The fungus Cunninghamella elegans was used as a microbial model of mammalian metabolism to biotransform the tetracyclic antidepressant drug mirtazapine, which is manufactured as a racemic mixture of R(-)- and S(+)-enantiomers. In 168 h, C. elegans transformed 91% of the drug into the following seven metabolites: 8-hydroxymirtazapine, N-desmethyl-8-hydroxymirtazapine, N-desmethylmirtazapine, 13-...

Loss of MeCP2 (Methyl CpG binding protein 2) in Rett syndrome (RTT) causes brain weight decrease, shrinkage of the cortex with reduced dendritic arborization, behavioral abnormalities, seizures and cardio-respiratory complications. The observed monoamine neurotransmitters reduction in RTT suggested antidepressants as a possible therapy. We treated MeCP2-null mice from postnatal-day 28 for two w...

BACKGROUND Several clinical reports have postulated a beneficial effect of the addition of a low dose of risperidone to the ongoing treatment with antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression. METHODS The present study aimed to examine the effect of treatment with fluoxetine or mirtazapine, given separately or jointly with risperidone, on active behavior and plasma corticosterone level i...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the tetracyclic antidepressant mirtazapine has a pain-suppressing effect in healthy animals. METHODS In the first step, Swiss albino female mice weighing 25-35 g were used. Eight groups each containing 8 mice were established as follows:- Control (saline), mirtazapine 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg, mirtazapine 10mg/kg and its combinations L-Nitro-L-Arginine ...

Recent studies indicate a role of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the pathophysiology of depression, as well as in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs (ADs). It has been shown that serum BDNF levels are decreased in depressed patients. Moreover, antidepressant treatment increases serum BDNF levels and it is positively correlated with medication response. In addition,...

BACKGROUND The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline is the only drug with prophylactic efficacy for chronic tension-type headache. However, amitriptyline is only moderately effective, with headache reduction of approximately 30%, and treatment is often hampered by side effects. Mirtazapine is a relatively new so-called noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, which is more spec...

OBJECTIVE To describe the effectiveness and tolerability of mirtazapine, a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, in the open-label treatment of patients with depression who were resistant to other antidepressant agents. METHODS The charts of 24 patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, (DSM-IV) criteria for major depressive d...

BACKGROUND Depression is a common and costly comorbidity in dementia. There are very few data on the cost-effectiveness of antidepressants for depression in dementia and their effects on carer outcomes. AIMS To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sertraline and mirtazapine compared with placebo for depression in dementia. METHOD A pragmatic, multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial w...

Fourteen patients with social anxiety disorder (generalized type), according to DSM-IV criteria, were treated with mirtazapine 30 mg for 12 weeks. Twelve patients completed the study. Two patients (14.3%) dropped out due to side-effects. Generally, mirtazapine was well tolerated. Five out of 12 patients (41.7%) were classified as responders, based on a Clinical Global Improvement score of 1 or ...

BACKGROUND Mirtazapine is a commonly used antidepressant with a well-known ability to produce sedation. At the same time, its sleep-promoting effects in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are relatively unclear. The purpose of this article is to provide clinicians with a detailed review of mirtazapine's sleep effects in patients with MDD. METHODS A literature search was conducted f...