Select a medication above to begin.
Remeron
mirtazapine
Black Box Warnings .
Suicidality
antidepressants incr. suicidality risk in peds and young adult patients in short-term studies; monitor closely for clinical worsening and suicidality; advise families and caregivers of need for close observation and communication w/ prescriber; not approved for peds patients
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: TAB: 15 mg, 30 mg
major depressive disorder
- [15-45 mg PO qhs]
- Start: 15 mg PO qhs; Max: 45 mg/day; Info: consider lower doses in elderly patients; taper dose gradually to D/C
renal dosing
- [see below]
- mild impairment: not defined, caution advised; moderate-severe impairment: consider decr. usual dose
- HD/PD: not defined, caution advised
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: consider decr. usual dose
Peds Dosing .
Peds dosing is currently unavailable or not applicable for this drug.
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- MAO inhibitor use w/in 14 days
- abrupt withdrawal
- caution: patients <25 yo
- caution: elderly patients
- caution: hepatic impairment
- caution: renal impairment
- caution: bipolar disorder
- caution: seizure disorder
- caution: electrolyte abnormalities
- caution: long QT syndrome, congenital
- caution: QT prolongation
- caution: QT prolongation family history
- caution: torsades de pointes history
- caution: ventricular arrhythmia
- caution: bradycardia
- caution: MI, recent
- caution: CHF
- caution: cardiovascular disease
- caution: cerebrovascular disease
- caution: hypotension
- caution: hypovolemia
- caution: dehydration
- caution: glaucoma, angle-closure
- caution: smoking habit change
- caution: PKU (phenylalanine-containing form)
Drug Interactions .
Overview
mirtazapine
tetracyclic antidepressant
- CYP1A2 substrate
- CYP3A4 substrate
- anticholinergic effects
- CNS depression
- decreases central histamine effects
- hyponatremia
- hypotensive effects
- lowers seizure threshold
- prolongs QT interval (conditional)
- serotonergic effects
- add MAO inhibitor to Interaction Check if recent (14 days) use
Contraindicated
- isocarboxazid
- linezolid
- methylene blue injection
- phenelzine
- pimozide
- potassium chloride
- potassium citrate
- safinamide
- selegiline transdermal
- thioridazine
- tranylcypromine
Avoid/Use Alternative
- 5-HTP
- aclidinium inhaled
- aldesleukin
- alfentanil
- almotriptan
- amifampridine
- amitriptyline
- amoxapine
- amphetamine
- arsenic trioxide
- bedaquiline
- black cohosh
- bromocriptine
- buprenorphine
- buspirone
- butalbital
- butorphanol
- carbamazepine
- ceritinib
- cisapride
- citalopram
- clomipramine
- clonidine
- clozapine
- cocaine
- codeine
- crizotinib
- cyclobenzaprine
- desipramine
- desvenlafaxine
- dexmethylphenidate
- dextroamphetamine
- dextromethorphan
- dihydrocodeine
- dihydroergotamine
- domperidone
- doxepin
- doxepin topical
- doxylamine
- dronedarone
- duloxetine
- eletriptan
- eluxadoline
- ephedra
- ergotamine
- eribulin
- escitalopram
- ethanol
- fenfluramine
- fentanyl
- fexinidazole
- fluoxetine
- fluvoxamine
- frovatriptan
- gepirone
- glucagon
- glycopyrronium topical
- granisetron
- hydrocodone
- hydromorphone
- hydroxychloroquine
- imipramine
- iohexol
- isoniazid
- kava
- kratom
- lasmiditan
- lefamulin
- levomilnacipran
- levorphanol
- lisdexamfetamine
- lithium
- lofexidine
- lonafarnib
- meperidine
- metaxalone
- methadone
- methamphetamine
- methylene blue oral
- methylergonovine
- methylphenidate
- metoclopramide
- midazolam
- milnacipran
- mobocertinib
- morphine
- nalbuphine
- naratriptan
- nefazodone
- nortriptyline
- oliceridine
- ondansetron
- opium
- oxybate
- oxycodone
- oxymorphone
- palonosetron
- paroxetine
- pentazocine
- pitolisant
- pramlintide
- procarbazine
- promethazine
- protriptyline
- quizartinib
- rasagiline
- remifentanil
- revefenacin inhaled
- rizatriptan
- ropeginterferon alfa-2b
- SAMe
- selegiline
- sertraline
- sofpironium topical
- sotalol
- sotorasib
- St. John's wort
- sufentanil
- sumatriptan
- tapentadol
- thalidomide
- toremifene
- tramadol
- trazodone
- trimethobenzamide
- trimipramine
- vandetanib
- venlafaxine
- vilazodone
- vortioxetine
- yohimbe
- ziprasidone
- zolmitriptan
Monitor/Modify Tx
- acebutolol
- adagrasib
- alfuzosin
- aliskiren
- allopurinol
- alprazolam
- amantadine
- amifostine
- amiloride
- amiodarone
- amlodipine
- anagrelide
- apalutamide
- apomorphine
- apraclonidine ophthalmic
- aprocitentan
- aripiprazole bimonthly injection
- aripiprazole lauroxil
- aripiprazole monthly injection
- aripiprazole oral
- artemether/lumefantrine
- articaine
- asenapine
- atazanavir
- atenolol
- avanafil
- azilsartan medoxomil
- azithromycin
- baclofen
- baclofen intrathecal
- benazepril
- berberine
- betaxolol
- betaxolol ophthalmic
- bethanechol
- bexagliflozin
- bisoprolol
- bortezomib
- bosentan
- brexpiprazole
- brimonidine ophthalmic
- brimonidine topical
- brivaracetam
- brompheniramine
- bumetanide
- bupivacaine
- bupivacaine liposomal
- bupropion
- cabergoline
- cabozantinib
- canagliflozin
- candesartan cilexetil
- cannabidiol
- cannabis
- captopril
- carbinoxamine
- cariprazine
- carisoprodol
- carteolol ophthalmic
- carvedilol
- cenobamate
- cetirizine
- chamomile, German
- chlophedianol
- chloramphenicol
- chlordiazepoxide
- chloroprocaine
- chloroquine
- chlorothiazide
- chlorpheniramine
- chlorpromazine
- chlorthalidone
- chlorzoxazone
- cilostazol
- cimetidine
- ciprofloxacin
- cisplatin
- clarithromycin
- clemastine
- clevidipine
- clobazam
- clofarabine
- clofazimine
- clonazepam
- clorazepate
- cobicistat
- coenzyme Q-10
- cyclophosphamide
- cyproheptadine
- dabrafenib
- dantrolene
- dapagliflozin
- daridorexant
- darifenacin
- degarelix
- denileukin diftitox
- desflurane
- desmopressin
- deutetrabenazine
- dexbrompheniramine
- dexchlorpheniramine
- dexmedetomidine
- dexmedetomidine injection
- diazepam
- dichlorphenamide
- difelikefalin
- difenoxin
- diltiazem
- dimenhydrinate
- dinutuximab
- diphenhydramine
- diphenoxylate
- dipyridamole
- disopyramide
- dofetilide
- donepezil
- dordaviprone
- doxazosin
- dronabinol
- droperidol
- efavirenz
- empagliflozin
- enalapril
- enalaprilat
- enasidenib
- encorafenib
- entacapone
- entrectinib
- enzalutamide
- epirubicin
- eplerenone
- epoprostenol
- ertugliflozin
- erythromycin
- esketamine
- eslicarbazepine acetate
- esmolol
- estazolam
- eszopiclone
- ethacrynic acid
- ethanol (in some formulations)
- ethosuximide
- etomidate
- etravirine
- felbamate
- felodipine
- fenoldopam
- ferumoxytol
- fesoterodine
- flaxseed
- flecainide
- flibanserin
- fluorouracil
- fluphenazine
- flurazepam
- fosinopril
- foslevodopa
- fosphenytoin
- furosemide
- gabapentin
- gabapentin enacarbil
- ganaxolone
- garlic
- gilteritinib
- glasdegib
- glofitamab
- glycopyrrolate
- goserelin
- guanfacine
- haloperidol
- histrelin
- hydralazine
- hydrochlorothiazide
- hydroxyzine
- hyoscyamine
- ibutilide
- idelalisib
- ifosfamide
- iloperidone
- iloprost
- iloprost inhaled
- indapamide
- inotuzumab ozogamicin
- iopamidol
- irbesartan
- iron sucrose
- isoflurane
- isosorbide dinitrate
- isosorbide mononitrate
- isradipine
- itraconazole
- ivosidenib
- ketamine
- ketoconazole
- labetalol
- lacosamide
- lamotrigine
- landiolol
- lemborexant
- leuprolide
- levetiracetam
- levobunolol ophthalmic
- levocetirizine
- levodopa
- levofloxacin
- levoketoconazole
- lidocaine
- linvoseltamab
- lisinopril
- lopinavir/ritonavir
- lorazepam
- lorlatinib
- losartan
- loxapine
- lubiprostone
- lumacaftor/ivacaftor
- lumateperone
- lurasidone
- macimorelin
- magnesium citrate
- magnesium sulfate
- mannitol
- maraviroc
- mavacamten
- meclizine
- melatonin
- mepivacaine
- meprobamate
- methocarbamol
- methohexital
- methsuximide
- methyldopa
- metolazone
- metoprolol
- metyrapone
- metyrosine
- mifepristone
- milrinone
- minoxidil
- mitapivat
- mitotane
- modafinil
- moexipril
- molindone
- mosunetuzumab
- moxifloxacin
- mycophenolate mofetil
- nadolol
- nafcillin
- naltrexone
- nattokinase
- naxitamab
- nebivolol
- nelarabine
- nelfinavir
- niacin (vitamin B3)
- nicardipine
- nifedipine
- nilotinib
- nimodipine
- nisoldipine
- nitric oxide
- nitrite
- nitroglycerin
- nitroprusside
- obinutuzumab
- olanzapine
- olmesartan medoxomil
- opicapone
- orphenadrine
- osimertinib
- oxazepam
- oxcarbazepine
- oxybutynin
- oxytocin
- pacritinib
- paliperidone
- palopegteriparatide
- panobinostat
- pasireotide
- passion flower
- pentamidine
- pentobarbital
- perampanel
- perindopril
- perphenazine
- pexidartinib
- pheniramine
- phenobarbital
- phenoxybenzamine
- phentolamine
- phenytoin
- pindolol
- polyethylene glycol
- polyethylene glycol/electrolytes
- posaconazole
- pramipexole
- prazosin
- pregabalin
- primidone
- procainamide
- prochlorperazine
- propafenone
- propofol
- propranolol
- pyrilamine
- quazepam
- quetiapine
- quinapril
- quinidine (antiarrhythmic)
- quinidine (CYP2D6 inhibitor)
- quinine
- ramelteon
- ramipril
- ramucirumab
- remimazolam
- repotrectinib
- resveratrol
- revumenib
- ribociclib
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rifapentine
- riociguat
- risperidone
- ritonavir
- romidepsin
- ropinirole
- ropivacaine
- rotigotine transdermal
- rucaparib
- rufinamide
- sacubitril
- scopolamine
- selinexor
- selpercatinib
- sevoflurane
- sildenafil
- silodosin
- sodium ferric gluconate complex
- solifenacin
- sotagliflozin
- sparsentan
- spironolactone
- stiripentol
- sulfate bowel prep
- suvorexant
- tadalafil
- tagraxofusp
- taletrectinib
- tamsulosin
- tasimelteon
- taurine
- telavancin
- telmisartan
- temazepam
- terazosin
- tetrabenazine
- thiotepa
- thiothixene
- tiagabine
- timolol
- timolol ophthalmic
- tipranavir
- tizanidine
- tolcapone
- tolterodine
- topiramate
- torsemide
- trandolapril
- treprostinil
- triamterene
- triazolam
- triclabendazole
- trifluoperazine
- trifluridine
- trihexyphenidyl
- triprolidine
- triptorelin
- trospium
- tucatinib
- valbenazine
- valerian
- valproic acid
- valsartan
- vardenafil
- vasopressin
- vemurafenib
- verapamil
- vigabatrin
- viloxazine
- voriconazole
- vosoritide
- zaleplon
- ziconotide
- zolpidem
- zonisamide
- zuranolone
Caution Advised
- aceclidine ophthalmic
- acetazolamide
- alosetron
- atropine
- atropine ophthalmic
- barium
- belladonna alkaloids
- benztropine
- botulinum toxin
- busulfan
- chlorambucil
- clidinium
- cyclopentolate ophthalmic
- dicyclomine
- erenumab
- flavoxate
- galantamine
- glycopyrrolate inhaled
- homatropine
- ipratropium inhaled
- ipratropium nasal
- leflunomide
- loperamide
- methscopolamine
- mexiletine
- mirabegron
- neostigmine
- pilocarpine
- pilocarpine ophthalmic
- potassium acid phosphate
- potassium gluconate
- potassium phosphate
- sodium picosulfate
- teriflunomide
- tiotropium inhaled
- treosulfan
- tropicamide ophthalmic
- umeclidinium inhaled
- vibegron
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- agranulocytosis
- neutropenia
- serotonin syndrome
- hypotension, orthostatic
- suicidality
- depression exacerbation
- hypomania
- mania
- seizures
- akathisia
- QT prolongation
- torsades de pointes
- hyponatremia
- glaucoma, angle-closure
- drug reaction w/ eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- bullous dermatitis
- erythema multiforme
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- rhabdomyolysis
- withdrawal symptoms if abrupt D/C
Common Reactions
- somnolence
- xerostomia
- appetite incr.
- hypercholesterolemia
- constipation
- weight gain
- asthenia
- dizziness
- hypertriglyceridemia
- influenza-like symptoms
- abnormal dreams
- abnormal thinking
- tremor
- confusion
- peripheral edema
- ALT or AST elevated
- myalgia
- back pain
- urinary frequency
- photosensitivity
- sleepwalking
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
symptoms of suicidality, clinical worsening, and/or unusual behavior changes, especially during initial tx or after dose changes
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
Remeron confused with: Premarin; ramelteon; Restoril; Zemuron
mirtazapine confused with: metoprolol tartrate; temazepam
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
weigh risk/benefit during pregnancy, esp. in 3rd trimester; risk of teratogenicity not expected based on limited human data; risk of neonatal withdrawal symptoms or serotonin syndrome based on human data w/ SSRIs; no known risk of fetal harm based on animal data at 3x MRHD
Pregnancy Registry
encourage patients to enroll in National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants at 1-844-405-6185; additional info at www.womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants
Lactation
Clinical Summary
may use while breastfeeding; no known risk of infant harm based on limited human data and drug properties; no human data available to assess effects on milk production
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: liver extensively; CYP450: 1A2, 2D6, 3A4 substrate; Info: active metabolite
Excretion: urine 75%, feces 15%; Half-life: 20-40h
Subclass: Tricyclic/Tetracyclic Antidepressants (TCAs/TeCAs)
Mechanism of Action
exact mechanism of action unknown; antagonizes alpha-2 adrenergic and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors (tetracyclic)
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
Join Now to View Patient Handouts!
Create a FREE epocrates Online account to access patient medication instructions. Your patients and caregivers will appreciate you printing these friendly handouts, available in English and Spanish. Each handout addresses common concerns such as how to take the medication, and possible side effects.
Current Members: Sign In.
Pill Pictures
Join Now to View Pill Pictures!
Create a FREE epocrates Online account to access full-color images of medications within the drug monograph.
Current Members: Sign In.