Can Remeron Help For Depression And Anxiety?

Posted on Fri, 30 Aug 2013

Question: Hi. I was wondering if remeron can help for depression with anxiety ?

Answered by Dr. Anjana Rao Kavoor (31 minutes later)

Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

Remeron (Mirtazapine) is a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA) and also known as tetrecyclic antidepressant (TeCA).

Mirtazapine is used for the treatment of major depression primarily and also used as an anxiolytic, hypnotic, antiemetic, and appetite stimulant.
This medication should always be used under medical prescription and monitored regularly under medical supervision.

Please remember:
Mirtazapine adds to the sedating effects of alcohol and other drugs that can cause sedation such as:

1. the benzodiazepine class of anti-anxiety drugs (for example, diazepam [Valium], lorazepam [Ativan], clonazepam [Klonopin], alprazolam [Xanax, Xanax XR, Niravam]),
2. the narcotic class of pain medications and its derivatives (for example, oxycodone and acetaminophen [Percocet, Roxicet, Tylox, Endocet], hydrocodone/acetaminophen [Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Anexsia, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, Norco], hydromorphone [Dilaudid], codeine, propoxyphene [Darvon]),
3. the tricyclic class of antidepressants (for example, amitriptyline [Elavil, Endep], imipramine [Tofranil], desipramine [Norpramin]),
4. certain antihypertensive medications (for example, clonidine [Catapres], propranolol [Inderal, Inderal LA, Innopran XL), and
5. some antihistamines (for example, diphenhydramine [Benadryl], hydroxyzine [Atarax, Vistaril]).

So if you take any of above medications, your doctor must be informed at the time of prescribing.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have doubts,
Dr. A.Rao Kavoor.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anjana Rao Kavoor (6 minutes later)

Thanks for your answer. I have gotten anxiety and depression because I got severe BppV. I am under treatment for this. I have tried lexapro but i could not tolerate them. My dr has mentioned to try remeron. I am overthinking, shaking and depressed because of the dizziness. Hard to eat , I do not get hungry etc...
Dont know if I have major depression, but my body is so full of adrenalin etc....I can not relax. I am takin oxazepam daily, but I they dont help so much.
Do you think that remeron can help me and how long before it will work ?

Answered by Dr. Anjana Rao Kavoor (7 hours later)

Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for writing in again.

If you have been on Lexapro and Oxazepam and continue to have symptoms like overthinking, dizziness and loss of appetite, your doctor might be right on suggesting Remeron for you.

I have reviewed a research study on "Onset of improvement and response to mirtazapine in depression: a multiticenter naturalistic study of 4771 patients" published in 2005 and would like to conclude the following:

1. In particular, all measures of efficacy displayed the maximum change within the first 2 weeks of treatment, with further improvement occurring at much slower rates.
2.Significant improvement within the first 2 weeks of treatment was highly predictive of the final response, and can serve as a guideline for clinicians when deciding about increased dosage, augmentation, or change of medication in unresponsive patients.

From the above research, it is noted that patients need to report to their doctor at the end of two weeks so that the improvement and prognosis can be assessed.

Hope your query is answered.
If you do not have any further queries, please close this thread and post a feedback.
Dr. A.Rao Kavoor.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar