When you should not use this medicine

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to mirtazapine.

How to use and store this medicine

Tablets:

• Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take and how often.
• Your doctor may tell you to take the medicine at bedtime, because mirtazapine can make you sleepy.
• You may need to take this medicine for several weeks before you feel better. Keep taking the medicine as your doctor ordered.
• You may take the tablets with or without food.
• Store the tablets at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.

If you miss a dose:

• If you take one dose each day: take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless you don't remember until the next day.
• Skip the missed dose if you don't remember that you missed a dose until the next day. Go back to your regular schedule.
• You should not use two doses at the same time.

How to use this medicine

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Tell your doctor if you have taken a type of medicine called an MAO inhibitor (such as Eldepryl®, Nardil®, Marplan®, or Parnate®) in the past two weeks. Taking these two medicines together or within 14 days of each other may cause dangerous side effects.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking mirtazapine.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any other medicines that may make you sleepy or dizzy such as sleeping pills, some cold and hay fever medicines, tranquilizers, strong pain killers, or medicine to lower blood pressure.

Warnings

• Check with your doctor before taking this medicine if you have liver disease, kidney disease, high cholesterol, bipolar disorder (manic-depression), seizures, or a history of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
• This medicine can make you sleepy or dizzy. Avoid driving a car or using machinery until you know how the medicine will affect you.
• Dizziness may be worse if you get up too quickly from a sitting or lying position. Getting up slowly after you have been sitting or lying down may help decrease dizziness.
• Losing too much body water from vomiting or diarrhea can also increase dizziness. Tell your doctor if this medicine makes you dizzy or if you have severe vomiting or diarrhea.

Side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:

• Unexplained fever, chills, sore throat, or mouth sores
• Feeling like you have the flu
• Yellowing of skin or eyes
• Dark or amber-colored urine

If you have problems with these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor.

• Feeling sleepy, dizzy, or tired
• Increased appetite, weight gain
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Odd or unusual dreams