Feeling awful - drug rant and warning

WeCallThemDayWalkers

I have to get this off my chest.

4 weeks ago my Dr. put me on mirtazapine to help me sleep. I've been trying to lose some weight for a while now and I knew that this particular drug was sometimes associated with weight gain. In fact, it is routinely prescribed to help elderly people maintain or gain weight. I thought, "no problem, I'm counting my calories and exercising regularly. Variables are accounted for." Boy was I wrong.

In 4 weeks I have put on 7.5 lbs. I went from mid-160s and losing to mid-170s and gaining!!! I tapered off of the drug hoping to reverse this affect and I'm still gaining weight. All this despite my efforts to keep net calories below 1500 every day and exercise as often as possible to counteract the effects of the drug. OMG. I'm so depressed. It takes ages to lose that weight and it all came rushing on like I'd never made an effort in the first place. I was happier sleepless. Seriously.

Digging into the literature, I find that this drug induces an metabolic slow-down, increases insulin resistance, rapidly results in gaining of pure fat, and significantly increases serum leptin levels (which correlated with the change in body composition to higher % fat). For anyone thinking of taking this drug, I suggest reading "Effect of mirtazapine treatment on body composition and metabolism" by Laimer et al from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (67).

I just want to hide under a rock. None of my clothes fit. Even my JACKETS are tight. I feel my jeans digging into my stomach right now. SO miserable. I'm feeling hopeless and distressed and sad that all my previous hard work was undone in mere weeks.

I am wondering if anyone on here has had a similar experience and whether or not you've been able to lose the fat. I'm so terrified that this drug has caused a fundamental change in my metabolism and what if it really made me more insulin-resistant?! Not worth it.

Ok. I'm done now. Thanks for listening, internets.

lizard053

Wow, that blows. You might want to try melatonin to help you sleep. Natural, and effective for most. I use it regularly.

What a crummy drug to put you on! As if it wasn't bad enough you're not sleeping, way to increase that depression with weight gain! Geesh!

So sorry to hear about your troubles! I hope you feel better soon!

frosty73

Holy moly! I had no idea that a sleep drug could do that, thanks so much for the warning!

In the hospital if a patient is having trouble sleeping, sometimes they will give them Benadryl. But most sleep aids can be addictive if taken for longer periods of time, even Benadryl.

I am so sorry to hear of your terrible reaction, and I sure hope your metabolism returns with a vengeance!

WeCallThemDayWalkers

Thanks for the sympathies. I'm feeling quite self-pitying

Honestly, the Dr. keeps trying to give me different antidepressants to help me sleep. I think maybe I should have just stuck to the benadryll/melatonin type stuff and then break out the big ambien guns only when needed.

Ugh... Need to find my groove again.