Mirtazapine

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Also indexed as:

Remeron

Mirtazapine is used to treat people with mental depression, especially those who are also nervous and have trouble sleeping. It is in a class of drugs called tetracyclic antidepressants.

Herbs

Summary of Interactions for Mirtazapine

Depletion or interference	None known
Adverse interaction	None known
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Supportive interaction	None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known
Other (see text)	Melatonin*

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Supplements

Melatonin

Taking mirtazapine results in enhanced secretion of melatonin at night;¹ this may explain part of the mechanism of the effects of mirtazapine. Controlled research is needed to determine whether melatonin supplementation might enhance either the beneficial or the adverse effects of mirtazapine.

Other Interactions

Alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages while taking mirtazapine may enhance the effects of the drug, including impairment of thinking, judgment, and performance of difficult tasks; therefore, it should be avoided.²

References

1. Palazidou E, Papadopoulos A, Sitsen A, et al. An alpha 2 adenoceptor antagonist, Org 3770, enhances nocturnal melatonin secretion in man. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1989;97:115-7.
2. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 2109-11.

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Last Review: 09-01-2007

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