Effectiveness of Mirtazapine: It’s Dosage & Side Effects

Suicidal thoughts can occur for certain people when taking an antidepressant for the first time. Your progress must be checked by your doctor regularly when taking mirtazapine. Your caregivers or your family must also be alerted regarding the changes of your symptoms or mood when you use mirtazapine medicine.

Mirtazapine, an antidepressant drug is used for effectively alleviating depression. The working of mirtazapine medicine is not understood fully. It is believed that it affects the communication between the nerve cells of the central nervous system and/or reinstates chemical balance in the brain.

Mirtazapine is useful in effectively treating major depressive disorder.

You must not take mirtazapine in case you are already taking tryptophan commonly known as L-tryptophan.

Never take mirtazapine in case you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A drug interaction can occur which is dangerous. MAO inhibitors comprise of methylene blue injection, selegiline, linezolid, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, rasagiline and others.

You need to report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor like changes in behavior or mood, panic attacks, sleeping trouble, anxiety or if you feel irritable, impulsive, agitated, aggressive, restless, hostile, more depressed, hyperactive (physically or mentally) or hurting yourself or suicidal thoughts.

Never give mirtazapine medication to anybody less than 18 years of age without the doctor’s advice. Mirtazapine is strictly prohibited for use in children.

It might take up numerous weeks for the improvement of your symptoms. Continue to use mirtazapine medicine as directed and inform your doctor if your symptoms do not get better after 4 weeks of treatment.

Alcohol drinking can worsen some of the side effects of mirtazapine.

Mirtazapine may weaken your reactions or thinking. You need to be careful if you are driving or doing anything that needs you to be alert.

Do not take this medicine if allergic to mirtazapine, or consuming tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan).

Do not use mirtazapine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A severe drug interaction might occur. MAO inhibitors include methylene blue injection, linezolid, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, rasagiline, tranylcypromine, selegiline and others.

To make sure mirtazapine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

In order to ensure mirtazapine is safe to use, inform your doctor if you have the following:

• Kidney or liver disease;
• Narrow-angle glaucoma;
• Epilepsy or seizures;
• Bipolar disorder or manic depression;
• Dizzy spells or low blood pressure;
• High cholesterol or triglycerides;
• Including angina or chest pain, heart disease;
• A record of stroke or heart attack; or
• A record of drug abuse or suicidal ideation.

Certain people who are young have suicidal thoughts when taking antidepressant for the first time. Your progress has to be checked by your doctor regularly when you take mirtazapine. Your caregivers or your family must also be alerted for changes in your symptoms or mood.

It is unknown if mirtazapine medicine will harm an unborn offspring. You need to inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant when taking this medicine.

It is unknown if mirtazapine can harm a nursing child by passing into breast milk. Inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding your child.

Phenylalanine may be contained in the orally disintegrating tablet. In case you have phenylketonuria (PKU) you need to consult to your doctor in prior to taking this form of mirtazapine.

Standard Adult Dosage of Mirtazapine for Depression:

Initial dosage: 15 mg one time a day at bedtime orally

Maintenance mirtazapine dosage: 15-45 milligrams per day.

You need to get urgent medical aid if you have any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction to mirtazapine like hives or skin rash; breathing difficulty; inflammation in your lips, face, throat or tongue.

You need to report any recent or worsening symptoms to your doctor immediately such as changes in behavior or mood, panic attacks, anxiety, sleeping trouble, or in case you feel irritable, impulsive, hostile, agitated, aggressive, hyperactive(physically or mentally), restless, suicidal thoughts, more depressed or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor instantly if you have the following severe side effects of mirtazapine:

Eye swelling or pain, tunnel vision, seeing halos around lights or blurred vision;

Changes in appetite or weight;

Strange risk-taking behavior, reduced need for sleep, feeling extremely sad or happy, racing thoughts, talking more than usual;

Feeling light-headed like you may vomit;

Blisters, oozing, rash or acute pain in the soles of your feet or palms of your hands;

Ill feeling or weakness suddenly, sore throat, fever, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, chills, swallowing trouble;

Higher levels of serotonin in your body- hallucinations, overactive reflexes, agitation, faster heart rate, fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fainting, loss of coordination;

Lower levels of sodium in your body – confusion, slurred speech, headache, loss of coordination, unsteady feeling, vomiting, severe weakness; or

Acute nervous system reaction- very rigid (stiff) muscles, sweating, high fever, uneven or fast heartbeats, confusion, vomiting feeling, tremors.

Common side effects of mirtazapine include:

• Dizziness, drowsiness;
• Eccentric dreams;
• Changes in vision;
• Dryness of mouth;
• Constipation;
• Increase in appetite; or
• Increase in weight is also a side effect of mirtazapine.