I first went on antidepressants around 2005, Citalopram was what I was prescribed for major depression. I can't remember the dose, but I am sure it was low to begin with. After around 5 years we added in Bupropion 150XL and I was up to 40mg Citalopram for the last couple years.
I did a taper during Summer 2020, about 3 months to get off the Citalopram and then I quit Bupropion about 2 months later. I wanted to get off of the meds, due to the side effects (constipation, dry mouth, irritability/anger, sexual issues, yawning, numbness/apathy). I had a relapse in December, more detail about my history in the "My Story" section.
I went back on meds on New Years Eve, 15mg Mirtazapine for 1 week, followed by 2 weeks at 30mg. My depression seemed to be improving, but I was feeling very uncomfortable. I am keeping a journal and was really trying hard to pay attention to what I was feeling. It felt like Akathisia to me, based on closest description I could find online, which is like a restless feeling of needing to move. Felt kind of like restless legs, but in my mind and body sort of thing. So, we switched to Zoloft 50mg and have been on it for a week. However, I can't sleep on the Zoloft so I have been taking 15mg Mirtazapine at bedtime to try and get some sleep. I am only getting about 6-1/2 hours of sleep a night right now and feeling kind of a restless & energized type of tired. Kind of like you are tired, but drank too much caffeine kind of feeling so you can't sleep.
Scenarios I would like to discuss:
1. I didn't stay on just the Mirtazapine long enough for things to smooth out? I was sleeping really good on just the Mirtazapine and having glimmers of good feeling, should I go off the Zoloft and get back to the 30mg of Mirtazapine and wait longer? I was still having bouts of severe crying and that sort of thing.
2. I have read about combining Mirtazapine and Effexor with very good results. Do you think Effexor would be a better combo than Mirtazapine/Zoloft? I have read that Effexor is more likely to allow for better sleep than Zoloft and maybe not the restlessness I am experiencing.
3. What about Effexor only, if I could sleep better on the Effexor maybe I wouldn't need the Mirtazapine at all?
4. Zoloft only. Perhaps with more time on the medication my nerves will settle down and I will be able to sleep w/o any other supplemental drugs?
32 days now on new meds and still seem to be struggling, it is getting frustrating.
I am going to send these questions and concerns to my doctor today, so no worries there. Just wanted to share what I am going through and see if anyone has any thoughts or experiences with these drugs?
I did a taper during Summer 2020, about 3 months to get off the Citalopram and then I quit Bupropion about 2 months later. I wanted to get off of the meds, due to the side effects (constipation, dry mouth, irritability/anger, sexual issues, yawning, numbness/apathy). I had a relapse in December, more detail about my history in the "My Story" section.
I went back on meds on New Years Eve, 15mg Mirtazapine for 1 week, followed by 2 weeks at 30mg. My depression seemed to be improving, but I was feeling very uncomfortable. I am keeping a journal and was really trying hard to pay attention to what I was feeling. It felt like Akathisia to me, based on closest description I could find online, which is like a restless feeling of needing to move. Felt kind of like restless legs, but in my mind and body sort of thing. So, we switched to Zoloft 50mg and have been on it for a week. However, I can't sleep on the Zoloft so I have been taking 15mg Mirtazapine at bedtime to try and get some sleep. I am only getting about 6-1/2 hours of sleep a night right now and feeling kind of a restless & energized type of tired. Kind of like you are tired, but drank too much caffeine kind of feeling so you can't sleep.
Scenarios I would like to discuss:
1. I didn't stay on just the Mirtazapine long enough for things to smooth out? I was sleeping really good on just the Mirtazapine and having glimmers of good feeling, should I go off the Zoloft and get back to the 30mg of Mirtazapine and wait longer? I was still having bouts of severe crying and that sort of thing.
2. I have read about combining Mirtazapine and Effexor with very good results. Do you think Effexor would be a better combo than Mirtazapine/Zoloft? I have read that Effexor is more likely to allow for better sleep than Zoloft and maybe not the restlessness I am experiencing.
3. What about Effexor only, if I could sleep better on the Effexor maybe I wouldn't need the Mirtazapine at all?
4. Zoloft only. Perhaps with more time on the medication my nerves will settle down and I will be able to sleep w/o any other supplemental drugs?
32 days now on new meds and still seem to be struggling, it is getting frustrating.
I am going to send these questions and concerns to my doctor today, so no worries there. Just wanted to share what I am going through and see if anyone has any thoughts or experiences with these drugs?