Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 20)
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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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Update on my cat, for the people out there........After the horrible night of almost near death, last Thurs., I watched my cat like a hawk through Fri and on through the weekend. The drug was still pushing her to eat more than she should on Friday, although she was slowly returning to more normal behavior. The nonstop crying stopped, but she was still somewhat hyperactive and her eyes were dialated all through the day. Over the weekend, she began to fall back into her old symptoms of crying everytime she ate and being somewhat aggitated and listless at the same time. By Monday I was pretty convinced she was past the worst of the drug. However, by Tues. I was watching her beginning to really fall off her eating, drooling whenever she slept and beginning to act sort of strange and shocky....crouching on all fours, not wanting to lay down and relax.

Today, Weds., my 20 year old cat is really not eating normally....I have had to pull every trick in the book to get her interested in food. She acts like everything is poisoning her.......doesn't want any of her good stuff. She has been extremely clingy, lifeless, drooling and shocky....she startles very easily if I touch her wrongly, she whimpers. It doesn't look good to me at all. If anyone has any brilliant ideas out there, what she may be dealing with, I'd sure appreciate it. She doesn't need dentals (had 2 this summer), she has no infectious disease viruses, her blood work is normal except for a tiny little rise in white blood cell count.....her eyes are still weaping brownish fluid, she is not coughing or wheezing with a cold.....the vets (there have been 3 so far) have no idea what she is suffering from......and after what I have been through recently, I am in no way convinced that taking her to one of these pill pushers is the answer.

She may not be long for this world, but I would really llike to make her last days as comfortable as possible. Again.......my advice to all is don't use this ghastly drug for any reason.......I am not convinced she hasn't suffered some additional complications because of it.

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Cat; As I started weaning myself off Mirtazapine,I told my shrink what I was doing.She told me I could have had Severe withdrawl symptoms, But In fact,It's the Best thing I have done since I first started having Mental Health Issues & thats a little over 8 Yrs.I was taking 60 Mgs a day 30 in the morning,30 at bedtime.I started taking off 15 Mgs.Every 2 Weeks.By that time My shrink & I were working together to completly get this Horrible Drug out of my system I am Glad I am finally Completly Free of Mirtazapine.I weigh 204 Pnds.Before I started Taking The drug I was 175 Pnds. Forever.Now,How much does your cat weigh,Maybe 5 -25 Pnds.If this s**t could have caused problems with me taking off 15 Mgs.every 2 weeks,At my weight 204 Pnds.What is 15 Mgs doing for your Cat,that weighs anywere from 5-25 pnds.This Vet should be taken outback & shot.You are a very lucky Lady, That your cat did not suffer a Stroke,I'm talking about Lights out,God Forbid.I urge Every one that is taking thier cat to the Vet,Tell Him,or Her,In no way are you giving to Administer this Terrible drug,That I Personally think should be Pulled off the Market! PLease,STOP The Needless Suffering of our Beloved Pets. Again I wish Everyone Good Luck With your Pets.You Woen't regret Stopping Yourself, for not giving Mirtazapine to your pets!!!! Let Alone taking yourself off it.I think that anyone that is perscribed this Med for Yourself,You should have a Serious talk with your Doctor or Shrink! Beleive M,On Another note,Some of these drugs are Formulated & then Given to a Select Group of People & tested for as Little as 6 Weeks before being put on the Market.All you need is a Million $ For each grug you want to put on the Market.So Your Goverment is in on this too!

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Another Sick Cat! People;When are you going to Learn? There are maybe 3 or 4 Good Stories of Success with Mirtazapine,Read the rest & it's All down hill from there! I watched The DVD I said I had gotten from Human Rights.WOW,Freakin Unbeleivable.Their are About 115 EX Drug Sales peope,& they all talked about the Marketing of Pyscotropic drugs.Some Bigshot Psychiatrists make 125,000-150,000 Grand,Just on Kickbacks! Some drugs were not working & somone stumbled across another use,The Drug Companies,Would pull it of the Market.Repackage it,& sell it for something else!Folks;This DVD is well worth the 15 Bucks! it's a little more than an hour,& it sure as hell opened My Eyes! CAT;I hope your Kitty is Getting Better.

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Vet prescribed mirtazpine 15mg for my 15 year old cat. She's acting strange, uncomfortable and her eyes are wide open. I will not give her another dose of this drug. She looks very sad and she's trembling. I would never use this drug again.

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I sent for a package produced by the Citizens Cmmission On Human Rights.It comes with a D.V.D. Titled Making A Killing The Untold Story Of Psychotropic Drugging.Of Course It Is Made in the U.S.A. So What,It has the same story Canadians would tell ,But I guess our Gov. Doesn't Think it or something like it is worth the Money. On the D.V.D. There are over 175 Interviews from Doctors,Lawers,Mental Health Experts,Drug Sales Whistle Blowers,Families of the Victims & the Survivers themselves.I have Just received this Package & have not had a chance to watch it.The Facts,in Writing are Unbeleivable.Did You know that the top 3 bestsellers of Antisychotics together gross mre than 23,000 U.S. Dollars every Minute! In the U.S. alone.I cannot remember how long I waited,but I know It was Free.I Stumbled across it on the Web.Their Phone Number in the U.S. is 1-800-869-2247.Outside the U.S. The number is 1-323-467-4242. Or you Can reach them by Mail at Citizens Commission On Human Rights International,6616 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles,CA 90028 U.S.A. Or Fax 467-3720, It says in one of the Brouchers, That 1 D.V.D is 15 U.S.Dollars, I wish I could Remember How I got This Package,I Know It didn't cost me a Dime! Some of the Stuff I have read so far almost sounds like a Horror movie Gone BAD!,Real BAD. So if you would like a copy,Phone,Fax or E-Mail them Or to find your local CCHR; Log on to cchr.org & go to the Global Locater.Even if you have to pay,I think the Majority of the people will be Horrorfied in what they read.I'm Sure the D.V.D will even be more of a Horror show.So if you cannot get it free,Fork out the 15 Bucks,I'm sure you will be suprized,If Not Making yourself Horrobly Sick. Good Luck & get the D.V.D.Sorry,their E-mail is [email protected]

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Why are people still giving their cats Mirtazapine?If you read an earlier messege from myself & the Horror story of my own personal Ailments,From taking Mirtazapine, Why Would you still give it to cats? Folks, I talked to the Apprentice Pharmacist at my drug store about Mirtazapine. I asked him, Of all the Meds I'm on, Which drug he would finger for all the crap that had been giving me Cataracts,Weight Gain,Higher Sugar levels,Higher Cholesterol & some pretty heavy duty Headaches,That I never used to get,Without A doubt MIRTAZAPINE. Of course he asked his Opinion to be Confidential,Which I have. He was Adament on The S**t you Poor people are giving their Pets on the advice of a Vet are Severely Putting their Furbabies through so much pain,as well as you having nightmares. Like, How in Gods green earth they come up with a dose of 1/16 of a pill, Impossible. I only hope people take this messege to heart & stop the Suffering of your cat. As I have said before,I'm Living Proof & I Weigh 204 pounds, Whereas a Cat weighs anywhere from 5-25 pounds. Please, Think Twice, Read My other Entries & If you read what I have Typed, I think A lot less cats would be Suffering & a Lot more people would be relaxed, Not Taking your Furbabies To the Vet, Only to come home & go through the Horror Of watching your cat Freaking out. PLEASE, Beleive Me! Ginger, I hope & Pray, Your Kitty is feeling better

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It is Thursday evening and I am in an ongoing crisis with my senior female cat. For the past 3 weeks she has been sick with some kind of flu-like virus and or allergies and after extensive testing for all kinds of viruses, blood work, etc. and $350.00 later in medicines and vet bills, the vet still doesn't know what is wrong with her. She is on her third kind of eye medicine for oozing eyes, her third kind of antibiotic, pain medicine that she reacted violently to and can't take, etc. etc. I have been at my wits ends to try and figure out what is wrong with her and today, the vet gave me Mirtazapine to use to stimulate her appetite. This, after telling him, she was not eating as well and seemed to be losing weight. Also, each time she eats, immediately afterwards, she begins crying in some sort of pain.....I have speculated it is some sort of stomach ulcer. No concensous on that by the vet, despite my 20 years of witnessing her life in all it's tiny details!

To my horror, within 15 minutes of giving her only 1/4 of a 15mg tablet, she began getting very aggitated, began pawing at me, running circles around me, then began non-stop crying, gorging on food over and over again, crying in pain when the food hit her stomach, then her temperature shot through the ceiling and her whole body felt like it was going to simply burn up. I realized she was becoming accute and not knowing what to do, got a large ice bag from the freezer and iced her body down several times to lower her temperature. It only marginally helped and I then syringed down her a small portion of Sulcrafate to ease her stomach.

Still crying incessently and pacing the entire length of the house unable to lay down from extreme hyperactivity, she needed something more and the only thing I could think of was to give her the new antibiotic that the vet gave me today, ....Metronidazole, as he had told me it had a calming effect gastrointestinally. Desperate, I tried syringing it down her, and she almost had a stroke trying to choke it up, but after a couple of syringes full of electrolytes, at least a little got down her. It is now about two hours after her initial dose of Mirtazapine and she is at least not crying as much. She still can't stop pacing and won't lay down, so I know I will be up all night with her trying to keep her calm.

I didn't look this drug up before giving it to my cat.....big mistake. I will NEVER give my cat another medicine of any kind before asking tons of questions of my vet.....I wasn't told anything about any possible negative side effects at all.
I think after this horrible experience, I will never completely trust a vet again. Most of the various medicines and treatments tried on my cat over the last 3 weeks have been dismal failures, and the really dishartening thing in all of it is that my cat is suffering, despite every test coming back normal and a ton of money up in smoke.

Other people's experience with this drug may be good, but I would NEVER, NEVER recommend it casually to anyone without there being some really good reason for it and ONLY after thoroughly evaluating the animal and its' previous history. I am finding these days, that veterinaians are all to much like MD doctors.....5 minutes in the room and pushing a bunch of drugs at you to stuff down your animal. My countertop and refrigerator are overflowing with unused and unsuable drugs. It's deplorable. My cat almost had a heart attack and or stroke on this medicine and icing her down may have been the only thing that saved her......PLEASE take care and do not use this drug.

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I guess some are starting to see,The proof is in the Pudding.Alida,I hope your Furbaby is doing well.If more people were on this site to find out what a certain drug is doing,Or used for,Instead of How to break down any pills for Ilegal use.Seems to me that a lot of people are looking for a Fix,Trying to get the Oxy op to break down.The drug companies made the change,Because of people Taking the stuff Illegally.Folks,oxy has become the most Recreational drug going right now.The drug companies are not going to change the drug back to it's origanal Formula,Because more than a few have Overdosed & are now Pushing up Daisies.If you are prescribed Oxy,Take it as perscribed,Those of you that want a High,Find it somewhere else!!!p.s. Still feeling better,than when I was on MIRTAZAPINE,Deadly Stuff,I would deffinately get a second Or even 3rd doctors Input & forget about the Vet.You have read some Horror Stories Here,Please read them before taking your pet to see the Vet!

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My 6yr. old Oriental Shorthair cat was diagnosed with renal failure 8wks. ago. About 10 days ago she quit eating. She's ONLY 6yrs. old. When I called the vet about this; he put her on the mirtazapine 15mg. tabs @ 1/4 tab every 3 days. (She ONLY weighs 5 1/2 lbs!) I TRUSTED him & gave it to her. SAME reaction to it as reported by others. She SCREAMED & YOWLED for 2 days straight & COULD NOT SIT STILL for a minute! Like a kitty on SPEEDERS!! WHAT A NIGHTMARE!! Whie it has made her eat RAVENOUSLY; the side effects are NOT WORTH THE RISK OF THIS DRUG! After reading all these posts; I'll be TEARING MY VET A 'NEW ONE' tomorrow AM when I can get him on the phone! The trouble with the Vets of today is that IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY MAKING! He could have told me about the drug & SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS! We have been giving sub q fluids every other day for 2mos; & even THEY did NOT get this EVIL DRUG outta my cats system fast enough. Luckily, I've only STUPIDLY given it twice. IT JUST HIT THE GARBAGE PAIL after reading all this!! I used to be a VET TECH; & I'll say this much; BEWARE OF WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THOSE CLOSED VET DOORS! Most Vets & Staff are MEAN SOBs too!! I'm EXTREMELY UPSET after reading these posts. I wish You all the best with your kitty friends. I wouldn't give it to one of my dogs either!! I'VE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL THIS EVENING on this page; & thank EVERYONE for their input!

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Satsumas Mom; Thank You for the Heads Up On the Lipitor ! I haven't had the time to research anything,Due to my uncanny health problems. I Cannot beleive the Disscusion,In words,Has Gone from Talking About The Dangers of Mirtazapine to Humans,To Peoples Pets Taking The Drug! What Did The Drug Companies Make the s*** for,In the First Place. I work at our Mental Health Division Of our Hospital.,At The Coffee Shop.I am a Mentor,So I get to know a lot of Peoples Il'ls & Ailments. Every day I talk to & obeserve, Find Out ,What, Why & How long They have been on a certain drug,Beleive Me, Their Not Billions Rich, The Drug Companies, Because Of There Interest in US, Or Our PETS. I mean I Have Seen People Jumped In The Coffee Shop By The Orderlies,Then Buckled up & taken to their rooms upstairs.The Atmosphere On The 2nd & third Floor is not a place you want to be.I also Would like to Apologize To All,For Sending my Alter Ego steveo,S--t Happens,All The Best To Every One!

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I have been taking Antideppresents for 8 Yrs.I have found that throught the years ,after taking a number of diferrent Meds,I have Started feeling a Little better,now that i,m on Wellbutrin XL.300mgs.Aug 18 200/10. I am now completley off,of the Mirtazapine,& to be honest,I feel a lot differently! I swear the Mirtazapine was the culprit giving me all the Side Affects.Bagpuss?Please be Extremely Careful using Mirtazapine. As an Antideppresent!! i Saved 200 dollars By Not beleiving My Kittys Vet. Snoops Was My Best Freind,I had him for 12 yrs.In the end,After taking him to my Vet,he told me He can put him on a renal Med. When he said the word Mirtazapine,I could not beleive it. I took my Kitty Home,Where he hung on for 6 weeks.This Drug Is Potentially Deadly,In Humans & Pets.Verwon;You know right from wrong & I Implore you,To start telling people,To stay clear, With Their Animals stay clear of this Drug! If Any of you want Living Proof on the Side Effects Of Mirtazapine Look Me Up!!!

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Update: My 13 y.o. male with reneal disease had stopped eating. He has now been on mirtazapine since early July. I first gave him 1/4 of a 15 mg. tablet and he displayed all the symptoms other posters have shared. I played with the dosage quite a bit and our perfect dose is 1/16 of a 15 mg. tablet every 3 or 4 days. He eats steadily, his bloodwork is good and he actually gained about 3/4 of a pound at his last vet visit. This low dosage does not cause him to be any more vocal than he normally is or wobbly at all, or has raised his blood pressure. He has completely stopped vomiting up the foamy bile. It does make him a very content, lovey, boy with a good (normal) appetite and it has improved his quality of life. I will keep him on it for as long as I see him doing so well.

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Hello everyone,
my 12 yr old cat has alimentary lymphoma and had her 3rd chemo treatment yesterday. She hasn't been eating well, so the vet gave her 1/4 of a 15mg tablet of mirtazapine.On the way home ( a 1hr drive) she was very vocal, normally she calms down after a while, especially when I play a CD called: Music My Cat When she got home, she ate out of every food bowl several times during the next couple of hours. I did notice that she was a little unsteady on her feet. She also seemed very restless, walking from one sleeping spot to the other, just couldn't lay in one place for long. She became less and less vocal and did not eat anything else since then, over 24hrs now. I did syringe feed just a little babyfood earlier today. She has been sleeping ever since she ate yesterday. At least I think she sleeps a little, sometimes her eyes are open with dilated pupils and she is just laying there.When I pet her, she just opens her mouth and lets out a silent meow. Like I said before, the vet administered the drug, so I did not have the opportunity to research it before hand! I have not called him yet, but plan to do so after this post.
I am so sorry for the losses of previous posters, but please don't beat yourselves up, because you love your furbabies and you would do anything for them and you don't much have a choice but to trust your vet. And with all the information available on the internet,you don't know what or who to believe anymore.

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SteveO please please read the Book Diary of a Legal Drug Dealer. It talks alot about the drug Lipitor are you being prescribed it for High Blood Pressure prehapps? Its so so bad for you. Read the book please, or at least look up the side effects of Lipitor its not what yer doctor tells you it is. PLEASE!!

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I Have Been Taking Mirtazapine For Approximately 4 Yrs.Since Then I Have Gained 25 Pounds,Extremely Dry Mouth,Cataracts Started 3 Years Ago,I am now 51I am A Diabetic & My Sugar Levels Have Gone From a Steady 6.4 To 7.6.I Take Lipitor For Cholesterol,Where Mirtazapine has Boosted An Increase Of 11- 19% In My Levels Of High Cholesterol.Headaches I Rarely Used To Get Them. I TalkedTo My Shrink & Told er I Want Off Mirtazapine.I Used To Take 60 Mgs.Bt I Started Taking Myself Off Of Mirtazapine,Before she Even Knew,We Have To Wean Myself Off 15 Mgs.Every 3 Weeks. This Drug Is Very Dangerous & As Far As I'm Concerned,This Drug Should Be Pulled Off The Market.I Wish You Luck On Your Poor Kitty,I Lost My Best Freind In The World,My Snoopers,He Passed In April,12 Years Old,I Could Not Control My Emotions In Check For Quite Some Time.I Know Have A 10 Mnth Old & Every Thing Is Starting To Finally Falling In Place.I Would Never Give Any Meds From A Vet Or Any one Else For That Matter That Are Prescibed To A Human,I Am Living Proof To That!!!

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I have given my 18 year old kitty a few doses for low appetite. She has renal disease and has been continuing to lose weight. She actually stopped eating and so the vet recommended mirtazapine. It does seem to increase her appetite though she is hardly ravenous. I have noticed that she cries after we give it to her, but my cat is very vocal and anxious as it is so it is hard to say whether the medication causes it. I'm just trying to make her as comfortable as I can at the end of her life and so far, I haven't noticed any major side effects. I would say the improvement is minor but it is still an improvement.

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Please read the book Diary of a Legal Drug Dealer. I think it will shine some light on why yer cats doctor would do such a thing. Basically they dont really know what long term effects medications have but big pharma pushes the meds and gives out manufactured stats to sell drugs..Please read the book! It made me rethink how my medical treatment will be in the future.

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Hello MK,
I'm so sorry to hear about Bill, It's a horrible decision to have to make. How old was Bill? My tom is still eating well, but his times for food has changed dramatically. He wakes me at any time in the early hours wanting food. This morning it was 04.20 hrs when he wanted food, yesterday it was 02.30 hrs then another 7 times during the day. He eats small amounts frequently and easily takes in his daily requirement of food. I void giving him the Mirtazapine on the same day as his chemotherapy medication as it results in him being very subdued-two major drugs together isn't a good idea I don't think. I started the Mirtazapine at an Eighth of a 10mg tablet, not a quarter as the vet prescribed and he's doing well.

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I'm a little surprised at some of the dosage instructions some have shared here for using Mirtazipine in cats. My vet first suggested using Mirtazipine after a Diazepam (Valium) compound made him a little too wobbly. The Mirtazipine dosage I was given was 1/4 of a 15mg tab every 4-7 days. Every 3 days seems like too much based on *my* experience, because there is a visible response to (what I assume is) the seratonin levels increasing. My 17 year old year old male cat with CRF (diagnosed at 16) went from 10+ lbs. to 6.5 lbs. in a year. I started him on Mirtazipine just before his 18th birthday. He started gobbling up his food and has put on just over 2 lbs. in 10 months, averaging an ounce per week at times. I've settled on once every 6-7 days for a 1/4 tab, which I feed inside a Greenie's Pill Pocket (half of one is great for the size of 1/4 tab of Mertazipine).

I'm extremely happy with the results, but I know I wouldn't be if it weren't a success. Please don't take my experience as a guarantee that you and your cat will have similar results. I shared so that anyone reading in the future has another reference to dosage. A full tab of Mirtazipine seems like way, way too much.

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Pete- good luck with your cat. Unfortunately I had to put Bill to sleep yesterday. His uremia was overwhelming him and any further treatment to artificially prop him up would have been cruel. I used the medication in discussion twice since the original post at a slightly lower dose than the 1/4 of a 10mg tab. He WAS eating until the end, but the other positive effects of the med were not achieved again. I kept my promise to him that he would not suffer, and he was deteriorating rapidly due to toxic uremia. I am very sad but feel like I did the right thing.

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