Mirtarzapine.

[Theland]

Not sure what to do.
Been on these for a little while now due to depression.
Slowing me down, but doing little for the depression itself.
Don't know if its a medical thing, or just overload with everything I've had to cope with lately.
Last time I spoke to my GP in a phone consultation he was trying to be helpful but simply wasn't.
I know the poor doctors are snowed under with Covid cases, but where am I to turn?
I spend most days in bed and find switching off easier there.
Good old Answerbank today, decided to try and get a bit involved.
At least it takes my mind off stuff for a while.

[emmie]

i currently take sertraline, doctor on 111 was going to put me on mirtazapine but seeing as how i had taken sertraline before decided to offer that instead.

[tamborine]

My tongue was hanging as I thought ur q was marzipan - alas!

So sorry ur not well & suffering and hope a quick recovery for you. Keep with abers - its the best tonic x

[Barsel]

Theland, do you have a therapist you can talk too or do you find them to be not much help?

[Buenchico]

Mirtazapine takes about 4 to 6 weeks to start working so, if you've only been taking it for a few weeks, you might soon start to feel its benefits. However if you've already been taking it for ages, it would seem like it would be worth getting your GP to switch you to a different anti-depressant. There are lots of types available; see here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antidepressants/
(Mirtazapine is an SSRI)

It might also be worth you investigating some of the links within the 'Do' section here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/low-mood-and-depression/

[Eve]

It might be worth checking the dose and when you take it. Up to a certain dosage it may make you sleepier so could be it's best taken at night if this could be affecting how you feel during the day.

Best to speak to your GP about it though. If the one you spoke to last time wasn't helpful for you, is it possible to speak to a different one? If it's proving difficult to find medication which helps you, you could ask whether it's possible for a referral to be made to the hospital, to see if they can help more.

Asking about talking therapy is a really good idea, it's possible there may be ways that it can be done virtually at the moment. Maybe a brief change of scene too, complying with the Covid guidelines. It isn't ideal weather at the moment so maybe when it's a bit better.

From memory you have some difficulties with your breathing and other health difficulties, so not if cold air affects your breathing, and given it looks a bit treacherous out there (here anyway) at the moment with remnants of snow and ice. Just to get out of the house for a little while, even in a wheelchair if needed and you have access to one, and someone to help.

Is there somewhere nice that you could go where you'd be able to keep a distance from others like a local park or something like that? Wrap up, take a flask of a hot drink or soup or similar.

[Theland]

Am housebound at the moment. Covid and scooter in for repair.
Yes seen a psychologist, but no help.

[pixie374]

Hi, theland ... I don't know if you are still around? But I thought these were quite new for you?
Antidepressants take at least 3 weeks to even get started, often more a couple of months. Also, in the first couple of weeks, you will get all the worst of the side-effects, before they wear off, without getting the full benefit of the meds. Plus often, people feel worse the first 2 or 3 weeks, as the anxiety and depression gets released a little, if they are working. And that's if they are...
Keep in touch with your GP, they should be contacting you at least weekly at this point, so don't give up too quickly. If you chop and change too much- you have to start again with a new one anyway.
It may be that something else might suit you better, but you have to also give them a proper chance to work.

[Theland]

Thanks Pixie.
Have just got my new script for more tablets. I rang the GP this morning and the best they could do was offer me a telephone consultation for next Monday.
I'm disappointed that the psychologist I spoke to some time ago was not able to help.
Thank you all for your interest and help.

[Theland]

Eve - Thank you. I have been meaning to make the effort to go out, and now that Xmas is out of the way I shall try harder to make it a priority.

[pixie374]

Sorry theland, I was trying to draw your attention to it, not pressure you to answer.
Are you willing to say how long ago they were prescribed? Also, a psychologist is no more qualified than a doctor. A psychiatrist is what you want if a doctor can't help. But they should be able to x

[Paigntonian]

I suppose you could always turn to religion...

[Mamyalynne]

Those who are telling you Mirtazapine can take a while to kick in are quite right Theland, hard though it is try not to despair.

[Theland]

Pixie - this is my second months supply picked up today.
I sleep a lot, and just prefer being in bed as opposed to facing reality.

Paigntonian - Turn to religion? If you mean turn to God, I never turned away.
And then what? If God did not save His Son from the cross, I'm sure he won't save me from depression.
But whatever is thrown at me, I shall cling to my faith in Him, because the grave is simply the end of this life, but certainly not the end.
But thanks for your interest.

[Theland]

Mamya, Answerbank is as good a talking therapy as any, and in fact better than some I have had, including AA and a local self help group, now closed because of Covid.

[nailit]

//I suppose you could always turn to religion..//
From one religionist to another...insensative.... as always to the needs of others.

[Theland]

Oh I don't know. We God Botherers are ripe for the plucking when it comes to jokes. And why not? We all need a good laugh :-)

[pixie374]

Theland, you are on very early days still. The first 3 weeks I started on antidepressants, I couldn't leave my bed for 3 weeks. Thank god for my sister looking after my children...
You are not going to get a straight upwards improvement, more likely, you will just start to get more good days than bad.... over a few weeks and onwards, and that's the aim.
They don't make you feel "happier", they help the depression to lessen, so you can do more normal things- more like a crutch. But when you consider, you are trying to retrain your mind and body to react differently... it is not going to work fast.
If you have a crisis, you may need a fast-acting, fast wearing off medication... a sedative say (like valium in old language), so you can get more help if you need, but they are short-term, addictive, and don't help the condition in the longrun.
Stay in touch with your GP, but don't be fobbed off either x

[rowanwitch]

If you are only about to start month two now, you may have at least another two to three weeks before you notice much improvement. As I said I am just starting month six and I am still not there yet. It is better though. Better but different.

You probably will need help from a psychiatrist if your gp can't get you settled on mirtazipine as your age restricts what they can prescribe. With your current batch of stresses a psychologist might be able to help you develop some better coping strategies. Sometimes you really do need both therapeutic arms..

[pixie374]

You may not be ready, theland, and it may or may not help... but look up Silvercloud, online. It's free, includes counselling, courses, CBT etc. I can't say it helped me much... but apparently it helps 70-80% of people.