Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), 21 million Americans struggled with a major depressive episode in 2021.[1]
More often than not, severe cases of depression are treated with prescription medications. One of the common medications used to manage depression is called Remeron. It is also known as mirtazapine and is considered a tetracyclic antidepressant.
While Remeron is generally considered safe to take regularly, it can lead to physical dependence. Even though addiction is rare, you can become addicted to Remeron if you begin abusing it to experience a high.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is Remeron?
- Who abuses Remeron?
- Is Remeron addictive?
- What are the signs of a Remeron overdose?
What is Remeron (Mirtazapine)?
Remeron is the brand name for a prescription medication known as mirtazapine. It is an antidepressant medication that works by boosting neurotransmitters in the brain like serotonin and norepinephrine. Occasionally, it is prescribed off-label to treat anxiety, panic attacks, or insomnia.
Like any medication, Remeron can cause side effects, including:[2]
- Dizziness and drowsiness
- Anxiousness
- Mental confusion
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
If you are prescribed Remeron to treat depression, you are meant to take the medication long-term. You might not notice improvements in symptoms until you have been on mirtazapine for a couple of weeks. You should never take your Remeron in higher doses than prescribed.
Who Abuses Remeron?
Some people notice symptoms like increased energy, heightened focus, and sleeplessness when they take Remeron. In other words, the medication has some psychostimulant properties. Because of this, you might be tempted to abuse Remeron.
Remeron abuse is not common, however, if you have a history of substance abuse, you are more likely to engage in the behavior. Because it can act as a central nervous system stimulant in high doses, you should avoid taking more than you are prescribed.
The side effects of Remeron abuse might include:
- Feelings of euphoria and excitement
- Increased energy and heightened focus
- Sleeplessness
- Severe confusion and sedation
While Remeron is not known as an addictive drug, you can develop a dependency after abusing it regularly. Because of this, you should always seek help from an addiction treatment center when you are engaging in mirtazapine abuse.
Can You Get Addicted to Remeron?
While uncommon, it is possible to develop a mirtazapine addiction. If you regularly abuse Remeron, you might be wondering how to tell if you are struggling with a substance use disorder.
The main signs of Remeron addiction include:
- Taking Remeron in higher doses than you are prescribed
- Using Remeron to experience mind-altering effects
- Wanting to quit Remeron use but being unsuccessful
- Craving Remeron and wanting to use higher doses of it
- Spending a lot of time thinking about, obtaining, and using Remeron
- Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, or work because of Remeron’s use
- Needing to increase your dose of Remeron to experience the desired effect
- Dealing with withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Remeron
If you stop using Remeron and experience symptoms like tremors and shaking, suicidal thoughts, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, sensory disturbances, and more, you are dealing with withdrawal. This is a clear sign that you are struggling with Remeron addiction and require assistance from a medical detox center.
Signs of Remeron Overdose
If you frequently abuse mirtazapine, you are at an increased risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose. Overdoses occur when you take too much of a drug. Remeron abuse requires you to take large doses to experience a high, exposing you to a risk of overdosing.
The symptoms of a Remeron overdose include:[3]
- Severe dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat and chest pain
- High or low blood pressure
- Slowed breathing
- Mental confusion and sedation
- Hallucinations
- Vomiting
- Slurred speech and unresponsiveness
If someone you love is experiencing the symptoms of a mirtazapine overdose, contact 911 immediately. Remeron overdoses require emergency medical services to prevent fatal symptoms from occurring. Once you are stabilized in the hospital, you will be given the option to transfer into a drug abuse treatment program that can help you achieve long-term sobriety from Remeron abuse.
Get Connected to a Remeron Abuse Rehab Program
If you or a loved one suffers from Remeron abuse, it’s time to seek professional help. Misusing Remeron at high doses can lead to long-term issues like addiction and life-threatening overdoses. Attending a drug rehab center will help you gain the tools and support you need to achieve long-term recovery.
At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer a compassionate and evidence-based approach to addiction treatment. We also use individualized treatment planning, which ensures you get services relevant to your needs and goals for recovery.
Why Choose The Mandala Healing Center? Clients are taken on a journey of healing through complete immersion into evidence-based clinical modalities, multifaceted alternative therapies, and expert medical management, allowing them to fully detox and recover from drug and alcohol addictions. Through a program of care designed to encourage change, a foundation is created that allows clients to find their higher purpose and reclaim their lives.
Contact us today for more information on our Remeron addiction treatment program.
References:
- The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Major Depression
- Medline: Mirtazapine
- Science Direct: Outcomes after Isolated Mirtazapine (Remeron™) Supratherapeutic Ingestions