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.

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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.

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