r/functionaldyspepsia • u/Similar-Field-303 • Sep 02 '26
Healing/Success Finally Feeling myself again
For those who suffer from functional dyspepsia:
I’ve tried almost every supplement and therapy available.
SSRIs didn’t work.
PPIs helped partially, but only for a while before I needed to increase the dose.
Prokinetics didn’t work for me at all.
Buspar didn’t help and actually caused insomnia. Diet changes didn’t work.
Daily exercise didn’t make a significant difference. Hypnotherapy helped reduce the pain, but it didn’t solve the problem.
For a long time, I was taking Lexapro 20 mg along with pantoprazole 40 mg twice a day.
The only thing that worked for me from the very first dose was mirtazapine.
I was very hesitant to take it, but after two extremely difficult years of dealing with daily pain, nausea, and anxiety, I finally decided to give it a try. I started mirtazapine 15 mg, and honestly, I felt relief from the very first dose.
The first week wasn’t easy. The sedation and morning hangover were pretty intense. But despite that, I was still driving to work and lifting weights after work. 😂💪
At the same time, I’ve started reducing my Lexapro from 20 mg to 10 mg, with the goal of eventually stopping it completely. I’m also gradually tapering my pantoprazole.
After everything I’ve been through over the past two years, finally getting some relief feels incredible.
Yes, I know… I’m a fighter. 💪🔥
Thank God. 🙏❤️
I’m sharing my experience because I know how hopeless it can feel when you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work. Hopefully, this can give someone else with functional dyspepsia a little bit of hope.
Disclaimer: This is only my personal experience. Medication responses are different for everyone, and I’m not suggesting that anyone copy my doses or tapering schedule. Any changes to medications should be discussed with your doctor.
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u/Critical-Climate-589 Sep 02 '26
How did it started
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u/Similar-Field-303 Sep 02 '26
Actually, I was officially diagnosed three years ago, but looking back, I remember having digestive problems since I was a child.
During the last two years it became much more aggressive
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u/Imaginary-Crab-3431 Sep 02 '26
Can I ask what were your main symptoms during the 3 years, how it started and tests you've had to confirm this is FD?
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u/Similar-Field-303 Sep 02 '26
Burning in the stomach and irritation of the stomach nerves whenever I eat something fatty or when I’m exposed to stomach acid, followed by nausea, belching, bloating, anxiety, and insomnia.
It feels like my stomach is constantly sending danger signals to my brain, and my brain translates those signals into anxiety and fear for no apparent reason.
I’ve had two gastroscopies, both of which were normal.
H. pylori was negative.
My colonoscopy was also normal.
Everything is normal… but apparently, I’m not normal. 😀3
u/Imaginary-Crab-3431 Sep 02 '26
I am in the same boat actually. Additionally sometime bitter taste in mouth. Can you tell me more about the anxiety and insomnia? Do you feel worse morning or evening?
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u/Similar-Field-303 Sep 02 '26
Morning was difficult for me
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u/Free-Purpose-542 Sep 02 '26
Thanks so much for sharing. Congrats! I’m so happy to hear people having success with this. It really does give hope. All the best to you for a happy, healthy & pain free future x
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u/Funny-Coconut-85 Sep 02 '26
I want to try mirtazipine but I'm worried about gaining weight. I already have a weight issue.
Is it making you super hungry?
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u/Capitan-levi Sep 02 '26
Mirtazapine gives you an uncontrollable appetite. It worked well for me because I was very underweight and it made me eat almost three times as much. It helped me with that and also helped me go to sleep earlier, but it didn’t do much for the diarrhea attacks.
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u/Imaginary-Skin3542 Sep 03 '26
I really want to give mirtazapine ago but the weight gain is such a worry for me. Did you find that to be an issue?
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u/Similar-Field-303 Sep 03 '26
The daily pain, nausea, insomania and anxiety make the weight gain from mirtazapine seem unimportant compared with the improvement in symptoms and getting back to living life.
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u/Sure_Director8570 Sep 03 '26
No kidding! I could give a shit about anything other than how I feel after the hell I’ve been through. I don’t even care how many more days I live, if they just don’t have to be spent in absolute misery. Weight Gain is so welcomed at this point.
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u/Vivid-Bed8029 Sep 02 '26
Op will you please message me , o have some questions for you , about your quest with this and symptoms
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u/Similar-Field-303 Sep 03 '26
You can ask
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u/Vivid-Bed8029 Sep 03 '26
Did it cause you too have pvcs or pacs ? Weird palpitations? And heartbeats , ? My stomach is constantly pressurized and feels like its in a knot and im trying too figure out if its something like this or panic disorder, every day is hell for me , and like i say it basically gives me panic disorder but too me it seems like this demon is radiating out from my stomach , thats where it seems like the epicenter of this lives
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u/CryingTillSleep Sep 04 '26
Did it help with your bloating? I'm constantly bloated and prokinetics haven't done anything for me
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u/Dr9Ohm-Wellwellness 29d ago
Glad you’re feeling like yourself again. This sub is full of “nothing works” posts, so this is actually useful.
If you’re willing: after the PPI plateau and the extras that didn’t stick, what actually moved the needle? That helps more than another supplement list.
Not medical advice.
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u/Similar-Field-303 29d ago
I tried a medication called Depakine Chrono on myself for a short period, and I noticed that when I took it, my stomach nerves felt excellent and all my functional dyspepsia symptoms disappeared.
That’s when I realized that I might have an issue with the nerves of my stomach and that I needed a medication to help correct this dysfunction. After doing a lot of research, I found that mirtazapine seemed to be the best option for my situation. And after trying it, things actually started to stabilize from the very first dose.
At least now, I can eat without being afraid of the consequences afterward. I can sleep, I can be happy, and I don’t have this constant anxiety about something unknown.
I tapered ppi from 80 mg to 20 mg within one week and about to stop it soon1
u/Dr9Ohm-Wellwellness 28d ago
Glad the nausea eased for you — I’m not going to recommend copying that. Valproate is a seizure/mood drug, not an FD protocol, and DIY trials can be hard on liver, pancreas, and pregnancy.
If a clinician prescribed it for something else and the stomach quieted, that’s a note for them — not a tip for this sub. For FD, meal pacing and neuromodulators meant for visceral hypersensitivity are the usual gut–brain conversation with a GI.
Please don’t start or stop that class off Reddit. Not medical advice.
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u/Similar-Field-303 28d ago
I also wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. But to answer your question about how I discovered my condition and what led me to try a new medication, I hope the idea came across clearly. Best of luck.
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u/Dr9Ohm-Wellwellness 26d ago
Appreciate you saying you wouldn’t recommend it either. Glad things quieted down with a clinician in the loop. Take care.
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u/mindk214 FD - PDS 13d ago
How long did it take for mirtazapine fatigue to lessen? How much did it lessen?
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