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What Kind of Antidepressant Is Remeron?

Remeron (mirtazepine) is an antidepressant medication that is also used for treatment of anxiety, insomnia and anorexia. Consult your physician regarding whether this medication is appropriate for treatment of your depressive symptoms.

  1. Chemistry

    • Remeron is a tetracyclic antidepressant that acts on specific serotonin and adrenergic receptors in the brain. It is also classified as a benzaepine.

    Population

    • Remeron can be prescribed to children, adolescents, adults, and elderly patients. Caution should be exercised when prescribing to children due to a possible increased risk of suicide. Additional monitoring of conditions, such as renal and hepatic conditions, is necessary for elderly patients.

    Interactions

    • Remeron should not be taken with an monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). If switching from an MAOI to Remeron, a 14 day period between discontinuation of the MAOI and initiation of Remeron is advised. Alcohol should not be consumed while taking Remeron, since the effects of alcohol may increase risk and severity of cognitive and motor side effects.

    Medication Alternatives

    • Other antidepressant medications are available, including MAOIs (i.e. Nardil, Marplan), tricyclics (i.e. Elavil, Anafranil), SSRIs (i.e. Prozac, Paxil), SNRIs (i.e. Cymbalta, Effexor), and others (i.e. Wellbutrin).

    Other Treatment Options

    • Other treatment options, including therapy, should be considered as part of the entire depression treatment regime. Therapy assists individuals with developing coping skills for managing symptoms of depression as well as making behavioral changes to reduce impact of symptoms on daily functioning.

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