Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 21)

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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Wrong again. I'm 135 lbs and take 45 mg every day. Please stop posting alternative facts

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Aren't you a snobbish pile? My cat was not "on it's way out," although this horrible drug almost killed him. This is a highly addictive and dangerous drug, regardless if you believe it or not. Look at the warnings. A "safe" drug for humans doesn't have have suicide warnings and a list of side effects pages long. I don't care what some stooge from the government or drug company says.

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Trumpsuxddck, haha...YOU are the "ddck"!! You have no right to say people are dumb. Obviously there is a problem with this drug in many cats, as so many have discussed here. So get off of your high horse (speaking of horses) and let kind, caring people discuss our experiences in the hopes of helping others going through the same thing. Read my middle finger. #yrusuchana**

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I've been on this medicine for a long time and it has saved my life and I hope to never come off from it unless it happens to stop working which means I'd have to switch to another antidepressant and that happens in many cases even if it's not this drug! My girlfriend just had to change her antidepressant to another one but she's never taken mirtazapine!!

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I'm very sorry to read of the loss of your beloved cat. Sometimes nothing we try to help them seems to work. I think you did the right thing and put an end to his suffering. God bless you for trying all you could for this wonderful animal.

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My 16 yr old tiger kitty Tom Tom was recently diagnosed with cancer after the vet found a mass in the right side of his mouth during dental surgery to remove 2 teeth. The vet surgeon removed most of the mass and sent it in for biopsy. Lab result was cancer but not an aggressive cancer and not metastatic. But tumor mass can return and to remove the remaining small portion of tumor would be cruel because they must remove part of his jaw and give him radiation. So I must keep him comfortable for 6-9-12 months maybe longer. He initially went from about 10 pds to 7.9 prior to surgery. We had treated him for 3 years 3 times per year with an antibiotic and prednisone from the vet - for what the vet thought was a respiratory infection. But now we know the congestion was not from a respiratory infection but from a tumor pressing up against his nasal passage and sinuses which makes him sound congested. At surgery he weighed 7.9 and 8 days later he weighs 7.4. He stopped eating completely at 8 days after surgery. After 2 days I took him to the vet and the vet said to force feed with a syringe. Using very soupy fancy feast chicken pate classic - he has been taking about 20-25 mls twice per day. Hard to do with sutures in his mouth on the right side along with swelling and pain. 3 days into this he began to eat a little dry food. Back to the vet after 5 days of this syringe feeding and very little dry food. NOW we are 17 days post surgery and NOW another vet at same office instructs to give him either Iams Max Cal Liquid Protein 1oz 4 times per day OR give us a prescription for Clinicare Liquid Protein at the same dosage for feeding.

I have not been able to locate either one yet except through an online purchase at Chewy for the Clinicare. So it will be another 2 days. I do not understand why vets did not give us followup protocol from the beginning after surgery??? Anyway - they also prescribed Mirtazapine 7.5 mg tab - 1/4th tab every 3 days for his appetite. On my way now to get this and THANK YOU ALL so much for all of the info on Mirtazapine. Tom Tom is also on buprenorphine (0.3mg per ml concoction) to be given in dosages of .1 ml (point 1 ml) every 11-12 hours - and to increase if needed up to .2ml (point 2 ml) or .3 ml (point 3 ml) dose twice per day. AND laxotone tube at Pet Smart or Petco is a paste - vet said 2 little bits on finger into left side of mouth or gums each day to help prevent hair balls. Tom Tom is a 16 yr old tiger colored long hair kitty - long hair kitties get occasional hair balls (even with purina dry food with hairball prevention) and with this oral surgery and tumor debulking the hair balls are even more of a problem for him. Also must extra-groom or brush him and use dry shampoo to get rid of as much loose hair as possible to prevent him from ingesting it during his regular kitty grooming. Hope this info helps someone with a kitty or perhaps even a dog. God Bless.

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I really wish I had read all these posts before I gave my 10.3 lb cat the 7.5 mg dose of Mirtazapine for decreased appetite after recovering from his, assumed, asthma attack. Yesterday he cried all day in a highly agitated state, this most malleable, loving cat kept biting me all day and yet could not leave my lap and was constantly adjusting and re-adjusting his positions. I called the vet to see if they could help me and they did not mention the possibility of the Mirtazapine side effects. I did not know until, unfortunately, I found this site today after giving him the second prescribed dose of 7,5 mg.Today he is hiding and I have to go find him to check on him. Second day - different reactions I suppose. Had I known all this I would never have given it to him. It would have been much better to coax feed him. He is only 3 yrs old but has very allergic skin reactions and two asthmatic episodes. I am so thankful for forums like this where I can learn so much from the experiences of others. Thank you all.

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Re: Ginger (# 61)

I know this is late posting on this but it sounds like your cat had been infected by some kind of actinomycete bacteria. It's very commonly found in dirt and soil outside in the environment. I'm currently battling whipple's disease or in other words tropheryma whipplei which is an actinobacteria or actinomycete. This stuff is pretty nasty and fastidious and can easily kill you if not treated properly or in a timely manner. I used to work in the hospital for 10 yrs before I got this infection from a health supplement called deer antler velvet spray. Doctors couldn't give me any answers as to what was happening. I lost my job, my health, my marriage, my kids, and life to this evil infection. I have these hideous sores and lesions all over my body that leave scars from it. It's literally breaking down my entire body from the inside out. If you have any questions feel free to contact me {edited for privacy}.

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Re: Babys Mama (# 162)

I just lost my kitty to this horrible drug. I was told he was in shock. Unfortunately, he was unresponsive and I had to do the unimaginable. So upset! I blame myself.

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Re: Sad Kitty Mom (# 409)

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please don't blame yourself. None of us knew our cats would have such horrific reactions to this drug. We only wanted to help them. May your baby rest in peace.

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I was on mirtazapine for 7 weeks and felt nausea, headaches, and gained weight.

Mirtazapine is the worst drug ever. I felt like vomiting and had no energy.

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It seems to be just the drug we needed to stimulate appetite in my cat recovering from pancreatitis. He would neither eat nor drink after being hospitalized and on IV therapy. Now he is eating better than he has in months.

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Trumpsuxddck (# 400) --

You should reframe from assumptions you can not verify. You are neither a professional or are privy to the autopsy report of the deceased pet! Mirtazapine and other drugs as you should know, have potential side effects and drug interactions. Obviously a pet that is prescribed this drug for appetite loss has an underlying illness which the vet would be aware of before prescribing. This FACT nullifies your belligerent attack of the cats owner in your post. It seems that the only person spreading misinformation, ironically is YOU! Keep in mind before casting judgement with your ill informed chain of events. This is a place to share information! It is possible that her pet had an allergic reaction to the medication or combination of prescribed medications. She could have developed seratonin toxicity which is a possibility. It could also be the cat was on its way out as you put it but THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU DO NOT KNOW TO ANY CERTAINTY. Simply put... STFU!

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Mertazapine was also prescribed for my cat. He became extremely agitated crying, biting and inconsolable for about a day and a half. I would never advise anyone to give this to their pet. It was a terrible, frightening experience for me to see my fur baby like this. There must be a better way. I put a skull and cross bones on the bottle and kept it as a reminder.

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Please do not use this drug. I gave my 7 Lb cat a minute dose that caused convulsions from overheating while lying in the sun. I had to dowse her seizing panting body under cold water and it is a miracle she is alive. The vet also missed the cause and predicted a brain cancer metastasis since she has chronic nasal issues and putting her to sleep. I was the one who identified the link to mirtazapine. Thank goodness I chose to not put her down. PLEASE do not use this drug. I gave her between 1.8 and 2 mg so it was less than usually prescribed.

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Re: Bagpuss (# 1)

Woo, this does not sound good. I was put on Mirtaz years ago. I was told to take at night. I only sleep about 3 to 4 hours total. I wake up around 4/5 times every night. I am on 45 mgs. Now I wonder what the heck is going on??????

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Re: Nathalie (# 413)

THANK YOU!! I was furious over Trumpsuxddck's arrogant, insulting comment too and replied to him quite a while back. Most of us here have only tried to help our cats not knowing the horrors of this drug. I watched one of my own cats have extremely disturbing side effects from it as well as a kitty I used to cat sit for who has since passed away at the age of 20. I am glad for the people who had good results, but I will NEVER, EVER give it to one of my cats again!!

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Re: the wife (# 22)

He might want to try AA if he wants to get sober. If he doesn't want to get sober, you might want to try Al-Anon. It works if you work it!

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Similar experience with our cat. Prescribed Mirtazapine 15mg ( a quarter pill) to help increase appetite. The first dose totally disoriented him for a day and a half. The second dose was given last evening... 24 hours later and he seems totally blind. Constant pacing and walking into everything, almost fell down the basement stairs.
Hoping that the drug will wear off, and his eyesight might return.

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Re: Bob (# 419)

Not to worry, your cat hasn't lost his eyesight; akathisia, or psychomotor restlessness, is a side effect of mirtazapine. Characterized by the constant need to move, or inability to remain still, it's a distressing and unpleasant one at that. The good news: it's temporary, although the discomfort may persist up to a couple of weeks. Dizziness is also common, as is CNS depression, making Remeron a popular, nonbenzodiazepine remedy for insomnia.

As with any drug, mirtazapine should be given at about the same time every day to ensure that your cat isn't taking more than a single dose in any 24-hour span. After 7-10 days, if your cat remains visibly stressed, and his psychomotor function hasn't begun to normalize, you should follow up with your veterinarian, especially if appetite has not increased, as intended.

I disagree with the notion that a psychotropic drug, such as mirtazapine, should be prescribed, off-label, for such a purpose as to stimulate appetite in a feline; it is immensely stressful to the animal. As an alternative, I might prescribe a low dosage of a corticosteroid, like prednisolone, which is a reduced, synthetic derivative of prednisone. The side effect profile is far more subtle, and it's generally well-tolerated.

I hope the side effects subside here in the next couple of days. Definitely feel free to reach out if you have any other questions/concerns.

All the best,
--Dr. R

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