Mirtazapine for hot flushes/night sweats - weight gain

I can’t help with the anti-depressants but I can tell you that I put on 2 stone with the chemo, I was on EC-T, don’t know what you’re on but apparently it’s very common on BC chemo to put on weight. When I first started they said I didn’t have enough body fat for a diep, I’m now in hospital having had the diep!!! I was the same, pilling it on xx

Oops! At least you can have the DIEP. I'm finding that I'm hungry all the time and thinking about food a lot which isn't really like me. 

My weight stayed pretty stable for the first month on chemo and then when I started the Mirtazapine it's just piled on. I had 3 EC and I'm now on weekly paclitaxel- I have 3 to go. 

Im just so frustrated as the tablets have actually worked. Just don't want to be bald AND fat.

Hope your surgery goes well xx

Yup the diep is so far so good, was hoping to get home today but I’m waiting to see the doctor and might be another night ‍ one of my drains has an issue. I know I found putting the weight on demoralising too xx

Hi

My oncologist said I could go on antidepressants for the night sweats but not until after chemo and surgery is over with, I have a date for surgery but dreading the heat in hospital now! I have put on weight as although I did not have an appetite felt I should eat when the food was in front of me, now chemo has finished early I am thinking of food all the time, but today is Monday and I am going to start to get my eating under control!

I had a lumpectomy in August and my surgeon told me to talk to my GP about the night sweats and resulting insomnia. I got the prescription and didn't take them for about 3 weeks. True to form they (& chemo) have seen me gaining weight. 

I do think once I'm back at work and in a proper routine again I'll lose some of the weight. But that's a couple of months off yet. 

Hi 

I was given citalopram for night sweats and flushes preserved for 3 months on it but it didn’t do anything for the sweats but everybody is different and it might work for you I have been given fluoxetine to try been on them for 3 weeks and feel they are helping getting a much better sleep at night with less flushes although still have them during the day. I take 10mg at night but doc said it can be increased. Hope this helps.

take care 

Anne Xx

I can't help with the antidepressant either but I also gained weight during chemo - it was all water for me and took me many months to get rid of it. 

i just wanted to add that now is ot the time for you to be restricting your diet - your body needs fuel during chemo, don't starve it. Worry about the weight after you finish.

I started menopause during chemo with zoladex injections and had very intense hot flushes and night sweats - every 20 mins 24/7. They calmed a lot once I finished chemo

I don't believe in diets and eat really well but I'm definitely eating more than I should. I also have high blood pressure which is higher when I weigh heavier. I certainly need to start thinking about eat less/move more as chemo is nearly over. 

I've been on Mirtazapine for depression and it is well known to cause weight gain.

I eventually changed to a different antidepressant as  I couldnt take all the weight I put on and so quickly.

Obviously don't stop it without discussing with your Dr as it has to be tapered off or changed to an alternative. 

Hope this helps x

I rang my GP to talk about the Mirtazapine the receptionist refused to let me speak to a dr and said they would put a request in for him to look at my medication. A week later she rings me back saying yes the GP wants to review your meds and will ring you on the 16th March. This was the last week in February. So I'll have waited a month to speak to a dr.

In the meantime I started taking the Mirtazapine every other day for about 10 days and eventually stopped taking them last week. I've had no adverse effects from stopping them.

I feel so much better each morning as they were making me so groggy. I'm getting an odd sweat during the night but not as bad as when I was on chemo. 

If every anti depressant is going to make me groggy then I don't want to take them.

Meanwhile it's taken me 3 weeks to lose 2lb which isn't great.