Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine Recall

Get an alert when a recall is issued.

Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality) or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until significant remission occurs.  Suicide is a known risk of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders, and these disorders themselves are the strongest predictors of suicide. There has been a long-standing concern, however, that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients during the early phases of treatment.  Pooled analyses of short-term placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and others) showed that these drugs increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18 to 24) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. 

The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials in children and adolescents with MDD, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 24 short-term trials of 9 antidepressant drugs in over 4400 patients. The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials in adults with MDD or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 295 short-term trials (median duration of 2 months) of 11 antidepressant drugs in over 77,000 patients. There was considerable variation in risk of suicidality among drugs, but a tendency toward an increase in the younger patients for almost all drugs studied. There were differences in absolute risk of suicidality across different indications, with the highest incidence in MDD. The risk differences (drug vs. placebo), however, were relatively stable within age strata and across indications. These risk differences (drug-placebo difference in the number of cases of suicidality per 1000 patients treated) are provided in Table 1.  

TABLE 1

Age Range

Drug Placebo Difference in Number of Cases of Suicidality per 1000 Patients Treated

Increases Compared to Placebo

<18

14 additional cases

18 to 24

5 additional cases

Decreases Compared to Placebo

25 to 64

1 fewer case

≥65

6 fewer cases

No suicides occurred in any of the pediatric trials. There were suicides in the adult trials, but the number was not sufficient to reach any conclusion about drug effect on suicide. It is unknown whether the suicidality risk extends to longer-term use, i.e., beyond several months. However, there is substantial evidence from placebo-controlled maintenance trials in adults with depression that the use of antidepressants can delay the recurrence of depression.

All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases.  

The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality. 

Consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients whose depression is persistently worse, or who are experiencing emergent suicidality or symptoms that might be precursors to worsening depression or suicidality, especially if these symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms.

Families and caregivers of patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder or other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric, should be alerted about the need to monitor patients for the emergence of agitation, irritability, unusual changes in behavior, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality, and to report such symptoms immediately to health care providers. Such monitoring should include daily observation by families and caregivers. Prescriptions for mirtazapine tablets should be written for the smallest quantity of tablets consistent with good patient management, in order to reduce the risk of overdose.

Screening Patients for Bipolar Disorder

A major depressive episode may be the initial presentation of bipolar disorder. It is generally believed (though not established in controlled trials) that treating such an episode with an antidepressant alone may increase the likelihood of precipitation of a mixed/manic episode in patients at risk for bipolar disorder. Whether any of the symptoms described above represent such a conversion is unknown. However, prior to initiating treatment with an antidepressant, patients with depressive symptoms should be adequately screened to determine if they are at risk for bipolar disorder; such screening should include a detailed psychiatric history, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, and depression. It should be noted that mirtazapine tablets are not approved for use in treating bipolar depression.

Agranulocytosis

In premarketing clinical trials, two (one with Sjögren’s Syndrome) out of 2796 patients treated with mirtazapine tablets developed agranulocytosis [absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <500/mm3 with associated signs and symptoms, e.g., fever, infection, etc.] and a third patient developed severe neutropenia (ANC <500/mm3 without any associated symptoms). For these three patients, onset of severe neutropenia was detected on days 61, 9, and 14 of treatment, respectively. All three patients recovered after mirtazapine tablets were stopped. These three cases yield a crude incidence of severe neutropenia (with or without associated infection) of approximately 1.1 per thousand patients exposed, with a very wide 95% confidence interval, i.e., 2.2 cases per 10,000 to 3.1 cases per 1000. If a patient develops a sore throat, fever, stomatitis or other signs of infection, along with a low WBC count, treatment with mirtazapine tablets should be discontinued and the patient should be closely monitored.

Serotonin Syndrome

The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome has been  reported with SNRIs and SSRIs, including mirtazapine tablets, alone but particularly with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John's wort), and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (in particular, MAOIs, both those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue).

Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, delirium, and coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, dizziness, diaphoresis, flushing, hyperthermia), neuromuscular symptoms (e.g., tremor, rigidity, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, incoordination), seizures, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).    Patients should be monitored for the emergence of serotonin syndrome. 

The concomitant use of mirtazapine tablets with MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders is contraindicated. Mirtazapine tablets should also not be started in a patient who is being treated with MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. All reports with methylene blue that provided information on the route of administration involved intravenous administration in the dose range of 1 mg/kg to 8 mg/kg. No reports involved the administration of methylene blue by other routes (such as oral tablets or local tissue injection) or at lower doses. There may be circumstances when it is necessary to initiate treatment with an MAOI such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue in a patient taking mirtazapine tablets. Mirtazapine tablets should be discontinued before initiating treatment with the MAOI (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

If concomitant use of mirtazapine with other serotonergic drugs, including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, buspirone, tryptophan, and St. John's wort, is clinically warranted, be aware of a potential increased risk for serotonin syndrome, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases.

Treatment with mirtazapine tablets and any concomitant serotonergic agents should be discontinued immediately if the above events occur and supportive symptomatic treatment should be initiated.

Angle-closure Glaucoma

The pupillary dilation that occurs following use of many antidepressant drugs including mirtazapine may trigger an angle-closure attack in a patient with anatomically narrow angles who does not have a patent iridectomy.

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

Mirtazapine tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder.  

The efficacy of mirtazapine tablets, USP in the treatment of major depressive disorder was established in six week controlled trials of outpatients whose diagnoses corresponded most closely to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 3rd edition (DSM-III) category of major depressive disorder (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). 

A major depressive episode (DSM-IV) implies a prominent and relatively persistent (nearly every day for at least 2 weeks) depressed or dysphoric mood that usually interferes with daily functioning, and includes at least five of the following nine symptoms: depressed mood, loss of interest in usual activities, significant change in weight and/or appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, increased fatigue, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, slowed thinking or impaired concentration, a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation. 

The effectiveness of mirtazapine tablets, USP in hospitalized depressed patients has not been adequately studied. 

The efficacy of mirtazapine tablets, USP in maintaining a response in patients with major depressive disorder for up to 40 weeks following 8 to 12 weeks of initial open-label treatment was demonstrated in a placebo-controlled trial. Nevertheless, the physician who elects to use mirtazapine tablets, USP for extended periods should periodically re-evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY).

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Mirtazapine tablets, USP are an orally administered drug. Mirtazapine has a tetracyclic chemical structure and belongs to the piperazino-azepine group of compounds. It is designated 1,2,3,4,10,14b-hexahydro-2-methylpyrazino [2,1α] pyrido [2,3-c] [2] benzazepine and has the molecular formula of C17H19N3. Its molecular weight is 265.36. The structural formula is the following and it is the racemic mixture:

structure

Mirtazapine is a white to creamy white crystalline powder, which is sparingly soluble in water.

Mirtazapine tablets, USP are supplied for oral administration as scored film-coated tablets containing 15 or 30 mg of mirtazapine, and unscored film-coated tablets containing 45 mg of mirtazapine. Each tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide. In addition, mirtazapine tablets, USP 15 mg and 30 mg contains iron oxide yellow and mirtazapine tablets, USP 30 mg contains iron oxide red.

Mirtazapine Manufacturers


  • Cardinal Health
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Cardinal Health]
  • Proficient Rx Lp
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Proficient Rx Lp]
  • Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Proficient Rx Lp
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Proficient Rx Lp]
  • Direct Rx
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Direct Rx]
  • Alphapharm Pty Ltd
    Mirtazapine (Mirtazapine) Tablet, Film Coated [Alphapharm Pty Ltd]
  • Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd.
    Mirtazapine (Mirtazapine) Tablet [Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd.]
  • Watson Laboratories, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Watson Laboratories, Inc.]
  • State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy
    Mirtazapine Tablet [State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy]
  • State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy
    Mirtazapine Tablet [State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy]
  • Mckesson Packaging Services Business Unit Of Mckesson Corporation
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Mckesson Packaging Services Business Unit Of Mckesson Corporation]
  • Contract Pharmacy Services-pa
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Contract Pharmacy Services-pa]
  • State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy]
  • Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc]
  • Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc]
  • Physicians Total Care, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Physicians Total Care, Inc.]
  • Rebel Distributors Corp.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Rebel Distributors Corp.]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Cardinal Health
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Cardinal Health]
  • Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Kaiser Foundation Hospitals]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine (Mirtazapine) Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Cardinal Health
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Cardinal Health]
  • H.j. Harkins Company, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [H.j. Harkins Company, Inc.]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Rebel Distributors Corp
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Rebel Distributors Corp]
  • Mckesson Contract Packaging
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Mckesson Contract Packaging]
  • Ncs Healthcare Of Ky, Inc Dba Vangard Labs
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Ncs Healthcare Of Ky, Inc Dba Vangard Labs]
  • Stat Rx Usa Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Stat Rx Usa Llc]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.]
  • Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc]
  • Physicians Total Care, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Physicians Total Care, Inc.]
  • Rebel Distributors Corp
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Rebel Distributors Corp]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Unit Dose Services
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Unit Dose Services]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Clinical Solutions Wholesale
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Clinical Solutions Wholesale]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Eon Labs, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Eon Labs, Inc.]
  • Apotex Corp.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Apotex Corp.]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Citron Pharma Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Citron Pharma Llc]
  • Citron Pharma Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Citron Pharma Llc]
  • Aurolife Pharma Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Aurolife Pharma Llc]
  • American Health Packaging
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [American Health Packaging]
  • Aidarex Pharmaceuticals Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Aidarex Pharmaceuticals Llc]
  • Aidarex Pharmaceuticals Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Aidarex Pharmaceuticals Llc]
  • Watson Laboratories, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Watson Laboratories, Inc.]
  • Watson Laboratories, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Watson Laboratories, Inc.]
  • Greenstone Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Greenstone Llc]
  • Greenstone Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Greenstone Llc]
  • Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Lake Erie Medical Dba Quality Care Products Llc]
  • State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy]
  • Cardinal Health
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Cardinal Health]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Aphena Pharma Solutions – Tennessee, Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Aphena Pharma Solutions – Tennessee, Llc]
  • Clinical Solutions Wholesale
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Clinical Solutions Wholesale]
  • Aurobindo Pharma Limited
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Aurobindo Pharma Limited]
  • Aurobindo Pharma Limited
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Aurobindo Pharma Limited]
  • Actavis Pharma, Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Actavis Pharma, Inc.]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals Usa Inc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Teva Pharmaceuticals Usa Inc]
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals Usa Inc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Teva Pharmaceuticals Usa Inc]
  • Cardinal Health
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Cardinal Health]
  • Tya Pharmaceuticals
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Tya Pharmaceuticals]
  • Mylan Institutional Inc.
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Mylan Institutional Inc.]
  • Cardinal Health
    Mirtazapine Tablet [Cardinal Health]
  • Prasco Laboratories
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating [Prasco Laboratories]
  • Medsource Pharmaceuticals
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Medsource Pharmaceuticals]
  • Clinical Solutions Wholesale, Llc
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Clinical Solutions Wholesale, Llc]
  • Proficient Rx Lp
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Proficient Rx Lp]
  • Directrx
    Mirtazapine Tablet, Film Coated [Directrx]

Login To Your Free Account