Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 3)
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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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REPORT

All antidepressants carry a suicide warning these days. It's nothing to do with the safety of the drug; it's just that for some people recovering from major depression there is a high-risk period when they are still feeling suicidal but now are feeling just well enough to take action.

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This drug is not safe for humans or animals. Look at the suicide warnings.

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Please speak with your doctor, this sounds very unpleasant

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Thank you for your input regarding mirtazapine between humans and animals really appreciated

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After reviewing a selection of these posts, a few things stand out to me:
1) Mirtazapine in HUMANS is a well-established drug, as safe as any strong medication can be (taken as directed by a practitioner). I have taken it myself.
2) With all respect, It is very dangerous to extrapolate experience from humans to animals (& vice versa) without knowledge. Some foods that are harmless to humans are poisonous to cats & other animals (e.g. chocolate, raisins(!), avocado).
3) That said, the consensus of the veterinary professionals here seems to be that the use of mirtazapine in cats is well-established but NOT a first choice, perhaps even a last resort.
4) There is a good (human) medication discussion site (Psychobabble), whose motto is YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary. Every person may have a unique response, especially to psychoactive medications, and I am sure it is the same for animals. So, especially if the discussion gets hot, remember: YMMV.

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Hi there thanks for your reply,luckily I don't have any side effects from mirtazapine, just was a bit amazed that animals are given it to, but as you say for totally different reasons. Thanks again kaz

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Kaz, there are many medications that both humans and animals take, in this case for different reasons. In people it's an antidepressant; in animals it's an appetite stimulant. If you're one of the luckier people who has no side effects from this drug, I wouldn't panic, but do talk to your doctor if you're concerned.

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Hello, I've just saw and read your comments regarding mirtazapine, my doctor has prescribed me this with fluxotine I was really shocked to read that a vetanirany gave this for your cat!!! NOW I'm a bit concerned, yes I do suffer from depression and have a doctors appointment within the next seven days, I think I need to have a good talk with my GP to reconcide my options regards Kaz

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Neat, I'm glad you have no side effects. Charlotte, as you can read all of our other comments here, this drug can cause terrible effects on animals. I will NEVER give it to any of my cats again. It would break your heart watching your dog go through this if it happened. Please talk to your vet for an alternative option.

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Syringe feed if they are not eating. NEVER give them this dangerous drug.

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This medication works with no side effects. The problem is the terrible nightmares and the same one. I feel as if they are real when I am dreaming them. Dont know what other medication I would take.

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No, please see all the comments. Ask your vet about prednisone.

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My 20lb doxie mix has liver disease and refusing to eat. I give fluids every other day. I was hoping this drug might help her. I'm afraid she's going to die. Is this worth a try? Help.

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

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

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

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

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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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