Remeron 30 mg film-coated tablets (mirtazapine) – antidepressant for depression

Remeron is an antidepressant containing the active substance mirtazapine. It is used to treat depression in adults.

Each film-coated tablet contains 30 mg mirtazapine. The medicine usually starts to work after 1 to 2 weeks, and improvement can be expected after 2 to 4 weeks of regular use.

What is Remeron used for and how should it be taken correctly?

Basic information about the medicine

What is Remeron used for?

According to the patient leaflet and the summary of product characteristics, Remeron is used:

• to treat depression (major depressive episodes) in adult patients.

If you do not feel better or feel worse after 2 to 4 weeks, talk to your doctor.

How is Remeron used and dosed?

Take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. According to the leaflet:

• Starting dose: 15 or 30 mg daily; after a few days your doctor may increase the dose to the one that suits you best – between 15 and 45 mg daily.
• When to take it: at the same time every day, preferably as a single dose before going to bed; your doctor may advise splitting it into a morning and an evening dose (the larger dose in the evening).
• How: swallow the tablet without chewing, with a glass of water or juice; it can be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
• Duration: talk to your doctor about the effect 2 to 4 weeks after starting; the medicine is usually continued for 4 to 6 months after symptoms have resolved.
• The tablet has a score line and can be divided into equal doses if prescribed.

Special patient groups

• Children and adolescents under 18: the medicine is usually not used because efficacy has not been shown; there is a higher risk of suicidal behaviour, hostility and significant weight gain.
• Older patients: may be more susceptible to side effects; careful monitoring is needed when the dose is increased.
• Kidney or liver impairment: your doctor may adjust the dose.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

• allergy to mirtazapine or any other ingredient of the medicine;
• concomitant use, or use within the last 2 weeks, of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors – e.g. moclobemide, tranylcypromine, selegiline).

Precautions and warnings

• suicidal thoughts and worsening of depression – especially at the start of treatment and in adults under 25;
• epilepsy (stop the medicine if seizures occur or become more frequent), liver disease including jaundice, kidney disease;
• heart disease, low blood pressure, conditions or medicines that may change heart rhythm, recent heart attack;
• schizophrenia, manic depression (stop the medicine if you feel elated or overexcited);
• diabetes – the dose of insulin or other medicines may need adjusting;
• glaucoma (raised eye pressure), difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate;
• signs of infection (high temperature, sore throat, mouth ulcers) – possible blood cell production disorder, usually 4–6 weeks after starting treatment;
• severe skin reactions (SJS, TEN, DRESS) – if you have ever had them, treatment must not be restarted;
• the medicine contains lactose.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking:

• do not take together: MAO inhibitors (and for two weeks before and after Remeron);
• risk of serotonin syndrome: SSRI antidepressants, venlafaxine, L-tryptophan, triptans, tramadol, linezolid, lithium, methylene blue and St John's wort preparations (Hypericum perforatum);
• increased drowsiness: benzodiazepines, olanzapine, cetirizine, morphine;
• may increase the amount of the medicine in the blood: nefazodone, erythromycin, ketoconazole, HIV protease inhibitors, cimetidine;
• may decrease the amount of the medicine in the blood: carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin;
• warfarin – Remeron may increase its effect; medicines that affect heart rhythm;
• alcohol – do not drink it during treatment (increased drowsiness).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• Pregnancy: limited experience does not indicate an increased risk, but caution is needed; if you took the medicine until delivery, the baby should be monitored. Similar medicines (SSRIs) in pregnancy may increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
• Breastfeeding: mirtazapine passes into breast milk in very small amounts – decide about breastfeeding together with your doctor.

Driving and using machines

• Remeron can affect concentration and alertness. Make sure your abilities are not impaired before driving or operating machinery.

Possible side effects

• Stop the medicine and contact your doctor immediately: mania (uncommon); jaundice (rare); signs of infection – sudden fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers (agranulocytosis); convulsions; symptoms of serotonin syndrome; thoughts of self-harm; severe skin reactions (red patches with blisters, peeling skin, mouth sores; generalised rash with fever and enlarged lymph nodes).
• Very common: increased appetite and weight gain, drowsiness, headache, dry mouth.
• Common: lethargy, dizziness, tremor, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, rash, joint, muscle or back pain, dizziness on standing up quickly, swelling (usually of the feet and ankles), tiredness, vivid dreams, confusion, feeling of unease, sleep and memory problems.
• Uncommon: abnormal skin sensations, restless legs, fainting, numbness in the mouth, low blood pressure, nightmares, agitation, hallucinations, urge to move.
• Rare: muscle twitching (myoclonus), aggression, inflammation of the pancreas.
• Frequency not known: swelling of the mouth and body, hyponatraemia, sleepwalking, speech disorder, urinary retention, rhabdomyolysis, raised prolactin, prolonged painful erection and others.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: contact a doctor immediately; the most common signs are drowsiness, disorientation and fast heartbeat, and heart rhythm changes and fainting are possible.
• Missed dose (once daily): do not take a double dose; take the next dose at the usual time.
• Missed dose (twice daily): take a forgotten morning dose with the evening dose; skip a forgotten evening dose; if you forgot both, continue normally the next day.
• Stopping treatment: stop the medicine only in agreement with your doctor and gradually – stopping suddenly can cause nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness and headache.

Related information

For questions about side effects or combining it with other products, ask your doctor or pharmacist. A link to a commercial category for the nervous system and stress is intentionally not given, because that category may contain herbal products (e.g. St John's wort) that interact with mirtazapine.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• active substance: mirtazapine – 30 mg per film-coated tablet;
• excipients – core: maize starch; hydroxypropylcellulose; magnesium stearate; colloidal anhydrous silica; lactose monohydrate; coating: hypromellose; macrogol 8000; titanium dioxide (E171); yellow and red iron oxide (E172);
• oval, biconvex, red-brown film-coated tablets with a score line and the markings "MSD" and TZ/5;
• pack: 3 PVC/Al blisters of 10 film-coated tablets (30 tablets);
• marketing authorisation holder: Organon d.o.o., Milutina Milankovića 1i, Belgrade – Novi Beograd; manufacturers: N.V. Organon, Oss, Netherlands; Organon Heist B.V., Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium.

Storage

• store below 30 °C, in the original package to protect from light and moisture;
• shelf life: 3 years;
• keep out of the sight and reach of children; return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for Remeron to work?

The effect usually begins after 1 to 2 weeks, and improvement can be expected after 2 to 4 weeks. If there is no improvement after that period, talk to your doctor.

Why is Remeron taken in the evening?

According to the leaflet, it is best taken as a single dose before going to bed. If the dose is split, the larger part is taken in the evening.

Does Remeron affect appetite and body weight?

Yes. Increased appetite and weight gain are among the very common side effects. If this worries you, talk to your doctor.

Can I stop taking Remeron myself once I feel better?

No. The medicine is usually continued for 4 to 6 months after symptoms have resolved and is stopped gradually, as agreed with your doctor. Stopping suddenly can cause nausea, dizziness, agitation and headache.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient information leaflet Remeron (PIL)
• ALIMS – Summary of product characteristics Remeron (SmPC)

Sources checked on: 25 October 2026.