Specific Precautions and Warnings With Mirtazapine
Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking mirtazapine include the following:
Antidepressants (including mirtazapine) may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in children, teenagers, and adults (see Depression and Suicide for more information). Therefore, if you notice any changes in symptoms or develop any new symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. Some of these symptoms may include:
Before prescribing mirtazapine for depression, your healthcare provider should make sure that you do not have bipolar disorder instead of depression. Sometimes, the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression can be similar, and mirtazapine can cause problems in people with bipolar disorder.
There have been reports of mirtazapine causing very low levels of white blood cells (which may increase your risk of infections). Because of this, let your healthcare provider know if you have signs of an infection, such as a sore throat or fever, while taking it.
Taking mirtazapine with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can lead to dangerous side effects. You should not take mirtazapine if you have taken an MAOI within the past two weeks.
Mirtazapine often causes drowsiness and dizziness. Because of this, the drug may affect your ability to perform complex tasks requiring mental and motor skills. Combining mirtazapine and alcohol or other medications that cause drowsiness can increase this effect. Therefore, it is recommended that you become accustomed to the drug's effect on you before becoming involved in activities requiring mental or motor concentration (such as driving a car or operating machinery).
In studies, mirtazapine caused an increase in appetite and weight gain (see Remeron and Weight Gain). Talk to your healthcare provider if you are noticing weight gain while taking mirtazapine.
Mirtazapine can cause high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Your healthcare provider may want to monitor these levels while you are taking the drug.
Mirtazapine is known to cause increased liver enzymes (found using a blood test). This may be a sign of liver damage. Therefore, the medication should be used with caution in people with liver problems.
In rare cases, seizures have been reported in people taking mirtazapine. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking the drug if you have a seizure disorder.
Sometimes mirtazapine can cause low blood pressure, which can be dangerous in people who have had a heart attack, stroke, or chest pain. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience symptoms of low blood pressure, such as lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
Because the kidneys help to remove mirtazapine from the body, you may need a lower dose if you have kidney problems.
Orally disintegrating mirtazapine tablets contain phenylalanine. This is important for people with phenylketonuria, who must limit their phenylalanine intake.
Mirtazapine is a considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using the drug during pregnancy (see Mirtazapine and Pregnancy).
It is not known if mirtazapine passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start while taking the drug, discuss this with your healthcare provider (see Remeron and Breastfeeding).
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