and take antidepressants but nothing is working. I’m even doing TMS treatments. Still no appetite and exhausted. I feel like I live a hell.
I’m sorry you are going through this. I wish something could help us. My PCP diagnosed Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I just turned 61 and feel like my life is over. I don’t like taking these meds but don’t know what else to do. I just had a CT Scan with contrast that only showed a cyst on my liver so it appears this is not GI related.
I wish you the best as well. God Bless.

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2 replies
grandmael | @grandmael | Apr 27 11:43am
In reply to @tricia7 "You sound just like me. I’ve been trying to get back to some kind of normal..." + (show)
@tricia7

You sound just like me. I’ve been trying to get back to some kind of normal for 4 years. I got sick with Lyme disease in 2020 and it set off something awful. Changed my life. Unleashed viruses such as EBV and HPV. My labs usually show I’m fighting an infection. I’ve lost over 40lbs after losing my appetite and nausea. I feel you about this being upsetting. My PCP insists this is because I’m depressed. I’ve since started seeing a counselor and take antidepressants but nothing is working. I’m even doing TMS treatments. Still no appetite and exhausted. I feel like I live a hell.
I’m sorry you are going through this. I wish something could help us. My PCP diagnosed Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I just turned 61 and feel like my life is over. I don’t like taking these meds but don’t know what else to do. I just had a CT Scan with contrast that only showed a cyst on my liver so it appears this is not GI related.
I wish you the best as well. God Bless.

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Thank you again Tricia. I will be thinking of you.

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cathrynliz | @cathrynliz | Apr 27 12:44pm
In reply to @grandmael "I was prescribed 7.5 of Mirtazapine to help with eating. I have no appetite and have..." + (show)
@grandmael

I was prescribed 7.5 of Mirtazapine to help with eating. I have no appetite and have been losing weight got s long time. Has this medication helped anyone gain their appetite back? After reading the side effects I am afraid to continue due to withdrawal problems.

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It does increase my appetite, although that is not why I am taking it.

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mayomee | @mayomee | Apr 28 12:49pm
In reply to @myacct123 "How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to..." + (show)
@myacct123

How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to come off the medication? It’s been a couple of months. No improvement. Why is the doctor trying it again? I am concerned about brain fog. Anyone else experience that with this drug?

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Yes, I'm a senior heart patient. Started with 7.5 Mirtazapine, doctor suggested 15 mg. It didn't help. Side effects hurt.Went back to 7.5.Seems to help with anxiety and sleep . And did get better over time. Been on the 7.5 for about 3-4 months. Average on depression. No side effects on the 7.5 dosage.

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1 reply
kawanhee | @kawanhee | Apr 28 1:37pm
In reply to @myacct123 "How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to..." + (show)
@myacct123

How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to come off the medication? It’s been a couple of months. No improvement. Why is the doctor trying it again? I am concerned about brain fog. Anyone else experience that with this drug?

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I’m curious as to the side effects of mirtazapine that some of you had. I’m on 7.5 mg for sleep

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grandmael | @grandmael | Apr 30 5:46am
In reply to @myacct123 "How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to..." + (show)
@myacct123

How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to come off the medication? It’s been a couple of months. No improvement. Why is the doctor trying it again? I am concerned about brain fog. Anyone else experience that with this drug?

Jump to this post

I have been on Mirtazapine for about two weeks. 7.5 mg for increased appetite. It seems to be helping already even though I think it should take longer. I have gained 1.5 lbs already even though its not much. Its better than losing more weight. An added benefit is that I feel a bit better on this medication. I already take two other antidepressants but feel better with the addition of Mirtazapine. Feel like getting out and doing more with a more positive attitude. I am hoping to drop one of the other antidepressants. Please let us know how you are doing. Do you ever really stop taking antidepressants? I don't know. If you feel better I would stay on the medicine. Depression is so hard. God Bless.

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1 reply
gerryvigus56 | @gerryvigus56 | May 2 7:19am
In reply to @myacct123 "How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to..." + (show)
@myacct123

How long does it take the medication mirtazapine to work? When is a good time to come off the medication? It’s been a couple of months. No improvement. Why is the doctor trying it again? I am concerned about brain fog. Anyone else experience that with this drug?

Jump to this post

I have been on Paxil and Trazadone for decades and was fine, talking to my doctor and decided to try newer kinds of antidepressants figuring they could be better, well boy was I wrong, started off on 7.5 MG while titrating off my old meds then when to 15mg with no other meds and I was a wreck felt horror, anxiety through the roof etc , then when to 30 MG and I have severe restless legs and feeling very hyper and then sleepy, now I want to go back to my Paxil and Trazadone , waiting to get in to see my doctor

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1 reply
grandmael | @grandmael | May 2 7:40am
In reply to @gerryvigus56 "I have been on Paxil and Trazadone for decades and was fine, talking to my doctor..." + (show)
@gerryvigus56

I have been on Paxil and Trazadone for decades and was fine, talking to my doctor and decided to try newer kinds of antidepressants figuring they could be better, well boy was I wrong, started off on 7.5 MG while titrating off my old meds then when to 15mg with no other meds and I was a wreck felt horror, anxiety through the roof etc , then when to 30 MG and I have severe restless legs and feeling very hyper and then sleepy, now I want to go back to my Paxil and Trazadone , waiting to get in to see my doctor

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Sorry you have had this problem. I am also on other meds that I just started tampering off and will increase to 15 MG of Mirtazapine in about two weeks. My issue besides depression and loss of weight is slightly low blood pressure so I will be stopping Lexapro and Atenolol over time. Will then be on 15 MG of Mirtazapine and Cymbalta. I hope this works for me. I also hope you can get back on the Paxil and Trazadone as soon as possible my friend. Be well. God Bless.

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1 reply
gerryvigus56 | @gerryvigus56 | May 5 9:35am
In reply to @grandmael "Sorry you have had this problem. I am also on other meds that I just started..." + (show)
@grandmael

Sorry you have had this problem. I am also on other meds that I just started tampering off and will increase to 15 MG of Mirtazapine in about two weeks. My issue besides depression and loss of weight is slightly low blood pressure so I will be stopping Lexapro and Atenolol over time. Will then be on 15 MG of Mirtazapine and Cymbalta. I hope this works for me. I also hope you can get back on the Paxil and Trazadone as soon as possible my friend. Be well. God Bless.

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I finally got in to see my doctor and he's titering me back to Paxil, what's nice is it's a very short time before I go back to my Pacil, less than a week, can't wait to feel good again

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1 reply
gerryvigus56 | @gerryvigus56 | May 5 9:39am
In reply to @grandmael "I have been on Mirtazapine for about two weeks. 7.5 mg for increased appetite. It seems..." + (show)
@grandmael

I have been on Mirtazapine for about two weeks. 7.5 mg for increased appetite. It seems to be helping already even though I think it should take longer. I have gained 1.5 lbs already even though its not much. Its better than losing more weight. An added benefit is that I feel a bit better on this medication. I already take two other antidepressants but feel better with the addition of Mirtazapine. Feel like getting out and doing more with a more positive attitude. I am hoping to drop one of the other antidepressants. Please let us know how you are doing. Do you ever really stop taking antidepressants? I don't know. If you feel better I would stay on the medicine. Depression is so hard. God Bless.

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I know I will always be on antidepressants, some people have to go on them because of a situation being trauma whatever, with me I just started having panic attacks, horrible anxiety etc , my mother was manic depressive and my father had depression and on my father's side he had 2 brothers with depression who had to hold into sanitoriums for it, of course this was decades ago and that's what happened, I have been told that it can definitely be in families and I truly believe that's why I have it

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