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Mitazapine side effects high bgs

lcarter

lcarter

Well-Known Member
Messages
513
Location
Nottingham
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
My pancreas
Hi all. I recently posted re low bgs after taking setraline so after coming off those the gp has put me on mitazapine.

Just having another problem!! Sugar levels are in the 20s despite taking lots of QA to combat this.

Spoke to diabetic nurse and gp who have warned me this drug can cause high bgs. Diabetic nurse has advised me to put my lantus up from 22 to 24/25 tonight. It seems I am insulin resistant though. I have taken 10 units of QA with lunch and my levels didnt move in 6 hours. Then I took 18 with tea and levels are still sky high.

I have taken 4 tablets in total. Wonderimg whether to just stop or whack lantus up as advised.

Anyone? Soooo fed up. These tablets are meant to help me feel better but they are just causing me more stress.
 
I'd stay well away.

It's a good SNRI and works better than placebo in major depressive disorder, but don't drink on it. Side effect profile is less than with other anti depressants.

You'll sleep like a baby, but will gain weight, hunger cravings and your BS will most likely suffer.

I don't want to pry, but unless I was suicidal and could not function, get out of bed I would not mess with SSRIs or a drug like mirtazapine, so many side effects and the majority are a ****** to get off as well. Anxiety? I would ask for beta blockers or a few benzos for if and when I was having serious panic attacks.

Have you requested CBT or considering paying for it? The Linden method is great for anxiety. Talk therapies, changing environment and working on the route of the problems is really important.

In my experience too many people expect that a pill will solve their problems over the course of a few weeks and this is just not possible, they can give you abit of breathing space to clear your head, but you must work on the background stuff as well or risk going round in circles.

I hope you have a supportive GP and a referral in place for some talk therapy.

Do a cost benefit analysis in a month or so (they won't kick in for a few weeks), do you feel better and has the depression anxiety lifted enough to make high blood sugars acceptable in the short to medium term. I would argue that if this is not the case and you are more concerned about your high blood sugars than the depression and anxiety and can function without the pills, than perhaps consider not taking them at all and looking at alternative treatments.

I imagine you're taking them on label for depression and anxiety which they may help with, they may not. They may also cause issues with high blood sugar and lack of insulin sensitivity which for most diabetics causes anxiety and depression.. So it's one to think about.

GPs are too quick to dispense these like smarties and they are not, you should have also been told about the impact on blood sugars, the sedative effects, sexual dysfunction, risks of mixing with alcohol etc.

Wishing you all the best with it, I know it can be grim in the extreme but there will be brighter days :)

B
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi. You raise a lot of good points but at the moment I think medication is the way forward for me however I am seeking help via therapy too. :)

My levels are still high so I upped my background to 25 last night as advised by dsn.. woke with levels of 18 mml. I have tested for key tones and none present. Im thinking I will low carb today to a) get levels down with no spikes and b) may give me an indication of what my lantus is doing.

So worried though, hate high levels.

L :)
 
Seen it now. I've no experience of taking these drugs, however if your going to be on them in the long-term and they are causing insulin resistance then you should ask about starting on Metformin.
 
Thank you for looking. Wow can us type 1s take metaformin?

Overnight I have watched my levels stay at 19 and this morning 18. I am wondering if the fact I have gradually reduced my basal from 30 units to 20 is the reason for these constant highs..if so then why isnt the QA making them lower? Very confused.
 
lcarter said:
Thank you for looking. Wow can us type 1s take metaformin?

Overnight I have watched my levels stay at 19 and this morning 18. I am wondering if the fact I have gradually reduced my basal from 30 units to 20 is the reason for these constant highs..if so then why isnt the QA making them lower? Very confused.
Click to expand...

Yes Met can be used in type 1's with insulin resistance. Try some basal testing, if you've forgot how to do this take a look at the following:

http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007
 
Fab will do. Thank you. I only out my basal up last night so what I see today basal testing wise will be different than say Monday right? Will go and do some reading. Thank you again.
 
lcarter said:
Fab will do. Thank you. I only out my basal up last night so what I see today basal testing wise will be different than say Monday right? Will go and do some reading. Thank you again.
Click to expand...


Well knocking 10 units off your basal dose is a lot, but I understand why you did this on your previous Meds. I would increase it again slowly and do the basal testing, just remember that lantus can take 2-3 days for any adjustments to take effect (according to the manufacturer). Good luck and do ask your gp/consultant about Metformin.
 
Yes I am currently doing the basal testing that my dsn advised me to do. Had a carb free breakfast & my kevels two hours later are 17.6 so they have moved ever so slightly from 16.5 that they were pre breakfast. Hoping to have tuna and salad for lunch. Thanks again.
 
Hi. Yes T1s can be on Metformin. I've been on it for 10 years both before and after insulin. It does help with BS slightly even when on Insulin. Although I'm thin and don't need it to reduce insulin resistance my DN suggested staying on it as it has other benefits. As a diabetic, having a low-carb diet should be the norm to avoid weight gain with insulin and to reduce shots, so do start it and adopt it for life. I do volunteer work for Mind, the MH charity, and would certainly suggest cCBT or counselling by the local branch if you have one. There may be a waiting list but do add yourself rather than having tablets.
 
Still having high readings of 20 randomly. No carbs most of yesterday levels went to around 13mml. Then I had a coffee latte and levels went to 20 and have stayed there. Took 8 units of fast acting & they haven't budged at all :(
 
lcarter said:
Still having high readings of 20 randomly. No carbs most of yesterday levels went to around 13mml. Then I had a coffee latte and levels went to 20 and have stayed there. Took 8 units of fast acting & they haven't budged at all :(
Click to expand...
It's OK to do one no-carb meal if you are basal testing but if you try and go for a whole day you will probably release stored glycogen, so will need to take some QA to deal with that.
 
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