Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 80480

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Remeron - What should I expect?

Posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59

Hi.

I'm supposed to start taking Remeron within the next few days. What should I expect?

Because I'm adding it to Effexor, my doctor wants me to remain at 15mg. for a month. I can't stand taking drugs that are sedating, and of course the weight-gain thing is a big minus as well. Supposedly, both of these are more of a problem at 15mg. than they are at 45mg.

Does the sedation diminish - even at 15mg? Is there any way to prevent weight gain?

Has anyone NOT gained weight with Remeron?

Crap. I hate taking drugs!

Thanks.


- Scott

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect?

Posted by geno on October 6, 2001, at 19:57:21

In reply to Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59

> Hi.
>
> I'm supposed to start taking Remeron within the next few days. What should I expect?
>
> Because I'm adding it to Effexor, my doctor wants me to remain at 15mg. for a month. I can't stand taking drugs that are sedating, and of course the weight-gain thing is a big minus as well. Supposedly, both of these are more of a problem at 15mg. than they are at 45mg.
>
> Does the sedation diminish - even at 15mg? Is there any way to prevent weight gain?
>
> Has anyone NOT gained weight with Remeron?
>
> Crap. I hate taking drugs!
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - Scott

Scott,
Im currently on 30mg remeron. Iv done alot of research on this med. I suffer from depression, anxiety and sleep disorder. This med is about the best that works for all 3 disorders.
15mg of remeron, primarily hits histimine receptors. very sedating. good for sleep.
30mg of remeron, primarily hits histamine and seratonin 5ht2b receptors. still sedating, and has more of an antidepressive effect. Also helps alot with anxiety.
45mg of remeron, primarily hits norpeinephrine along with 5ht2 receptors, more activating, more of an anitdepessive effect. I titrated up to this dose, but could not fall asleep. actually became more awake, and sorta in the mood and anxious from the norepiniephrine.

I would say, if sleep is your problem, stay with 15mg. If depression, anxiety and sleep is your problem, 30mg. If severe depression is your problem, 45mg.

Side effects are wieght gain due to increase appetite. When your brain feels good, its says bring on the food. lay off the fat and sugar.

But id rather be hungry , than a depressed, anxious, insomniac.

At 30mg, my doctor augmented next day sedation with desipramine, with helps alot with energy and counteracts sedation.

another alternative is take 45mg of remeron, with a sleep aid such as ambien at night.

desipramine hits norepinephrine, does not cause crazyness like i feel from welbutrin.

geno

also effexor remeron is called the california cocktail. You should feel alot better on this combo especially for major depression.

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect?

Posted by petter on October 7, 2001, at 1:45:28

In reply to Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59

> Hi.
>
> I'm supposed to start taking Remeron within the next few days. What should I expect?
>
> Because I'm adding it to Effexor, my doctor wants me to remain at 15mg. for a month. I can't stand taking drugs that are sedating, and of course the weight-gain thing is a big minus as well. Supposedly, both of these are more of a problem at 15mg. than they are at 45mg.
>
> Does the sedation diminish - even at 15mg? Is there any way to prevent weight gain?
>
> Has anyone NOT gained weight with Remeron?
>
> Crap. I hate taking drugs!
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - Scott

Hi Scott...

I have use Mirazepine 60 mg to my current regim. For about 4 years. Itīs so great for sleep. Yes.. It makes on to have a few kilo extra. But you can use an H2-blocking Zantac( Ranitidin) 150-300mg at the same time in the evening when you take Remeron.
This regim works. Some expert here in Sweden are awere of this combo.

Go for it....

Sincerely.

Petter.

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect? ŧ petter

Posted by SLS on October 7, 2001, at 10:20:12

In reply to Re: Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by petter on October 7, 2001, at 1:45:28

> > Hi.
> >
> > I'm supposed to start taking Remeron within the next few days. What should I expect?

> Hi Scott...
>
> I have use Mirazepine 60 mg to my current regim. For about 4 years. Itīs so great for sleep. Yes.. It makes on to have a few kilo extra. But you can use an H2-blocking Zantac( Ranitidin) 150-300mg at the same time in the evening when you take Remeron.
> This regim works. Some expert here in Sweden are awere of this combo.
>
> Go for it....
>
> Sincerely.
>
> Petter.


Thanks friend.

Are you still taking Remeron?


- Scott

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect?

Posted by PaulB on October 7, 2001, at 13:12:30

In reply to Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59

> Hi.
>
> I'm supposed to start taking Remeron within the next few days. What should I expect?
>
> Because I'm adding it to Effexor, my doctor wants me to remain at 15mg. for a month. I can't stand taking drugs that are sedating, and of course the weight-gain thing is a big minus as well. Supposedly, both of these are more of a problem at 15mg. than they are at 45mg.
>
> Does the sedation diminish - even at 15mg? Is there any way to prevent weight gain?
>
> Has anyone NOT gained weight with Remeron?
>
> Crap. I hate taking drugs!
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - Scott

I would have thought Remeron without other medication would be an effective antidepressant. There are big pros and cons to Remeron I think. I may have tried it myself except that it has not yet, to the best of my knowledge been indicated for social anxiety/panic type anxiety states. I understnad 15mg can be therapeutic although unfortunately at 15mg anti-histamine blockade will still be very potent. It is Remerons most potent effect. This might diminish with time and with onset of AD effect. I had sedative problems with Paroxetine and my pdoc suggested I take the medication at night. You could try this.

What I would expect from Remeron if I were to try it:

Relief more quickly than other antidepressants. Some people respond to Remeron in a week.

Less generalised anxiety if that is a problem and potent antidepressnat effect due to the dual mode of action.

Longer term relief from depresison than less selective AD's such as Effexor

I cannot coment on the weight issue as I havent
tried it.
Good Luck with it.
PaulB

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect? ŧ SLS

Posted by allisonm on October 7, 2001, at 19:42:11

In reply to Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59

Hi Scott,

My pdoc put me on Remeron In March 1998 because I couldn't tolerate Zoloft or Effexor XR. I built up from 15 to 45mg. It knocked me out at first, but soon the fatigue wore off. It was a godsend at the time because I hadn't slept well for months and was exhausted. I did gain weight. I gained it mostly at the larger doses. I found the 45mg most sedating. In fact, I was wary of taking it away from home because it would hit me quickly and make me dangerousle woozy (for driving).


My pdoc added lithium ot the mix, and we think that was a pretty effective combo. Problem with LI and Rem was horrible weight gain that I could not stop. At least on the Rem, I was swimming and watching what I ate and could keep the weight at a certain level. With Li on top, there was no control.

The Li was working so well, that my pdoc took me off it in April because I seemed to be doing OK, spring was coming (a big deal for me), and because I had sidefx I hated (weight gain and diarrhea). I crashed by June and was suicidal. I wouldn't go back to Li, so got put on Wellbutrin SR with Rem. That helped stabilize the weight and actually reversed the trend.I took the Rem for around 2 years. Eventually tapered it and upped the WB to make it the primary AD. then Dropped the Rem (no withdrawal problems) and started trying other things to augment the WB. Tried Neurontin, Celexa, and then Serzone.

My DX is major depression -- chronic and refractory. My pdoc says I never react to drugs the way that he things I will, so he has been surprised that the WB/Sezone combo seems to be working as well or better than anything so far (we've been trying to find a good combo since January 1998). He has found Serzone has done little for most of his patients.

Remeron is a good drug. It helped me. I hope it helps you too.

Take care and good luck.

allison

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect? ŧ SLS

Posted by phillybob on October 7, 2001, at 22:36:26

In reply to Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59

Hi, Scott. Wanted to chime in.

Some great info so far. Having taken Remeron for a spell, I'd have to say that Geno's post was right on the money for dosages ... for me.

But, I also had read that in Europe, as Petter might attest, Remeron is often prescribed at much higher dosages. This latter info makes me wonder whether I would have benefited from going higher than 45 mg/day and same question for Allison M.

My experience was as non-Remeron tryer Paul B stated: "Relief more quickly than other antidepressants. Some people respond to Remeron in a week."

Started with the 15 mg/nite and was zonked out for a good 12 hours/nite at least for a few days, progressively less sleep needed, though, each nite. Upped it to 30 mg/nite rather quickly and started feeling GOOD. That petered out, so I upped it to 45 mg/nite after a couple of weeks and that seemed to do the trick for me.

But, then I was adding Adderall for increased energy, curbing appetite and moreso for ADD-type symptoms that I have always had. The combo ultimately lead to a discomforting symptom which I now believe to be due to the Adderall's dry mouth-causing propensities.

This results for me in bleeding gums and thus painful "teething." I was visiting a much higher altitude mountainous area of the country and was also experiencing shortness of breath, so I rolled up the med tents and stopped all. On hindsight, I see the culprit now was the Adderall and the high altitude. [I'll post a thread elsewhere for advice/help for me.]

Anyway, I did gain weight on Remeron, even with the Adderall's typically opposite pulls. I was exercising but also eating and eating and eating. I think Cam talked about the antacid idea (that Petter offered up above) to counteract the weight gain. If I recall, he said that in his experience (and other anecdotal info), this works for less than 25% (?) of those who do gain weight on certain meds. Cam, sorry to be misquoting you, but that was the gist I got, at least.

How much Effexor are you taking and for how long? Do you find it activating or sedating? Any other meds in your mix? Good luck. I'd like to hear how this works out. I did like Remeron save the weight gain.

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect?

Posted by Neal on October 7, 2001, at 23:20:19

In reply to Re: Remeron - What should I expect? ŧ SLS, posted by phillybob on October 7, 2001, at 22:36:26

In doctor Stephan Stahl's book, high-dose venlafaxine plus mirtazapine is call "California Rocket Fuel".

He goes on to say that this combo of AD's has a great degree of theoretical synergy: reuptake blockade plus alpha 2 blockade; seratonin reuptake plus 5HT2A antagonism; 5HT actions plus NE actions. Specifically, 5HT is triple boosted with reuptake blockade; alpha 2 antagonism, and 5HT2A antagonism; NE is double-boosted, with reuptake blockade plus alpha 2 antagonism; and there may even be a bit of single boost to DA from reuptake blockade.

 

Re: Remeron - What should I expect?

Posted by petter on October 8, 2001, at 3:05:35

In reply to Re: Remeron - What should I expect? ŧ petter, posted by SLS on October 7, 2001, at 10:20:12

> > > Hi.
> > >
> > > I'm supposed to start taking Remeron within the next few days. What should I expect?
>
> > Hi Scott...
> >
> > I have use Mirazepine 60 mg to my current regim. For about 4 years. Itīs so great for sleep. Yes.. It makes on to have a few kilo

extra. But you can use an H2-blocking Zantac(

Ranitidin) 150-300mg at the same time in the evening when you take Remeron.
> > This regim works. Some expert here in Sweden are awere of this combo.
> >
> > Go for it....
> >
> > Sincerely.
> >
> > Petter.
>
>
> Thanks friend.
>
> Are you still taking Remeron?
>
>
> - Scott


Hi again, Scott...

Yes, I am still on 60mg Remeron + Zantac to avoid weight gain. It work, and some clinical are awere of this combo. Especelly women seems to stop Remeron when they gain weight. Now there is a possibility to avoid these side effect, that som many people fear.

By the way. Here in Scandinavia we donīt have diagnosis such as soft bipolar or bipolar 2,3
I Think my refractary depression, acctually was part of bipolar 2, thatīs why so many antideressant pooped out for me. Litium and Lamictal was wery usefull for me.

Sincerely

Petter

 

Thanks guys. (nm)

Posted by SLS on October 8, 2001, at 14:18:26

In reply to Re: Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by petter on October 8, 2001, at 3:05:35

 

Re: Thanks guys.

Posted by BillK on October 12, 2001, at 21:52:22

In reply to Thanks guys. (nm), posted by SLS on October 8, 2001, at 14:18:26

I've been taking 30mg of Remeron for two months (the only AD I'm taking) and I haven't experienced any weight gain. No increased hunger pangs and no weight gain. I've actually lost a couple of pounds with the help of regular exercise.

This is clearly not the experience of most people with Remeron. But it goes to show again that everyone reacts differently and you never know how you'll react until you try.

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