Anyone else take mirtazipine?

I took it for a couple of years. Increased appetite and weight gain are major side effects of mirtazapine. I wish I had known before I ever took it. I ended up gaining 85 pounds while on it and it took a long time to taper down to get off the medicine (after a year of asking before they even let me start the taper). When I finally was allowed to stop taking it, I had a horrible weekend of withdrawal symptoms. I took mine at night, specifically to help my mind calm down enough to let me sleep, so that part was doing what my doctor wanted. From my experience, I would ask the doctor if any other medication could get the same benefits he/she is looking for from the mirtazapine. I will never take that stuff again.