Medication used to treat insomnia can be a nice balancing act. Due to worries that sleeping pills may induce issues with addiction and tolerance, many doctors are hesitant to recommend them.
Mirtazapine is one of the medications that are frequently utilized in drugs. In the UK, mirtazapine is licensed to treat serious depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In the USA, it is also sold under the brand name Remeron.
Therefore, you should take mirtazapine once a day. Given that it may cause sleepiness, it is advised to take it before bed. Take the smaller dose in the morning and the larger dose just before bed if your doctor instructs you to do so.
What is a Mirtazapine?
Mirtazapine is a medication used to treat depression. The drug belongs to the antidepressant drug class. It works by enhancing specific brain activities to keep the mind in balance.
It also encourages improved central nervous system nerve cell communication. Despite being a less frequently given antidepressant, mirtazapine is nevertheless an effective medication.
When Should I Take Mirtazapine at Night and Why?
Mirtazapine is typically used once a day. Given that it may cause sleepiness, it is advised to take it before bed.
Mirtazapine has been shown to increase the consistency and general quality of Sleep while decreasing the time it takes to fall asleep and nighttime waking.
It has been demonstrated that mirtazapine affects various stages of Sleep. It lengthens deep Sleep, lengthens deep Sleep for longer periods, and somewhat shortens REM sleep (dream sleep).
Although its off-label use could appear like a solution for insomnia, there are some negative side effects, as discussed in this article.
How Long Does it Take For Mirtazapine to Have an Effect?
You may experience some improvement after one week but it normally takes anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks before you fully recover. This is because mirtazapine levels take about a week to build up in your body. Your body also needs a few weeks longer to adapt and get used to it.
Therefore, you should not stop taking the medicine just because you don’t feel better after a few days. Give it at least 6 weeks.
How to Take Mirtazapine
Mirtazapine may be taken with or without food. The tablets should be consumed whole, along with some water. Do not eat, shatter, or crush them. There are also melt-in-your-mouth pills of mirtazapine available (orodispersible tablets). On your tongue, place the tablet and allow it to dissolve. After that, you can swallow it without a drink.
A plastic syringe or spoon will be included with liquid mirtazapine to assist you in measuring the proper dose. Ask your pharmacist for a syringe or spoon if you don’t have one. A kitchen teaspoon will not measure the correct amount, so avoid using one.
Mirtazapine is typically used once a day. Given that it may cause sleepiness, it is advised to take it before bed. Take the smaller dose in the morning and the larger dose before you go to bed if your doctor instructs you to take it twice a day.
How Mirtazapine Works
As a central nervous system (CNS) drug, mirtazapine helps in the control of the brain’s neurological system. It enhances the concentration of specific chemical messengers (referred to as neurotransmitters), such as noradrenaline and serotonin, in the brain as a CNS (Central Nervous System) medication and antidepressant.
Mirtazapine is frequently referred to as a noradrenergic and selective serotonergic antidepressant, boosting mood in people with depression because of its actions on these two neurotransmitters.
Mirtazapine or Remeron are two powerful sleep aids. You might feel sleepy as a result of the drug’s sedative effects, which would shorten the time it takes for you to nod off. Additionally, it enhances the quality of your Sleep and helps you slumber deeper.
Mirtazapine may be able to enhance the quantity and quality of REM (or dream) sleep, according to research done on 16 patients with major depressive disorder.
Side Effects of Mirtazapine
There may be some negative effects if you use mirtazapine for Sleep, although they are usually not severe. However, if you’re concerned about any of Remeron’s negative effects on Sleep, speak with your doctor. The negative effects that you can encounter when taking mirtazapine for Sleep are described here.
Sleep Disorders
Mirtazapine may occasionally result in a sleep condition like Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) or Periodic Limb Movements, despite being used to address sleep issues, including insomnia (PLMS).
The American Journal of Medical Care reports that 30% of persons using mirtazapine had RLS. Another study published in Sleep indicated that mirtazapine enhanced PLMS in 67% of healthy young men, but this side effect subsided after the first several days of treatment.
Weight gain
An increase in hunger and weight are two additional common side effects of taking mirtazapine.
Daytime drowsiness
Because of its sedative properties, mirtazapine may cause some people to feel sleepy during the day. Of those who take mirtazapine, over 54% report experiencing daytime sleepiness.
Depression patients frequently experience exhaustion and sleepiness, which can make further daytime sleepiness problematic. However, most people discover that daily sleepiness is a temporary side effect that goes away within a few weeks.
Dry mouth
When using mirtazapine, you can suffer dry mouth, which could cause issues with your teeth and mouth. Compared to some of the other antidepressants, mirtazapine has a lower frequency of this side effect. For relief from dry mouth, we advise chewing sugarless gum or putting melted ice cubes in your mouth.
Strange dreams
The time it takes to fall asleep and the number of sleep disruptions can be decreased with mirtazapine. Rarely, though, it could result in bizarre dreams or nightmares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mirtazapine Make You Tired The Next Day?
Mirtazapine’s sedative effects might cause daytime sleepiness. It can also make some individuals feel sleepy, or as though they have a mild hangover, so it’s crucial to take the medication exactly as directed.
How Long Does Sleepiness Last With Mirtazapine?
Although it often takes between 4 and 6 weeks to receive the full effects, you might notice a reduction in your symptoms after a week. This is due to the fact that it takes around a week for mirtazapine levels to increase in your bloodstream and that it takes your body a further few weeks to adjust.
How Much Mirtazapine Should I Take For Sleep?
15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg doses of mirtazapine are offered in both regular and dispersible tablet forms. It’s also offered in liquid form with a 15 mg dosage per ml.
When mirtazapine is given to treat depression or anxiety, the first two to four weeks of treatment should be taken at a dose of 15 to 30 mg per day at bedtime. The dose may then be changed in order to suit how your body is handling it after this period. If deemed required, 45 mg of mirtazapine may be administered once or twice daily.
A low dosage of mirtazapine is typically administered if you have sleep issues. It’s important to keep in mind that mirtazapine’s sedative effects are thought to be stronger at low doses and diminish at higher doses.
A beginning dose of 7.5 mg of mirtazapine is typically prescribed, to be taken before night. 3.75 mg of mirtazapine may be the right dosage for certain persons.
