Is remeron a narcotic

Is Remeron a Narcotic? How Mirtazapine Helps Depression Symptoms

Remeron is a brand name prescription drug. The generic name is mirtazapine, and it’s classified as an atypical antidepressant. Along with being prescribed for the treatment of depression, Remeron is also prescribed for anxiety, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Is Remeron a narcotic? This is a question people frequently have, especially as narcotics are in the national spotlight so much because of their addictive and often dangerous nature.

Remeron is classified specifically as a tetracyclic antidepressant. It’s prescribed to treat symptoms of depression which can include changes in mood, loss of appetite, loss of interest, and sleep issues. It’s believed people who struggle with depression have an imbalance of certain brain chemicals. Taking an antidepressant like Remeron is supposed to help normalize and rebalance those brain chemicals. Remeron may stimulate the brain to make serotonin and norepinephrine specifically, which are integral to mood regulation.

There are possible side effects with Remeron, and they’re pretty common with most other antidepressants. For example, typical side effects include weight gain, increased appetite, dry mouth, constipation, and dizziness. Serious but rare side effects are possible including manic episodes, abnormalities in heartbeat, and seizures. Remeron may have sedative effects as well, meaning it can cause drowsiness. Due to the potential for sedation, patients are warned not to combine Remeron with certain other types of drugs. For example, if a person combines Remeron with benzodiazepines, which include diazepam and alprazolam, it may cause excessive sedation. The same is true of narcotic pain medications, and other types of antidepressants.

Patients are instructed to follow their dosage instructions from their doctor carefully when taking Remeron. Often a physician will start a patient on a very low dose and then gradually raise it over a period of a few weeks. The maximum daily dose for most patients is 45 mg. Many people don’t feel the effects of Remeron for several weeks after they start taking it. This is normal with the majority of antidepressants.

Narcotics are a certain drug class also called opioids. While the term narcotic is commonly associated with illegal drugs, it is more specific than that. Narcotics are prescription pain medications and heroin. These drugs are grouped together because they affect the central nervous system similarly. Narcotics relieve pain and also causing respiratory depression which can be fatal. Narcotics bind to receptors in the brain to increase the user’s pain threshold and tolerance, but they’re highly addictive. Narcotic abuse is currently a tremendous issue in the U.S.

It’s not uncommon for someone to become addicted to narcotics after taking them only a few times. The body and brain can quickly develop a tolerance for narcotics, as well as physical dependence. Patients are advised to exercise extreme caution when prescribed narcotics. They’re not only habit-forming, but they also have severe side effects. Respiratory depression is only one of these. Other side effects include loss of consciousness, coma or death.

With the severe side effects of narcotics, it’s not unusual for patients to ensure that’s not what they’re being prescribed. Remeron is not a narcotic. Remeron doesn’t bind to opioid receptors, and it doesn’t affect the brain or body in the same ways as a narcotic. When taken as prescribed, it shouldn’t create psychoactive effects or a sense of euphoria. Remeron does affect the brain by altering levels of certain chemicals, but differently than narcotics. Narcotics often change the mood and feelings of the person taking it very quickly and provides a temporary feeling of being high. Remeron takes time to affect mood, and it’s slow and gradual.

While Remeron isn’t a narcotic, it is possible for people to experience certain symptoms if they stop taking it after a long period. For example, withdrawal is possible with not just Remeron but most other antidepressants. For people who have been taking them for six weeks or more and then stop, they may experience physical symptoms or more severe symptoms of what the drug was initially intended to treat. However, these symptoms aren’t the same as a psychological addiction. A psychological addiction means that people experience cravings, compulsive drug-seeking behaviors, and sometimes cycles of relapse. These aren’t symptoms likely to occur when someone attempts to stop using an antidepressant like Remeron.

The likelihood of withdrawal is why doctors will often recommend patients follow a schedule of tapering down their dosage of the drug before stopping. In doing so, users can avoid withdrawal symptoms and it tends to be a better way to discontinue the use of antidepressants than going cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms are also less likely with longer-acting antidepressants like Remeron. Withdrawal symptoms are more common with shorter-acting antidepressants such as citalopram.

While Remeron may have side effects as with most prescription medications, it’s not a narcotic, and it’s not likely to lead to an addiction. It may cause physical dependence, however, but this is something you should discuss with your doctor who will weigh the risks and benefits before prescribing the drug. Do you feel like someone in your life is struggling with substance use disorder in relation to Remeron, other prescription drugs or illegal drugs? There are options, and it’s not a hopeless situation. The Recovery Village can help you see how recovery is possible. Call us today.

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Mirtazapine Side Effects & Uses in Addiction Treatment

What Is Mirtazapine?

Mirtazapine – known in the U. S. under the brand names Remeron® or Remeron SolTab – is an antidepressant medication that works by balancing aspects of brain chemistry, including norepinephrine and serotonin. According to an article through the Stanford University of Medicine, the medication has also shown some capabilities in treating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder, among other psychological disorders.

Mirtazapine History & Uses

According to medication information through the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Mirtazapine was developed by a company named Organon and approved by the FDA in 1996. Organon later came out with another version of the medication, Remeron SolTab, approved in 2001. In 2007, Organon was bought by Schering-Plough, which continued to market the medication. Mirtazapine is known under various other brand names in other countries; it is no longer under patent, which enables it to be distributed generically.

Mirtazapine is analogous to a medication not available in the U. S. called mianserin. Both medications act in the same way and are considered to be less dangerous in overdose than most other antidepressants.

The medication was originally intended for treating major depression, but has since been tested and investigated for a number of other uses, including:

Insomnia
Generalized and social anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress
Appetite stimulation
Sleep apnea
Schizophrenia

These off-label uses include drug addiction treatment; mirtazapine has not yet been approved by the FDA for treatment of addiction disorders.

Mirtazapine Side Effects, Half-Life &Dosage

According to the drug information provided through Drugs.com, dosages of 15 milligrams (mg), 30 mg, and 45 mg are the most common, though higher doses have been given and there is a 7.5 mg tablet. The 15-45 mg tablets also come in an orally dissolving form. The dose is taken once daily, usually near bedtime due to the drug’s relaxing effect. It can be taken with or without food.

Research shared through the National Institutes of Health shows that the half-life of the substance ranges between 20 and 40 hours. It begins to take effect quickly, and only needs to be taken once daily.

According to drug information published in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, commonly reported side effects include:

Sleepiness or sedation
Increased appetite and potential weight gain
Dizziness
Increased cholesterol/triglycerides

More serious side effects have occurred, including symptoms resulting from sudden withdrawal from the drug. Nevertheless, mirtazapine is considered to be safer than many other antidepressants, particularly in the case of overdose, as reported in a report in Pharmacotherapy. Like most antidepressants, it can be more dangerous if taken with alcohol or with certain other drugs, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are other types of antidepressants, such as rasagiline or phenelzine.

Mirtazapine can be used in the treatment of methamphetamine addiction

News30 January 2020

DepressionDrugsChimsex

Although mirtazapine has been shown to be effective in reducing methamphetamine use, study participants showed too low treatment adherence to seriously talk about it efficiency.

According to the Canadian publication CATIE News, the antidepressant mirtazapine can be used during treatment for methamphetamine addiction. The study cited by the journalists was published in JAMA Psychiatry. nine0003

Mirtazapine (marketed as Remeron) is traditionally used in the treatment of depressive disorders. The first studies on the use of the drug in the treatment of methamphetamine addiction appeared about a decade ago.

Since depression, anxiety, weakness and long-term sleep problems are the main consequences of drug use, many people continue to use methamphetamine in order to avoid the effects associated with drug withdrawal. But such a strategy tends to lead to addiction, overdoses and other health problems. nine0003

The study in question involved 140 methamphetamine users who expressed a desire to reduce their use of the drug or quit completely.

During the study, all participants were regularly tested so that scientists could track methamphetamine use. The number of MSM who took part in the study was 115 people.

Journalists explain that the popularity of methamphetamine among men who have sex with men has increased significantly in recent years, as it is used as a chemsex drug. That is why representatives of this group were specially added to the subjects. nine0003

The results of the study showed that mirtazapine is indeed able to reduce the level of drug consumption, but not significantly.

Those who took the drug reported improved sleep quality and overall mood. The researchers called the main problem the low adherence of the participants to treatment - it amounted to only 30 to 40%.

In conclusion, the researchers, stating that mirtazapine monotherapy cannot be considered effective, concluded that it makes sense to combine taking the drug for the treatment of methamphetamine addiction with at least support groups, regular meetings of patients with consultants, and also noted the need to develop mirtazapine prolonged an action that could be taken less frequently than once a day to increase adherence and make it easier for the target audience of such therapy to take it. nine0003 DepressionDrugsHimsex

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List of drugs and psychotropic substances

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List of drugs and...

Toxins

Intoxication

69253 29th of October nine0003

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes over time, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes. nine0003

Dear parents!

Check your kids for "bad habits". Do they smoke? Do they consume alcohol? Are psychoactive drugs abused? Contact us, we will help you! Only 50 ml of urine is needed for analysis! The detection period is 5 days from the date of consumption!

Attention heads of organizations!

We offer screening of your employees for alcohol, smoking, psychoactive drugs and drugs. nine0003

According to the data given in the report of the UN committee on combating drug trafficking and organized crime (United Nations Drug Control and Crime Prevention) for 2006, the level of people using psychoactive drugs in Russia has reached a record high of 15% (!). In other words, every twelfth Russian uses drugs. In large cities, the level of abuse of the population is much higher than the national average, and can reach 15 - 20%. nine0003

Drug testing is a mandatory procedure when applying for a job in any US government agency and most large private companies. Unfortunately, in our country, such studies are not carried out even in those areas where they are absolutely necessary - suffice it to recall a recent incident when, by chance, it was discovered that one of the air traffic controllers at Sheremetyevo Airport was a drug user with many years of experience.

A person who uses psychoactive drugs poses a very serious threat both to the company in which he works and to those around him. Drug use quickly leads to intellectual degradation, which directly affects labor productivity. Under the influence of psychoactive drugs, a person can make a mistake in the workplace, which will have very serious consequences for the company.

This person is characterized by mental imbalance, unpredictable behavior, causeless outbursts of anger, depression, increased conflict. Due to reduced immunity, they often suffer from various infectious diseases. nine0003

Due to the fact that drugs are prohibited by law, a drug addict is constantly in contact with the criminal world, which can have a very detrimental effect on the company's image. In order to buy another dose, the addict will stop at nothing, from theft and industrial espionage to crimes against the person.

Diagnosis of drug addiction is quite a difficult task. In many cases, it is impossible to identify an addict based on indirect symptoms alone. In the first stages of the development of the disease, when drugs are taken only occasionally, drug addicts do not outwardly differ from healthy people. They dress neatly, regularly go to work and are pleasant to talk to. The duration of this period of disease development is purely individual and can range from several weeks to several years. nine0003

List of narcotics and psychotropic substances (groups and main representatives):

Narcotics

opiates - morphine, heroin, 6-MAM, codeine, dihydrocodeine, thebaine, butorphanol, ethyl narcotine , nalbuphine, buprenorphine, etc. ;
amphetamines - amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, chlorphentermine, amfepramone, phenylethylamine, phenylpropanolamine;
cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish) - cannabinol, cannabidiol; nine0032
cocaine group - cocaine, benzoylecgonine, methylecgonine, ecgonine, norcocaine, ethylecgonine, norcocaethylene;
methadone;
phencyclidine;
methaqualone;
fentanyl derivatives - fentanyl, alpha-methylfentanyl, 3-methylfentanyl;
promedol.

Psychotropic and potent substances

barbiturates - barbital, barbital sodium, phenobarbital, cyclobarbital, pentobarbital, amobarbital (estimal), etaminal sodium, secobarbital and others; nine0032
tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, tianeptine (coaxil), opipramol, doxepin, desipramine, pipofezin, trimipramine, azafen;
tetracyclic antidepressants - maprotiline, mirtazapine, mianserin;
phenothiazine derivatives - chlorpromazine, propazine, triftazine, tizercin, diprazine, levomepromazine, etapirazine, etc. ;
thioxanthene derivatives - chlorprothixene, clopixol, flupentixol;
tramal;
clonidine;
sodium hydroxybutyrate;
carbamazepine;
other - analgin, paracetamol, nicotine, cotinine, quinine, caffetamine (ergotamine + caffeine).

Run diagnostics

Sources:

https://www.invitro.ru/analizes/for-doctors/868/

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor. nine0073 For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories can use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

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Is remeron a narcotic