Depression Forum - What'sYour Experience With Avanza ( mirtazapine )?

tripmum2 wrote:

I have been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety - and like most people I guess one feeds off the other, the depression makes me anxious the anxiety makes me depressed. I'm now taking Valium and Avanza (Mirtazapine) the Avanza I have been taking for 7 weeks without any results at all, I feel as bad, if not worse than when I started. My dosage was upped from30mg after four weeks to 45mg but no relief and my doctor says stay on them. One person on the board mentioned Cymbalta and I would appreciate any comments on either Avanza, Cymbalta or any other medication which may be more effective as I'm seeing my psychiatrist in two days and I want to be assertive about my medication. My symptoms are continuous fear (I have been under a lot of stress for two years) the fear is unfocussed and is so great at times it makes me almost unable to function. The valium (5mg twice a day) is not affecting me at all now and any more makes me fee drowsy. - I want to take control of this - I have a young family, I have to get better!!!

I'm trying the activities suggested - walks, relaxation, talking myself out of my feelings. smelling to roses (not having too much effect so far - I'm determined to beat this but I would appreciate advice.
Thanks

Hi tripmum, maybe it was me that taked about Cymbalta, as I am doing really well with it. I also had tried another med last year that didnt help, so I was really glad to find this one. Some of the meds can actually make anxiety WORSE, depending on your own reaction to them. It is not unusual to try more than one type till the doc finds the one that works best for you. I am not familiar with the one you are taking, but if you want to ask your doc about Cymbalta, google it and find out what it is marketed as in your country.
Yeah a lot of people will tell you not to take drugs and to try all that relaxation stuff but if you have a chemical imbalance that is causing you to be extremely fearful all the time, you probably won't get anywhere with that stuff. Thats like telling a clinically depressed person to "cheer up" or "count their blessing". Ridiculous. I also am not a fan of valium type drugs unless you need help sleeping. They just dont get to the root of the problem and do make me tired as well.
All I know is I have gotten about 90% better since I got on the Cymbalta. Now when I do have a few irrational fears I am able to try some Cognitive Behaior techniques and they work. But they didnt work when I was so anxious I couldn't think straight. Hope this helps!