Mirtazapine is a new drug that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression. Mirtazapine acts as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which means it blocks the reabsorption of these chemicals after they have been released from their cells. This mechanism helps to improve mood in patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorders. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the benefits and side effects associated with Mirtazapine as well as how doctors prescribe it to patients.
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What Is Mirtazapine?
Mirtazapine is a medication that is used to treat depression. It can also be used to help with anxiety, insomnia, and pain. Mirtazapine works by affecting the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
This medication is available in both tablet and oral form. The tablets come in a variety of strengths including 15 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg, and 60 mg. The oral liquid comes in a concentration of 0.75 mg/mL.
What Does Mirtazapine Treat?
Mirtazapine helps to treat many conditions. Some of these are:
Depression: Mirtazapine helps to improve mood symptoms.
Anxiety Disorders: Mirtazapine can help to decrease feelings of anxiety.
Insomnia: Mirtazapine can help people to sleep better by increasing the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
Pain: Mirtazapine can help to decrease pain signals that are sent from the brain.
Working of Mirtazapine
This medication affects the levels of two neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for mood regulation. By increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters, mirtazapine can help improve mood symptoms. Additionally, mirtazapine blocks certain receptors in the brain that are responsible for causing anxiety.
These two chemicals are responsible for mood, sleep, and pain signals. By increasing the amount of these chemicals in the brain, it can help to improve mood, sleeping patterns, and decrease pain signals. This means that mirtazapine can be helpful in treating a range of issues including depression, insomnia, and pain.
Dosage of Mirtazapine
The usual dose for depression is 30-45 mg per day. For anxiety disorders, the dose is usually lower at 15-30 mg per day. To help with insomnia, the dose is typically started at 15mg taken before bedtime. For pain relief, the starting dose can be higher at 45-60mg per day but should not exceed 90mg per day.
You can also take it in two doses, one in the morning and once at night.
It is important to note that different people may require a different dose of medication. Your doctor will determine what dose would be best for you based on your medical history and other medications you are taking. They usually start with lower doses and gradually increase over time until they find the right dosage for each individual person.
Directions To Use Mirtazapine
These are some of the directions to use this medicine:
- Try to take the medication at the same time each day.
- Take Mirtazapine with or without food, but taking it with a meal should help to decrease stomach irritation.
- Make sure that you swallow your tablet whole and do not chew, break, or crush it. If you need help swallowing tablets then try drinking some water after putting it in your mouth which can make swallowing easier for some people. Do not let anyone else’s medicine dissolve in your mouth either as this may cause harmful side effects too.
Possible Side Effects of Mirtazapine
These are some of the possible side-effects of this medicine:
- Dry Mouth
- Headache
- Stuffy Nose
- Sinus Problems
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of Appetite
- Increased Blood Pressure and Heart Rate.
For people with high blood pressure already then this side effect can be more common. If you have heart problems then the increased heart rate could cause further issues for you too so it’s important to monitor your condition if any of these bothersome side effects start to occur. You may need a lower dose of mirtazapine which will reduce the risk of some but not all possible side effects especially those related to an elevated pulse and/or blood pressure level. It is also recommended that patients taking mirtazapine should have regular blood pressure checks.
If any of these side effects persist or worsen, speak to your healthcare professional immediately.
Conclusion
Mirtazapine is a medication that can help to improve mood, sleeping patterns, and decrease pain signals. It affects the levels of two neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for mood regulation. Additionally, mirtazapine blocks certain receptors in the brain that are responsible for causing anxiety. Talk to a professional before taking this drug.
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