Side effects - Remeron/Mirtazapine "weird" sensation?

[Pachanoid]

Hello, SWIM was prescribed this by the doc last week and gave it a try before sleep. He did get sleepy, but in an uncomfortable way, and he had that 'depersonalization' feeling that reminded him of when he got out of his body many years ago (not something he would like to repeat), or worse, when he had 'brain zaps' from SSRI withdrawal.

Later on SWIM did fall asleep and indeed he unusually vivid dreams. He only did it that one night though.

So, SWIY who have taken this drug, have you had anything like this? Does it go away?

Thanks.

[OsCarwild]

Firstly Mirtazapine is not only a sleep medicine but is also an antidepressant that works on serotonin, so that may be why SWIY has feelings that seem similar to SSRI withdrawals. It is a very versatile drug so side effects such as the depersonalization described are not very strange. Also, one of the frequent side effects of Mirtazapine is mild hallucinations and vivid dreams; however, they are usually the strongest when someone is first put on the medicine, and they usually clear up with time. Overall, nothing to be too worried about, next time SWIY sees the doctor just be sure to tell them exactly what is going on.

[Pachanoid]

Thanks for the reply, SWIM hopes this will eventually go away.

[heroineADDICT]

ive been on mirtazapine for just over a month now and i feel very depersonalized and emotionally blunt to extent but im still and emotional cripple. is this normal? i miss my ok/good days when i felt out going and possitive i mean it wasnt often but it definatly helpped a little with my more dark days. i feel like my moods been stablized or reset so i wont dip as low/have more control when i do but i dont feel happy... ever, ive got no ethusam for any thing even my girl friend thinks "im going off her" and im not at all its just im not my self and nothing motivates me. is any of this common and will it fade?

[maletwickenham]

Swim has 7 of these pills and is wondering what kind of effect he would get? Swim is fully aware it is a anti depressant and not a "fun drug" just wondering about the side effects. This seems quite a fun anti depressant and with only 7 15mg pills swim is unlikely to cause himself any harm.

[Amnesia]

Mirtazapine could be described as an SN antagonist, and can take up to 4 weeks (sometimes longer) to build up to a therapeutic dose in the body. This time period varies from person to person due to individual body chemistry, metabolism etc. During this period side effects are usually the most pronounced - especially sedation, which it is well known for during initial treatment.
Once the body is accustomed to the drug the side effects usually wane and eventually pass. It can be an unpleasant period.

If, however, the side effects are severely affecting SWIY's life or causing severe distress, SWIM says she recommends returning to the doctor and discussing with him/her another course of action - this may be a reduction of the dose or a change to another class of drug (e.g. SSRI, SNRI, tricyclic, mood stabilizer etc).
SWIM says she would recommend giving any anti-depressant a trial period of 2 months (unless, again, the side effects are severely affecting one's life or causing severe distress). If, after this period, the side effects are the same SWIM advises going back to the doctor. If SWIY's doctor won't listen to SWIY's problems or worries, or simply tells SWIY an increase in the dose would help, seek a second opinion.

List of side effects for Mirtazapine:
Common - Increased appetite and weight gain; Sedation.
Infrequent - Oedema; Dizziness; Headache.
Rare - Postural hypotension; Abnormal dreams; Mania; Convulsions; Tremor; Myoclonus; Paraesthenia; Arthralgia; Myalgia; Restless legs; Exanthema; Reversible agranulocytosis.
(Ref: BNF)

SWIM says she hopes this is helpful.

Originally Posted by maletwickenham

Swim has 7 of these pills and is wondering what kind of effect he would get? Swim is fully aware it is a anti depressant and not a "fun drug" just wondering about the side effects. This seems quite a fun anti depressant and with only 7 15mg pills swim is unlikely to cause himself any harm.

That depends on how SWIY is planning to take them and if SWIY is taking anything else at the same time. Taken alone, one per day, chances are SWIY will get absolutely no positive effects - all SWIY can hope for is sedation. Taken all together in one dose it is highly unlikely SWIY will get any positive effects but may, in the worse case scenario, get serotonin syndrome - which can and does kill. The maximum daily dose for Mitazapine is 45mg - 105mg constitues a potentially dangerous overdose. The best place for SWIY's pills is the bin (or, preferably, return them to the chemist for destruction).

Reputation Comments on this post:

you seem to really know your stuff and you dont mind going out of the way to share your knowledge

[maletwickenham]

Originally Posted by Amnesia

Mirtazapine could be described as a novel SNRI, and can take up to 4 weeks (sometimes longer) to build up to a therapeutic dose in the body. This time period varies from person to person due to individual body chemistry, metabolism etc. During this period side effects are usually the most pronounced - especially sedation, which it is well known for during initial treatment.
Once the body is accustomed to the drug the side effects usually wane and eventually pass. It can be an unpleasant period.

If, however, the side effects are severely affecting SWIY's life or causing severe distress, SWIM says she recommends returning to the doctor and discussing with him/her another course of action - this may be a reduction of the dose or a change to another class of drug (e.g. SSRI, SNRI, tricyclic, mood stabilizer etc).
SWIM says she would recommend giving any anti-depressant a trial period of 2 months (unless, again, the side effects are severely affecting one's life or causing severe distress). If, after this period, the side effects are the same SWIM advises going back to the doctor. If SWIY's doctor won't listen to SWIY's problems or worries, or simply tells SWIY an increase in the dose would help, seek a second opinion.

List of side effects for Mirtazapine:
Common - Increased appetite and weight gain; Sedation.
Infrequent - Oedema; Dizziness; Headache.
Rare - Postural hypotension; Abnormal dreams; Mania; Convulsions; Tremor; Myoclonus; Paraesthenia; Arthralgia; Myalgia; Restless legs; Exanthema; Reversible agranulocytosis.
(Ref: BNF)

SWIM says she hopes this is helpful.







That depends on how SWIY is planning to take them and if SWIY is taking anything else at the same time. Taken alone, one per day, chances are SWIY will get absolutely no positive effects - all SWIY can hope for is sedation. Taken all together in one dose it is highly unlikely SWIY will get any positive effects but may, in the worse case scenario, get serotonin syndrome - which can and does kill. The maximum daily dose for Mitazapine is 45mg - 105mg constitues a potentially dangerous overdose. The best place for SWIY's pills is the bin (or, preferably, return them to the chemist for destruction).

I only just noticed that you put "Increased appetite and weight gain". Swim has been EATING loads far more than normal. Swim even ordered two curries for the curry place in one night. Swim feels always hungry even after eating. Swim has also started eating faster as well. I honestly didn't think anything of it till I read that. Swim will try and slow his eating though I hope.


Has anyone heard of anyone they know having stronger effects on tobacco? Swim didn't smoke for like a day and does smoke some strong blends but Swim was struggling to walk felt dizzy pins and needles in his hands etc. Swim has never had that much just tobacco. It was just tobacco Black Cherry as well.

[paddycue1977]

i have being on zispin or mirtzapine for nearly 2 yeas no the weird deams to not go away and the dreams can get very weird i said it to the doc and he just said nothing really did have an ans very little is known what exacly this drugs actions are on the brain

[heroineADDICT]

cheers amnesia swim found your post to be very helpful and to be fair swims mood has improved swim feels more emotionally stable, more out going and more motivated, its great. i can totally agree that the period in which your body is getting used to the drug is unpleasant but it does get better, i guess you've just got to hold out some times