Remeron / Lithium

Hi everyone. I am being treated with 800mg of Lithium and 15mg of Mirtazipine.
I am not BiPolar.

My main question is for those of you, bipolar or not, who have experience with Lithium. Is it quite sedating? Does this level of sedation continue with this medicine?

Perhaps it is more the Mirtazipine (Remeron) which is helping me sleep. I would be delighted if it was the Mirtazipine that was doing this job as I really want to taper off Lithium. Only last night my doctor reduced me from 1000mg to 800 and it didnt seem to affect my sleep at all.

Lithium was not sedating for me. But my wife said it totally robbed me of my personality so did other friends and family. Even though I had blood test every three months I ended going toxic. It caused my kidneys to start shutting down so I had to go off of it. Remeron is good for some people for sleep. It didn't really work well for me but I know others that said it was a miracle sleep aid. Best of luck

Thanks for your feedback. I think you are right - Lithium has robbed me of all joy. But something is working for me - and I hope it is the Remeron - cos I wanna get off Lithium in the long term. Same reasons as you - im worried about effect on kidneys

What dose of Remeron are you on?

Lithium caused kidney issues 7 years ago. I got off it but to this day my kidney function is still increasing.

Remeron was one of the things that got me in an outpatient program. I didn’t handle the weight gain side effect well and I started abusing sleep meds so I could sleep through the hunger. I took myself off that.

I didn't find Lithium sedating, when I used to take it.

But it did make me unable to keep food down and always sick to my stomach.

So unfortunately I had to stop taking it. Even though it was the only med that helped my depression.

I'm not bipolar. But my psychiatrist had prescribed me it anyway.