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Type 1, with depression taking Mirtazapine

D

danbobpat

Member
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7
Hello All.

I'm new to this board and was wondering if anyone would like to share their experiences of having type 1 diabetes and suffer badly with depression and I am currently taking Mirtazapine. The drug is brilliant for sorting out the depression I have been told, but the side effects are lowsy. I am in my third week and still feel drowsy now. I am currently off work because of it.

I would be happy to hear off others who take Mirtazapine and how they are doing with it.

Thanks for reading this.

Dan

:crazy: :thumbdown: :***:
 
What time do you take the Mirtazapine? Some doctors and pharmacists suggest to try to avoid the hangover affect of the drug in the morning it should be taken around 7pm. Its also worth watching your BG levels as this drug is known to raise them as well. It will take around 4 weeks to begin to show any improvement and for the side effects to settle down.
 
Thanks for your replies. I'm seeing my doctor next week. I am off work at the moment and family members are suggesting that I am not fit to work and I agree with them, especially the way I feel. I am 'scrap' in the mornings. I may look into the earlier time to take it. I normally take it at 10pm and don't feel I can function until after lunch.

Thanks again. 8)
 
10pm is def too late to take the drug and that would account for feeling that way at lunch time. Chat to your GP or even the Pharmacist you go to and ask them to suggest a good time. When i took the drug took it at 8pm or 7pm depending on what time i finished work so that i could function for getting up at 7am ready for a day of work.
 
I was on that but didnt get on with it at all, the main problem for me was the effect on my sugars, they constantly run high , really high, with no change to diet or excersise, and they had me going about like a 'half shut knife'.... reall no good that was after 8 weeks I said to the doc to put me on something else, I'm on fluoxitine now and its seems to have done the trick...I was on citalapram for about 8 years and it was starting to be less effective, apparently its from the same 'family' of drugs.

Bob
 
I'm type 2 and take Mirtazapine too...I find if i take it too early, i suffer from jittery leg syndrome in bed and cant sleep for it, so i normally take mine about 40 mins before going to bed, takes me a while to get to sleep but dont have the drowsy effect next day, i guess we are all different...The earlier i take mine the worse i feel the next day....Ive had citalopram and fluoxitine and none seem to help me at all...I'm very restless and dont sleep much at all..Docs only solution for me was that "you are probably just one of those that cant sleep" Great answer i thought....So now i sleep around 2 hours a day....Cant function well at all...And lie worrying about my diabetes not under control...Its not an easy answer but talk to your doctor, he might be more sympathetic to your needs than mine was

Sharonxx
 
Hi. I'm type1 and have been on various anti-depressants for many years. I'm now on venlafaxine which helps with anxiety as well as depression.

I would echo what others have said about needing to give the mirtazipine some time to work properly (and altering the time you take it!) - I know about 4weeks is recommended but I've found 6weeks will give you a better picture of things. It can be the hardest time of all starting a new med. But the side-effects should fade eventually and hopefully you will start feeling the benefits instead.

However, there are so many different types of anti-depressants available and each can have a very different effect on you. So if you're really not getting on well with the mirtazipine or the side-effects are really making you feel too bad, then ask your doctor about alternatives. It took me quite a long while to find the right med for me (prozac actually made me suicidal for instance, rather than making me feel better!). It's a bit of the old 'trial and error' and it's a pain that it takes so many weeks to see the psychological effects of the drugs, but it's worth sticking at it if you can manage it... and if you don't get on with one there are other options to try.
 
Can anyone recommend anything other than Mirtazapine? This drug is driving me more depressed because of the side effects and drowiness in the mornings. I take the table at 8pm and still drowsy in the mornings. I've taken the drug for 3 weeks but I cannot cope any longer. I'm off work sick because I can't function. I know the GP will say you need to be on it longer but I've read you should feel in a better mood after 1 week. I feel worse than before I started on them. I used to take Sertaline 150mg and had no side effects on them but it didn't do anything for my mood or anxiety. This is why I got put on Mirt and withdrew over a week from the sertraline. I've done a bit of researching and found the following drug:

Venlafaxine

Is this an alternative to think about. I'm seeing the doc tomorrow but cannot cope with this drug any longer. I've never had a problem getting to sleep so I don't need Mirtazapine at all for that purpose.

Hope to hear from you.
Dan

:crazy: :? :thumbdown: :cry:
 
There are plenty of anti-depressants that you could try and you may eventually get one that suits you. They are not miracle cures but can lift your mood. Unfortunately they all have side effects that some people will experience.

If there are specific problems causing your depression it might be better to ask for a referral for a talking therapy and these can be more effective.
 
im the same as picklebean on venlafaxine found this the best for me,i have tried most of the others ,and nmost of them whould ca0use hypo`s all over the shot,there was never no pattern to my hypos on the other meds.dr didnet belive at first until i made him change them and then he relised what it was doing to me,,,, just keep asking to try somethink diffent if these dont work but do give them time to get into your system 6-8 weeks rcommended.
 
Hi there. I read your post with interest. I too take the medication your talking about. Would be good to chat with you if you fancy it ? Paul.
 
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