Medication for Night Terrors

[bookboo]

I went to see my Doc about my chronic night terrors. He prescribed me some medication which he said would be helpful and asked me to see him again after 4 weeks of use. Upon returning home with the medication I was surprised to discover that they are anti-depressants. Is this right?

[lcg]

yup....could be. what are they?

[lcg]

oh....are you on any other meds?

[boxtops]

I would ring the surgery and ask if he didn't explain why he was prescribing these to you. I've just googled and it appears that certain antidepressants can cause nightmares as a side effect - you don't want to make it worse, but it could well be that he feels that a small dose will help to calm you, What drug is it?

[bookboo]

No other meds, they are called Mirtaziapine

[lcg]

boxtops....if you look at most antidepressants or antipsychotics (which i both take) you would certainly wonder why anybody with mental health problems would ingest them. i also take 3 other medications to deal with side effects. often it can be trial and error as to which drug may work the best, or which is most tolerated. i am interested as to which drug bookboo's doc has prescribed....as most have secondary or tertiary uses in medicine.

[Sqad]

Yepp....I agree with Icg.....seems reasonable to me.

[bookboo]

Thanks, they are 15mg by the way

[lcg]

right, bookboo.....mirtazipine is a drug which is used specifically in psychiatry to promote sleep. it is a drud of first choice for sleep disorders (with or without depression) and is favourable in use over benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or temazepam which are addictive and can make you far more drowsy and other similar side effects. also, if your night terrors have been causing you distress, the antidepressant effect could help with your mood and general presentation. i hope he has started you on 15mg and i would give them a go. i wish you well x

[boxtops]

Thanks lcg - my experience with this class of medication is a long while ago.

[lcg]

most antidepressants/antipsychotics have moved on a long way from even the 1980's/90's. the chemicals in the brain that they target are much more specific and thus reduce the side effect profile they used to. some people still prefer to take older-style medications, but the majority do respond better to newer meds. mirtazipine is a good start to bookboo's condition, but her dosage will probably have to be increased gradually to 45mg per night, which is a decent dose. it may also take a 7-10 days of weird side effects for her to adjust, but of course there is no guarantee that mirtazipine will be the definitive answer. you have to try it and see if it works for you, bookboo x

[bookboo]

Thank you very much Icg, that's very helpful and informative. I shall give it a go, hopefully side effect free!