Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 4)
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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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My comment 363 was a reply to dtyw's comment 362, not anyone else.

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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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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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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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All of these posts seem to be about cats and mirtazapine. Dogs are also prescribed this med as an appetite stimulant; and I have to say that it's been a life-saver for my 7.5 pound 17-yr-old Maltese dog. Even though dogs can take it daily, I only give it to Tucker every third day. I give cyproheptadine on one of his "off-mirtazapine" days, and give no appetite stimulant at all on the third day. Then I start the 3-day rotation all over again. He's been on this schedule for over a year now, and has been able to regain and maintain his weight with no ill side effects.

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NEVER GIVE THIS CRAP TO YOUR CAT! My cat was given Mirtazapine by our vet after surgery, as a appetite stimulant. Within 5 minutes of ingesting the drug, he became lethargic and started to massively drool and foam at the mouth. He was crying out long meows like he was in pain. He spent the night meowing and laying around staring into space. This is a human antidepressant. They don't even know how it works. It's use for cats is not approved by the FDA. It is an "off label" use. I was very scared something was going to happen to my precious boy after taking this awful drug. His appetite the morning after taking this "appetite stimulant" is no better than before. AVOID THIS HORRIBLE DRUG AT ALL COSTS!

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I was scared of Mirtazapine AND WEIGHT GAIN, BBBBBBBBBBBut I am on 45mg for the last 3 months and have lost a small amount of weight . I don't crave sweet foods and still eat to much at night

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Cat - My cat had a bad reaction too so I feel your pain. Hopefully in the days to come she will be her normal self again. Hang in there.

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It was prescribed to my cat to stimulate appetite and it caused more problems than good. It was given to her Friday and still today she's not right. It's like her head hurts! I'm so upset and I feel so bad for my cat!!

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Mia, I appreciate your information and opinion very much. I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty's lymphoma but it's great that he's gaining weight. My kitty is 13 and has low grade lymphoma (intestinal) and is on Leukeran. One year ago before getting sick he weighed 10 lbs, and is now 6.8. He is a petite cat though, with tiny paws. His appetite has increased recently on its own, thank goodness. He started getting sick last Fall, but wasn't diagnosed until this past April. The specialist said at that time he might have one more year. I just appreciate every day we have together. I have 5 other cats, and one of my females is really bonded with him...I will worry about her when that day comes. Thanks again for the info...I will consider it all should I have another situation with any of my cats not eating. The dose we were giving was 1/4 of a 15 mg tablet every 72 hours. I wish you the best for your beloved kitty.

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I am a vet tech and can personally tell you that with mirtazapine there is always a risk for an adverse reaction. However, when it works, it works wonders. If your kitty does react poorly, there are other alternatives such as cyproheptadine that you can discuss with your vet as an alternative. Although these side effects have been reported, I have yet to see a cat or dog die from the adverse effects reported. I would not let this site deviate anyone who's pet is suffering from an illness that may be affecting appetite as it is a case by case situation. My 14 year old cat has high grade lymphoma which has a very poor prognosis of 3 to 6 months and thanks to this medication, he is eating voraciously and gaining weight. I was aware of the possible side effects prior to giving the medication and knew what signs to look for in the event my kitty reacted in such a way. You should also be aware that certain medications can increase the adverse effects reported such as reglan (metoclopramide) which is commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat nausea and sometimes prescribed in conjunction with treatment for certain diseases that could cause nausea (such as kidney failure, cancer, etc). Worth giving it a try but be aware of possible side effects so that you are able to better determine if your kitty is a good candidate for the medication. I have seen vets follow two different protocols, there's the 1/8 of a 15mg tablet every 24 hours or the 1/4 of a 15mg tablet every 72 hours. I have never seen a respectable veterinarian prescribe a full 15mg tablet to be administered at once nor should anyone follow those instructions if it is prescribed to your kitty. Hope this helped.

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