Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 14) (Top voted first)

It seems to me that Mirtazapine is a potentially dangerous drug with little information known about it. My veterinarian prescribed this drug in small quantities for my cat as an appetite stimulant, so I began reading articles on the drug and its effects. Although it is supposed to be used as an antidepressant for humans, it has a wide reputation for causing suicidal tendencies in children and young adults. It causes weight gain (the side effect my vet was looking for in my cat's case). It also can cause feelings of depression, and wooziness. I spoke with a nurse who took it and she said the effects of sluggishness and dizziness lasted 2 to 3 days. It can also cause nausea and headaches. It seems to me that these side effects are anything but what a person who is already depressed should be feeling. (suicidal tendencies that they didn't originally have, feeling tired and unwell physically, and weight gain that could cause feelings of insecurity or increased depression) Giving this drug to my cat was the worst thing I ever did. About an hour after administering it to her, she began crying, looking confused, and she could not walk straight. We figured the effects would wear off, but they seemed to worsen. The next day she was holding her head down, walking in circles (trying to walk straight) and she could not focus her eyes. We brought her to the emergency animal hospital, and they called a poison center. Even the poison center had so little information on this drug (especially being prescribed to cats) that they did not know how to counteract the effects. We believe that the drug actually caused a mild stroke in our cat, and the vet said this looked like it might be the case. On top of that, it has a 72 hour half life, so we just had to wait the drug out for her to even feel better. If this drug could cause a mild stroke in my cat, I could only imagine what it could also do to a human. With so little knowledge of the effects, and such long-lasting effects, it seems to me that it is a dangerous and harmful drug for doctors to be prescribing. A few years from now, when it actually is studied more, I bet that it will be taken off the market as another one of those trial drugs that did not work out. Until then, how many people (and animals) will it harm?

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I am glad that I didn't ask my vet to prescribe this med for my renal cat .Reading all these comments was Very Helpful !!However A bigger problem than her appetite has occurred . She developed antibodies to Epogen. I am torn to pieces , her renal levels are now great but she just had a blood transfusion because of her severe anaemic. I don't know how long this will keep her red blood count up . All I can do is cry and try to find any help I can ..

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My cat died as a result of Mirtazapine. He had two very large seizures and several strokes. Will never use this drug ever again.

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I have a 15 yr old male Persian cat who recently vomited violently several times then diareaa, followed by not wanting to eat. After a 4 day hospital stay, he developed a UTI, gave him 1/8 tab mirtaizapine and within hours he was crying to eat. It seems to help keep up his appetite for about a week. I give it as needed, but may try every 3-4 days. Our original problem stemmed from a new kitten sold to my husband with an URI (herpes virus) and my male got very sick within 10 days after her arrival. He was treated with antibiotics which worked but he got a reoccurrence that resulted in a very expensive 4-day hospital bill followed by UTI which has become recurrent.

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My English mastiff was perscribed this and she also had a partial seizure and then after the third dose had a grand maul seizure! 2 days later (today)I had to put her down. :( I believe this drug killed my dog!

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Sorry I meant she had a partial stroke*

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my cat with renal disease has now had 2 transfusions after developing antibodies to epogen , I plan to speak with a specialist on switching to another Med with less chance of developing antibodies . Darbepoetin renal levels r also good

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Keefe ,, my cat is actually named Keefe .. I'm also glad I didn't ask my vet for mirtazipine ! I monitor her appetite closely , but her severe anemia is the life threatening problem . I'm sure I will be doing another transfusion very soon . Please give an update on your cat .!!!! I've spent many hours researching to determine what can I do now ? The only option I've found is switching to Darbepoetin , options now are very limited from what I've been able to find out . Transfusions are another option , but are so costly I can't do many more . I can only hope I can do them long long for the antibodies to disappear before switching to Darbepoetin .. And hope antibodies don't develop again . I feel very alone in dealing with this situation because I can't find a vet with much experience with this problem , hopefully the specialist will help. I've got an appointment soon

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My cat was having trouble breathing and not eating and not walking or running. Took him to the vet. first he gave him aminophyline and cyproheptadine. then switched him to theophylline and mirtazapine. he got worse with the mirtazapine. we noticed that his breathing got worse and he didn't want to get out of his bed. we stopped it and now he's starting to run around more and now meows. why is this drug still on the market if the side effects are so bad in cats and humans? now I just have to make sure his appetite is still okay. he doesn't eat a lot in one sitting but cats are like that and he drinks water and uses litter box. so like I said I'll keep an eye on him. Might think of taking to different vet.

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Feeling so much better after reading your post. My 10 yr old border collie has just been prescribed Mirtazapine (same dose) for liver/spleen cancer. He is now on day 2 and seems to be doing better. He is much more interested in food which was my worry. I have sought advice from a homeopath too in order to to supplement his diet and the vet prescribed meds. Always worth looking at all angles and doing thorough research on all meds and their side effects. Thank you!

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I had previously worked as a police officer for just short of 3 decades, and the last 15 years of that was as an undercover narcotics investigator. I had not slept more than 4 hours in the last 20 years .
I absolutely knew something was very wrong with my body, constantly exhausted, very negative attitude, and i had bad aches and pains, its just goes on and on.
I retired and decided to sit down with a doctor and "lay it all out on the line, then let the chips fall where they may, no lies, nothing held back" I soon discovered something called a 96 hour commitment order,which i narrowly escaped by having to lie to keep from a locked down mental evaluation.
my problems are manifested from 10 years of assisting in many dead body removals while assisting ems, picking up body parts from the homeless that frequently were struck then dragged miles by trains, guns shot victims, infant death syndrome, mangled persons in auto accidents, taking of a life.....then came undercover narcotics, i thought a welcomed change, but i was living multiple personalities, depending upon the person the suspect knew me as. I wont go into the undercover part far, but it turned out much more trying than the first 10 years.
during employement some of these troubles didnt surface in me and i failed to see it in anyone else, turns out we must have been theraputical to each other, because upon retirement things surfaced in me but my police support was no longer there.
the doc. i seen after leaving police work prescribed me xanax and mirtazapine.
the xanax alone has a calming effect on me, the mirtazapine with or without the xanax makes me meaner than hell, to, well anyone. in my mind i know as im speaking i am going to make someone mad, and I JUST CANT HELP IT.
its a horrendous anger, not a pick up a club and hit you anger but a tyson type "physical bite your head off" anger and it not well controlled. good gosh I would like to be normal again

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a dose of 15 mg for a cat sounds like it would be lethal. a dose of 3.75 mg is too large also because my cat was given that by a vet and after a horrible reaction died also.

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Wm fifty three, I hope you and your doctor can find something to make you feel better again and for sure tell him you do not want this drug. I feel so bad for you.

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I suffered from insomnia for 2 years, was getting 2 to 3 hours a night. Since, my doctor prescribed this I have been sleeping ALOT more. Actually, slept 10 hours the other day! Although, I do not like the thought of that long in bed ~ I need to recover and catch up somehow. Luckily it does not make me hungry.

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I had to comment as well....My 10yr old cat was DX w CRF, lost wt, would not eat..etc..my Vet put him on 1/4 tab (of a 15mg tab) every 3rd day...since I am an RN, I know better to always start w a lower dose...Just in case....so I gave him only an 8th of a tab...first he slept for a few hrs, then BAM,,wide awake, pacing, talking, but he was eating!! Remeron has been a life saver for us, BUT I will say, I only give a very tiny piece (1/16th?) every 3-4 days...He sometimes is a little "testy" with my younger cat, but he is eating, happy and here! I also give SQ fluids & B12 every few days as well....I just had to post for some that have had + results,,BUT I am sorry for all the others that have had negative effects(((

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My 17 year old female kitty was prescribed mirtazapine at a low dose 1. Ml liquid form. She retches and throws up when I give it to her. Increased her appetite for hype first week but she really started vomiting more from it so i stopped giving it to her. She is on stomach meds reglan as well. her appetite is still poor any other meds that will stimulate this and not kill her?

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I am not sure if your vet has tried Cyproheptadine tablets. It's been around a long time and used to stimulate my cat's appetite when needed. I give my cat 1/4 of a 4mg tablet. The Rx is for 1/2 of a 4mg tablet but she gets overly hungry an a bit buzzed on that dose so I just give her 1/4 tablet. It's an antihistamine that is used in human anorexics as an appetite stimulant.

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My vet mentioned it but was not very supportive of this med . She really wanted me to try the mirtazipine. Felt the other med was not well supported . I just gave her some roast beef this am , she gobbled it up , then put a little on top of some food and she ate the roast beef and some of the food . Also I'm going to ask about cerenia . When she first got sick she was on it about a week . She also takes pepsid AC . Her appetite was decent until a little over 2 weeks ago when she had a temp. Since then the appetite has been not good at all . She was first diagnosised with CKD in aug ., she red cound a little low , vet put her on epogen .. Then antibody reaction and she was on deaths door .. I opted for transfusions .. Had 3 and finally a Miracle !! Her body started producing red cells again . But I took her to a specialist who determined she actually had kidney stones !!! We have been through a lot but through it all she has done well except as her blood count dropped she wasn't very active , but not in pain , alert and still ate . So I'm scared to try these drugs drug unless I absolutely have too . So I'm looking for other options to increase her appetite .. Suggestions needed /welcomed !!!!!

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My dog is in the ICU fighting for her life after a pharmacy mistake caused her to get an overdose of mirtazapine. She has acute pancreatitis. She was given the drug to stimulate her appetite after abdominal surgery.

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Please, no roast beef with CKD!!!!!!

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Don't understand , my cat has kidney stones . Eating has been an issue somewhat and I've had to put roast beef as a topper to get her to eat . She always likes cat food with roast beef , so what's the problem ?? Explain

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I started on 15mg mirtazapine 7 weeks ago and titrated up after 4 weeks to 30mg for 1 week; then back down to 15mg for t...

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Hi I took the 30mg on tuesday evening took 3 hours to kick in slept okay but the day after was very unwell so I was to f...

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