About Mirtaz 15 Tablet
Mirtaz 15 Tablet contains Mirtazapine 15 mg. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant used to treat depression. It often helps with sleep and appetite as well as mood. It usually takes a few weeks to work. It is commonly taken at bedtime because it can make you sleepy. It should not be stopped suddenly.
Uses of Mirtaz 15 Tablet
- Depression
Benefits
In depression
It can lift mood, improve sleep and appetite, and reduce anxiety that comes with depression. Improvement builds up over several weeks.
Side effects
Drowsiness is often worst in the first few weeks. Do not stop it suddenly; talk to your doctor if side effects bother you.
Common
- Drowsiness
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Headache
Get medical help if you notice
- New or worse thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially in people under 25 — contact your doctor straight away or seek emergency help
- Fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers or other signs of infection (possible low white blood cells) — stop taking it and contact your doctor for a blood test
- Agitation, shivering, muscle twitching, high temperature (possible serotonin syndrome) — seek emergency care
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes — contact your doctor
- Fits, or a severe rash with blistering — seek emergency care
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed, usually once a day at bedtime. Swallow the tablet with water, with or without food.
How it works
It blocks certain receptors (alpha-2) in the brain. This increases the release of noradrenaline and serotonin, chemical messengers that affect mood. It also blocks histamine, which is why it causes sleepiness.
Safety advice
Alcohol Unsafe
Avoid alcohol. It greatly increases drowsiness and can worsen depression.
Pregnancy Consult your doctor
Use only if your doctor advises it. Do not stop it on your own; talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Consult your doctor
Mirtazapine passes into breast milk in small amounts. Ask your doctor before breastfeeding.
Driving Caution
It often causes drowsiness and slower reactions. Do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you.
Kidney Caution
Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease; the dose may need changing.
Liver Caution
Tell your doctor if you have liver disease; the dose may need changing.
If you miss a dose
If you miss your bedtime dose, do not take it the next morning. Skip it and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Take it at bedtime to make use of its sleepy effect.
- Give it a few weeks to work.
- Do not stop it suddenly; your doctor will advise how to stop.
- Watch your diet, as it can increase appetite and weight.
- Tell your doctor straight away about fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Tetracyclic piperazino-azepine
- Therapeutic class
- Neuro / psychiatric
- Action class
- Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA)
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| MAO inhibitor antidepressants | Must not be taken together; risk of serotonin syndrome |
| Tramadol, triptans, SSRIs and other serotonin-boosting medicines | Increase the risk of serotonin syndrome |
| Alcohol, benzodiazepines and other sedating medicines | Greatly add to drowsiness |
| Warfarin | May increase the blood-thinning effect; your INR may need checking |
| Carbamazepine and phenytoin | Can lower mirtazapine levels |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Mirtazapine prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); Mirtazapine Summary of Product Characteristics (EMC)). Pharmacist review pending.