Is Remeron Addiction and Dependence Possible Even Though Prescribed?
A massive international study was done to assess the rates of dependence and addiction to prescribed antidepressant drugs. Clinical tests showed that about 20% of antidepressant users will experience withdrawal if they stop taking it after only one month of use.3 Long-term use is quite a bit more likely to cause a large percentage (61%) of users to form tolerance (lack of effect, needing a higher dose) and dependence, and will suffer withdrawals if the drug is stopped.16 According to the DSM, withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped are clinical signs of drug dependence.15
Adverse Interactions When Combining Remeron and Other Substances
Remeron is metabolized in the liver by CYP enzymes. CYP enzymes are majorly involved in the metabolism of drugs, and because many drugs can decrease or increase certain CYP activity, this is one major cause of adverse interactions between drugs. For example, when the first drug limits CYP metabolism of the second drug, the second can accumulate in the body to levels that are toxic, potentially causing an overdose. Many such interactions are possible, and like a roulette wheel, their outcomes are largely unpredictable.1,2,5
Drug interactions including additive effects can occur by combining Remeron with any additional serotonergic herbs, drugs or alcohol. This caution also to applies to drugs that enhance or inhibit drug metabolism. The drug label warns that drug-drug interactions are a largely untested area of pharmacology, so one needs to be alert to possible adverse reactions.1,2
Avoid these when taking Remeron:
- St Johns Wart
- Tryptophan
- Diazepam
- other antidepressants
- migraine medications
- anti-seizure medications
NOTE: Always consult with your prescriber to avoid drug-drug interactions.
Is Remeron an SSRI?
No. Remeron is classified as an “atypical tetracyclic”, although the effects are similar to SSRIs. Remeron is sometimes referred to as a NASSA drug, an impressive acronym that stands for Noradrenaline And “Specific” Serotonin receptor Antidepressant.
Tetracyclic antidepressants are named after their structure of 4 molecular rings. Like SSRIs, tetracyclics are psychoactive drugs but are thought to manipulate multiple hormones — not only serotonin, but also norepinephrine, and others. Mirtazapine is a relatively newer tetracyclic, marketed since the late 1980s.
In addition to the SSRIs, SNRIs, and “classic” TCAs and MAOs, there are now NASSAs, SARIs, NeRIs, MASSAs, NRIs, NDRIs, SNDRIs, SMIs, SMSs, and many additional types of new generation antidepressant drugs (NGAs). This ever-expanding arsenal of antidepressant drugs is thought to manipulate various combinations and functions of a range of our natural neurochemicals — though there is a concerning lack of understanding that predicts how they do this.4,5,13,16
What is Remeron Prescribed for?
Remeron is FDA-approved to treat MDD (major depressive disorder). Remeron’s sedative effects have led to the common practice of “off-label” prescribing for conditions including insomnia, panic disorder, PTSD, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), SAD (social anxiety disorder), tension headaches, and fibromyalgia.2,6
Remeron is an appetite stimulant for a large percentage of people who take it. It is associated with significant weight gain over a surprisingly short time span. It is sometimes prescribed for that very reason, off-label to encourage consuming food in cases of malnutrition.18
Why is Remeron Addiction So Hard to Deal With On Your Own?
Though a person may want to stop using this drug, they are often unable to do so easily because after Remeron addiction or dependence has developed, withdrawals can be extremely harsh, especially after suddenly stopping the drug.
In addition, the psychiatric symptoms brought on by toxic exposures are virtually ignored in the process of assessing a person’s mental health. If depression, anxiety, insomnia, or other symptoms arose after toxic exposures, drugging the patient will not address the real problem.8
There are multiple reasons for unwanted symptoms to emerge, and numbing these with drugs can only provide temporary relief at best. Original symptoms are likely to return and often with a vengeance, which will magnify the difficulties.1-3,7
After Remeron addiction or tolerance has developed, withdrawals can include:
- Mania
- Seizures
- Low-sodium plasma level
- Physical discomforts — electric shock-like sensations, tingling, shaking, sweating
- Nausea, vomiting
- Insomnia, disturbed sleep, unusual dreams, vivid nightmares
- Headache
- Achiness
- Fatigue
- Vertigo, dizziness, lightheadedness
- Irritability, anxiety, agitation, hyperarousal
- Mental confusion
However, withdrawing from this medication can be done safely, simply, and made more tolerable by accessing proper Remeron addiction help. Remeron withdrawal may be a very difficult monster to manage on your own without medical and clinical guidance and support. The safest way to withdraw from this addiction is in an inpatient center that can provide quality help and guidance. Out-patient treatment may be appropriate for some, and can be found through ACAM.org which is a directory for quality holistic-minded medical professionals and other resources by location across the US. We recommend looking for treatment that includes a protocol of safe tapering, focus on nutrition and hydration, CBT, neurotoxin removal, diet correction and nutritional supplementation, and other clinical and personal support in place.1
Many, many side effects of mirtazapine have shown up in medical research such as the ones below.1,20,21
Side effects of Remeron can include:
- Acute psychosis
- Suicidal thoughts or actions (see black box warning on package material)
- Changes in white blood cell count
- Increased cholesterol
- Serotonin syndrome
- Worsened anxiety
- Worsened depression
- Panic attacks
- Violent or aggressive behavior
- Compulsive behavior, dangerous impulsive actions
- Heavy sedation, impaired ability to drive or operate heavy machinery
- Sleep disturbances, sleep walking, vivid dreams, realistic nightmares
- Significant weight gain, increased appetite
Can Depression Be Treated Without Addictive Drugs like Remeron?
Persons are usually put on antidepressant drugs before there have been any significant efforts to investigate why they may be depressed, experiencing migraines, PTSD, or suffering from lack of sleep. For many persons, it may be after or during an event that is emotionally traumatic that they start using these medications. But years later they are likely still on the drug, whose masking effects have waned, and are still suffering the same symptoms as before. But now they could also be suffering from antidepressant addiction and withdrawal symptoms. This can be extremely debilitating, leaving a person feeling hopeless in their continued suffering.2
Like fast food, drug therapy is meant to be quick and easy — but does nothing to improve health. And incidentally, with mirtazapine, it might even have a similar negative effect on your waistline.14
Antidepressants are not a cure. Drugs can only mask symptoms, which is a non-sustainable treatment for many persons. Drug therapy without a thorough investigation of root causes is akin to bailing out a sinking ship. That might get you to shore, but you will need to find out where the leaks are and actually repair them before that boat is seaworthy. It takes time to properly treat symptoms because it takes time to discover their root causes and then to plan and initiate the needed corrections.
Alternative to Meds Center uses a combination of orthomolecular principles, lab testing, neurotoxin removal, neurotransmitter rehabilitation, and other holistic detox methods to regain natural mental health without drugs. Tapering is slow and safe and monitored carefully while a client progresses through their inpatient program at the center. Depression and other unwanted symptoms in life can be investigated for prior causes and those are what need to be addressed, whether nutritional, lifestyle in origin, trauma-based, neurotoxin exposure related, or whatever is traced back to its causal factors. If these are addressed and resolved, the symptoms are authentically resolved. We have had tremendous success in using this holistic approach to recovery of natural mental health for our clients. The results are long-term, safe, and drug-free. 8-12
Where to Find the Best Treatment for Remeron Addiction?
Alternative to Meds Center is a drug treatment facility that is dedicated to discovering the medical reasons why an individual could be depressed, feeling anxious, or having trouble sleeping. Our Remeron alternative rehab protocol includes lab testing, natural substances for stabilization of the neurochemistry, body cleansing to remove accumulated environmental toxins, medication withdrawal techniques, targeted nutrition therapy, nebulized glutathione treatments, peer support, personal exercise training, yoga, massage, and spa services, and many other natural therapies that can address and relieve troublesome symptoms, that drug therapy didn’t prove to be the answer for. Please call us for more details on the unique Remeron addiction and dependence help that we offer.
This class of drugs is not well understood, even though they have been marketed since the 1950s.1
