Always take mirtazapine exactly as your GP or pharmacist has told you. Check with your GP or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Mirtazapine comes as tablets that you swallow with a drink. But it also comes as tablets that melt in your mouth (orodispersible tablets). Put the tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve. You can then swallow it without a drink.
You can take mirtazapine with or without food.
When to take mirtazapine
You’ll usually take mirtazapine once a day. Take it before you go to bed as it can make you sleepy.
Your GP may recommend dividing your daily dose into 2 doses of different sizes. In this case take the smaller dose in the morning and the higher dose before you go to bed.
It's best not to drink any alcohol while taking mirtazapine. It may make you feel sleepy and unsteady on your feet.
Too much alcohol can also make your symptoms worse. It makes it harder for mirtazapine to work properly.
If you forget to take mirtazapine
If you take mirtazapine once a day and miss a dose, skip it and take the next dose at the normal time.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you take mirtazapine twice a day and forget:
- your morning dose - take it together with your evening dose
- your evening dose - skip the missed dose, and then continue the next day with your normal morning and evening doses
- both doses - do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose. Continue the next day as normal with your morning and evening doses
If you take too much
Urgent advice: Call your GP straight away if:
- you’ve taken too much mirtazapine
Do this even if you feel well.
If you need to go to an emergency department (ED), do not drive yourself - get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the mirtazapine packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.
Symptoms of taking too much include:
- feeling sleepy
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- feeling confused or faint
Stopping mirtazapine
If you've been feeling better for 6 months or more, your GP may suggest coming off mirtazapine.
They may recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you've been taking mirtazapine for a long time.
This is to help prevent you getting any extra side effects as you come off the medicine.
Important
Do not stop taking mirtazapine suddenly, or without talking to your doctor first.