I am experiencing muscle stiffness, fatigue and joint pain. I was wondering whether anybody else was having the same sort of problem when taking this medication? It has helped with my anxiety and depression but I’m not sure if I have side effects or something else is wrong. I also take pregabalin morning and evening.
Mirtazapine - mirtazapam (stiffness and joint pain)?
Question posted by Poppy52 on 2 April 2018
Last updated on 1 June 2023 by Lech12
7 Answers
Yes. Mirtazapine caused joint inflammation and loss of range of motion in my elbows and shoulders after 2 years of 30mg treatment. Raising my arm to level shoulder height causes pain to this day 3 months off the drug. Not sure how much longer I have to suffer this disability from Mirtazapine
Hello Poppy52,
I too am taking Mirtazapine 15mg at night! My doctor wants me to double the dose now to 30mg. The Joint pain & stiffness is entirely a different matter. I take pregabalin 125 mg a day for Fibromyalgia! Stiffness is also common if you have osteoarthritis, or other joint problems. I have severe lumbar & cervical stenosis and will need to up my medications for pain relieve. How much pregabalin and Mirtazipine do you take?
Take care & feel better!
Mirtazapine has been wonderful in helping me sleep, but over the past couple of years, I've developed multiple joint aches and pains. I've been looked at by several orthopedic surgeons, and none of them see any major problems. I've gone off of mirtazapine for a week or two to see if it makes a difference. It does, but it's minor. I'm now thinking I may have to go off of it long term to see if it helps ease the pain. I can't come up with any other explanations for my pain.
Hi Poppy. Some of these are side effects from taking mirtazapine. I notice you are taking Pregabalin also. These types of drugs have all the symptoms that you’re having as side effects plus more. I found that the side effects outweighed the benefits so I ended up tapering off. I am now depending on natural remedies which for me is working much better. I wish you the best.
Cindy59
Thank you cindy. I have started to reduce pregabalin first and then will tackle the mirtazapam. I am finding the side effects of both these meds hard to cope with and will try the natural route. Thank you for responding
Be sure to check the drug interactions with the pregabalin on this sites interaction checker. it is a good tool.
Thank you I will check it out.
I too have suffered knee joint &/ surrounding muscle pain since taking Mirtazapine. Someone has previously posted (around 2 months ago) on this site with the same problem & several people responded to that post saying they also had increased joint pain with Mirtazapine, so it does seem as if that might be the culprit? My discomfort is generally low level; certainly not enough to cease taking the drug.
Hi, after reading your post I had to respond. I'm 56 & suffer from ever single disorder you listed, plus I struggle with insomnia.The depression & anxiety I say since birth because I can't remember a time I didn't feel down & nervous even in my childhood. The hot flashes two or three years ago, but the muscle stiffness, fatigue, and joint pain is new. I stopped taking the mirtazapine around xmas 2017 because it either completely wiped me out to the point I was scared or didn't do a thing. My dr said the less taken the more sedating it is. This was confusing & made it hard to find the right dosage-- (it was prescribed for my insomnia & I was to take 1/2 to 2 tablets of 7.5mg b 4 bed). Anyway, I wish I knew what's causing my muscle stiffness, fatigue & joint pain. I've been off it too long for it to be caused by the mirtazapine.
Dee Dee. I have just come from my Doctors and asked him if mirtazapam was the cause of stiffness and aching joints. He categorically said no it’s probably anxiety. I said I didn’t have any problems before taking mirtazapam, so he pruduced a booklet listing all medications and possibly side effects which clearly stated it can cause joint pain and stiffness which should go away but in some cases will not. I don’t know whether to wait and see or start reducing now. It’s making me quite miserable
Related topics
depression, anxiety, insomnia, osteoarthritis, pain, hot flashes, mirtazapine, fatigue, muscle, medication
Further information
- Mirtazapine uses and safety info
- Mirtazapine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Mirtazapine (detailed)
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