~nestling~ Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 had psych assessment this morning...more about that later as have to get to work... am to start on 15mg Mirtazapin, going up to 30mg after 1 week...... any advice?tips? experiences? thanks, Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 Depending on the Effexor dose, you may be at risk for serotonin syndrome with this. Read this so you can be aware of the symptoms: http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?...eat/acf2fa6.htm While rare, this is potentially fatal so in most cases it's best to avoid taking two serotonic agents at one time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted October 20, 2005 Author Share Posted October 20, 2005 I'd thought of that....will read the info.... I'm on 150mg Efexor at the moment.... Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted October 20, 2005 Author Share Posted October 20, 2005 well, its pretty scary, but it was the consultant psych that prescribed the stuff...... should I do anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 well, its pretty scary, but it was the consultant psych that prescribed the stuff...... should I do anything? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Maybe you should just stay on 15. This is mainly for you to get a good night's sleep, right? For that, 15 mg was just as good as 30 to me. I've heard others say 7.5 worked for them. Why take more when less will do the trick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jafco Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 ~nestling~ I did Remeron with Cymbalta for a while and had no ill effect. I think I was taking as much as 30 with 60 mg Cymbalta. Only side effect was 40 lbs! Check with your pdoc! My experience is just that, my experience! I slept like a baby too! Jafco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 OK, as remeron is receptor antagonist (blocker), the thinking must be that it's safer to combine with effexor than combining two SSRIs. I'll have to look more into this when I have time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 The effexor/remeron combo is actually known in some psychiatric circles as "California Rocket Fuel": considered to blast someone out of the deepest of depressions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted October 23, 2005 Author Share Posted October 23, 2005 well, I've been on it 4 days, today will be the 5th. I've described my sleep-miracle in my other Remeron Thread! Its working for me brilliantly so far.... I definitely am feeling much better than I have in a couple of years...(really...) Not only with the sleep, but the fact that I am not as hypervigilant, I can actually bear someone walking behind me without having to step aside and let them pass, I don't 'need' to keep looking behind me, I can tolerate sitting next to someone on public transport.... ....after living in permanent fight-flight mode this is a huge difference I can tell you! I haven't noticed a lot of difference in my appetite, no sugar cravings (AND I've got my period!), so no weight gain yet. Mind you, I am, apparantly very underweight. But I don't really want to gain much at all. (I am 5 foot and weigh just under 7 stone, I have very light bones). Just in case, I am being very careful with what I eat. But then I need to start eating properly anyway----often there are a couple of days in a week when I don't eat lunch. I am going to ask my GP about nutrition and diet when I see her on Friday. It certainly seems to be shifting the darkest tail ends of my Depression...and is moving the anxiety which has been my biggest debilitating symptom all along, and which Efexor hardly touched. Will keep you posted! Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 Katie I'm so glad it's working for you! I miss the Remeron sleep so much, although my bf doesn't miss the snoring, lol. If my sleep doesn't start to improve on the Effexor I may ask my doc if I can go back on a low dose at bedtime myself. I'm just worried about the weight thing. I've lost 7 pounds since making the switch from Remeron to effex. Keep us posted on your progress. Dee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted October 23, 2005 Author Share Posted October 23, 2005 thanks Dee, will do. All the best on the sleep.....maybe a low dose at bedtime would help. The Efexor dulls my appetite, so I'm guessing both together make a balance? Maybe that would work for you. (I'm still worried about the weight also, but seems to be ok so far) Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grousemouse Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 i was on 225 mg effexor and was started on 15 mg mirtazapin. it made me suicidal so i had to drop the mirt. grouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted October 24, 2005 Author Share Posted October 24, 2005 I'm sorry that it didn't work for you, mouse Its still going fine with me though..... Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bianca Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Why would you just try to take remeron for sleep? AM I missing something here? I take Trazadone for sleep and it has no side effects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Why would you just try to take remeron for sleep? AM I missing something here? I take Trazadone for sleep and it has no side effects <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Bianca, Thanks for the tip. I'm not familiar with Trazadone, but I am going to look it up now. My reason for wanting Remeron back is the fact that it is the only thing that has ever allowed me to sleep through the night. Even hypnotics only allow me to sleep about 4 hours and then I'm wide awake. Effexor is helping me, so I'm not going off it. I need something that I can add to it. Time for some googling! Dee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bianca Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Trazadone was originally rx as an AD. It has since been rx for sleeping. I only take 50mg and it totally knowcks me out for a good eight hours. Your sleeping issues may be way more severe than mine but I think its worth a shot. I only pay about $6 for a 30 day supply. If I did a 3 month then it would be under $10. Pretty cheap and not really any side effects at all. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Thanks again Bianca. I've been reading up on it and I think it's worth a suggestion to my doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jafco Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Traz and I are good friends. I was taking 150 mg at bedtime and I slept like a rock. I had to stop because I was still drugged in the AM. Like having a hangover, a med hangover. Took half the day to shake it off. Even at 75 I had the same problem. If you've no where to go it's fine. But if you must be up and out early and on your toes, you will have problems. I took Rem as well but gained 40 lbs. I'm taking 100 mg of Seroquel, works great.. no drug hangover. That's my experience with sleep meds. I have Lunesta 3 mg and you're right it wheres off quickly. At one point I was taking the Sero and the Lunesta. Doc says it's OK. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Traz and I are good friends. I was taking 150 mg at bedtime and I slept like a rock. I had to stop because I was still drugged in the AM. Like having a hangover, a med hangover. Took half the day to shake it off. Even at 75 I had the same problem. If you've no where to go it's fine. But if you must be up and out early and on your toes, you will have problems. I took Rem as well but gained 40 lbs. I'm taking 100 mg of Seroquel, works great.. no drug hangover. That's my experience with sleep meds. I have Lunesta 3 mg and you're right it wheres off quickly. At one point I was taking the Sero and the Lunesta. Doc says it's OK. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jafco, what do you think 50 mg traz would do for a sleep aid? I read it is prescribed at that low of a dose for insomnia. Would it be as good as 7.5 mg of Remeron? I have thought about Seroquel, but it makes me nervous. My doc won't prescribe me any hypnotics, so I can't mix. I think I could get Traz or Seroquel (doesn't it make you fat too?). I'm down 7 pounds and counting since making the Remeron to Effexor switch and I'd hate to start going back up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacanuck Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 I like tranzadone too.....use to take it. I'd like to ask for it again but my track record is not too great with receiving my meds through the mail.......... but if I ask for it now, I may get it by Valentine's day 2006. But it does work Dee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jafco Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 devilla: I started at 50 mg of Traz. It worked great... You will find over time you may need to increase as you build a tolerance (like most meds). If you get the 150's they are very very versatile. On one side they are scored in halves 75/75. On the other side they are scored into thirds, so you get 3 50's. So you can come up with four different doses. 50, 75, 100, or 150! Give it a try! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 devilla: I started at 50 mg of Traz. It worked great... You will find over time you may need to increase as you build a tolerance (like most meds). If you get the 150's they are very very versatile. On one side they are scored in halves 75/75. On the other side they are scored into thirds, so you get 3 50's. So you can come up with four different doses. 50, 75, 100, or 150! Give it a try! John <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Awesome. I'll try and get a script. Thanks John! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critical_reflection Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 I was told by a (reasonably competent ) psychiatrist that Remeron (Avanza where I live) and and SSRI can be taken at the same time without interacting, because the action of Remeron is so different. I haven't been told anything about the SNRI part of Effexor though. I think it might actually be a good combination. When I took Remeron I felt really tired and exhausted, and had huge carb cravings, and now I take Effexor I have a lot of nervous energy and not much of an appetite. So their side effects would hopefully cancel each other out a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweii Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 My mom takes Efexor 75 mg along with Remeron 30 mg at bedtime. She hasn't been on meds for very long but I see an improvement so far, her diagnosis is depression w. anxiety and insomnia. She told me about remembering her dreams more than before. She also sleeps very well, maybe a bit too good. She seems less anxious and is generally in a good mood. Still no motivation to do things though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bianca Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Dee, Definitely try Trazadone. Its so cheap and no side effects. They normally start you at 50mg. The pill is made to be split in half for a 25mg dose. I've been on it for over a year and it still works fine for me. Knocks me out every night. Most of the time I only take 25mg as it will still knock me out. If I didn't take it for some reason and had a bad night sleep the next night I'll take the full 50mg. I have no issues with being groggy in the am and never have with trazadone. But I'm also taking a much smaller dose. I highly suggest you try it rather than those other heavier drugs. Again, I will say no side effects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Dee, Definitely try Trazadone. Its so cheap and no side effects. They normally start you at 50mg. The pill is made to be split in half for a 25mg dose. I've been on it for over a year and it still works fine for me. Knocks me out every night. Most of the time I only take 25mg as it will still knock me out. If I didn't take it for some reason and had a bad night sleep the next night I'll take the full 50mg. I have no issues with being groggy in the am and never have with trazadone. But I'm also taking a much smaller dose. I highly suggest you try it rather than those other heavier drugs. Again, I will say no side effects <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks Bianca. Hopefully I can talk the doc into it when I see her next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted October 25, 2005 Author Share Posted October 25, 2005 Dee, I hope you get things sorted. Helena, thanks for the info about your mom. Myself, I am finding increased motivation...so much energy was going into my previous constant hypervigilance, that's partly why, now I am set free, as it were, I have more energy available. Plus, sleeping at last....wow wow wow! (I've already warned my workmates that I start on 30mg tomorrow night, and have decided I had better take it and go to bed really early!!!) I don't seem to have crab cravings....am eating more dried fruit, but not a craving for it, a very slight increase in appetite, but only to a level like I used to have prior Efexor and lots of ED issues re-surfacing.... I guess its because I have a tendency to anorexic leanings that I am able to control my appetite. Maybe. But I am determined to eat enough and what is nutritious, I am going to talk with my GP on Friday about diet and feeding myself properly-I never really learnt how.... Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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