Does Remeron help with sleep?
Although Remeron (mirtazapine) is not FDA-approved as a sleep medication, it does help with sleep and many healthcare providers use it off-label for this purpose. Remeron is approved as an antidepressant, but it can help people with insomnia or depression get to sleep and several trials in depressed patients have shown benefits including:
- Increasing total sleep time
- Improving sleep efficiency
- Improving stage II, stage rapid eye movement, and slow wave sleep percentages
- Decreasing sleep latency and slow-wave sleep percentages.
Effects have persisted throughout treatment.
Before treatment with mirtazapine, many patients complained of it taking them a long time to get to sleep or waking up frequently during the night. Once they had started treatment, most found it easier and quicker to get to sleep and had fewer periods of wakefulness. A review found that while mirtazapine's effects on sleep were significantly more effective than placebo (an inactive medicine), they were somewhat similar to other antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Because mirtazapine is not technically a sleep medication, it does not have the same risk of dependency and tolerance as traditional sleep medications, such as Ambien or Lunesta, do.
Related Questions
How does Remeron (mirtazapine) work?
Mirtazapine works by increasing the concentration of specific neurotransmitters in the brain, such as noradrenaline and serotonin, although the exact way it works for sleep is not known. In people who are depressed, it may ameliorate slow-wave sleep disturbances. It is unclear whether by reducing symptoms of depression, mirtazapine improves sleep or is it because of its effects on neurotransmitters.
What are the side effects of Remeron (mirtazapine)?
The most common side effects of Remeron include:
- anxiety
- drowsiness, dizziness
- dry mouth
- increased appetite
- muscle aches and pain, and joint pain
- weight gain.
Because mirtazapine causes sedation it can also make you sleepy during the day and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Do not drive if mirtazapine makes you sleepy.
References
- Dolder, C. R., Nelson, M. H., & Iler, C. A. (2012). The effects of mirtazapine on sleep in patients with major depressive disorder. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. 24(3), 215–224.
- Sleepstation. (2021, December 7). Mirtazapine and sleep: will it help you sleep better? https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/articles/medicines/mirtazapine/#:~:text=Mirtazapine%20has%20been%20shown%20to,not%20without%20its%20side%2Deffects.
- Schittecatte, M., Dumont, F., Machowski, R., et al. (2002). Effects of mirtazapine on sleep polygraphic variables in major depression. Neuropsychobiology; Basel Vol. 46, Iss. 4, (2002): 197-201.
- Dolder, C. R., Nelson, M. H., & Iler, C. A. (2012). The effects of mirtazapine on sleep in patients with major depressive disorder. Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 24(3), 215–224.
Read next
Related medical questions
- SSRI’s vs SNRI’s - What's the difference between them?
- Klonopin vs Xanax - How are they different?
- Lorazepam vs Xanax: What is the difference?
- Can I stop taking Wellbutrin suddenly or should I taper off?
- How long does Zoloft (sertraline) take to work?
- Lexapro vs Zoloft: How do they compare?
- When is the best time to take Lexapro?
- How long does it take for Lexapro to work?
- How long for an increased dose of Zoloft to work?
- Why should you take aripiprazole in the morning?
- Does Adderall help with anxiety and depression?
- Prozac vs Zoloft - What are the Differences & Similarities?
- Modafinil: Smart Drug For Decision Fatigue Or Workaholic Crutch?
- Does Abilify cause weight gain?
- How long does it take for Cymbalta to work?
- What do Cymbalta brain zaps feel like?
- What is bromazepam used for?
- Does Lexapro cause night sweats?
- Vraylar vs Abilify - How do they compare?
- How long does it take for Prozac to work?
- Shall I take Trintellix (vortioxetine) in the night or morning?
- Does Auvelity work better than Wellbutrin?
- What is agomelatine used for?
- Auvelity vs. Wellbutrin: Effectiveness for Depression?
- Does Valerian Root interact with any drugs?
- Can I take Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Trintellix (vortioxetine) together?
- Does vitamin D help with depression?
- What makes Auvelity different from other antidepressants?
- Does Auvelity cause weight gain or loss?
- Does Otezla cause depression?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Mirtazapine (162 questions, 414 members)
- Remeron (47 questions, 218 members)
- Depression (2,185 questions, 8,721 members)
- Major Depressive Disorder (510 questions, 1,355 members)
- Sleep Disorders (475 questions, 1,648 members)