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What Is Mirtazapine?
Who Should Not Take Mirtazapine? Never take mirtazapine if you are taking another drug
used to treat depression, called a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI),
or if you have stopped taking a MAOI in the last 14 days. Taking
mirtazapine close in time to an MAOI can result in serious,
sometimes fatal, reactions, including:
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High body temperature
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Coma
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Seizures (convulsions)
MAOI drugs include Nardil (phenelzine sulfate), Parnate (tranylcypromine
sulfate), Marplan (isocarboxazid), and other brands.
What Are The Risks?
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Suicidal Thoughts or Actions: See FDA Alert.
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Agranulocytosis. Mirtazapine may cause
agranulocytosis, which is a very low number of a type white blood
cells that are needed to fight infection. Call your healthcare
professional if you get a fever, sore throat, mouth sores, or
other signs of infection.
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Severe sleepiness causing impaired judgment,
thinking, and motor skills: Do not drive a car or operate
dangerous machines until you know how mirtazapine affects you.
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Dizziness
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Increased appetite and weight gain
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Increases in cholesterol, triglycerides and liver
function tests
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Mania: You may become hyperactive, excitable, or
elated.
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Seizures. You may experience a seizure
(convulsion), even if you are not taking mirtazapine close in time
with a MAOI.
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Sexual problems: You may have problems with
impotence (erectile dysfunction), abnormal ejaculation, difficulty
reaching orgasm, or decreased libido (sexual desire).
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Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol can increase the
impaired judgment, thinking, and motor skills that happen with
mirtazapine.
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Other side effects include sleepiness, nausea,
increased appetite, weight gain, and dizziness
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Tell your healthcare professional about all your
medical conditions, especially if you have heart problems, kidney
or liver problems, mania, or had a heart attack or stroke. Tell
your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. Tell your healthcare professional if you are
breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed your baby.
Are There Any Interactions With
Drugs Or Foods? Mirtazapine may interact with medicines other than the ones
already mentioned in this information sheet, causing serious side
effects. Tell your healthcare professional about all the
medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take, especially
Valium (diazepam) or other anti-anxiety or sleeping medicines.
How Do I Take Mirtazapine?
Mirtazapine is taken by mouth, with or without food, exactly as
prescribed by your healthcare professional.
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Mirtazapine orally disintegrating tablets will
melt on your tongue. Do not break or split mirtazapine orally
disintegrating Tablets.
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