Dangers Of Mirtazapine (Page 12)

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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a dose of 15 mg for a cat sounds like it would be lethal. a dose of 3.75 mg is too large also because my cat was given that by a vet and after a horrible reaction died also.

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Wm fifty three, I hope you and your doctor can find something to make you feel better again and for sure tell him you do not want this drug. I feel so bad for you.

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My cat was prescribed Mertazipine because she has lymphoma and doesn't have much of an appetite. The Mertazipine gave her an appetite very quickly after the first pill, but she also seemed quite agitated, was meowing a lot, seemed confused, wouldn't make eye contact. But at least she ate. I give her 1/4 of a 15 mg tablet. I've given her 6 so far, one every 3 or 4 days but not more often. The effect has been more delayed since the first one, but last night she was eating like a lion - raw pork tenderloin, all she wanted. Today she has mostly lost her appetite again, but still eating a bit. Someone else in this forum mentioned loss of balance as a side effect from the Mertazipine, and I've noticed this with my cat too, but I didn't make the connection until I read the post. She was wobbly in her hind quarters, but I thought that was due to her illness. Now I realize it likely was caused by the medication. My vet only wants to cover her butt, and won't even tell me what the side effects are. Lucky I came here, thanks for all your help.

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I suffered from insomnia for 2 years, was getting 2 to 3 hours a night. Since, my doctor prescribed this I have been sleeping ALOT more. Actually, slept 10 hours the other day! Although, I do not like the thought of that long in bed ~ I need to recover and catch up somehow. Luckily it does not make me hungry.

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I had to comment as well....My 10yr old cat was DX w CRF, lost wt, would not eat..etc..my Vet put him on 1/4 tab (of a 15mg tab) every 3rd day...since I am an RN, I know better to always start w a lower dose...Just in case....so I gave him only an 8th of a tab...first he slept for a few hrs, then BAM,,wide awake, pacing, talking, but he was eating!! Remeron has been a life saver for us, BUT I will say, I only give a very tiny piece (1/16th?) every 3-4 days...He sometimes is a little "testy" with my younger cat, but he is eating, happy and here! I also give SQ fluids & B12 every few days as well....I just had to post for some that have had + results,,BUT I am sorry for all the others that have had negative effects(((

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My 17 year old female kitty was prescribed mirtazapine at a low dose 1. Ml liquid form. She retches and throws up when I give it to her. Increased her appetite for hype first week but she really started vomiting more from it so i stopped giving it to her. She is on stomach meds reglan as well. her appetite is still poor any other meds that will stimulate this and not kill her?

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I am not sure if your vet has tried Cyproheptadine tablets. It's been around a long time and used to stimulate my cat's appetite when needed. I give my cat 1/4 of a 4mg tablet. The Rx is for 1/2 of a 4mg tablet but she gets overly hungry an a bit buzzed on that dose so I just give her 1/4 tablet. It's an antihistamine that is used in human anorexics as an appetite stimulant.

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My vet mentioned it but was not very supportive of this med . She really wanted me to try the mirtazipine. Felt the other med was not well supported . I just gave her some roast beef this am , she gobbled it up , then put a little on top of some food and she ate the roast beef and some of the food . Also I'm going to ask about cerenia . When she first got sick she was on it about a week . She also takes pepsid AC . Her appetite was decent until a little over 2 weeks ago when she had a temp. Since then the appetite has been not good at all . She was first diagnosised with CKD in aug ., she red cound a little low , vet put her on epogen .. Then antibody reaction and she was on deaths door .. I opted for transfusions .. Had 3 and finally a Miracle !! Her body started producing red cells again . But I took her to a specialist who determined she actually had kidney stones !!! We have been through a lot but through it all she has done well except as her blood count dropped she wasn't very active , but not in pain , alert and still ate . So I'm scared to try these drugs drug unless I absolutely have too . So I'm looking for other options to increase her appetite .. Suggestions needed /welcomed !!!!!

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My dog is in the ICU fighting for her life after a pharmacy mistake caused her to get an overdose of mirtazapine. She has acute pancreatitis. She was given the drug to stimulate her appetite after abdominal surgery.

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Try TANYA'S COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO FELINE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, a website for just about everything you need to know. Diagnosed in Sep. 2010, my cat has been in end stage now for 15 months. The end is near but all along he has been comfortable. Obtain a copy of your complete blood work and learn what they all mean- BUN, Creatine, phosphorus, potassium, phosphorus/calcium multipliers. You can do yourself relatively cheaply with periodic workups from an understanding vet. But the key is SUB Q treatments done affordably at home. Without it you'll go broke. Best of luck

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Please, no roast beef with CKD!!!!!!

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Don't understand , my cat has kidney stones . Eating has been an issue somewhat and I've had to put roast beef as a topper to get her to eat . She always likes cat food with roast beef , so what's the problem ?? Explain

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I wanted to chime in on the side effects of mirtazapine on cats. I gave my cat 1/4 of a tablet every three days, as prescribed by the vet. He seemed to be getting more and more agitated, but I thought it was the underlying illness that was causing him not to eat in the first place. After I gave him the third dose, he really got bad--pacing nonstop all day and night, having body tremors, seeming scared. It was really frightening. The vet seemed to have never seen this kind of reaction before. On the fourth day after his last dose, he seemed to finally be coming down--still pacing but seems less frightened and a little less depressed and scared. Be really careful with this drug. I don't think I would ever give it to any cat of mine after this experience.

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With a cat with kidney disease, you want a low protein diet. Although, my baby hated all the special foods. Low protein for kidney disease...

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Update. My dog had a liver biopsy and the results showed drug toxicity from overdose of metrazipine. Walgreens wrote the prescription wrong- gave her double dose. A small overdose can cause liver toxicity. My internal vet specialist said regular vets give this drug out like candy & it can be dangerous. We don't know yet if r dog is going to survive. Don't not give this drug!!!!

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This is almost two years later, but in the future, cats also respond to Xanax very well for anxiety/mood disorders and as an appetite stimulant. It's metabolized by the body very well and has minimal side effects when properly dosed. If it's too late, I'm sorry. I love my cats dearly and Xanax was a real help in his case. Maybe someone else will read this and benefit from it too.

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Doctors write prescriptions, the pharmacy does not! The pharmacy fills prescriptions that doctors have written, and have no knowledge or access to dosages used in animals. Please get your facts straight before you slander the pharmacy staff.

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I defense of Michelle, I wonder if her veterinarian wrote the Rx correctly but the pharmacy wrote it wrong on the label. I always write down what my vet (or my own doctor for that matter) tells me and then double check when I pick up the Rx to make sure the instructions were clear to the pharmacist and if not, question it. We are all human and the pharmacist could possibly have made a mistake. I don't know that he did but it is always good to double check between what a vet/or doctor verbally told you to make sure the pharmacy received clear enough instructions.

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There r no studies that support low protein is best for CKD in cats ,, but low protein diets will cause muscle wasting . I will not put my cat on low protein diet , her rentals continue to be in normal range and her internal doc says she looks great

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We'll, then, all of my vets have been wrong all these years. Travesty.

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I started on 15mg mirtazapine 7 weeks ago and titrated up after 4 weeks to 30mg for 1 week; then back down to 15mg for t...

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