Mianserin
About Mianserin
Mianserin belongs to the class of medications called ‘antidepressants’ used in the treatment of depression. It can effectively reduce symptoms of depression. Depression is a mood disorder that affects a person's daily life and is described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger. These symptoms may interfere with your daily activities and affect your quality of life.
Mianserin contains ‘Mianserin’ which belongs to the class of ‘antidepressants’. It works by increasing serotonin and noradrenalin levels, chemicals present in the brain responsible for energy, mood, and behaviour. Hence, an increase in these levels can effectively reduce the symptoms of depression.
Mianserin is available in the form of tablets. You should take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The common side effects of Mianserin are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, increased appetite, and weight gain. These side effects usually go away after discontinuation of treatment. However, inform your doctor immediately if any of these side effects persist or get worse.
It is not recommended to take Mianserin if you are allergic to Mianserin or any contents of it, have severe liver disease, have been treated for mania (a mental illness), are breastfeeding, and take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), a type of antidepressants. Mianserin should not be used in children and adolescents below 18 years as it may cause suicidal thoughts and worsen depression. Before taking Mianserin, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or have seizures (fits), head injury, severe liver, kidney, or heart problems, diabetes, adrenal gland tumours, urination problems, glaucoma (an eye disease), and manic depressive illness or other mental disorders. Elderly patients may require dose adjustments. Avoid taking alcohol, as it can cause excessive drowsiness. Mianserin may cause drowsiness, so avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you feel drowsy.
Uses of Mianserin
Medicinal Benefits
Mianserin contains ‘mianserin’ which belongs to the class of ‘antidepressants’. It is an effective and well-tolerated antidepressant. It works by restoring the chemicals serotonin’ and ‘noradrenaline’ in the brain, essential to improve mood and energy levels. It can cause drowsiness, which can help people with sleep problems. It decreases the number of episodes of depression and also reduces the duration of each depressive episode.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Mianserin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Increase in appetite
- Weight gain
Drug Warnings
It is not recommended to take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) and Mianserin simultaneously. You should wait for at least 14 days after discontinuing MAOI before using Mianserin. Mianserin may cause suicidal thoughts and worsen depression or anxiety in children and adolescents below 18. Mianserin is also used with caution in young adults who have previously had suicidal thoughts. If you notice thoughts of harming yourself while using this medicine, consult a doctor immediately. Mianserin may affect the blood count (may reduce white blood count and increase risk of infections) and liver function, so your doctor may advise you to take regular blood tests before prescribing Mianserin and every four weeks during the first three months of treatment. Also, inform your doctor if you have a fever, sore throat, or any other infection signs while using Mianserin.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Mianserin may interact with anticoagulants (warfarin and acenocoumarol), antidepressants (tranylcypromine, phenelzine, and moclobemide, etc.), medicines used to treat fits (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and primidone), medicines used to treat high blood pressure (diazoxide, hydralazine, and nitroprusside), medicines for chest pain (nitroglycerin), a medicine for allergy (diphenhydramine), medicines used to treat malaria (artemether with lumefantrine), a medicine used in the treatment attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (atomoxetine), medicines used to treat glaucoma (brimonidine), medicine to dilate the pupil (atropine), medicine for weight loss (sibutramine), medicines used to treat lung problems (tiotropium and ipratropium), medicines used to treat bowel spasms (dicycloverine and hyoscine), a medicine used to treat Parkinson’s disease (procyclidine), and urination problems (bethanechol).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Mianserin should be used with caution in patients with seizures (fits), head injury, severe liver, kidney, heart problems, diabetes, adrenal gland tumours, urination problems, glaucoma (an eye disease), and manic depressive illness or other mental disorders.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeDo not consume alcohol while using Mianserin as it can cause excessive drowsiness.
Pregnancy
unsafeMianserin is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Breast Feeding
unsafeMianserin is not recommended for use in breastfeeding as it may pass into breast milk and cause harmful effects to the infant. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Driving
unsafeMianserin may cause drowsiness and blurred vision, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery while on treatment with this medicine.
Liver
cautionMianserin should not be used in patients with severe liver disease. It should be used with caution if you have mild to moderate liver disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionMianserin should be used with caution if you have mild to moderate kidney disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition.
Children
unsafeMianserin should not be used in children and adolescents as it may increase the risk of suicidal tendencies.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly helps in improving overall health and boosts self-esteem.
- Regularly attend therapy sessions.
- Perform meditation and yoga. This helps in relieving stress and provides relaxation.
- Follow a regular sleep pattern to improve the amount and quality of sleep you get.
- Include foods rich in omega fatty acids such as fish, nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables, and olive oils.
- Neurotransmitters are made up of amino acids. Amino acid-rich foods such as meat, dairy products, and certain fruits and vegetables help maintain neurotransmitters' proper maintenance.
- Complex carbohydrates help stimulate serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter). These include whole grains, legumes, spinach, broccoli, oranges, and pears.
- Exercising helps in the production of the body’s natural antidepressants. It also helps in relieving stress, improving mood, boosting self-esteem, and providing restful sleep.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Learn about your condition, understand the risk factors, and follow the doctor’s treatment plan.
Special Advise
- Inform your doctor that you are taking Mianserin before undergoing any surgery, medical or dental treatment.
- Do not discontinue the treatment abruptly without discussing it with your doctor. The doctor gradually reduces the dose before stopping the treatment, to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Depression: It is a mood disorder characterized by the persistent feeling of sadness, unhappiness, anger, hopelessness, or loss that interferes with a person’s daily activities. Depression can also influence some chronic health conditions and relationships. In this condition, neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline decrease, resulting in symptoms of depression. The exact cause of depression is unknown, but it may be associated with mental problems, trauma, family history, drug use, and medical conditions. Counselling (psychotherapy) and antidepressants can be used to treat depression.
FAQs
Mianserin contains 'Mianserine', which is an antidepressant. It works by restoring the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. Serotonin and noradrenaline are chemicals in the brain responsible for improving energy, mood, and emotion levels.
Mianserin may cause a decrease in white blood cell count and increase the risk of infections. So, your doctor may obtain a blood count before starting and 3 months after initiating the treatment.
The common side-effects of Mianserin are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, increase in appetite, and weight gain. These side-effects usually go away after discontinuation of treatment. However, inform your doctor immediately if any of these side-effects persist or get worse.
Mianserin may alter blood sugar levels. So, your doctor may advise you to monitor blood sugar levels while using this medicine regularly.
It would be best if you did not take other antidepressants, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) such as phenelzine and moclobemide while using Mianserin. It may lead to unwanted effects. The doctor may advise you to wait for 14 days after discontinuing MAOI if you have been prescribed Mianserin.