Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 20) (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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My dog has had a seizure condition that has been controlled with medication. He has not has a seizure in 3 years. He wasn’t eating and my vet prescribed mertazapine to stimulate his appetite. l gave him a dose as prescribed. That night he had a very bad seizure. I thought perhaps it was a break through seizure and didn’t think about it further. The next day after giving him the mirtazapine he had a seizure, worse and much longer in duration. I stopped the mirtazapine and no more seizures. Not worth the risk.

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Re: Xenas Mom (# 424)

Remeron should be used with caution in the presence of a seizure disorder, as it is known to lower seizure threshold. Consider Valium (diazepam) as an alternative. It is an anticonvulsant benzodiazepine with orexigenic properties.

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Re: Bagpuss (# 1)

I am sorry to hear about your cat :-(

I find it astonishing a vet would give this to an animal to stimulate appetite. It's a powerful drug and designed for treating humans not animals. And it's not even recommended or licensed for stimulating appetite in humans as far as I know.

I'm currently taking it for depression. It's quite an old drug now, but some doctors still like to prescribe it for patients like myself who haven't responded well to newer classes of anti-depressant drugs like the SSRI's.

There are a lot of side-effects listed, including the suicidal thought tendency (especially in younger people) but I have found the side-effects are relatively few and mild compared to the newer SSRI drugs. The main problem side-effects for me I haven't seen decrease is appetite stimulation/compulsive eating and rapid weight gain, and feeling very drowsy in the mornings for several hours after waking.

I'm currently taking 45mg, started at 15mg. The drug has a kind of hypnotic effect because it acts on histamine receptors in the brain, so you feel sleepy, drowsy, confused, disorientated and unsteady on your feet after taking it. I imagine these effects would be even more pronounced in a small animal like a cat, and that's why your cat may have been acting that way?

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Re: Bob (# 419)

1.88 mg recommended starting dose

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Re: Paul (# 427)

Yeah, I seriously can’t believe it either, I am a human being who is given this drug to try to stimulate my appetite years and years ago, I don’t know how I didn’t die in a car accident all I did was sleep and when I was awake I wouldn’t know what was going on. Like I remember getting a Facebook message and I thought it was a private message so I replied to it in a way that was private except I was replying on my public wall and I had been using Facebook for a long long time, I’m not computer illiterate, I just didn’t know what was going on because this medication is so brutal. I can’t believe they give this to people for depression. How does this help depression if all you do is sleep and eat? Your poor cats I’m so sorry, thank you for saying that. I’m going to scold my vet for ever suggesting this for my cat.

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Re: Paul (# 427)

May I suggest you stop focusing on serotonin and start focusing on dopamine if no medication has ever helped your depression? I don’t know why they get so obsessed with only serotonin treatments. I had many medication failures before I was finally diagnosed with ADHD and give him medication for dopamine. I haven’t felt “depressed” in the 20 years I have been on and off ADHD meds. It was never depression, it was always ADHD. It really sucks that the drug companies push those SSRIs so much because not everyone actually has depression.

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Been on it for one month. Prescribed 7-15 mg. The lower the dose, the more ot helps with insomnia. It is working for my depression & anxiety. It has caused brain fog. That seems to get better with coffee or exercise. I'll probably stay on it.

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all anti depressants have risks of suicidal tendencies and increasing depression. if you feel that, the medicine is wrong for you and you just stop taking it and try a different one. obviously this was the wrong medicine for your CAT since the medicine was designed for HUMANS.

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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 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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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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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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Ginger; I am glad for you & Shoney, Sounds to me like your Fur Baby has been through an aweful time in the past few Mnths. Like I said in a previous post,I said Watch out for an Animals welfare,Because your Vet Or any other vet I have had in the past is only looking for one thing & it's not your pet.Vets will try & con you into thinking what He or she says is the Gospil.Far from the truth.They will put themselves right up there with Facts & figures & sometimes,Such as Shoney they turn your pet into a Guinea Pig.People should read between the lines on the posts on this site & if they do,They will read,Just about every post is about Mirtazapine, Mirtazapine, Mirtazapine !!! I,m glad that I never gave my Snoopers that Crap & Stryker will never see a vet or Money Making machine,whatever else you want to call those Slimeballs. Ginger;You seem to know a lot of info on Homeopathic Meds. I hope your Shoney continues to get Better & more people get on this site,It just may save your beloved Pets Life!!! Good luck to all !!! Please Folk's,Stay away from Mirtazapine. It turned Me into a mess & I'm feeling a lot different now,Than when I was Taking the drug.Imagine giving your pet 15 Mgs. For a 20-25 Pnd.Cat,I was on 60 Mgs. when I first started taking the Drug,I started Weening Myself off of Mirtazapine,I told my Shrink what I was up to & she had a S**t Fit. If your weening yourself off the Drug,You do it 15 Mgs,Every 2 weeks.I weigh just over 200 Pnds. Imagine what 15 Mgs is doing to your Pet. Would you Like to try it,I didn't think so!!!

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I have read/ skimmed the majority of posts here; my 'heart' and emotions swollen in both directions. I have a degree in Human Physiology and a Master's in Psychology. I have lost the majority of my family ( 4 siblings and our father) to a cancer that is obviously hereditary in nature, one by one , before I was 16yrs. of age. The devestation for my mother was and still is nearly unbearable to recall. This was in the 60's/70's-so you may be able to imagine the "treatments" that were given, often of which I also was a 'subject' because Tx is expensive and that is one way they could get people/families to consent to 'research', who were not wealthy. I still carry scars on the undersides of my arms and skull from 'tissue samples', summers spent in odd multi-leveled buildings with machines that pulled blood from your strapped-down arms , spun it around, then put it back in-if the Techs remembered you. When they didn't, there was much comotion, your face turned blue and you had to ride in a wheelchair for a week or so~to a 10yr old~I fit right in! If you are thinking where was 'Mom'-exactly where she needed and I wanted her to be-at the side of her eldest son and my brother, a beautiful young man who had been a Pro athlete-and now was wasting away, on the verge of death. My mother is one strong Lady, and maintains a strong 'faith' still. My scars ran much deeper, though I was unaware at the time.

Why the long story etc... here? Among other things, I developed an IQ of 160, and am an optomist as well as a bit of a well intentioned opportunist, at times. I have not shared the 1st part of the story for many years. I am not a 'Physician' or a 'Vet'. I became a bit of a self-styled 'doc'-I'd seen dozens, watched thier actions, the calmness or harshness of their responses/referals and studied how these were recieved by people in various emotional states. I began to know the names of various drugs and what they may or not do to/for a person. It haunts me to this day when I saw overloaded Docs administer-or not- something to a person w/out completely checking the 'notes/log' of what other things may/may not have been given. I began to understand the 'Power Structure' , infrequently and certainly not the norm, where nurses/caretakers knew better, yet were forced to silence by overstressed docs or unknowing administrative moves. I was not 'employed', yet even at 10-13 if I saw an error(at times a percieved error-not a Dr.) I felt compelled to interrupt Dr. etc. regarding intent,etc... which more often than not resulted in chastisement/dismissal......though every so often, the towering super-humans would take a knee and ask for my thoughts. A powerful lesson in human compassion and validation for me. I became a favorite of the nurses-though to my want of having a pet animal of my own, became drawn to the area of animal research. I am not here to start argument over animal rights etc.. unfortunately, some is necessary, and 90+%is humane as can be.

I became fast friends with a young woman Vet.;ok for a newly teen boy. She taught me many things; including boundries as I had a good incentive to learn. I learned that becoming a vet in many ways was more intensive and difficult than a physician-feline, canine, ovine, bovine, etc....each with a seperate 'system'; drugs used for various animals effectively can be disastrous for humans (pcp, ie..) and some human drugs the same or worse on animals--all with the added issue that as of yet , animals can't TALK, so they must diagnose through owner observation, certain tests, etc....
A half an asprin was 'ok, w/ close supervison' for pain when my 110lb. rott. broke several toes; less than 1/4 of that could very well kill my 9 lb. dacshund. I learned that these higholy educated nd rained individuals are still HUMANs. You must do research as well as pick a good provider, High emotions can cloud judgement quickly! Please use caution when making blanket statements about experiences with drugs. People can be unaware of other problems/chemical reactions or imbalances going on-then blame a certain drug. The Lady NP and Vet hubby; she had an excellent letter. Our pets are part of us and it hurts badly to see them ill or pass; do not let that get in the way of learning or educating others. Thank You. God Speed.

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Ellen, will you double check with your vet on the dose you gave to your cat. Normally you would give 1/2 tablet every 3 days and not 1 tablet at a time as that is an adult human dose. I give my cat 1/2 tablet every 3 days as needed and it has worked wonders with not only his appetite but his mood too. However, his lab tests are wonderful for his age. Again, I would make certain that anyone who gets this medication that they have lab tests done first to see if their cat is a good candidate for it.

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Lotsacats, have you tried Cyproheptadine? That is an antihistamine which is also used as an appetite stimulant. The dose I gave my cats, that it worked well on, was 1/2 of a 4mg tablet twice a day as needed.

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lotsacats: I just had to put my beloved Midnight of 13+years put down yesterday. It hurt, however I knew it was the right thing to do. Mirtazapine 7.5 mg tablet 1/4 tablet only worked really good the first time administered. She had great bloodwork Sep 11. Nov 11 she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She wouldn't eat the YD so put on (tapazol). Jan 12 took Midnight to vet because she wouldn't eat. She was jaundiced yet very little vomitting. Bloodwork indicated she now had liver disease in addition to her asthma & chronic kidney disease. Her biliruben levels were very high. Liver values progressively increased. Her appetite somestime was on then not on. Gave her Cyprohedadine 1/2 tablet twice daily along with reglan .8 later up to 1.2. This worked a while just to maintain weight. She also was taking prednisolone from 1 --5mg tablet to 1.5 tablets per day. Blood results continued to come back higher yet now showing she wasn't hyperthyroid. After my vet of 12+yrs & I did all we were aware of I took Midnight to Vet teaching hosp. Hosp did 2nd ultrasound & xrays. Unable to get needle biopsy without putting her under due to her excessive movement. I wouldn't authorize putting her under. They did a freeT4 which showed Midnight still had hyperthyroidism just her illnesses made her results come back n the normal range. Diagnosis from Vet teaching hosp was Cholangitis. Changed her from Cyproheptadine to Mirtazapine 7.5mg every 48hrs. Added Ursodiol 30mg once daily. Maropitant 16mg give 1/2 tablet once every 24hrs as needed for nausea. Adminster 5-6 days in a row then stop. Go back to reglan for 2-3 days before going back to maropitant. Added clavamox 62.5 mg give 1 table every 12 hrs. Vitamin K injection every 2wks; Denamarin once daily 150 IV fluids daily. Didnt get to go back for 2nd recheck of liver values due to her passing.

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I don't understand this reaction from your cat. Maybe your vet should check for other issues that might be causing your cat to react in this way. I have had my 14 year old dog on it, and I take it as well, and have never had any bad reactions. However, not every one nor every animal reacts the same way. I am so sorry for your problem and hope that your cat recovers. My dog is doing great on this medication, and it has greatly improved her appetite. She is being treated with Lysodren for Cushing's Disease and from time to time loses her appetite. Good luck to you.

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This message is for Becky. After reading your last post I now understand that your Vet did prescribe 15 mg for your cat. As you now know, that dose was lethal for your cat because that's a dose a 150 lb person would take. My Vet just prescribed 0.5 mg for my 45 lb dog and told me that the max dose for her was 1 mg. So that Vet killed your cat. Accidentally I'm sure but he/she did it nonetheless I'm sorry to say.

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I'm so sorry. I know how you feel. With what you went thru you can tell you really loved your baby. See post 145 this is what I went thru. Wasn't easy.

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