What is one of the side effects of mirtazapine?

Mirtazapine is an atypical antidepressant commonly used to treat major depressive disorder. One of its notable side effects is drowsiness or sedation. This occurs because mirtazapine acts as an antagonist at central alpha-2 adrenergic receptors and also antagonizes certain serotonin receptors, which can lead to increased sedation, particularly when a patient first starts the medication or when their dosage is increased.

The sedative effect can be beneficial for patients who struggle with insomnia associated with depression. However, it’s important for patients to be aware of this potential side effect as it may impact their daily activities, especially those that require alertness, such as driving or operating heavy machinery.

In contrast, while mirtazapine may be associated with weight gain and increased appetite in some patients, drowsiness remains a prominent side effect that clinicians monitor. Other options like increased energy, decreased appetite, or constipation are not typical side effects of mirtazapine; instead, they may be more closely associated with other types of antidepressants or may not be characteristics of mirtazapine's pharmacological actions.