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Remeron

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:26 pm
by smithwen
Has anyone tried Remeron? My Dr. recently prescribed it, but I'm hesitant to try it because his last 2 recommendations have not worked at all. He had me try Elavil and Trazadone which I've seen on this website has not been successful for others either. I read on WebMD that Remeron is an anti-depressant that has been helpful with sleep. I was hoping someone has tried it and has an opinion about it.

Thanks,

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:59 pm
by Lovechild3113
Hi, my name is Jamie. I am on Remeron for depression and bipolar, plus it helps me sleep. I don't think that it is helping me though, but I have only been on it for two months, but I like it because it doesn't make me too tired, it makes me just tired enough.

Jamie
Lovechild3113@aol.com

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:04 am
by Calgary Cowgirl
HI
My doctor prescribed Remeron to be used in adjunct with Cipralex for a severe depression. When I first took the Remeron it literally knocked me off my socks for the first 48-72 hours, then after that it was very good. Remeron is known as an anti psychotic, not entirely sure what that means but it helped my depression immensely. I eventually came off it and have just stayed on the Cirpralex which astists for anxiousness, which I didn't think I had but when I didn't take the Cirpalex for more than 48 hours I sure felt ANXIOUS!! But to go back to your question I found Remeron help me but I had to give it a couple weeks. It partially helped my legs because the Remeron made me sleepy. Also I take up to 75 mg per night of Mirapex and all seems to work but lately my legs have started to act up again around 8 pm. SO not sure what I've done but my legs are back to kicking up a fuss at bedtime with .75 mg of Mirapex and Cirpralex and also I am on Xytram. It 's my newest best friend to be used in conjuntion with an antiflammatory. So I', not usre why this isn't working anymore but thanks for everyone sharing their stories.
Hope this helps
Gayle

Info about Antidepressants and RLS

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:49 pm
by mackjergens
This was copied/pasted from www.rlshelp.org. Please read all the info you can from this web site, it will be very helpful with your rls.
NOTE most all are known to cause rls to become worse.
_______________________________________________________

3) Antidepressant Medication
This class of medications should be used with caution in RLS patients. Antidepressants can worsen RLS symptoms more often than help them. As depression is a common problem, especially in patients with severe and persistent RLS problems, antidepressants are often prescribed for RLS patients. RLS patients who are put on antidepressants and notice worsening of their symptoms should inform their physician of this problem immediately.

There are several different classes of antidepressant medication. If a medication in one class causes problems, then a medication from another class may be of more benefit. As with most RLS medications, much trial and error must take place to see if these medications are helping. Due to the long list of antidepressant medications, we will only list them in their appropriate categories.

There are no specific guidelines for using antidepressants in RLS, and generally they are used for RLS in the same doses as for depression. The oldest antidepressants, the tricyclics, tend to worsen RLS more than they help. The SSRI's will worsen RLS more often than helping but they seem better tolerated than the tricyclics. There is only one antidepressant drug, Wellbutrin, which has dopamine like effects, so it may benefit RLS. This however, has not been looked at systematically yet although there are some case reports of Wellbutrin helping RLS. Trazadone may not help RLS but it does not seem to worsen the condition.


Tricyclics & Combinations
Ascendin (Amoxepine)
Elavil (Amitriptyline)
Etrafon (Perphenazine and Amitriptyline)
Limbitrol (Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline)
Norpramin (Desipramine)
Pamelor (Nortriptyline)
Sinequan (Doxepin)
Surmontil (Trimipramine)
Tofranil (Imipramine)
Triavil (Perphenazine and Amitriptyline)
Vivactil (Protriptyline)


MAO (Monoamine Oxidase) Inhibitors
Nardil (Pheneizine)
Parnate (Tranylcypromine)


Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's)
Paxil (Paroxetine)
Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Zoloft (Sertraline)
Celexa (Citalopram)
Lexapro (Escitalopram)

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI's)
Effexor (Venlafaxine)
Cymbalta (Duloxetine)

Tetracyclics
Ludiomil (Maprotiline)


Miscellaneous Antidepressant Medications
Desyrel (Trazadone)
Wellbutrin/Zyban (Bupropion)


Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Medications
Luvox (Flovoxamine Maleate) - This is serotonin uptake inhibitor which is chemically different than the antidepressants above.
Anafranil (Clomipramine) - This is in the class of tricyclic antidepressants.

Noradrenergic and Serotonergic
Remeron (Mirtazapine) - This is the newest class of antidepressants. It enhances both the noradrenalin and serotonin systems. Remeron may have less side effects than the serotonin uptake inhibitors and the tricyclics, and it even seems to promote sleep. There are 2 case reports of Remeron causing worsening of RLS, so it should be used with caution in RLS patients

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:18 am
by coaster
I've tried Remeron and discontinued it. Don't really remember why. Though I think it was one of those that had side-effects too pronounced to stay on it long enough to adjust. As noted above, it's a type of SSRI, and SSRIs often aggravate RLS symptoms.

If it's mainly for sleep, have you tried Lyrica? That works pretty good for me; but again YMMV as others here have tried it and discarded it for one reason or another.

I'd stay away from the SSRIs, though, if I were you. The chances of it being a waste of your time and money are pretty high.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:26 am
by ViewsAskew
Not long ago there was a study (only one study and not many participants, but a reasonable cohortl) that found 10% or fewer of RLS patients had increased RLS from taking anti-depressants.

Many people here have had problems, so it seems like it's much higher. But, I think we tend to get a very skewed view here - we see all the people who have difficulty, had the bad side effects, couldn't get meds that worked, etc. We don't see the millions who have no difficulty with their medications making RLS worse.

Before the results of the study, I wouldn't have tried any AD except Wellbutrin, I think. Now? I'd be willing if I had needed it. I'd still probably try not to, but if I needed it? I'd do it.

taking antidepressants/smithwen

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:36 am
by mackjergens
yes many people must take antidepressants for their depression, but many Drs will prescribe them for rls. According to Dr B, they usually affect most rlser's. But then again, many rlser's need to take antidepressants but usually end up on a a mixture of meds both to control rls and their depression.

I thought the person posting was asking about taking Remeron for RLS. Personally after trying zoloft yrs ago, for my rls, I would never take any antidepressant just for my rls.

smithwenm
you can go to www.rlshelp.org and email Dr B and ask him about taking this for rls, he will usually return your answer within a day or so. Dr B is one of the best rls experts we have!

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:58 am
by Neco
When I originally tried Remeron, I got trial packs of the sublingual formula that dissolves in your mouth. That stuff really knocked me out, so in a sense it did help with sleep. But after a while, that affect faded no matter what my dose was.

Later on I found Remeron did aggravate my RLS within 15 minutes of taking it, if I was unmedicated or undermedicated.

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:45 am
by coaster
ViewsAskew wrote:Not long ago there was a study (only one study and not many participants, but a reasonable cohortl) that found 10% or fewer of RLS patients had increased RLS from taking anti-depressants. ng if I had needed it. I'd still probably try not to, but if I needed it? I'd do it.

My own research on this topic was done years ago, so I can't claim to be up to speed, but it should be noted that what I found was that it's primarily the SSRI-type AD's that augment RLS, not the tri-cyclics or others, so if such a study looks at the whole broad category of AD's then the percent affected will be much lower. Are there are studies looking at just SSRI's?

My own OPINION, and naturally not backed up by any medical evidence, is that prescribing an anti-depressant solely for the purpose of treating just RLS is simply ludicrous.

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:33 am
by ViewsAskew
Yes, it's a new study - 2008. It's in one of the study threads that we maintain.

To clarify, my point is not to use any AD for RLS alone...but that when you MUST just an AD, you don't have to be afraid that the majority will make it worse. To clarify further, all ADs can cause problems. Older and newer. It's just at a much lower rate than it originally seemed. BUT it was just one study and that is not enough; it's simply additional information.

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:58 pm
by FidgetBoy
I totally agree with Ann, here. Can antidepressants worsen RLS?- you bet. So the use of these drugs to treat RLS does not seem warranted. However, if you DO have depression-- there is absolutely no reason why you can't try these drugs and figure out which one will work best for you. Depression is a serious diagnosis and should not go untreated because you're afraid of side-effects that may or may not occur.

As an aside, I have taken celexa for years. I've noticed that I can tolerate 20 mg but any higher than that and my RLS goes nuts. So it's not just the drug itself, but sometimes the dosage that can trigger problems.

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:02 am
by coaster
I think that knowing that SSRI's are implicated in RLS augmentation would indicate trying something ELSE before trying Remeron or another SSRI. I went through - just counted 'em - ELEVEN different anti-depressants before I found help in plain old Wellbutrin. And seeing as how you have to be on an AD six weeks to six months (depending on the med) to find out if it works for you, that's an awful lot of wasted time. If I was to advise someone with RLS who was subsequently diagnosed with depression, I'd tell them to ask their physician or psychiatrist to start with something else other than an SSRI FIRST.

Medical professionals tend to be influenced unduly by pharmaceutical company propaganda and get all excited about trying the newest and latest drugs. Well, we're the guinea pigs. It's not like test-driving a new car. I say if something works, why abandon it for something you don't know will work. Especially when you're giving up a low-cost generic for an expensive newly-released on-patent drug.

Sorry, rant over. I've not been well-served by the medical establishment. :(

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:48 am
by ViewsAskew
No question in my mind that this is a difficult area - and there are no clear cup answers. As someone who has never had any long term depression or even short term stuff that really interfered with my life, I don't know what it's like to have that AND need something for my RLS.

But, I clearly agree with everyone: RLS should never be treated with anti-depressants, regardless of the type. It's not about depression.

And, the sooner we educate our doctors, the better we'll be. Especially because big pharma does have direct access and even if the doctors don't want to be influenced, they are.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 3:37 am
by john_a
I was on Remeron for Depression and Bi-Polar. It put on so much weight I had to stop, even tho it really helped with the depression, it was seriously good for that.

I have met other patients who have had to go off it for the weight thing - it's a MAJOR side effect.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 4:18 pm
by Neco
I gained around 20lbs on Remeron at the least, and was eating a full plate stuffed with food.... It was unreal. But got off it a couple years ago and am pretty glad for it.. It didn't help my RLS when I was on it either, although at first it did knock me out pretty good.