Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 19)

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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Could you please let me know how much of both are you giving to him? My 6.5 pounds maltese boy had some mirtazapine last week and he is still suffering from side effects even I stopped it immediately after he was getting worse. I started giving him cyproheptadine from yesterday, but still not good.

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cant believe you all give your pets such a thing. imagine the mental distortions your pets are experiencing. horrible people you should not be allowed to own any pets. animals dont get eating disorders FACT. at least seek out herbal remedies that won't rot your pets brain. I've seen this drug turn people into incoherent docile souls who lose themselves completely so what this would do to a pet is beyond me folks

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How dare you say these horrible things! You know NOTHING about me! I trusted my vet and tried this med ONCE. After my kitty's reaction to it, I never gave it to him again. I take excellent care of my fur babies and used to work as a veterinary assistant. It's because of people like you that I dislike people more and more every day and wish I could be surrounded by animals only. Get off of your high horse and stop attacking people who are only trying to help our beloved pets!

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My comment 363 was a reply to dtyw's comment 362, not anyone else.

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This drug works on the same center of the brain that pot does. Your kitties are getting high. They may be sensitive.

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Even if the content might be justified and true, you are insane to post this remark and not comprehend how inappropriate and useless it is. You open someone's mind and heart more with wisdom and by educating with some decent facts than by being a rude ass

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I've been taking it since 1999, and had none of the above side effects, and ironically my dog is taking it to stimulate her appetite...it works like a charm

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Our 14 yr old cat was kept overnight at the Animal Hospital as he was not eating or drinking. He was put on an IV and we were told to pick him up the next day. He was released the next day and we were told he had some stomach bug. He was prescribed antibiotics as well as Mirtazapine. On day three we were told to give him 1/4 of a pill that the vet had cut up prior to us bringing our cat home. Within 1 hour of giving him the pill he vomited and his back legs were extremely wobbly, suddenly he fell over on his side and we could see his stomach heaving. Upon a closer look we saw he lost control of his bowels and defecated on the floor. We picked him up and he was limp and looked scared. He fell over a second time and defecated once again. He barely ate for the next 3 days while the pill worked its way out of his system. We spoke to the Vet that Evening who told us to throw the remaining pills away and they put on his records to never give him that pill again. It is now 6 days after having given him the pill and he is fine and eating and drinking and he looks like he is back to normal.

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Holy cow! What an awful experience for you all. I am so glad that your kitty made it through that. Thank you so much for posting your story.

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Thank you for sharing your story, it sounds horrific.
My friend received one dose and has brain damage from the stroke it caused.
Crazy pharmaceutical companies.

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that post at the top from "Jen" is from 2007 ^^^ I would assume there is better and newer information to be had.

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Thank you so much for the information and being so detailed. I have a 12.5 yr. old 3 lb Yorkie. She has Diabetes like my husband & I do. It seems like every thing that happens to me or my husband, happens to us both of us close to the same time. It was a few years, but when our baby got hit with it, we could hardly believe it. As we used to breed large-breed dogs for for years, I have had had a lot of experience with how careful you have to be with anything they give you that your dog is going to ingest or even put on your dog topically. Right now I can't remember the thing I was given for one of my large dogs that at first caused seizures & then we found out it was a growth on his brain. I PROMISE THAT I WILL LOOK IT UP & COME BACK HERE & GIVE THE NAME OF IT SO ALL OF YOU CAN BE CAUTIOUS OF IT. IT IS VERY WIDELY USED. MY NAME IS FOXY.

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My cat was recently hospitalized with pancreatitis with liver involvement. I gave him a 1/4 tablet on Tuesday afternoon to assist appetite as directed by the vet to use as needed, and decided to give him a slightly larger dose than the conservative 1/12 tablet I had given last time (1/4 was the usual prescribed dose and the dose my other cat was prescribed and did well on - and they were about the same weight). Within 2 hours I heard some movement behind me, assuming the cat was scratching, and he was having a violent seizure which lasted about 4 minutes. He then came to, but was limp but then got up and started circling and seemed disorientated. I rushed him to the vet and on arrival he seemed fine and alert. An hour after I got home I started to give him his subcutaneous fluids and he started having another seizure. By this time the vet had closed so I phoned the emergency number and explained what was happening and was told if it happened again and lasted a long time to take him in. I placed his bed next to mine, as I was worried he might have a fit on the utility room worktop and fall off. I went to bed and shortly afterwards he had another violent fit. He was then ravenous and had nearly a bowlful of food, then a couple of hours later another seizure, and another about an hour later although only lasting about 30 seconds. Needless to say I didn’t sleep all night worrying about him.

He had no further fits but in the morning he seemed subdued but alert and had some breakfast, I did his fluids, he went outside but seemed not to recognize the house or outside. He seemed confused. I took him to the vets (as pre-arranged) for blood work which came back showing elevated ALT (which I believe were due to the Mirtazapine) although bilirubin levels (what causes jaundice) had halved - which seemed promising. He seemed quieter then normal and had a slight vacant expression as if he was not all there. When I got home after inspecting the house as if it was strange, he remained in a crouched uncomfortable-looking position for much of the day and I became increasingly concerned as he seemed very confused and was walking towards walls and staring at them and when I put my hand passed his eyes he didn’t respond. I picked him up and he pawed my face like he was possessed, and seemed quite agitated and irritable. His pupils were dilated and at first I thought he had gone blind.

I rushed him back to the vet but saw a different vet than usual. He looked at the notes and at the cat, who by this stage seemed to be hallucinating, irritable and depressed. The vet told me that he clearly had chronic liver disease (late stage liver disease produces very similar symptoms with seizures and brain disturbances due to increased ammonia in the blood, so I discovered) and dismissed the fact that the drug would have caused the symptoms. He said he believed the liver had caused them, which seemed too much of a coincidence to me, especially considering he was not drooling, did not have grey stools, did not have a bloated abdomen and his jaundice had reduced.

He said that the seizures could have caused brain damage and given his chronic liver, pancreatic and kidney problems that I should consider putting him to sleep. He didn't look very well and despite feeling very unsure that I was making the right decision, because a) he was not the usual vet and was going off notes, and b) because he dismissed the serotonin syndrome which I suggested. I went along with his recommendation, only afterwards to be plagued with doubts.

For reassurance I looked on the internet about this drug (Mirtazipine - a human grade anti-depressant which is used as an appetite stimulant) and read up about the serious side effects - they seemed to match what he had been suffering from - I believed he had been suffering from serotonin syndrome - which I also found out that cats with liver disease are more susceptible to when on this drug - and a very small dose is recommended for cats with liver disease - something I had not been told, so the dose I had given was effectively too high.

I miss him more than I could ever imagine and feel so awful for giving him this dose of medication which I’m sure caused his seizures and symptoms. We seemed to be making so much progress with the syringe feeding and fluids and the blood work suggested things were improving, so I feel I made the wrong decision when in an emotional state and not able to think straight.

I know he had a wonderful life and that I did more than many other pet owners would have done. I also know that he was a good age (above average for a cat) and with CKD and chronic pancreatitis would have had ongoing health issues and probably not lived that much longer even if we had been able to manage his condition, but I feel so angry with myself and wish that I had trusted my gut feeling about the drug and waited to at least see if the symptoms wore off (if they were the cause apparently they do within 48-72 hours) or asked for the antidote which I had found the name of online - but I didn’t, I trusted what this vet said very persuasively that the drug would not have caused the symptoms, and now regret it.

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Dear sweet cat person. I feel your pain. My cat died the day after I gave him mirtazapine after suffering hallucinations, disorientation, yowling, backing into corners, looking frightened, etc. he also had huge pupils when I took him to the vet, where I left him to be treated. The vet called me later to say he'd had a heart attack and died. He was only ten years old. I will never forgive myself for leaving him there alone and scared and crying for me to take him home. After 7 years I still cry when I think of that day, and I feel so guilty for giving him the pill that I believe with all of my heart led to his death. So I understand completely where you are coming from. Still, I think you did everything possible to be an excellent cat parent and gave Kibble a wonderful, long life. I imagine at the end you were caressing him and telling him how much you loved him so he could go peacefully. We do what we can for our babies. Sometimes it's just time, whether we like it or not, to say goodbye. I think you were a wonderful cat dad and you shouldn't feel guilty for doing what was probably best for your boy. It was an extremely unselfish act on your part to let him go. I only wish I could have been there for my boy. Although the vet technician told me they were all with him, talking sweetly to him and petting him when he died, I don't know if that was true. I should have been there. What made it worse for me was that, like you, I gave my cat a larger dose. For me, though, it was accidental because the pharmacy had put the wrong dosage on the label. Even so, I gave him the pill when he was really doing very well and may not have even needed it. My thought was that it couldn't hurt. Man, was I ever wrong about that. My guilt is enormous and no one has been able to talk me out of it. I don't expect anyone will ever be able to soothe your guilt entirely either, but I hope you can come to find peace with yourself. You obviously loved Kibble immensely, and did everything you could to give him a good life. He knew he was loved. And you helped him transition from what was no longer a good life for him. I think you did the right thing. God bless you!!

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Your cat had brain cancer don't blame it on a drug.

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That drug has strong adverse effects on almost everyone that ingests it.

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Vets prescribe it. Get off your high horse and stop acting like a jagoff.

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My 15 year old ragdoll cat was recently Rx Mirtazapine to improve his appetite. He is also on a thyroid medication and has been getting fluids 2x per week along with a steroid shot and a B-12 shot. He was improving, however, when I gave him one dose of the Mirtazapine he was not able to walk. He would take a few steps and then fall. This went on for 2 days. I immediately took him to the vet and she told me to be prepared to euthanize him. I took him home and then took him to a holistic vet that evening. He was not sure what was going on with him, but he too was not hopeful that he would make it. As a previous pharmaceutical rep., I remembered that Mirtazapine had some side effects. After researching the drug and reading this site, I believe that Mirtazapine caused my cat significant, life-threatening side effects. Even with the appropriate dose of 1/4 tab every three days, in my opinion this drug is not worth the risk. I stopped the medication and my cat is slowly getting stronger. He is not falling anymore, but is still very off balanced. He too has a dazed look, where he just sits and stares into space. The good news is he gained a pound in a week but not due to the drug! I switched his healthy diet to Fancy Feast. For a cat that should weigh around 14lbs, that dropped to 8lbs., this is significant. He is now 9.2lbs. I spoke with the vet today regarding Mirtazapine and she said the drug would not have this kind of affect. I don't believe it! As a previous pharmaceutical rep. that sold numerous drugs over the years, I have seen many drugs that were beneficial with supposedly no side-effects, to the same drugs that were taken off the market due to side-effects and death. I really thought my cat was going to die this past week and was preparing myself. Since he is off this drug and I have seen an improvement, I am somewhat hopeful. He still has other health issues, hyperthyroidism and elevated liver enzymes, but I am hoping for the best. I will not use this drug again! I am sure there are other drugs that are as effective with less side-effects.

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If your vet is discounting the massive and dangerous side effects of this drug, I would immediately find another vet.

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I have got to get off this drug! Been on it since May 2012. I keep having the same killing dreams with the police after me to kill me. This 6am I was looking at my cat and he knew I was dying., For goodness sakes, I have got to GET OFF THIS MIRTAZAPINE,...maybe its the 60mg my doctor prescribed instead of 30mg.....

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