How Long Does Remeron Stay In Your System?

Remeron (mirtazapine) usually stays in the body anywhere between four and eight days, depending on the individual’s health and dosage amount. Mirtazapine has a half-life of 20 to 40 hours, so most of the drug is out of the body within four days after the last dose. Mirtazapine is metabolized by the liver, and most of it is eliminated through urine waste. Remeron reaches its highest level of concentration in the blood within two hours of ingestion.

Remeron is prescribed in pill form and typically comes in dosages between 15 mg and 45 mg. Remeron belongs to a group of antidepressants known as tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCA), which work by targeting chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. Remeron raises concentrations of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain, chemicals that are believed to help regulate mood. This drug is usually prescribed to treat major depression, though it also helps with anxiety and appetite.

Although Remeron is effective in treating depression, it also comes with some pretty serious side effects, including:

• Drowsiness
• Increase in appetite
• Weight changes
• Dizziness
• Agranulocytosis
• Elevated cholesterol levels

The use of antidepressants has witnessed a steady rise over the past twenty years. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 12.7 percent of individuals over the age of 12 were prescribed an antidepressant from 2011 to 2014. Women are twice as likely to be prescribed antidepressants as men, while one in four patients have taken them for ten years or more. Although antidepressants like Remeron are not considered addictive, individuals can develop a dependency on them over time. These drugs have also been linked to increased suicidal thoughts in teens and young adults and should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol.

Remeron belongs to a class of medications collectively referred to as tetracyclic antidepressants. This type of antidepressant helps treat major depression by targeting norepinephrine and serotonin levels in the brain. Other drugs that are classified in the same family as Remeron include Asendin (amoxapine), Loxapac (loxapine), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Mazanor (mazindol), Lerivon (mianserin), and Tecipul (setiptiline). These drugs work in a similar fashion but have different active ingredients.

Remeron works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This causes the body to increase the levels of these two chemicals, which are known to affect mood and appetite. While mirtazapine is great at treating depression, quitting can cause intense withdrawal symptoms. To help alleviate some of these symptoms, it is recommended to stop taking Remeron gradually, lowering the level of dose each month until you are below 15 mg.

Common Remeron Withdrawal Symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Appetite loss
• Confusion
• Trouble concentrating
• Crying
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Headaches

Several different factors influence how long Remeron remains in your system, including genetics, age and liver function. Mirtazapine is metabolized in the liver and individuals generally experience peak levels around two hours after ingestion. Most of mirtazapine is eliminated through urine. People with liver impairment usually take longer to pass the drug completely out of their system. In the worst-case scenario, it can take up to eight days for Remeron to leave the system.

The half-life of mirtazapine ranges from 20 to 40 hours. If you are taking mirtazapine, your body will reach a steady state on the fifth day of taking the drug. At this point, your intake levels of mirtazapine will equal how fast it is being eliminated from your system. Based on the half-life length, you can expect mirtazapine to be completely gone from your system anywhere between 100 to 200 hours after your last dose, or four to eight days.

The clear majority of Remeron leaves the body via urine. It can remain in a person’s body for as few as four days or as long as eight. How fast Remeron leaves the system depends on a few factors, including genetics, age and liver function. People who suffer from liver dysfunction are generally prescribed lower dosages to help eliminate the drug and reach a steady-state faster.