Does anyone have experience with Mirtazapine?

Good afternoon @gettingbetter75 I am so sorry to hear of your week of almost sleepless nights. That is so tough to deal with and can lead to more depression and anxiety.

It sounds like gabapentin is working for you. I don't quite understand why you are taking two different sleep medications in addition to the gabapentin. Were those prescribed for you? I am just not a pill take so I don't understand the dosages.

I suppose that you may know about setting a chime that rings when it is time to prepare for bed. For us that means, medications taken, the TV turned off, digital devices turned off and a few moments of quiet meditation that begins with something like, "May I have a restful sleep tonight. May I be safe and protected from inner and outer harm." It works and can be a great habit to acquire. Let me know that you are continuing to be successful or if you have additional inquiries. Chris

So far so good here, Chris. Yep, I take 5mg Melatonin, 110mg x 2 Magnesium Glycinate, 1x200mg Gabapentin and 1/2 a Unisom Extra Strength tab. At this point, honestly, as long as I can sleep with minimal hangover the next day is all I care about. If I can sleep 5hrs, I'm good. My insomnia journey prior to this is not something I can afford to repeat. I'm not talking, oh a had a bad nights sleep for say a few nights. This was full-blown chronic insomnia that went on for a little over a month. I was losing my grip on reality.

I will be going to a sleep clinic next week to further discuss my insomnia and/or any amelioration I can make in this regard. As an extra FYI for you, all this started when I finished a long time relationship/prescription with anti-anxiety medication. My new doctor (we moved) would NOT continue to prescribe that for me. The anti-anxiety medication might not have been entirely helpful with anxiety per se but it was certainly effective for insomnia. Now that I am off anti-anxiety meds, I have no plans to return on that awful stuff. I do feel a little better, more alive when I can get some sleep, that is. My only significant health issue is my sleep. I need to figure this out long term and I can continue as I was and/or better.

I'm a 44yr old father of two with a full-time eng job, experiencing insomnia at this level is not something I can tolerate again. So going back to the above medication + supplements, I'm OK with that for now. I also use the headspace app to help lull me to sleep. It too is helpful.

@artscaping Chris, can I presume that you retire at the same time every night? Probably a good idea but it just wouldn’t work for me.
I too go through periods of sleepless nights. When I have had 2 or 3 in a row I will take an small dose lorazepam (Ativan).it generally gives me just enough help. It’s not meant as a sleeping pill, it’s for anxiety, but when I’m not sleeping it is generally from anxiety.
JK

Hi there @contentandwell,

The answer is yes, we do try to have a pretty normal routine. Doing so sort of creates a rhythm of life. I am trying to be predictable, e.g. meds at the same times, yoga at the same time, etc. Of course, you know what gets me off track....yep, it is reading and responding to Mayo Connect posts.

I did find that when I stayed awake too long for a few nights, it was harder to fall asleep and/or I was nodding off in the afternoon. Besides, my chipmunk family will come and chirp under the bedroom window if I haven't gotten up to feed them.

I do have to lollygag in bed a bit in the morning or at least until my legs tell me that they won't give out on me when I get up. Sometimes they just refuse to work well and I have to give them a few hours off.

Be safe and protected tonight. Chris

@gettingbetter75, Good evening. I understand now. Thanks for the clarification. I was just being a bit of a worry wort. I do want to share with you the reason for my concern.

My life partner is a widower. His wife was killed by a young man on drugs. He thought he was doing quite well, back at work, gathering and sorting belongings, trying to move on with his life. He was a counselor and therapist in a mental hospital for several years. His insomnia just hung on like a dark cloud to the point where he did lose his grip on reality and ended up as a patient at the very same hospital where he had worked. With special care and some great talk therapy, he learned to work his way through the grieving and towards acceptance.

So please be safe and protected from inner and outer harm today. Chris

@artscaping Chris, I consider it a major accomplishment that we are now generally eating dinner at around 6:30 every night. It had gradually crept up to eating at around 8:00, definitely too late. It does sometimes go to 7:00 now but that's on the edge of acceptable. My femur fracture has really set things off too. I had been getting up at a pretty regular time in the morning, about 7:30 or sometimes 6:30 to get to my health club, etc., but now since I am not going I sleep late a lot. I am thinking of resuming my membership in the next week and just go to the gym for upper body exercise. Honestly though, my leg is still really quite painful. I have been very conservative in my use of Tramadol, which has helped in the morning, but I am about to run out. I doubt the doctor will prescribe it again, they really err on the side of caution with the opioid epidemic.
JK

Hi, @gettingbetter - is this regimen of medications you described helping you get 5 hours of sleep nightly at this point? When is your sleep clinic appointment?

I’m taking Mirtazapine to help with sleep issues as well. I’m currently taking 7.5 mg. before bed and not having any severe side effects.

My husband falls asleep quickly, but will awake around 3am and have trouble going back to sleep. My dr. suggested he try Nuvana Shut Eye, which is a natural sleep aid. It contains all natural ingredients and he’s sleeping better and not waking up drowsy. We purchased on-line and then received a free bottle after giving an online review of the product. I think overall he’s sleeping better and not hindered during the day.

Best of luck, lack of sleep can be an aggravating and can definitely affect quality of life.

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @sandifl. I agree with you that lack of sleep can be aggravating. I'm currently not having challenges with sleep, but have for periods before. It's miserable, and anxiety about sleep seems to make it worse.

Sounds like you and your husband have each had some sleep issues and have found different treatments to be helpful.

Do you generally have trouble getting to sleep?

I have taken 5mg. of Ambien for sleep for at least 15 years. I also take 7.5 mirtazapine for insomnia. I am going to try to taper off Ambien by cutting pills. Any suggestions. I just retired and don't feel my insomnia will effect my new life style ( extra sleep in the early morning feels great).