Skip to main content
Get Matched with a Provider
Medication

Mirtazapine (remeron)

Mirtazapine is a psychiatric medication available by prescription only. The original brand name is Remeron. It belongs to a class of medications called noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs), also described as alpha-2 antagonists. Unlike SSRIs and SNRIs, which primarily act on serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, mirtazapine works by blocking certain receptors in the brain that regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

Learn About Mirtazapine Treatment

Connect with a psychiatric clinician—online or in person—for a comprehensive evaluation. If appropriate, they may discuss whether mirtazapine could be considered as part of your treatment plan.

Schedule an appointment with a Psychiatric Clinician

What Conditions Does Mirtazapine Treat?

FDA-Approved Uses:

Common Off-Label Uses:

How Psychiatric Medication Prescription Decisions Are Made

1

Find a psychiatric clinician who meets your needs

Option 1

You can start by searching our psychiatrist directory to find a qualified provider.

Provider Directory

Option 2

You may also choose to locate a nearby clinic and schedule your first appointment in person.

Locations Directory
2

Step 2: Meet one-on-one for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation

During your first session, a psychiatric clinician will review your symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. If appropriate, they may discuss whether a medication like mirtazapine could be included in your plan. Treatment decisions always prioritize safety, clinical best practices, and your individual needs.

3

Step 3: Begin treatment and ongoing monitoring

Once a personalized plan is created, your provider will monitor your progress and adjust as needed. If medication is part of your care, then, if clinically appropriate, your provider may handle prescription renewals online during or after regular follow-ups as clinically appropriate in accordance with LifeStance treatment protocols.

230+ Insurances Accepted

Aetna
Anthem/Empire BCBS-Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem/Empire BCBS, Anthem Blue Cross-Medicare, Anthem BCBS-Medicare, Anthem BCBS
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield-Medicare
Evernorth (Cigna), Evernorth (Cigna) (HealthPartners), Evernorth (Cigna)-Medicare
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Highmark Blue Shield, Highmark Blue Shield-Medicare, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield-Medicare
Kaiser Permanente (Southeast)-Medicare, Kaiser Permanente Washington-Medicare, Kaiser Permanente (SoCal)-Medicare, Kaiser Permanente (Southeast), Kaiser Permanente Washington, Kaiser Permanente (SoCal), Kaiser Permanente (Northwest), Kaiser Permanente (Northwest)-Medicare
Medicare
Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, UnitedHealthcare-Medicare
Providence Health Plan, Providence Health Plan-Medicare
Quartz, Quartz-Medicare
Quest Behavioral Health
Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Regence BlueCross BlueShield-Medicare
View All Accepted Insurances
Struggling with Depression?

Struggling with Depression?

Everyone’s experience with anxiety or depression is different. A psychiatrist may help you find the right treatment path—whether that includes Mirtazapine (Remeron) or another option that fits your needs. Discuss medication options with your treating provider.

Psychiatric Clinician Directory

FAQs About Mirtazapine (Remeron)

Remeron (mirtazapine) is FDA-approved for major depressive disorder. It is also commonly prescribed off-label for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and insomnia.

Mirtazapine works by blocking alpha-2 adrenergic receptors and certain serotonin receptors, which increases the release of norepinephrine and serotonin. It also blocks histamine receptors, which contributes to its sedative effects and its role in improving sleep.

Common side effects include drowsiness, increased appetite, weight gain, dry mouth, and constipation. Drowsiness is more common at lower doses, which is why mirtazapine is often prescribed at bedtime.

Yes. Mirtazapine can increase appetite and lead to weight gain in many patients. Mirtazapine blocks histamine H1 receptors and certain serotonin receptors, which leads to an increase in appetite.

Yes. Mirtazapine often stimulates appetite, which can be helpful for individuals with low appetite or unintended weight loss. Some examples include individuals with cancer-related weight loss or other disease-related wasting syndromes (e.g., HIV/AIDS, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Mirtazapine is sometimes prescribed for sleep, though it is not its primary purpose. While it is a tetracyclic antidepressant, doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label to treat insomnia, often for patients who also experience depression or anxiety. Its sedative effects are typically most potent at a lower dose.

Mirtazapine is not FDA-approved for anxiety disorders but is often prescribed off-label for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. It can reduce anxiety symptoms in some patients, especially when anxiety occurs alongside depression.

Improvements in sleep and appetite may appear either immediately or within the first week. Full antidepressant effects usually take 4 to 6 weeks.

Long-term side effects may include weight gain, metabolic changes, and drowsiness. Regular monitoring with a healthcare provider is important for patients using mirtazapine long-term.

Withdrawal symptoms from stopping mirtazapine suddenly are unlikely, but rarely it may lead to symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness, irritability, and insomnia. Always follow your psychiatric provider’s directions on when to stop taking medications or change dosages.

No. Mirtazapine is not a controlled substance.

The brand name of mirtazapine is Remeron.

The generic name is mirtazapine.

Mirtazapine is an alpha-2 antagonist, also referred to as a NaSSA (noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant).

The cost of mirtazapine varies by formulation and dosage.

As of publication date, generic mirtazapine oral tablets generally range from about $9 to $29 for 15 to 30 tablets, depending on the strength. Orally disintegrating tablets usually range from about $20 to $25 for 30 tablets.

If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your supporting diagnosis and plan type (e.g., commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) and may include a copay or coinsurance.

As of publication date, brand-name Remeron oral tablets generally range from about $197 to $202 for 30 tablets, depending on the strength.

If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your supporting diagnosis and plan type (e.g., commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) and may include a copay or coinsurance.

photo of LifeStance provider Joshua Nathan, MD

Medically Reviewed By:

Joshua Nathan, MD
View Profile
Dr. Joshua Nathan, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, sees stigma – from others and from ourselves - as the biggest challenge in mental illness treatment. He encourages people to not judge themselves on whatever problems they are facing, and he helps them feel safe to open up and allow for healing. Dr. Nathan takes joy in helping people with mental health concerns and values the trust patients place in him. Dr. Nathan treats adults struggling with mood and bipolar disorders, depression, ADHD, anxiety challenges such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD, PTSD, and more. He listens to each person’s story, observes how they are faring, and shares his understanding of what is happening, so there is a basis for starting or continuing treatment. He considers medications as one tool among many for healing and recovery in mental health. During treatment, Dr. Nathan uses an eclectic framework for understanding mental illness and coping. Trained in psychoanalysis, he finds that existential understanding helps many people reduce suffering, but cognitive-behavioral techniques are more practical in helping people move forward. Thus, he typically employs a combination of theories and techniques, guided by the patient's problems, needs, and experiences. He is also an Official ADHD Evaluator for the National Football League. Dr. Nathan earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a medical doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and completed postgraduate residency training at Brown University. He works with adults of all ages, but has a special fondness for working with young and middle-age adults.

References

  1. Drugs.com. (n.d.). Remeron Prices, Coupons, Copay Cards & Patient Assistance. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/remeron

  2. Drugs.com. (n.d.). Mirtazapine Prices, Coupons, Copay Cards & Patient Assistance. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/mirtazapine

  3. Pfeffer, C. R. (2007). The FDA pediatric advisories and changes in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(6), 843-846. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.843

  4. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (n.d.). Drugs@FDA database. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm

In 2007, the FDA released a black box warning that antidepressants were correlated to the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18–24) during short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric conditions. Gibbons et. al (2007) also published a study that found no evidence of antidepressant treatment increasing the risk of suicide attempts among its patients (ages 18-65+). The main message is that there is an inherent relationship between depression and suicidality so close monitoring of antidepressant-treated patients (especially children, adolescents, and young adults) is always necessary. For a comprehensive overview of these medications’ uses and risks, see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug label.