What is the importance of 3.75mg mirtazapine? (3 common benefits) 

In this blog post, we will answer the question, “What is the importance of 3.75mg mirtazapine?”. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant that is used to treat a number of mental health-related problems. 

This antidepressant is available in various strengths. This blog will cover the safety and efficacy of 3.75mg mirtazapine. 

What is the importance of 3.75mg mirtazapine?

3.75 mg mirtazapine is important for the following conditions:

• Insomnia 
• Lowest dose for safe mirtazapine withdrawal 
• The initial dose for new mirtazapine users

Insomnia

Mirtazapine, although it is an antidepressant, can be used for the treatment of insomnia. Experts suggest that the best way to treat insomnia by mirtazapine is to start the medication from the lowest effective dose. 

In usual practice, doctors start from 7.5 mg, but several case studies have shown that some people have benefited from 3.75 mg mirtazapine. They not only used it as an initial dose, but they continued with 3.75mg mirtazapine, which seemed to work for the best in such patients. 

Experts advise to take it at bedtime or an hour before you go to bed. This can help reduce your inability to sleep. Not just that, low-dose mirtazapine can significantly make your sleep quality better by reducing the frequency of your nighttime wakefulness. 

This results in a continuous and healthy sleep pattern and you wake up fresh the next day, free of irritability and anxiety. 

Another importance of low-dose mirtazapine for the treatment of insomnia is how the drug has no effects during the daytime, unlike some of the typical sleeping pills which affect your daytime activities by making you tired, drowsy, and dizzy during the day time. 

Lowest dose for safe mirtazapine withdrawal

Mirtazapine is also included in the list of drugs that can cause disturbing symptoms after abrupt withdrawal and should be tapered off properly. This is where 3.75mg mirtazapine comes into the picture. 

It is indeed a pretty low dose even for a taper schedule, but some people are extremely sensitive to medications and may not be able to tolerate mirtazapine withdrawal. 

This is why most doctors reduce the dose as much as they possibly can in order to protect such people from mirtazapine withdrawal symptoms. 

Abrupt withdrawal of mirtazapine leads to withdrawal or discontinuation syndrome. When you start taking antidepressant, it increases the amount of serotonin in your body. 

Over time, your body gets used to this increased amount of serotonin. When you suddenly stop using it, it creates an unannounced serotonin deficiency, to which your body reacts in a negative way. You may suffer from the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Nightmares
• Excessive dizziness
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Emotional stress
• Impaired motor coordination
• Intrusive thoughts

These symptoms may vary from person to person, depending on the dose. This is why it is recommended to never stop your mirtazapine abruptly because these withdrawal symptoms may become much worse than the side effects your antidepressant was giving you. 

The initial dose for new mirtazapine users

When your depression is diagnosed for the first time, your doctor recommends the lowest effective dose of antidepressants. This is because in depression, your body lacks serotonin. 

If you start directly from moderate to high doses, the levels of excitatory neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine go from low to pretty high, which can cause a sudden shift in mood, sleep pattern, and neuronal activity. 

It causes more harm than good as your brain fails to adapt to this sudden change and you end up experiencing side effects. In order to protect you from such a condition, it is preferred to start your antidepressant from the lowest effective dose. 

This is where 3.75mg mirtazapine comes into the picture. For some people, who are extremely sensitive to antidepressants, it is best to start from a 3.75mg dose and gradually increase up to the dose which suits you best. 

It is also a good initial dose for young mirtazapine users. Although this medication is not directed to be used in people under 18 years of age, it can still cause some side effects in young adults. Mirtazapine comes with a suicidal warning in users younger than 24 years of age.

This is why it is best to start mirtazapine from a dose as low as 3.75mg in order to avoid any possible side effect that may result in worsening of the condition.

What factors should be considered before determining the appropriate dose?

The process of setting the dose is not as simple as you think. A lot of factors are considered by your healthcare provider, before recommending you an appropriate dose. These include:

Setting up an appropriate dose is not as easy as it sounds. Your healthcare provider needs proper details to make sure you start from the safest dose. Following are the factors which should be considered before determining an appropriate dose:

Medication history

You must have noticed how you need to give your medical history whenever you visit your healthcare provider. This plays an important role in dose determination. 

If you have a chronic condition, like diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, asthma etc, for which you’re taking meds, it is crucial to check for any drug interaction, you might end up having, between your routine medicines and newly prescribed antidepressant.

Always inform your doctor about every single medication that you take in order to promote safe and effective treatment.

Paediatric population

It is crucial to determine appropriate dose for the paediatric population as there are various factors to consider in this situation, including the availability of liver enzymes, proper kidney function and immunity. 

Geriatric population

Elderly patients are more likely to have hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood), age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems. For them, dose adjustment is required.

Breastfeeding 

Several studies suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Severity of your condition

The severity of your symptoms sets your dose. If you’re highly depressed and you are taking 3.75 mg, it will not work, as it doesn’t suit your condition. The amount of mirtazapine in your body would be too low. 

Allergies 

Your allergies are considered when your doctor recommends you a medicine. Sometimes, people are allergic to the active ingredient present in the med or to any excipient. 

In case of an allergy, your body suddenly reacts to the med. You may experience rashes all over your skin, bruises, tightening of chest, breathing problems, wheezing, rapid heartbeat etc. 

Pre-existing health conditions

People tolerate medicines differently. For some people, it is easier to deal with mirtazapine induced side effects. Pre-existing medical conditions also play an important role in deciding your antidepressant. 

Some meds exacerbate symptoms of already existing diseases which creates complications. This is why your doctor carefully studies your medication history before prescribing any new medication. 

It is not recommended to prescribe mirtazapine to the following:

• People with bipolar disorder, as mirtazapine might trigger mania in such patients.
• People with seizures or convulsions
• People with compromised kidney functions
• People with compromised liver functions
• People with glaucoma 

What are the side effects associated with the use 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 

Mirtazapine is also associated with some serious side effects, which may include:

• Allergic reaction associated with symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc. 
• Convulsions 
• QT prolongation 
• Pain and tightness in chest
• Arrhythmia 
• Flu like symptoms 

These side effects can vary from person to person. People who are on higher doses are more susceptible to these side effects. Report any problems with bleeding or bruising to your doctor. 

If you see any unexplained blisters or rashes on your body, or experience any problems with urination, or if you feel changes in your vision, immediately report to your healthcare provider. 

Mirtazapine come with a suicidal warning in people younger than 24 years of age. If you have someone who shows suicidal behavior or you see hopelessness in them, make sure you keep an eye on them and get medical attention as soon as you can. 

Do not stop this med abruptly. If it’s time for you to stop mirtazapine, your doctor will simply make a taper schedule for you, which should be followed vigilantly if you wish to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. 

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed the importance of 3.75mg mirtazapine. We have learned that low dose mirtazapine can be used in the management of insomnia and while tapering off mirtazapine in order to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay.

We have also discussed that low dose mirtazapine is of quite importance when the treatment is started for a newly diagnosed depression. It is also a good initial dose for young mirtazapine users as the drug already comes with a suicidal waring in users younger than 24 years of age.

Make sure you use this medication or any other medication only when your doctor has advised it. Using medications which can affect your brain is not something ideal and should not be encouraged unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. 

FAQs: 3.75mg mirtazapine

Is 3.75 mg mirtazapine enough?

3.75mg mirtazapine is considered a low dose but it does hold some clinical significance. It can be used for insomnia. This can help reduce your inability to sleep. Not just that, low-dose mirtazapine can significantly make your sleep quality better by reducing the frequency of your nighttime wakefulness. This results in a continuous and healthy sleep pattern and you wake up fresh the next day. 

Does 3.75mg mirtazapine cause weight gain?

3.75 mg causes minimal side effects but it may cause weight gain in some individuals. However, not everyone gains weight on mirtazapine. Every human body is different. Just like every human being reacts differently to different situations, similarly every human body reacts differently when they are exposed to medications. 

If the medication increases your appetite and you eat more, you’ll gain weight. For some people it decreases their appetite and they lose. It’s not the medication itself, it’s how your body reacts to it. If you continue to eat as you were before taking the meds, your weight might not change at all. 

Is mirtazapine more effective at lower doses?

Mirtazapine is effective at lower doses only for the treatment of insomnia. However, the more complex mental health conditions require a proper dosage schedule in order to get better. 

How long does it take to feel normal after stopping mirtazapine?

The time taken by your body to completely adjust without mirtazapine depends on your physiology. There is no standard time duration for this and it hugely varies from person to person. Some people start to get better in just a few weeks, while others may take 6 to 7 months to feel completely normal again. 

How long does it take for mirtazapine to leave your system?

Mirtazapine is a long acting antidepressant with a half life of about 20-40 hours. It means that the concentration of the drug is reduced to half after this time period. The remaining amount is further reduced to half in the next  20-40 hours. This process keeps on ongoing until the drug is completely washed out from your body. 

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