mirtazapine, an antidepressant drug. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is used to treat depression, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder with either depression or agitation. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Factors that prohibit its use include known hypersensitivity to tricyclic antidepressants, convulsive disorders, and prostatic hypertrophy. Its use is also contraindicated in patients who are in the recovery phase of a myocardial infarction. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Life-threatening effects are agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, leukopenia, seizures, paralytic ileus, jaundice, hepatitis, acute renal failure, and hypertension. Other adverse effects include confusion, headache, anxiety, tremors, stimulation, nightmares, extrapyramidal symptoms (in the elderly), increased psychiatric symptoms, nausea, vomiting, cramps, epigastric distress, stomatitis, rash, photosensitivity, palpitations, tinnitus, and mydriasis. Common side effects are dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, dry mouth, urinary retention, orthostatic hypotension, electrocardiogram changes, tachycardia, and blurred vision.
