Does mirtazapine sedation wear off?

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Does mirtazapine sedation wear off?”. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant which belongs to the class of tetracyclic antidepressants. This medication is used for a number of mental health related problems. 

However, it is also associated with some side effects including sleepiness. This blog will cover some ways that can help you increase your alertness during the day time. 

Does mirtazapine sedation wear off?

Yes, mirtazapine induced sedation starts to wear off within a few weeks of your treatment. This time period can vary from person to person as it totally depends on the time taken by your body to adjust to the medication. 

Mirtazapine is sometimes intended to be used for insomnia and sleep disturbances. However, this will only help you sleep better and not affect your daytime alertness. 

If your daytime alertness is compromised or you continue to feel drowsy even after you have woken up after a full night’s sleep, this indicates that mirtazapine is causing sedation as a side effect. Make sure you inform your healthcare provider. 

In some cases, the starting dose is too high which may lead to even more pronounced and long lasting sedation. This is because mirtazapine is generally used at a low dose for the management of insomnia. Higher doses can lead to unwanted side effects. 

Make sure you avoid certain activities when the use of mirtazapine makes you feel sleepy or tired during the day time. Do not drive if you’re feeling sedated. 

Driving requires your full physical and mental alertness and it’s in your best interest to avoid it when you’re tired and have low energy levels. If there’s somewhere you need to be, just ask a friend to drop you or book a ride. 

Driving without full mental alertness can cause accidents. It not only puts you in danger, but others around you as well. Make sure you stay out of trouble. 

If you’re an employee in some factory where you are supposed to operate heavy machinery, don’t! Your drowsiness might cause an accident and can make you or others around you severely injured. 

Make sure you’re not taking any other medication that might be contributing to your drowsiness. Do not drink alcohol, or you’ll end up dulling your senses even more. 

Alcohol itself is responsible for causing fatigue and drowsiness. It clouds your mind and messes up with your mental alertness and it would make a life threatening combination with mirtazapine.

How to get rid of mirtazapine induced sedation? 

There are few tips that can help you get rid of mirtazapine induced sedation and boost your energy levels during the day time. These include:

Stay active

Staying active is the best way to fight against tiredness. Make sure you workout at least 3 to 4 times a week. Exercise releases happy chemicals in your brain. It not only makes you feel good, but also spikes your energy levels. 

Morning workout is considered most efficient in increasing your energy levels. Go for a walk or do 10 minutes of high intensity interval training (HITT). It not only helps you to overcome sleepiness caused by mirtazapine, but it also makes your body healthy, like actually healthy. 

Some of the best exercises to increase energy levels include:

• Yoga
• Pilates
• Tai Chi
• Resistance strength training

Add more protein to your diet

Proteins are the building blocks of your body. It’s necessary to incorporate them in your diet. You can make scrambled eggs (maybe add a little cheese, because why not?), for breakfast. Other sources of protein include:

• Lentils
• Quinoa 
• Nut
• Fish
• Chickpeas 
• Green peas
• Cottage cheese 
• Tofu
• Almond
• Poultry
• Beef
• Soy protein 
• Chia seeds
• Milk 
• Legumes 
• Beans
• Peanuts

Maintain a good sleep hygiene 

When you start taking your med at night/bedtime, make sure that it’s the last thing you do. Do not engage in any other activity after that. Just lie down and drift off to sleep. 

Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suggests following tips to make your sleep quality better than it is now. These include:

• Try to go to bed at the same time every day, working days as well as weekends. 
• Make sure your bedroom is always quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature to help you relax and make your sleep quality better.
• Do not use electronic devices or gadgets before going to bed. They reduce your sleep quality. Make sure you remove such devices from your room or switch them off.
• Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. They will only ruin your sleep quality.
• Stay active. Exercise can help relax your muscles and make your sleep quality better.

Limit alcohol and caffeine 

Caffeine can affect your sleep by keeping you awake for a longer period of time and can compromise your alertness the next day. The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) recommends no more than 400 milligrams (about four or five cups of coffee) per day. 

In addition, caffeine’s half-life can range from 2-12 hours, so try to avoid drinking coffee or any other caffeinated beverage within six hours of bedtime. 

Stay hydrated 

Drink plenty of water. Water clears out toxins from your body. Try making a detox water by adding your favourite fruits in it. You can add lemon, cucumber, kiwi, oranges, berries, ginger etc, to make drinking water less boring. 

This will not only add taste, but also makes your water nutritious and full of antioxidants. 

Give your body time to adapt

It is impossible to predict how your body will react once it is exposed to mirtazapine. Your body may take some time to adjust to the antidepressant, after which these side effects will begin to subside. If something really disturbs you, seek medical help. Do not wait for it to go away on its own. 

Absorb and radiate positive energy 

Try to keep your mind on the positive side. Studies suggest happiness and positivity increase energy levels naturally. When your brain absorbs positivity, it releases energy. 

So, always surround yourself with people who deal with you positively, people who are supportive and fill you up with optimism and people who make you look at the brighter side. 

Always have time for some fun activities 

Always have time for fun activities. Engage in activities which make you feel alive. For some people, it’s simply spending quality time with their friends and family. 

You can watch a funny movie, change your hairstyle, change your routine, have a weekend away, go hiking, etc. Do not pack yourself up with work and daily life activities. Always have some time to take everything off of your shoulders. Trust me, it’s worth it! 

Make sure you are not using any other medication that might interact negatively with mirtazapine or enhance its side effects. Drug interactions should be an important consideration before taking two or more medicines together. 

Yes, drugs in combination are often used to achieve better therapeutic response but this is not the case with every interaction. Some drugs are highly incompatible with one another. 

They often cancel out each other’s effects or antagonise them. Some drugs are so incompatible that they end up changing the entire chemical composition of one another. 

Some interfere with metabolism or bioavailability (the rate and extent at which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood). This can lead to drug accumulation in different parts of the body. 

It is always advised to inform your healthcare provider of any medicine you take before getting a new prescription. Your doctor will make sure not to prescribe any such drug which might interfere with those you are already taking. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed mirtazapine induced sedation. It usually starts to wear off within a few weeks of your treatment. This time period can vary from person to person as it totally depends on the time taken by your body to adjust to the medication. 

Mirtazapine is sometimes intended to be used for insomnia and sleep disturbances. However, this will only help you sleep better and not affect your daytime alertness. 

Make sure you inform your healthcare provider. In some cases, the starting dose is too high which may lead to even more pronounced and long lasting sedation. We also discussed some tips that can help you increase your alertness and energy levels during the day time. 

FAQs: mirtazapine sedation wear off

How long does mirtazapine sedation last?

Mirtazapine induced sedation starts to wear off within a few weeks of your treatment. This time period can vary from person to person as it totally depends on the time taken by your body to adjust to the medication.

Does the drowsiness from mirtazapine go away?

Yes, the drowsiness from mirtazapine goes away when your body is completely adjusted to the medication. Mirtazapine is sometimes intended to be used for insomnia and sleep disturbances. 

However, this will only help you sleep better and not affect your daytime alertness. If your daytime alertness is compromised or you continue to feel drowsy even after you have woken up after a full night’s sleep, this indicates that mirtazapine is causing sedation as a side effect.

Does mirtazapine make you groggy the next day?

Mirtazapine may make you feel groggy during the day time. This side effect is much more pronounced when you’re on the higher doses. Low doses of mirtazapine are actually used to treat insomnia. 

How long does it take for side effects of mirtazapine to wear off?

Mirtazapine induced side effects usually take a few weeks to fade away. They remain in your body as long as your body struggles with the presence of this antidepressant. When your body is completely adjusted, these side effects slowly begin to subside. 

What drugs are contraindicated with mirtazapine? 

• Monoaminoxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The combination use can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. 
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). The combination use can increase the risk of bleeding. 
• Pimozide. The concomitant use can increase the plasma concentration(availability of a drug in the blood) of pimozide to much higher levels. It can result in life-threatening arrhythmia.
• Controlled substances, including all narcotic analgesics. The concomitant use can cause severe psychological side effects. 
• Mood stabilisers 
• Alcohol 

What are the most common side effects of mirtazapine? 

The common side effects of mirtazapine include:

• Sleepiness or drowsiness 
• Excessive tiredness or fatigue 
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Xerostomia or dry mouth 
• Anxiety 
• Agitation 
• Confusion 
• Gain of appetite
• Weight gain 
• Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea/Constipation 

References 

• Katherine F Croom et al. CNS Drugs. (2009) – Mirtazapine: a review of its use in major depression and other psychiatric disorders https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19453203/
• S A Anttila et al. CNS Drug Rev. Fall (2001) – A review of the pharmacological and clinical profile of mirtazapine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11607047/
• Mirtazapine Tablet – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-13706-4047/mirtazapine-oral/mirtazapine-oral/details#:~:text=Mirtazapine%20is%20used%20to%20treat,(neurotransmitters)%20in%20the%20brain.
• National Library of Medicine – Mirtazapine https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697009.html