Mirtazapine for depression treatment

Overview Of Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine is a type of medication used primarily in treatment of depression. It can be used in elevating the symptoms of other mood disorders as well as in enhancing appetite. Different versions of the medication are currently in the making for reducing the signs of menopause and sleep problems.

Mirtazapine Is An Antidepressant

When it comes to the medical uses of mirtazapine, major depressive disorder is the main indisposition that is treated. The types of anxiety disorders that the medication is helpful with include social and generalized anxiety. Individuals suffering from panic, obsessive-compulsive and PTSD disorders can also get symptom relief using mirtazapine. Other than treating conditions defined in the DSM manual, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss are successfully tackled by the drug.

Effects of Mirtazapine

There are numerous kinds of antidepressant medications, but mirtazapine seems to have the best cost to benefit ratio. Most individuals who take it report experiencing fewer symptoms while tolerating the side effects relatively easily. It should be noted that finding the right medication to treat every single distinct individual can be challenging and what works for one patient may not work for the other. If the patient is taking other medications for different underlying disorders all involved medical care professionals should be made aware in order to avoid unwanted interactions between the drugs.

Side Effects Of Mirtazapine

The most common side effects of mirtazapine include an increase in appetite followed by weight gain, general feelings of apathy and lethargy, constipation, dizziness, and vision problems. Very clear, bizarre dreams are often reported as well. Pain is also a prominent side effect of mirtazapine and is experienced in the muscles, back, and joints. When it comes to the less frequently observed negative occurrences, users of mirtazapine could find themselves irritable, restless, and generally disinterested in activities that used to be pleasurable. In the case of rare physical symptoms, lower body temperature than normal and difficulties in breathing and swallowing are common. Instances of seizures, severe allergic reactions, fainting, and bone marrow problems have been reported, but those are really infrequent. It’s important to mention that the most commonly detected side effects of antidepressants in general include vomiting, loose bowel, high fever, sleep problems, dizziness, enhances sweating, and sexual dysfunction. In comparison to other antidepressants, mirtazapine is less likely to leave the user with negative consequences than most other medications from the same family. Also, the initial effect of some of the drugs could be the amplification of the feelings of depression and anxiety, which could lead to suicide attempts. Mirtazapine does not produce such effects. Rather, it provides a quicker onset of antidepressant stimulation than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

How To Take Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine is available in brand and generic versions. Both require prescriptions and are taken orally. The tablets can contain 15, 30, or 45 mg. The smaller dosages are more frequently employed in treatment. The Food and Drug Association approved the medication in 1996 as a treatment option for depression. The medication bottle should not be refrigerated but instead placed out of the reach of children in a dark, cold place. Mirtazapine is usually taken in the evening, one tablet per day, and the same dosage is taken for one to two weeks. If the effects are not satisfactory the portions are increased until they reach 45 mg per day. The medication does not interact with food in any way. Mirtazapine could be dangerous if combined with alcohol or illicit drugs as it increases their sedating effects by slowing down the central nervous system. If the prescribing physician decides the person is ready to be put off the medication, the dosages are decreased gradually to avoid going into withdrawal. In cases in which there is a sudden discontinuation of mirtazapine withdrawal symptoms will include increased feelings of depression and anxiety, irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, sleep problems, lowered appetite, vomiting, loose bowel, headaches, stomachaches, and so on. In addition, unlike many other psychoactive drugs mirtazapine does not produce serious effects if taken in larger than prescribed quantities. The recommended dosage could be increased by up to 20 times before the person starts to experience cardiac and breathing problems. Increasing the amount of medication 30 or 40 times would not be as poisonous as it would in the case of most other antidepressants. Further, when it comes to taking mirtazapine during pregnancy there haven’t been enough research studies to show any significant effects or lack thereof. If a doctor is considering giving mirtazapine during pregnancy the benefits must outweigh the potential risks. Similarly, it is still unknown whether the medication makes its way into the milk of nursing mothers and if so whether it produces any negative effects on the development of the baby. The research that has been done so far used animals as subjects and the results are not easily transferable onto humans.