Hey Kadee I just got done reading this post and we sure do have a lot in common. Although I knew my predator, the PTSD is horrid. I take celexa which is the same as the lexapro that Reach said. My doctor has tried to get me to try the mirtzapine for a while. I stick with the zyprexa which is also in the same class. I take smaller than a childs dose. It helps me with sleep and anxiety. I call it my crisis drug.
For you if you trust your doc, then you should be ok. I know celexa has a side effect of weight gain, I'm on the highest dose possible, no weight gain for me. Everyone is different. Your mother might have been on a really high dose.
Remeron actually came out as a new form of clozarell (sp) The side effects were really bad I guess from that and many people who needed it could not handle them. So, the Remeron was introduced.
I noticed when I researched it, it is also given to children for something. Then it is called mirtzapine. Maybe your dose is low, your doc probably knows you don't want to feel many side effects and since you are using it for anxiety and depression, you may not need the high dose your mom was on.
This is all assumptions so forgive me if I'm wrong. What I do know is the antidepressants have been a life saver for me once I found the right ones. I have to stick to the prozac kind. Like Reach mine stopped working so now celexa is the one for me. I did try lexapro but really have better benefits from the celexa. Everyone is very different.
Kadee my mom tried celexa and couldn't stand it. So just because your mom was that way on Remeron, does not mean that you will be.
I hope I helped in anyway shape or form.
Mary Pat