Remeron

Generic Name: mirtazapine (Oral route)

mir-TAZ-a-peen

Oral route(Tablet;Tablet, Disintegrating)

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders in short-term studies. Short term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24, and there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. This risk must be balanced with the clinical need. Monitor patients closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Not approved for use in pediatric patients .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Remeron


• Remeron Soltab

In Canada

• Remeron RD

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet, Disintegrating


• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Antidepressant

Pharmacologic Class: Antidepressant, Tetracyclic

Uses For Remeron

Mirtazapine is used to treat symptoms of depression. It works in the central nervous system (CNS) to make certain chemicals in the brain stronger. Mirtazapine belongs to a group of medicines called tetracyclic antidepressants.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using Remeron

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of mirtazapine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of mirtazapine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have confusion or unusual drowsiness and age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving mirtazapine.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Isocarboxazid


• Linezolid


• Methylene Blue


• Metoclopramide


• Rasagiline


• Selegiline


• Tranylcypromine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Clonidine


• Fluoxetine


• Fluvoxamine


• Olanzapine


• Procarbazine


• Tramadol


• Venlafaxine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Diazepam

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (severe chest pain), history of or


• Blood vessel disease or circulation problems or


• Dehydration or


• Heart attack, history of or


• Heart disease or


• Hypotension (low blood pressure) or


• Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or


• Stroke, history of—May cause side effects to become worse.

• Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol in the blood) or


• Mania or hypomania, history of or


• Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Kidney disease or


• Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

• Phenylketonuria (PKU)—The orally disintegrating tablet contains aspartame, which can make this condition worse.

Proper Use of mirtazapine

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain mirtazapine. It may not be specific to Remeron. Please read with care.

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor in order to improve your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine should come with a medication guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Mirtazapine may be taken with or without food, on a full or empty stomach. If your doctor tells you to take it a certain way, follow your doctor's instructions.

To use the orally disintegrating tablet:

• Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet.


• Do not open the blister pack that contains the tablet until you are ready to take it.


• Do not push the tablet through the foil backing of the package. Instead, gently peel back the foil backing and remove the tablet.


• Immediately place the tablet on top of the tongue. Do not break or split the tablet.


• The tablet will dissolve in seconds, and you may swallow it with your saliva. You do not need to drink water or other liquids to swallow the tablet.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (orally disintegrating tablets and tablets):
  
  • For depression:
    
    • Adults—At first, 15 milligrams (mg) once a day, preferably in the evening just before sleep. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 45 mg per day.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using Remeron

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed and have thoughts of hurting yourself. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you, especially if they are new or getting worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.

This medicine may add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures or barbiturates; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are taking this medicine.

This medicine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing your chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you think you are getting an infection or if you have a fever or chills, sore throat, sores in the mouth, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may increase your weight. Your doctor may need to check your weight on a regular basis while you are using this medicine.

Mirtazapine may cause drowsiness, trouble with thinking, or trouble with controlling body movements. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that requires you to be alert, well-coordinated, and able to think well.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless gum or candy, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth feels dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Remeron Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Decreased or increased movement


• mood or mental changes, including abnormal thinking, agitation, anxiety, confusion, and feelings of not caring


• shortness of breath


• skin rash


• swelling

Rare

• Change in menstrual cycle (periods)


• convulsions (seizures)


• decreased sexual ability


• menstrual pain


• mood or mental changes, including anger, feelings of being outside the body, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), mood swings, and unusual excitement


• mouth sores


• sore throat, chills, or fever

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Constipation


• dizziness


• drowsiness


• dry mouth


• increased appetite


• weight gain

Less common

• Abdominal or stomach pain


• abnormal dreams


• back pain


• dizziness or fainting when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position


• increased need to urinate


• increased sensitivity to touch


• increased thirst


• low blood pressure


• muscle pain


• nausea


• sense of constant movement of self or surroundings


• trembling or shaking


• vomiting


• weakness

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Remeron side effects (in more detail)

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More Remeron resources

• Remeron Side Effects (in more detail)
• Remeron Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Remeron Drug Interactions
• Remeron Support Group
• 82 Reviews for Remeron - Add your own review/rating

• Remeron Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Remeron Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Remeron Consumer Overview


• Remeron MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Mirtazapine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Remeron SolTab Orally Disintegrating Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

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