What Is Mirtazapine Used For?

What is mirtazapine used for? The drug is commonly used to treat depression; however, it can also be used in an off-label fashion to treat tremors. Mirtazapine is thought to help release more chemicals in the brain (norepinephrine and serotonin) that can cause symptoms of depression when they become unbalanced. Currently, mirtazapine is used for adults only, not children.

Mirtazapine (Remeron)

What Is Mirtazapine Used For? -- An Overview

Mirtazapine (Remeron^®) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression).

Depression is more than just "feeling sad." Common symptoms of depression include:

Changes in sleep (sleeping too much or not enough)
Eating too much or too little (and weight gain or weight loss)
Having little interest in things that you used to enjoy
Physical pain
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Suicidal thoughts.

Mirtazapine has been proven in large clinical trials to help adults with depression. However, keep in mind that many antidepressants (including mirtazapine) take several weeks to begin working. Sometimes, other people will notice an improvement in your symptoms before you do. Often, the physical symptoms of depression (such as pain or changes in sleep) will improve first -- sometimes within the first few weeks of treatment. As with most antidepressants, it may take several weeks before significant changes in mood occur. Therefore, it is important to give mirtazapine a chance to work before becoming discouraged.

Counseling and therapy (see Psychotherapy for Depression) are often used along with antidepressant medication to treat depression. Ask your healthcare provider if counseling or therapy would be good options for you (see Depression Treatment).

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