[indie95]

This is just a brief post because I don't have much time before my pill will make me go to sleep haha but hm...

I had an appointment with a gp last fortnight about issues I've been having over the past few months regarding my moods. He interviewed me and suggested it could be bipolar 2 and gave me a referral to a psychiatrist. Next day the psychiatrist questioned me at the appointment, I gave him my backstory. He also said I present all the symptoms of bipolar but he wasn't sure as I was cycling daily, so he gave me a prescription for melatonin to get me sleeping better. < fair enough, I wasn't expecting a diagnosis first visit. I saw a psychologist for the first time on Monday, she is lovely. I had an appointment with psychiatrist again yesterday, he hasn't labelled me yet (again, I'm not phased, as long as he can fix me haha) but he gave me a prescription for mirtazapine. If he thinks I have bipolar, isnt that a bad idea? Obviously im taking it because he said too, but I'm seriously concerned that I'll go batshit crazy on these meds or kill myself rather than just making suicide plans while in a depressive state. Anyone else been on only mirtazapine or any other antidepressant and lived to tell the tale? :/

[Tucson]

In low doses it is a sleep aid, not an AD.

[secretgalaxy]

I am on mirtazapine at the moment and on 15 mg. It has put me in a manic state and now they are trying to fix it. It was suppose to put me to sleep but it did the complete opposite. I barely sleep now but have a ton of energy to do many things.

i've just started mirtazapine for major depressive disorder. i dont know much about it yet.just glad im off the infamous sertraline.

[indie95]

Originally Posted by Tucson

In low doses it is a sleep aid, not an AD.

He told me it would help with my moods as well as sleep?

[secretgalaxy]

Originally Posted by indie95

He told me it would help with my moods as well as sleep?

What dosage are you on? I'm on 15 mg and it put me in a mania after being on it for 3-4 days.

[indie95]

Originally Posted by secretgalaxy

What dosage are you on? I'm on 15 mg and it put me in a mania after being on it for 3-4 days.

I'm on 15mg also. Tonight I will be taking my fourth pill. Sorry to hear they sent you into mania. Did you notice any unusual symptoms before your mania? I'm still drowsy in the day time enough to take naps but I realised last night that after taking my pill I felt spacey but not like I was being knocked out like the first two nights. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. But Im still baffled as to why my psychiatrist gave me this prescription without giving me more information

[Yoda]

Both my son and I have bipolar and have at times taken mirtazapine to help us sleep. It seems counterintuitive but actually smaller doses are more effective to promote sleep; I take 7.5 mg.

Neither my son or I have experienced any problems with the drug.

[indie95]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Both my son and I have bipolar and have at times taken mirtazapine to help us sleep. It seems counterintuitive but actually smaller doses are more effective to promote sleep; I take 7.5 mg.

Neither my son or I have experienced any problems with the drug.

Are you on a mood stabiliser though? Mirtazapine is the only drug I am currently taking which is why im concerned

[Yoda]

Yes I take neurontin, selegiline and clozapine.

[indie95]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Yes I take neurontin, selegiline and clozapine.

Oh ok. Yeh I'm not on a mood stabiliser because my psychiatrist hasn't told me whether he thinks I'm depressed, have bipolar or something else .

[secretgalaxy]

Originally Posted by indie95

I'm on 15mg also. Tonight I will be taking my fourth pill. Sorry to hear they sent you into mania. Did you notice any unusual symptoms before your mania? I'm still drowsy in the day time enough to take naps but I realised last night that after taking my pill I felt spacey but not like I was being knocked out like the first two nights. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. But Im still baffled as to why my psychiatrist gave me this prescription without giving me more information

It never put me to sleep from the very beginning. Since I was in the hospital, they said to give them 3-4 days to really get into my system. And literally, the morning after the 3 day, I was jumping up and down for 5 hours straight, talking extremely fast and was just overwhelmingly happy.

I've been on it without a mood stabiliser and I was fine. Did what it was supposed to - put me to sleep. Vivid dreams and weight gain. Eventually didnt work anymore so we added and changed meds but it didnt make me manic.

Just a few signs to look out for - little need for sleep or food, Change in energy levels, euphoria or dysphoria, feeling sped up, paranoia.

[indie95]

Originally Posted by Supanova

I've been on it without a mood stabiliser and I was fine. Did what it was supposed to - put me to sleep. Vivid dreams and weight gain. Eventually didnt work anymore so we added and changed meds but it didnt make me manic.

Just a few signs to look out for - little need for sleep or food, Change in energy levels, euphoria or dysphoria, feeling sped up, paranoia.

Thanks for replying to the post. I'm at work today and I swear every time when I'm drawing at the counter someone walks past behind me. But there's nobody in the store but me :/ I'm in one of my good moods anyway where I could accomplish anything and feel super revved up, so not sure whether me or meds? Running on 2 hours sleep because I woke up so many times due to weird dreams last night. I guess I shall speak to my psychologist about this when I see her tomorrow and she will tell me if I need to book in earlier than next month with the psychiatrist.

Yes best to talk to your psychologist about what you are experiencing. Could it also be anxiety related?

[indie95]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Yes best to talk to your psychologist about what you are experiencing. Could it also be anxiety related?

No to anxiety, I don't have any anxiety related issues. Shall keep the post updated tomorrow after my appointment

[~Christina]

It's difficult to find the right medication right off the bat, most everyone goes thru some combinations and it all takes time to get the right levels to take care of your symptoms with out raising your mood to high or too low.

I know many people with BP II that can tolerate and need an AD. Not all people become manic.

Hope you find some peace quickly

Update: mirtazapine seems to be my gold med. it has lifted some of my depression, made me sleep better and given me more energy.i take it in conjunction with quetiapine.