Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine or Remeron treats depression and appears especially well suited among those also suffering from anxiety and disordered sleep. Mirtazapine has been largely eclipsed by the more popular SSRIs including Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft and Lexapro. Surprisingly all of the currently available antidepressants appear to offer about the same degree of improvement from depression.

Not uncommonly multiple antidepressant medicines are necessary to control symptoms. Mirtazapine may offer some advantages in combating the adverse reactions caused by other prescription agents. It improves appetite, often resolves sexual dysfunction and counteracts diarrhea associated with some of the other commonly used therapies. Mirtazapine also stimulates appetite.

Unlike most antidepressants that require more than a month to become effective, mirtazapine begins improving depression within 1-2 weeks. Full effects generally require up to a month. Somnolence or sleepiness remain the most prominent side effects of mirtazapine. For this reason the entire dose should be taken shortly before bedtime. Unlike the situation with other antidepressants, relatively few complications arise on discontinuing mirtazapine.