I used mirtazapine for 5 months before my diagnosis. Since they were only treating me for depression at that point I was not on any mood stabilizers etc.

I ended up developing a very bad drinking habit while on it because I felt my moods were changing so many times every day i couldn't deal with it. I mean I have a drinking problem but that was when it got really out of control. Drinking every day to black out and multiple stays in cells. That is now a problem I deal with often though. I didnt have any weight gain or sedation from it.

They changed my AD while I was IP to stop the drinking instead of adding stabilizing meds. So I dont have any experience with it combined with proper meds.

Instead they blamed my drinking for the mood swings. But oh well. Im sure the alcohol didnt help but I know what came first even if they didnt believe me.

I have certainly used worse ADs for myself. Being that I lived 5 months on it actually was pretty good considering most I was IP within 1 to 2 months of starting them.

As has already been said, meds affect everyone differently. Wellbutrin was much worse for me at 300mg. I was severely manic on it. At 150 I could somewhat tolerate it with a mood stabilizer.