I don’t understand why my psychiatrist prescribed Mirtazapine for my insomnia, given it’s an antidepressant. I haven’t even picked it up from the pharmacy because I’m hesitant about taking an antidepressant for sleep issues.
Mirtazapine is known more for its effectiveness as a sleep aid rather than as an antidepressant these days. It’s not often used for depression anymore. The drug can make you feel groggy the next day, but taking it 12 hours before you want to wake up can help reduce that side effect. It’s worth trying; if it doesn’t work for you, you can stop without any serious withdrawal effects.
@Corin
Interestingly, Mirtazapine is also used as an appetite stimulant for pets!
Adler said:
@Corin
Interestingly, Mirtazapine is also used as an appetite stimulant for pets!
When I took it for depression, it made me binge eat at night, and I also suffered from restless legs.
@Sayer
I experienced similar side effects, including the restless legs.
@Corin
I found that Mirtazapine left me tired the next day, regardless of when I took it, and I gained significant weight while using it.
My husband’s doctor prescribed Trazodone, another antidepressant, for his insomnia. It’s effective for sleep but not as an antidepressant.
Quinn said:
My husband’s doctor prescribed Trazodone, another antidepressant, for his insomnia. It’s effective for sleep but not as an antidepressant.
I had a bad experience with Trazodone; it sent me to the ER with a very high heart rate.
@Farley
Trazodone caused me to have a stuffy nose, which made it even harder for me to sleep.
Dru said:
@Farley
Trazodone caused me to have a stuffy nose, which made it even harder for me to sleep.
I also had the stuffy nose side effect. Taking an antihistamine with Trazodone helped me manage it.
@Farley
I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you find a better solution.
@Farley
I also had adverse reactions to Trazodone and had to list it as a medication to avoid.
Antidepressants often have sedative properties, which can be useful for treating insomnia at low doses.
Many medications have multiple effects on the body, which is why drugs developed for one purpose can often be repurposed for others. For example, some ADHD medications were originally developed as blood pressure medications.
@Val
Can you tell me the name of the ADHD medication that was initially a blood pressure pill?
Ky said:
Mirtazapine has been a game-changer for my chronic insomnia. While it didn’t help much with my mood, it significantly improved my sleep.
I’ve had a similar experience with Mirtazapine. It’s been effective for me for over two years now, and I’m thankful for the relief it provides.
Mirtazapine made me very sleepy but also increased my appetite significantly, which led to weight gain. It did little for my depression.
Toby said:
Mirtazapine made me very sleepy but also increased my appetite significantly, which led to weight gain. It did little for my depression.
I gained weight due to nighttime eating binges caused by Mirtazapine.
At lower doses, Mirtazapine acts primarily as a sleep aid rather than as an antidepressant.
Mirtazapine helped me sleep through the night without interruptions, which was a significant change from my usual sleep patterns.