Depression
Medications
Related eMedTV
Health Channels

Remeron

Remeron is a prescription drug often used in the treatment of depression. Although it is not exactly clear how the drug works, it is believed to cause more serotonin and norepinephrine to be released. Possible side effects with Remeron include dizziness, drowsiness, and weight gain. The medication comes as a tablet and as an orally disintegrating tablet, and is taken once a day.

 

What Is Remeron?

Remeron® (mirtazapine) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression).
 
(Click Remeron Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses for the drug.)
 

Who Makes Remeron?

Remeron is manufactured by Organon USA. Generic versions of Remeron are made by several manufacturers.
 

How Does Remeron Work?

It is not entirely clear how Remeron works, since no other medications work exactly like it. Remeron blocks several different kinds of receptors, including serotonin, norepinephrine, histamine, alpha, and muscarinic receptors.
 
It is thought that the antidepressant effects of Remeron are due to its actions on serotonin and norepinephrine. These are chemicals used to send messages in between nerves. However, if serotonin or norepinephrine levels become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of conditions, including depression. It is thought that Remeron's actions on other types of receptors cause some of the side effects of Remeron, such as drowsiness or low blood pressure.
 
Certain receptors decrease the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine released by the nerves. Remeron blocks these inhibitory serotonin and norepinephrine receptors, causing more of these chemicals to be released. This may help to relieve the symptoms of depression.
 
(Remeron Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;