Recently during a phone call with a GP, I was asked why I take Mirtazapine for Fibromyalgia. For me, this is totally normal, and I forgot it wasn’t the standard route for someone living with chronic pain only to take antidepressants. I am not ashamed to say I need help mentally to cope with my condition and the pain it causes me each day.

In reality, it was a lack of options. I stumbled into a face to face appointment pre covid (barely) wide-eyed and slightly manic. I had gotten to sleep at 3 am that morning and was up at 7 am. If there was ever day I needed to demonstrate how much I needed help, it was that day.

I wasn’t sleeping well. I was up and down, and I was so tired and in a lot of pain. Except I wasn’t taking any pain medication. Many of the more potent drugs I have taken in the past have left me feeling like I had a shocking hangover and really nauseous. Codeine, Co-Codamol etc. Anything stronger than paracetamol, has an adverse reaction on me. Despite this, I am not allergic, just overly sensitive.

So we discussed what was happening. The irregular sleeping pattern and lack of sleep, in general, was taking its toll on me. I specifically requested something to help me sleep and mentally bein the right frame of mind to cope with the pain. Generally, I can cope with my pain if I have had a sleep, even if it isn’t refreshing sleep.

Taking Mirtazapine for Fibromyalgia

We landed on Mirtazapine. An antidepressant is used to help people become drowsy and able to sleep. I started at 15mg each night. At first, I was knocked out within an hour, and I would sleep for around 10 hours a night. It wasn’t refreshing sleep, but it was sleep nonetheless.

One issue was my mood change. The antidepressant medication was chemically altering my brain, and while I wasn’t strictly depressed, my chronic pain condition harmed my mental health. Living in pain and feeling exhausted all the time will do that to a person, especially if they aren’t sleeping. My mood changed to anger. Really angry for around 4 days until I levelled off, and those feelings disappeared as quickly as they came on.

This lasted for a few months when I requested my dosage be changed, and we doubled it again to 30mg. Once more, I went through the mood changes as my body adjusted to the new dosage.

Mirtazapine comes with some side effects.

While I don’t experience many, I have an increased appetite sometimes, and I am extremely thirsty all the time. I have been checked for diabetes, and I am not diabetic or prediabetic, so this has been put down to medication.

It has been 12 months of taking antidepressants for chronic pain management, and on the whole, I do really feel like this was the best compromise for me. I am currently struggling with my sleeping pattern again following my covid illness. However, my whole lifestyle has changed, so I think this plays a big part in how my body reacts to the medication.

Should you Take Mirtazapine for Fibromyalgia?

In my honest opinion and experience, taking Mirtazapine has worked for me. The use of antidepressants when living with chronic pain can help you feel more like yourself and cope with the day ahead. Also, I am aware that other people giving with Fibromyalgia suffer more extreme symptoms that I do personally; however, in the absence of any pain relief or let up from the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, having a boost mentally that allows you to stay in the right frame of mind is better than struggling in my opinion.

*Always consult your GP and discuss your options thoroughly before taking any advice from blogs online. This post is intended as information only and is not to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.*