![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by annie8 on September 8, 2000, at 13:10:55
Hi, I just started remeron yesterday, took 15 mg before bed ( at 10 pm) and PASSED out for 12 hours, now I feel completely completely light headed and foggy.. I passed out so hard that I could never have taken this in the day time, it would be impossible to funtion. I just started graduate school so I am concerned about this for next week... any one get this in the beggining and then it went away?
Also what about weight gain, I am on a super low dose, so hopefully that will be okay, the doctor said only 10 percent of people get it.. that is just because you eat more right?
any feedback would be SO appreciated you can write me at my email
thanks everyone! you rule!
Posted by allisonm on September 8, 2000, at 21:36:21
In reply to Just started remeron, feedback wanted, posted by annie8 on September 8, 2000, at 13:10:55
When I first started Remeron, my doctor told me to start on a weekend --
like a friday night. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I slept most of
the weekend. This was good as I had been suffering from insomnia for
quite awhile. That side effect wore off, although when I take my Remeron
at night, I can expect to feel drowsy 30 min to an hour later. When I
was at high doses, it was so sedating that it made me unsteady on my
feet. I am taking 15 mg now with 400 mg Wellbutrin. I have taken Remeron
at various levvels since March 1998.If you have the time, I would suggesting the eGroup links page I made up
on Remeron. It holds all of the posts on Remeron that have appeared in
Psychobabble plus some outside info off the web. The address for the eGroups links page on Remeron is:
http://www.egroups.com/links/psycho-babble-tips/Remeron_000963366608/Good luck.
Allison
Posted by JohnL on September 9, 2000, at 7:01:32
In reply to Just started remeron, feedback wanted, posted by annie8 on September 8, 2000, at 13:10:55
> Hi, I just started remeron yesterday, took 15 mg before bed ( at 10 pm) and PASSED out for 12 hours, now I feel completely completely light headed and foggy.. I passed out so hard that I could never have taken this in the day time, it would be impossible to funtion. I just started graduate school so I am concerned about this for next week... any one get this in the beggining and then it went away?
>
> Also what about weight gain, I am on a super low dose, so hopefully that will be okay, the doctor said only 10 percent of people get it.. that is just because you eat more right?
>
> any feedback would be SO appreciated you can write me at my email
>
> annie8@onebox.com
>
> thanks everyone! you rule!
Annie,
You're right, taking Remeron in the day won't work. I've taken Remeron for a long time and can share what a bit with you.First of all, though 15mg is the starting dose you can take 7.5mg instead to start with if you want to. To build tolerance, you could do 7.5mg one evening, 15mg the next, then 7.5mg the next, then 15mg, and so on. Alternate nightly. Shoot for a goal of staying at 15mg. Then if you are to increase dose, do it the same way in this alternating step pattern. To me it makes adjustment to dose changes, either up or down, much smoother.
Another tip is to take your dose an hour or two hours before bedtime, not at bedtime. The earlier in the evening you take it, the less carryover there will be into the next day. Or, you could maybe take 7.5mg at dinner, say around 6:00, and then the other 7.5mg around 8:00 or 9:00. Something like that. Spread it out. Of course though, if you are trying to study or read that evening, you might fall asleep with your face in a book. :-) You'll just have to play around with dosing time and study time to find what's comfortable for you. The instructions on the label are general guidelines, but we're all different.
I think most of the weight gain, if it happens, is as you suggested due to eating more. Remeron blocks some receptors in the gut that makes us feel hungry when actually we aren't. Therefore we snack more often than we would otherwise, and we eat larger servings than we would otherwise. Just be aware that your body probably is not as hungry as you feel. Those receptors are blocked and you are being tricked. Try locating some low calorie snacks to nibble on. In any case, the weight gain usually happens in the first few months of treatment and then levels off. Just being aware that your increased hunger is a deception, and nibbling on low calorie snacks, should help keep it under control.
You have my best wishes. Tackling depression alone is tough enough. Tackling grad school alone is tough enough. Tackling both together is a feat that deserves great respect. You sure have my respect and all my support.
John
Posted by alicefranklin on September 9, 2000, at 7:26:03
In reply to Just started remeron, feedback wanted, posted by annie8 on September 8, 2000, at 13:10:55
I gained about 25 pounds on Remeron. For me, it wasn't so much increased "appetite", as in a desire to eat more, it was about a gnawing in my stomach that wouldn't go away unless I ate something. I know that's known as hunger, but I didn't perceive it as such at the time. I just wanted the pain in my stomach to go away. Often I ate even though I consciously didn't want to---I mean I had no desire for food. Food seemed more like medication! I'm not explaining this well, I see. However, I slept wonderfully! And the first 15 pounds came off effortlessly when I quit Remeron. (I took 30mg a day, plus Effexor.)
Posted by alicefranklin on September 9, 2000, at 9:29:56
In reply to Re: Just started remeron, feedback wanted, posted by alicefranklin on September 9, 2000, at 7:26:03
P.S. Actually, I thought I was developing an ulcer. And having to eat all the time was an incredible nuisance, a CHORE that I resented. I didn't realize it was Remeron until after I stopped taking Remeron. That's why I think it's important to share personal experiences---too often we think side-effects are caused by some other, potentially serious condition, which in turn can cause increased anxiety/depression.
Posted by annie8 on September 9, 2000, at 12:14:33
In reply to Re: Just started remeron, feedback wanted, posted by JohnL on September 9, 2000, at 7:01:32
john, that was so nice of you, thank you so much for your feedback and support... I will take your advice..
annie> > Hi, I just started remeron yesterday, took 15 mg before bed ( at 10 pm) and PASSED out for 12 hours, now I feel completely completely light headed and foggy.. I passed out so hard that I could never have taken this in the day time, it would be impossible to funtion. I just started graduate school so I am concerned about this for next week... any one get this in the beggining and then it went away?
> >
> > Also what about weight gain, I am on a super low dose, so hopefully that will be okay, the doctor said only 10 percent of people get it.. that is just because you eat more right?
> >
> > any feedback would be SO appreciated you can write me at my email
> >
> > annie8@onebox.com
> >
> > thanks everyone! you rule!
>
>
> Annie,
> You're right, taking Remeron in the day won't work. I've taken Remeron for a long time and can share what a bit with you.
>
> First of all, though 15mg is the starting dose you can take 7.5mg instead to start with if you want to. To build tolerance, you could do 7.5mg one evening, 15mg the next, then 7.5mg the next, then 15mg, and so on. Alternate nightly. Shoot for a goal of staying at 15mg. Then if you are to increase dose, do it the same way in this alternating step pattern. To me it makes adjustment to dose changes, either up or down, much smoother.
>
> Another tip is to take your dose an hour or two hours before bedtime, not at bedtime. The earlier in the evening you take it, the less carryover there will be into the next day. Or, you could maybe take 7.5mg at dinner, say around 6:00, and then the other 7.5mg around 8:00 or 9:00. Something like that. Spread it out. Of course though, if you are trying to study or read that evening, you might fall asleep with your face in a book. :-) You'll just have to play around with dosing time and study time to find what's comfortable for you. The instructions on the label are general guidelines, but we're all different.
>
> I think most of the weight gain, if it happens, is as you suggested due to eating more. Remeron blocks some receptors in the gut that makes us feel hungry when actually we aren't. Therefore we snack more often than we would otherwise, and we eat larger servings than we would otherwise. Just be aware that your body probably is not as hungry as you feel. Those receptors are blocked and you are being tricked. Try locating some low calorie snacks to nibble on. In any case, the weight gain usually happens in the first few months of treatment and then levels off. Just being aware that your increased hunger is a deception, and nibbling on low calorie snacks, should help keep it under control.
>
> You have my best wishes. Tackling depression alone is tough enough. Tackling grad school alone is tough enough. Tackling both together is a feat that deserves great respect. You sure have my respect and all my support.
> John
Posted by annie8 on September 9, 2000, at 12:17:23
In reply to Re: Just started remeron, feedback wanted, posted by alicefranklin on September 9, 2000, at 9:29:56
thank you that is good to know, hope I don't get it , but if I do I will know it is the meds!!
> P.S. Actually, I thought I was developing an ulcer. And having to eat all the time was an incredible nuisance, a CHORE that I resented. I didn't realize it was Remeron until after I stopped taking Remeron. That's why I think it's important to share personal experiences---too often we think side-effects are caused by some other, potentially serious condition, which in turn can cause increased anxiety/depression.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.