Mirtazapine
3-minute read
Mirtazapine is an antidepressant medicine. This page explains what mirtazapine is used for, how it works, its risks and whether there are any other treatment options available in its place.
Looking for a medicine?
Visit healthdirect’s list of medicines that contain mirtazapine to find out more about a specific medicine.
What is mirtazapine used for?
Mirtazapine is mainly used to treat depression or to prevent it from occurring again.
To get mirtazapine, you must have a prescription written for you by a doctor.
Your doctor might prescribe mirtazapine for another reason.
If you are unsure about why you are taking mirtazapine, ask your doctor.
How does mirtazapine work?
Medical experts believe mirtazapine works by fixing chemical imbalances in the brain that are thought to be part of depression. The chemicals involved are serotonin and noradrenaline.
What forms of mirtazapine are available?
Mirtazapine is the name of the active ingredient. It is available in many different brands, which have different:
- names
- appearances (size, shape or colour)
- forms (tablets and disintegrating tablets)
- packaging
No matter which brand you are prescribed, mirtazapine works in the same way to treat depression.
What are the possible risks of taking mirtazapine?
Common side effects of mirtazapine include:
- fluid retention and swelling
- increased appetite
- drowsiness and tiredness
- weakness
- weight gain
Rare but serious side effects of mirtazapine include:
- itching or a skin rash
- low sodium levels
- feeling extremely restless and having an overwhelming urge to always be moving
- numbness in the mouth
- unusual changes in behaviour
- eye pain
- muscle pain
- weakness
- nausea or vomiting
Each person responds to medicines differently. Just because a side effect is listed does not mean you will experience it. Even if you experience a side effect, you and your doctor will need to weigh up the medicine's benefits against its risks before deciding what to do. This could be deciding to make no changes, change the dose or switch to another treatment option.
If you are planning to stop taking mirtazapine, talk to your doctor. It is important not to stop mirtazapine suddenly, as it may cause nausea, headache, dizziness and anxiety.
For more information on the side effects and risks, read the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) for the brand of mirtazapine you are taking.
Alternatives to mirtazapine
Your doctor might prescribe another type of antidepressant medicine or suggest that you try psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
There might be other approaches that can help, such as getting regular exercise and looking for pleasurable things to do each day. You can undertake CBT and other treatments in combination with antidepressant medicine or alone.
More information
Asking about your treatment or medication is important to help you understand your options. Read our guide to important questions to ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking a medicine.
You can also visit healthdirect's list of medicines that contain mirtazapine to read the CMI for the brand of mirtazapine prescribed.
Last reviewed: December 2018
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Mirtazapine Sandoz Tablets - myDr.com.au
Mirtazapine Sandoz Tablets - Consumer Medicines Information leaflets of prescription and over-the-counter medicines
Read more on myDr – Consumer Medicine Information website
Antidepressant Medication
There is a lot of misinformation about antidepressant medication and there is no simple explanation as to how it works. Medication can be important in the treatment of moderate to severe depression and in some anxiety conditions.
Read more on beyondblue website
SNRI (Serotonin Noradrenaline [Norepinephrine] Reuptake Inhibitor) antidepressants - BluePages
Find out about the types of SNRI antidepressants, how they work, side effects, and common dosages.
Read more on e-hub Web Services - Australian National University (ANU) website
Amphetamine withdrawal management :: SA Health
Amphetamine withdrawal management - appropriate processes for the management of amphetamine withdrawal.
Read more on SA Health website
Top results
Mirtazapine versus other antidepressive agents for depression | Cochrane
Major depression is characterised by a persistent low mood and loss of interest and pleasure. These symptoms are often accompanied by loss of appetite, insomnia, fatigue, poor concentration, inappropriate guilty feelings and even suicide. Depression was the third leading cause of disease burden among all diseases experienced by humankind in 2002. Antidepressants are used in treatment for major depression. They are the mainstay of treatment. Among them, mirtazapine is known to have a unique pharmacological profile and thus is supposed to differ in its efficacy and adverse effects profile in comparison with other antidepressants.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Fluoxetine compared with other antidepressants for depression in adults | Cochrane
Depression is a severe mental illness characterised by a persistent low mood and loss of all interest and pleasure, usually accompanied by a range of symptoms such as appetite change, sleep disturbance and poor concentration. The predominant treatment options for depression are drugs and psychological therapies, but antidepressant drugs are the most common treatment for moderate to severe depression. Fluoxetine, one of the first new generation antidepressants, is an extremely popular drug treatment for depression. However, findings from studies comparing fluoxetine with other antidepressants are controversial. In this systematic review, the efficacy and tolerability of fluoxetine was compared with other antidepressants for the acute treatment of depression.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Paroxetine versus other anti-depressive agents for depression | Cochrane
Major depression is a severe mental illness characterised by a persistent and unreactive low mood and loss of all interest and pleasure, usually accompanied by a range of symptoms such as appetite change, sleep disturbance, fatigue, loss of energy, poor concentration, inappropriate guilt and morbid thoughts of death. Although medication and psychological treatments are both effective for major depression, antidepressant drugs remain the mainstay of treatment in moderate to severe major depression. However, head-to-head comparisons of such drugs provide contrasting findings as to whether they are effective.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Depression in dementia | Issue 6 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
People with dementia of any type have a high incidence of major depression.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal | Cochrane
Symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal during the initial days of abstinence from chronic amphetamine use can prompt individuals to return to regular drug use. No medications demonstrate significant effects over placebo in reducing symptoms of acute amphetamine withdrawal.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Sexual difficulties in the menopause - Australasian Menopause Society
Sexual difficulties can be life-long or recently acquired, but they are a common presentation at the menopause.
Read more on Australasian Menopause Society website
Functional dyspepsia | Australian Prescriber
Distinguishing between functional dyspepsia and reflux disease can be challenging find out what to look out for and how to tailor treatment.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Update on the management of post-traumatic stress disorder | Issue 2 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in people exposed to life-threatening trauma. GPs may be seeing more patients with post-traumatic stress disorder as...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline
24 hour health advice you can count on
Government Accredited with over 140 information partners
We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice
