Hi Sasha, common with affective disorders like depression & panic disorder are sleep difficulties. In panic disorder it is very common to have partial panic symptoms in one's sleep (ex. being jerked awake) particularly as one transitions from active to inactive states, ex. drifting off. Some people can develop a sleep phobia because of it which will only worsen panic & depression.
Both depression & panic/anxiety disorders affect neurotransmitters that also affect your autonomic nervous system (sympathetic & parasympathetic) which if out of balance can cause these symptoms and create a vicious cycle. The cycle can be broken by a CBT program as offered at this site &/or meds under a doctor's guidance.
You say you have a "sister who had this when she was my age, and it was drug related also" but you said your not on meds? Do you mean street drugs? Ecstasy use & other drugs have been associated with both depression & panic. It's important to tell your doctor about any drugs you may be taking & odds are you can overcome this with some help. Don't try to do it all by yourself, let us know how you are...
Sleep promotion (hence take at bedtime-can be seen as a positive side effect) & appetite stimulation/weight gain are the most common side effects of Remeron/mirtazapine.
SSRIs like Paxil tend to cause significantly more sexual dysfunction, insomnia & nausea but the weight gain from SSRIs tends to take 6-12 months as opposed to the first month as seen with Remeron/mirtazapine.
Links of interest:
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/issues/v59n7/ffull/ylt0702-1.html
(Mirtazapine in the Treatment of Panic Disorder)
Don't stop Remeron or any psychotropic drug abruptly:
http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2000/Aug/Letters.asp
(Panic Attacks During Discontinuation of Mirtazapine)
Let us know how you do,
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