Has anyone experienced fatigue while taking Mirtazapine?

Posted by loraclucy @loraclucy, Jul 18 1:10pm

Has anyone experienced fatigue while taking Mirtazapine 30mg

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

My husband has insomnia related to Parkinson's Disease. He tried 15 mgs of Mirtazipine and that was too strong. He cut back to 7.5 and that was a little too weak and now he's taking 11.75 at bedtime and it's just right. It improved his appetite and enabled some good REM sleep. His doc has been patient and careful in dose changes due to his sensitivity. He also takes 1 mg Xanax with the 11.75 mirtazipine at bedtime and can usually get about 6 hours sleep. He does not feel groggy in the morning. Every body is different so we've learned trial and error is the game plan. He also tried CBD oil and gummies but that did not help either. Good luck finding a good solution that's right for you.

REPLY
Profile picture for loraclucy @loraclucy

Have you tried cannabis I us gummies for sleep?

Jump to this post

@loraclucy do you have a specific brand that you have? I also have my medical marijuana card for insomnia. I was using a cbd:cbn gummy that was helping but now not so much. Would love to hear your nighttime routine for sleep ?

REPLY

I just use a 5 mg gummy. The brand is Mindy.

REPLY
Profile picture for crbarefoot @crbarefoot

@loraclucy do you have a specific brand that you have? I also have my medical marijuana card for insomnia. I was using a cbd:cbn gummy that was helping but now not so much. Would love to hear your nighttime routine for sleep ?

Jump to this post

@crbarefoot I think the gummy has to have THC to help with sleep.

REPLY
Profile picture for loraclucy @loraclucy

@crbarefoot I think the gummy has to have THC to help with sleep.

Jump to this post

@loraclucy yes, mine has CBN/THC . CBN is specifically for sleep.

REPLY
Profile picture for 1oldsoul @1oldsoul

Mirtazapine has a paradoxical effect in which the lower the dose the more sedating it is in general. In other words and according to my doctor and the pharmacist I consulted when I tried it, anything OVER 15 mg becomes less sedating. I tried both 15 mg and 7.5 mg and they both completely left me too fatigued and sleepy the next day. But I have always been sensitive to meds. I was using it for sleep and anxiety. I could not continue with it because I had to be able to function the next day. The pharmacist could not tell me if 22.5 mg would still work for insomnia but not leave me so wiped out the next day and I was too scared to try it. I had read in reviews that a lot of people had tried 3.75 mg (half of a 7.5 mg pill) and it still helped them sleep, but with the paradoxical effect of more sedation at lower doses I was too scared to try it. The first time I ever took it I had only been sleeping 2 hours a night and I slept for 14 hours. No side effects except for being spacey and tired the next day. That was 6 years ago. I tried it one time again last week and the after effects lasted two days this time but I am now 72 years old and even more sensitive to drugs. Only tried it one night this time! Yes (sigh) I have had insomnia for 6 years now with an average sleep of 4 hours a night. Sleep apnea ruled out. I am currently trying Ramelteon and have literally been through all the common sleep meds which either didn’t work or had too many side effects. Ramelteon apparently is not an instant sleep med and can take days or weeks to be fully effective so I will post back with my experience. Luckily no side effects with it and my dosage is 8 mg. Had to find a psychiatrist with more drug side effect knowledge than my GP doc and was blessed to find an amazing lady in Corpus Christi who is so patient and knowledgeable. Insomnia is the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with and my heart goes out to anyone experiencing it. Keep your chin up and remember to take it one day at a time. Also remember that you have made it this far and that the answer may be right around the corner.

Jump to this post

@1oldsoul took mirtazapine for about 9 months, cant remember the dosage though but I slept so well and felt great on it. Only reason I slowly took myself off of it was weight gain. Yes, I feel for you being sleep deprived.

REPLY
Profile picture for 1oldsoul @1oldsoul

Mirtazapine has a paradoxical effect in which the lower the dose the more sedating it is in general. In other words and according to my doctor and the pharmacist I consulted when I tried it, anything OVER 15 mg becomes less sedating. I tried both 15 mg and 7.5 mg and they both completely left me too fatigued and sleepy the next day. But I have always been sensitive to meds. I was using it for sleep and anxiety. I could not continue with it because I had to be able to function the next day. The pharmacist could not tell me if 22.5 mg would still work for insomnia but not leave me so wiped out the next day and I was too scared to try it. I had read in reviews that a lot of people had tried 3.75 mg (half of a 7.5 mg pill) and it still helped them sleep, but with the paradoxical effect of more sedation at lower doses I was too scared to try it. The first time I ever took it I had only been sleeping 2 hours a night and I slept for 14 hours. No side effects except for being spacey and tired the next day. That was 6 years ago. I tried it one time again last week and the after effects lasted two days this time but I am now 72 years old and even more sensitive to drugs. Only tried it one night this time! Yes (sigh) I have had insomnia for 6 years now with an average sleep of 4 hours a night. Sleep apnea ruled out. I am currently trying Ramelteon and have literally been through all the common sleep meds which either didn’t work or had too many side effects. Ramelteon apparently is not an instant sleep med and can take days or weeks to be fully effective so I will post back with my experience. Luckily no side effects with it and my dosage is 8 mg. Had to find a psychiatrist with more drug side effect knowledge than my GP doc and was blessed to find an amazing lady in Corpus Christi who is so patient and knowledgeable. Insomnia is the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with and my heart goes out to anyone experiencing it. Keep your chin up and remember to take it one day at a time. Also remember that you have made it this far and that the answer may be right around the corner.

Jump to this post

@1oldsoul Thanks for all of the great info and glad Mirtazapine works for you, albeit the side effects. I couldn't agree with you more about insomnia and appreciate the empathy for anyone experiencing it, as I have severe chronic childhood onset insomnia, avg 2-3 hrs a night and often times experience zero sleep multiple nights in a row. May be trying Mirtazapine, grateful to now know about side effects you described, and also need to find out if it's safe to take with Ativan which I am currently tapering off of; I believe it is, and would love any input. Good luck with the Ramelteon and glad you found a great psychiatrist who is patient and knowledgeable!

REPLY
Profile picture for happytoseeyou @happytoseeyou

@1oldsoul Thanks for all of the great info and glad Mirtazapine works for you, albeit the side effects. I couldn't agree with you more about insomnia and appreciate the empathy for anyone experiencing it, as I have severe chronic childhood onset insomnia, avg 2-3 hrs a night and often times experience zero sleep multiple nights in a row. May be trying Mirtazapine, grateful to now know about side effects you described, and also need to find out if it's safe to take with Ativan which I am currently tapering off of; I believe it is, and would love any input. Good luck with the Ramelteon and glad you found a great psychiatrist who is patient and knowledgeable!

Jump to this post

@happytoseeyou
How do you handle it mentally with so little sleep or is it any easier since you have had this since childhood? I never had anxiety before I stopped sleeping and some days I have both anxiety and depression. I have read some reviews on Ramelteon in which some people state it took a week to help their sleep and some took a month. I would love to know how you are coping although I’m sure the Ativan helped. Any advice is appreciated!

REPLY
Profile picture for 1oldsoul @1oldsoul

@happytoseeyou
How do you handle it mentally with so little sleep or is it any easier since you have had this since childhood? I never had anxiety before I stopped sleeping and some days I have both anxiety and depression. I have read some reviews on Ramelteon in which some people state it took a week to help their sleep and some took a month. I would love to know how you are coping although I’m sure the Ativan helped. Any advice is appreciated!

Jump to this post

@1oldsoul Thanks and I had been handling it for decades pretty darn good and was ok but now is a different story with multiple nights of zero sleep in a row at times, like right now, 2nd night, no sleep. Yes, the Ativan helped in the beginning, but now as I taper off, it's become ineffective, that's why I may take Mirtazapine, because the Ativan, which was the only thing that helped with this recent worsening is no longer viable. Not sure if that made sense, lol.

REPLY
Profile picture for happytoseeyou @happytoseeyou

@1oldsoul Thanks and I had been handling it for decades pretty darn good and was ok but now is a different story with multiple nights of zero sleep in a row at times, like right now, 2nd night, no sleep. Yes, the Ativan helped in the beginning, but now as I taper off, it's become ineffective, that's why I may take Mirtazapine, because the Ativan, which was the only thing that helped with this recent worsening is no longer viable. Not sure if that made sense, lol.

Jump to this post

@happytoseeyou
I often also take Ambien.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.