Mirtazapine for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 2)

• SCANDI
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 22, 2020

"Been on Mirtazapine 30mg for 5 years. It works really great for my insomnia. I have not experienced any side effects such as weight gain. It helps me stay focused during the day too. I will say though, that I feel addicted to this medicine. I tried to stop taking it for 1 day (cold turkey) and I was doing really bad. So withdrawal after a long use has to be planned, while lowering the dose from 30mg to 15mg to 7.5mg."

• Amazed
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2014

"I was prescribed 15mg tablets to take one at night for sleep (or Doctor said 7.5mg was fine). I suffered from Anxiety (No Severe Phobias; more Obsessive Compulsive Disorder type personality), and Depression. This medicine affects your sleep feeling natural, not zombied. I sleep longer, it works better than heavy sedation medicines without being groggy, and I get through all the proper stages of sleep (I'd assume), as it has helped my depression MAJORLY & anxiety sufficient enough. I use to take Seroquel (for bedtime sleep 100mg), it zombies you and is long term very bad for your health. I tried about every SSRI & SNRI, and none seemed to help & only cause problems. I haven't felt this good in 8 years. Felt better immediately & GREAT after 2 weeks! Hope it helps you."

• lorna...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 22, 2023

"I have always had a problem with sleeping, even as a 7-year-old. When I turned 40, the problem got so much worse, and the anxiety from not sleeping caused me not to sleep for months. My doctor prescribed mirtazapine, and I agree with a lot of comments on here that say it saved my life. I was ready to end it all... I take 15 mg per day at night and sleep like a baby. I am now 74, so I have taken this for 34 years. Every once in a while, I tell my husband that I don't need it anymore, and maybe I should quit taking it. He says let me know when you stop so I have a chance to move out!!! This is a wonder drug. My new doctor decided that I should go off this medication for whatever the reason. I was a total basket case after 3 weeks... I don't know what I'd do if they ever took this drug off the market!!"

• depil...
• February 13, 2020

"This MEDICINE IS HORRIBLE FOR INSOMNIA I have tried it and YES IT knocks you out and let you sleep and stay asleep for 9-12 hours... but the side effects are horrible: you will feel like a zombie for the next 5-6 days."

• K8ano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 4, 2020

"I started taking Mirtazapine about 6 months ago to assist with treatment for postnatal anxiety which eventually led to insomnia. No history of mental health issues or sleep issues. Started on 15mg, slept well from day 1. Once I felt better after about 3 months, I reduced my dose very slowly over 3 months, and now I'm on less than 1mg with no bad side effects, so I'll be off it soon. The medical recommendation for tapering is far too quick, I believe, take it slow. Mirtazapine has been positive for me to get through a rough patch. In regards to weight gain, I never weighed myself, but I think I may have put on a few kgs in the beginning, but nothing significant, and it didn't continue. No major appetite increase. Please don't let that put you off if you need help."

• samah...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2013

Remeron (mirtazapine) "I have been on Remeron for 3.5 years. I started out on 15 mg and now currently on 30 mg. I have tried every sleep medication available. This is by far the best medication I have ever been on for sleep. Yes, I get the ravenous hunger, and it takes about 2 hours to make me sleepy. An hour after I take it is when the hunger kicks in, and I eat for the entire day before bed. I have gained about 30 lbs over the time being on it, but it has now tapered off, I hope! However, for me, sleep is so important, so it's a matter of what's more important, the perfect body or being so tired and depressed due to lack of sleep. If you start watching what you eat prior to bed, which I do now and wish I knew or realized this early on, you can help keep the weight."

• Jan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2024

"Started mirtazapine at 15mg for sleep and slight anxiety. It just felt too strong and I felt agitated so the doctor said to go down to 7.5mg, and even that made me feel the same, so I cut down to 4mg with a pill cutter. Helps me sleep and takes away mild anxiety, and I am more chatty. Would recommend."

• TREX
• July 14, 2019

"I have suffered from insomnia for decades to the point of job loss, self-medicating with alcohol, and then sleeping days at a time once I reached the point of exhaustion. On just 7.5mg of mirtazapine, I am a new human! I truly believe a very low dose is the way to go for insomnia. I suffer from depression, and I suspect PTSD. Melatonin, Nyquil, codeine, nytol, prescription sleep aids, even pain medications like Tramacet had zero effect on my sleep. I could be so exhausted I was impaired and still not sleep. It has only been 7 days, but on 7.5mg, I have NEVER slept like this in my life. I fall asleep in minutes, I only wake a couple of times a night, and my energy level is at a place it has not been for 20 years. I am a new human. And oddly, I have adversely experienced a decrease in my appetite. I was a major stress overeater and this has completely balanced me."

• Catas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2015

"It used to take me a good 3-4 hours to fall asleep at night, now it takes me around 20-30 minutes. I feel much more energized during the day and actually enjoy sleeping again. It has also helped decrease the amount of nightmares I used to have."

• Miracle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2013

"This pill gives me an appetite, helps my depression, helps my anxiety, and helps me sleep. I love it. I don't know what I would do without it, to be honest, and if I need to be on one medication for the rest of my life, this would be it. I have been on many pills, and I'm normally really picky about side effects, but this one is just great for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2023

"I have been struggling with insomnia for 8 months. I haven't been able to get a full night's rest for that time, and it's impacted my life in the most awful ways. Even when I was able to get some sleep, I woke up groggy and unrefreshed. Last night, I took this pill for the first time, and I just slept for 12 hours. I woke up groggy, but it is wearing off, and I at least know I got the amount of sleep I needed. Please try this out if you are struggling with insomnia. This actually saved my life, and this is the medicine I left with from the crisis center because I wanted to take my life. Insomnia is no joke."

• JCNYC
• August 12, 2021

"It's irresponsible for people to scream in all caps, 'DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG!!!' especially after one night. ALL research supports low-dose (7.5mg) for insomnia. Anything higher is activating (there are always exceptions) on norepinephrine. Not everyone gains weight. Diet and exercise will keep the weight off if you do gain weight, just as it will without taking it. And this discussion board is for insomnia, not anxiety or depression. Low-dose for insomnia/per peer-reviewed science!"

• Happy...
• August 2, 2015

"Have suffered insomnia and anxiety for 15 years. Slept 6 to 12 hours per week. SSRIs ineffective. Would visit Dr. every 2 to 3 months and beg for 4 sleeping tablets (I'm a Brit) because I was dizzy and almost crying with exhaustion. A new GP prescribed Mirtazapine, and I have slept a minimum of 6 hours each night from the start. Feel fantastic. Colleagues notice a difference, house is clean, bags of energy. P.S. no more horrible dreams either."

• Bandit
• February 10, 2020

"I was given these tablets Mirtazapine 15mg because I suffer from anxiety, depression, and insomnia. I slept for a whole 2 days. I obviously got up to go to the loo, but was walking into doors and door frames. I eventually came around but was left feeling very groggy and dizzy. I couldn’t possibly have driven a car and was unable to even make a meal. I still don’t feel back to normal after 3 days. Won’t be taking them again. I lost a whole weekend."

• Dopey...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2016

"I have experienced sleep problems for 10 years, lost both parents, have a very busy life, house to run, full-time physical job. I was a complete wreck, worn out physically, to the point I couldn't function or speak even to people. I dreaded going to bed and sat up all night trying everything to get to sleep. I had to be up for work at 5.30, driving on motorways felt like a zombie. These tablets are my lifesaver. I've got my spark back, no side effects, only aches in my joints, but that's nothing to me. I feel human again, no weight gain which is fantastic. I was scared of the weight gain, but I have been fine. Don't be scared of trying them, they're a savior."

• BLE
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2024

"For me, very low doses of 1-2 mg work best. I cut up pills into very small particles for this purpose. I sleep well and do not have the morning drowsiness that I experienced with higher doses (3-4 mg)."

• James
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 6, 2020

"I had chronic insomnia which crept up very quickly. I tried to deal with it using a variety of recommended methods, but as the insomnia worsened, my ability to cope became nonexistent. Sleeping tablets made me feel awful, and eventually, a doctor prescribed me a handful of Valium tablets which helped temporarily. He suggested a course of mirtazapine (15mg), and it feels like they saved my life. Stable sleep patterns and minimal side effects. Only slight weight gain, which I was able to shift quickly. I have been on them for 8 months or so and attempted a taper but went to half tabs too quickly. Had a few days of dizziness after a month or so and then an awful night's sleep, so I panicked and went back to full tablets. Thinking of a slower taper to get off them, but this seems to be a tricky thing by the looks of people's accounts online."

• Max...
• July 9, 2014

"I have been using Remeron for sleep on and off for a couple of years. This is the only non-habit-forming one I know of that really works. I take a tiny dose—about 2 mg, or 1/8th of a 15 mg tablet (which is tricky to do with a pill cutter). Best results if I take it an hour or two before bedtime. Sleep quality is usually very good. The only side effect is minor grogginess, which is nothing compared to what happens with insomnia. I recommend it very highly. Too bad it's not better known in the medical community."

• Jaspe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2014

"I have suffered from insomnia for the majority of my adult life. It seems like my mind does not want to slow down. I now take 30 mg of mirtazapine at bedtime, and I must say that it is an amazing medication. I do tend to be a bit groggy when I first get up, but like the post earlier, it is nothing compared to the 'walking dead' feeling that insomnia gave me. I highly recommend it."

• Mathew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2013

"I have tried many SSRIs which all left me feeling nauseated and with flu-like symptoms and had given up on medication until last week. I thought I would try once more with a new med. I went to a new doctor and she prescribed me Mirtazapine. Day 1, I slept 10 hours and felt very tired the entire day, although on Day 2, I woke up feeling great and cannot remember the last time I felt this good, since I have been struggling with anxiety and depression. Highly recommend this medication."

• SSS
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2023

"I cannot thank the psychiatrist enough for prescribing me this drug. After having severe stomach and chest pain, I wasn’t able to get more than 1-2 hours of sleep with zopiclone. I ended up in the hospital and went 5 days without sleep. At that point, I genuinely wanted my life to end and debated doing it. On the fifth day of sleep deprivation, a psychiatrist came to see me and told me about mirtazapine. He said it would help me gain weight (I’d fallen severely underweight) but best of all, it would help me sleep. The first 2 nights I took 7.5mg. I remember having earworms both those nights. All I could hear was the “It’s Raining Men” chorus on repeat. However, once by day 3 the earworms had gone and I finally began to sleep. I was released from the hospital and slept 14 hours a day for the first few weeks, which I needed after months of sleep deprivation. I did gain a stone but I let myself do that. This drug saved my life. I dread to think what would have happened without it."

• Jellb...
• June 11, 2016

"I find a few crumbs of mirtazapine a great aid to sleep. I can get about 10 doses out of a 30mg tablet. I tend to use it at the weekend as it sometimes leaves me a little drowsy the next day. I was originally prescribed 30 mg daily for depression but found that way too heavy. Now it's just occasional use if I've not been sleeping too well. But super small doses are effective for sleep and you can avoid the side effects."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2020

"Extremely helpful for occasional insomnia. Although I don’t take it for depression or chronic insomnia, I was given some by my doctor for acute situations of mind racing, restless insomnia at night. The pills are 15mg and take full effect in about an hour. On nights with severe anxiety, restlessness and agitation, mirtazapine can slow my thoughts and bring forth a deep feeling of tiredness, allowing me to fall into deep sleep. Unlike diphenhydramine, I do not experience a “fishbowl” feeling in my head, uncomfortable heaviness and dry mouth the night during and morning after using. The one notable drawback is the long duration of action which can sometimes cause residual drowsiness well into the morning. Often times, a strong cup of coffee can help mitigate this though. Overall, having this medication available has been beneficial in preventing days being completely ruined by insomnia and anxiety."

• KJJ
• June 19, 2023

"I took this for 9 months for insomnia and anxiety, starting at 7.5 mg and gradually going all the way up to 45 mg. I ended up at 45 mg because the weight gain was so bad and supposedly the higher dosage was supposed to be better for less weight gain, but my weight just kept skyrocketing (while I struggled to fight it with diet and exercise). I never fell asleep easily on this medication - usually taking at least 1 to 2 hours, but once asleep, slept well. However, it was tough getting up in the mornings. I think it helped my anxiety but the weight gain and struggles with craving sweets were not worth it. I gained 10 pounds in 9 months and was very depressed over this. The benefits seemed very slight compared to the side effect of weight issues. Weaning off was not an issue. Do it gradually. Went back to trazodone."

• cmwil...
• November 1, 2019

"This drug Remeron is amazing for sleep and anxiety. I started off with 30mg at night. I took it about an hour before I wanted to go to bed, and it worked amazingly for me. I slept all night long, never even waking up to use the restroom, which is huge for me. I went down to 15mg about a year ago, and it still worked the same. If your main issue is falling asleep and staying asleep, along with some sleep anxiety, I would say TAKE IT!! And I did not gain ANY WEIGHT from it. Yes, it makes you hungry, but try and control what you put into your mouth and how active you are. Wonderful drug! Godsend!!!"