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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 20:32:06
I keep reading all of these studes that say mirtazapine is superior to the SSRI's. I have not met anyone who attests to this however.
Has anyone found that mirtazapine was more effective for their core symtpoms of depression?
Linkadge
Posted by SandyWeb on June 23, 2005, at 21:09:04
In reply to mirtazapine and depression, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 20:32:06
Linkadge,
Remeron has been a life-saver for me. At 45mg, it has broken the connection between suicidal thought and action. It took about 6 weeks for it to kick in, but it has made a tremendous difference for me. I've tried most of the SSRI's, and they didn't do much of anything. I highly recommend Remeron....but you will probably gain weight for the first few months on it.
It is a GREAT med!!!
Sandy
Posted by ravenstorm on June 23, 2005, at 21:59:32
In reply to mirtazapine and depression, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 20:32:06
I hated remeron and have finally gotten off of it, resulting in crushing bounce back insomnia. I was on it for almost a year and it made me very angry all the time and made me feel separated from all human kind, including my husband!! It didn't do enough for my anxiety or depression either.
The people who do well on this drug seem to be few and far between, but for those who it does work for, it seems to be a "magic bullet". Most people just use it as an adjunct to another drug.
Posted by Sarah T. on June 24, 2005, at 1:47:57
In reply to Me, me, me, me!!!! » linkadge, posted by SandyWeb on June 23, 2005, at 21:09:04
How much weight did you gain on it? You said that you gain for the first few months. Do you mean that the weight gain stops and plateaus?
Posted by linkadge on June 24, 2005, at 6:55:45
In reply to Re: Me, me, me, me!!!! » SandyWeb, posted by Sarah T. on June 24, 2005, at 1:47:57
You know you are so right about majic bullit. There is a lady I know who tried everything and it worked very well.
But I know the anger. I had such a bad temper on the med, I hated myself for feeling so angry.
I could probably tweek a thing or two about it to make it more tollerable for many.
Linkadge
Posted by wiggum on June 24, 2005, at 8:22:30
In reply to mirtazapine and depression, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 20:32:06
> Has anyone found that mirtazapine was more effective for their core symtpoms of depression?
Not sure if it is more effective, but I found the side effects more tolerable than SSRIs.
Posted by SandyWeb on June 24, 2005, at 9:25:38
In reply to Re: Me, me, me, me!!!! » SandyWeb, posted by Sarah T. on June 24, 2005, at 1:47:57
Hi Sarah,
I gained quite a bit of weight....maybe 30 pounds! Yikes! I just ate and ate and ate.
I thought all this new FAT would depress me....but it doesn't, really. I think it is worth it, when the alternative is that I slice open my wrist again.
It took about 6 months for the "munchies" to slow down. I have been steadily losing weight now for the past couple of months. I've got my old eating style back.
I guess I am one of the lucky ones who receive great benefit from this med. The only side affect was the ravenous appetite....and that is gone now. This is my main med, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. It really does help tremendously.
Good luck to you.
Sandy
Posted by Joslynn on June 24, 2005, at 16:29:34
In reply to mirtazapine and depression, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 20:32:06
I went on both remeron and celexa at the same time, so it's hard to say what helped more, but in combo they were very helpful to me.
Now I am just on Lexapro, which usually works, but when I get a mini-relapse, going on the Remeron too seems to kick me out of it.
I went off the Remeron after about 1 1/2 yrs because of the weight gain. However, the weight gain wasn't tremendous, it was about 10-12 pounds. But I had to really struggle to keep it at that. And it was distracting to be thinking of food all the time.
Remeron is very good if your depression keeps you from sleeping.
Also, my pdoc said that Remeron is sometimes good to balance out the libido-depressing effects of ADs for some people. I am not "active" so it's not an issue one way or the other at this point.
I'm glad that Remeron is out there, even though I don't use it all the time.
Oh, I personally didn't notice any anger when I was on it. That's just me.
Posted by Sabino on June 24, 2005, at 23:53:28
In reply to Re: mirtazapine and depression, posted by wiggum on June 24, 2005, at 8:22:30
> > Has anyone found that mirtazapine was more effective for their core symtpoms of depression?
>
> Not sure if it is more effective, but I found the side effects more tolerable than SSRIs.
>I agree with Wiggum. Probably the side effects are far more tolerable because it puts you to sleep (its main side effect).
I am presently trying Effexor 150, and I use 15 Remeron pretty much for sleep, and it's effective for that. Any AD effect it may provide is gravy. I've just added Lithium 450 to the mix a week ago. I'm liking what it's doing so far, but it's early.
As to the weight gain, I gained around ten pounds in the first two months, but it seems to have plateaued. I've lost a couple in the last week. I'm not as hungry as I was at first. Still, all three of the meds I take are known weight gainers. Plus, I took a leave of absence from work, and being that close to the refrig most of the day is a serious temptation, but like I said, my hunger has abated. For the first month, I wanted to eat everything in sight.
Posted by Maximus on June 25, 2005, at 11:47:35
In reply to mirtazapine and depression, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 20:32:06
How to be not angry on Remeron? I would still take this great med if i was not so angry and irritable.
Posted by linkadge on June 26, 2005, at 4:45:35
In reply to Re: Remeron and Anger » linkadge, posted by Maximus on June 25, 2005, at 11:47:35
I think that blocking certain norepinephrine receptors might do the trick. Taurine might also help.
Personally, I would love to try a combination of Remeron, and Taurine.
Linkadge
Posted by Denise1966 on June 26, 2005, at 12:00:29
In reply to Me, me, me, me!!!! » linkadge, posted by SandyWeb on June 23, 2005, at 21:09:04
Sandy,
Did you have to take 45mg before you felt any good affects? and how long were you on 45mg?
Doctors just added 15mg of Remeron to my 40mg of Seroxat and I don't think it's helping much although I've only given it a week.
Denise
Posted by Joslynn on June 27, 2005, at 13:01:28
In reply to Re: Me, me, me, me!!!! To Sandy Web, posted by Denise1966 on June 26, 2005, at 12:00:29
I know Remeron is now generic, it's just too hard to spill out the mitzi name! :)
Anyway, I am back on Remeron. Was going back and forth about whether or not to take out, but this latest mini-episdoe of depression/anxiety has killed my appetite and made it hard to sleep. I know that Remeron will straighten that out.
As for the weight gain, like others here have said, I did gain 10 pounds, but it didn't keep going up and up after that. (I am short, so 10 pounds is significant on me.)
So, we'll see how things go.
Posted by SandyWeb on June 27, 2005, at 14:42:28
In reply to Re: Me, me, me, me!!!! To Sandy Web, posted by Denise1966 on June 26, 2005, at 12:00:29
Hi Denise,
Yes, it wasn't until I was on 45mg before I felt the benefits. And it took about 6 weeks.
This is my main medication. I also take 80mg Celexa, but that is only to pick up the few loose threads (so to speak). Without the Remeron, I would probably open my wrist again.
15mg is probably more of a sleeping pill than an AD. But everyone is different. Remeron seems to take longer to "work", so you may find that in a couple of months that the dose you are on works wonders!
Take care.
Sandy
Posted by denise1966 on August 14, 2005, at 11:19:12
In reply to Re: Me, me, me, me!!!! » Denise1966, posted by SandyWeb on June 27, 2005, at 14:42:28
Sandy,
When I take just 15mg of Remeron I feel spaced out, like I've got lots of energy but am unable to focus it on anything properly.
Do you get any of these affects with Remeron?
Kind Regards......Denise
Posted by SandyWeb on August 15, 2005, at 21:11:26
In reply to Re: To SandyWebb, posted by denise1966 on August 14, 2005, at 11:19:12
Hi Denise,
I've found that Remeron tends to calm me down. It takes away all the noise in my head, plus it seems to block the bridge between feeling suicidal and being able to act upon it.
It's funny how we all can react differently to meds. Makes life totally unpredictable, right? *smile*
Take care,
Sandy
Posted by gardenergirl on August 16, 2005, at 2:21:53
In reply to Re: Remeron » denise1966, posted by SandyWeb on August 15, 2005, at 21:11:26
Nice to see you here.
gg
This is the end of the thread.
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