REMERON HIGH: ADDICTION ABUSE

Mirtazapine Addiction and Abuse: The Toll It Takes

The brand name for mirtazapine is Remeron, which is a type of antidepressant. It’s mainly prescribed to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It works by chemically altering neurotransmitter levels and balancing out the chemicals in the central nervous system. It’s important to take the drug as directed by your doctor, which is usually a starting dose of 15 mg per day taken at night before going to sleep. If someone takes more than the instructed amount, it can lead to dependency on Remeron. If you find yourself increasing the amount, going over 15 mg per day, you are likely abusing the drug and it can lead to addiction. 

Is Remeron Addictive?

Remeron isn’t usually considered a drug that can be addictive just like any other antidepressant. However, if you are using it more than you should and not in the proper way, you can develop physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. 

When trying to figure out if you’re addicted to Remeron, there are some signs that point to substance use disorder. These signs pointing to addiction can be: 

• taking Remeron for a longer period than they were originally prescribed for
• always craving Remeron and wanting more of it for the same effects that happened before with a smaller dosage
• Spending all day thinking of Remeron and how to obtain more of it, the effects it does on your body, and when you can use it next
• Not being able to stop using the medication
• Someone faking their symptoms so they can get more refills on their Remeron prescription
• A drastic change in physical appearance, behavior, and hygiene

A more serious and dangerous side effect of someone being addicted to Remeron is overdose. This can happen if someone consumes too much of the drug and it can cause them to go into cardiac arrest, have very low blood pressure, and get uncontrollable seizures. Other signs of an overdose are chest pains, hallucinations, slurred speech, issues breathing, rapid heartbeat, and vomiting. 

Another issue that can occur when becoming dependent on Remeron is that your tolerance is slowly building up, which is why you continue to increase the dosage each day or week. If you continue to increase the dosage, you will be up to a dangerously high dose after months of using it. 

Signs of Remeron Addiction

Although these signs may be hard to diagnose, if someone you love is taking this medication, they are something to look out for. Alternatively, if you use it and are noticing you may be searching for that “high,” you might be abusing it without even knowing. This can be dangerous, so it is important to look out for the signs.

For example, if you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of:

• Taking it after it is no longer prescribed.
• Continually needing more of it to feel the same effects as before.
• Spending most of the day thinking about when you will take your next dose.
• Thinking about how to get more of the drug, its effects, or when to use it.
• Not being able to stop using it.
• Lying about symptoms to get another prescription.
• Sudden changes in physical appearance as well as hygiene and behavior.

Remeron Side Effects

Although Remeron can help improve your mood, general feelings of well-being, sleep, and help decrease nervousness, there are harmful effects.

Mild to Severe Side Effects

• Weight gain.
• Feeling drowsiness.
• Abdominal pain.
• Constipation or diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Flu-like symptoms including body aches.
• Problems with concentrating.
• Strange dreams.
• Increase anxiety.
• Panic attacks.
• Irritability.

Serious Side Effects

With any prescribed medication you take, it’s important to be wary of what the side effects that can occur look like. Even if you take Remeron as directed by your doctor, you can still experience serious side effect symptoms, which can look like drowsiness, dizziness, anxiousness, increase in weight and appetite, dry mouth, dry mouth, chest pain, and flu-like symptoms. Remeron is specifically prescribed for people who are dealing with depression or major depressive disorder; however, these symptoms can worsen over time with the drug as nothing is guaranteed. 

Also in some rare cases, you can develop a condition called serotonin syndrome. This effect can happen because Remeron increases the serotonin in your body and it happens even more if you are taking a high dose of it. 

Abuse Risks of Obtaining a Remeron High

When someone is at the point of abusing Remeron, which is usually when they take it without it being prescribed to them, taking a higher dose than what was prescribed, or mixing it with alcohol, it leads to dangerous side effects and symptoms. 

Even though Remeron doesn’t give people a “euphoric” high to other drugs similar to it in chemical properties, people still abuse it. If you take more of the appropriate dose for Remeron, it can make someone feel the varying effects of getting high. 

People who abuse Remeron are more likely to do so to come down from stimulant drugs that they use themselves. It is even more dangerous to mix stimulant drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine, which can cause bad side effects. These side effects usually are stomach cramping, convulsions, and having issues with your cognitive functionality. 

If you abuse Remeron, it’s important not to mix it with other antidepressants, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Those two medications taken together can increase bad side effects and dangerous reactions. 

Understanding the Risk Factors for Mirtazapine Addiction

Remeron or mirtazapine addiction stems from having a ton of risk factors that people are more predisposed to with substance abuse. Some of these factors can affect you psychologically, which is usually making someone depressed, anxious, have PTSD, and continuously have stress. People who suffer from these specific disorders usually look for something sedative and uplifting to their emotions, beyond the need for therapeutic techniques, which is how someone starts misusing it and becomes dependent. There’s also more of a chance of someone being dependent on a substance like Mirtazapine if they already are predisposed to addiction through someone in their family. The potential for the drug to cause someone to feel euphoria happens when someone takes higher doses than originally prescribed, which makes them more likely to have addictive behaviors. This then will make the medication prescribed to help someone more likely to have negative long-term effects on the person’s mind and body. There is even research investigating this medication’s potential to induce drug-seeking behavior in mice in lab conditions.

Another type of factor is environmental. Usually, if it’s an environmental factor it has to do with no stigma around using drugs and it being used out in the open as part of the norm, as well as it being normalized for having easy access to it. There’s also a stigma still around people having mental health issues not being taken seriously. Since people are less supported with their mental health, they are more likely to abuse drugs like Remeron due to feeling isolated. It’s important to recognize the risk factors so you can successfully prevent addiction from progressing. A more holistic approach to addiction treatment is how it can be tailored to all different types of people going through Remeron addiction. 

Remeron Overdose

A deadly side effect of Remeron is overdosing on the drug. This can happen when you take a dosage of Remeron that is way too high. The results of having a Remeron overdose are you can get some serious health problems and side effects, which include cardiac arrest, very low blood pressure, and severe seizures. Even more extreme cases of overdosing can result in respiratory depression and even death. 

Remeron overdose risk increases when the drug combines with other drugs or alcohol. These specific substances can cause bad reactions to the nervous system when they are depressants. When combining these drugs, can result in intense drowsiness and depression of the respiratory system. If you are a repeat offender of Remeron abuse, you might mix these to increase feeling more intoxicated, adding to your addiction symptoms. Specific drugs that cause adverse reactions are nervous system depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines.

Signs of Overdose:

• Chest pain.
• Hallucinations.
• Vomiting.
• Very fast heartbeat.
• Slurred speech or inability to speak.
• Problems with breathing.
• Extreme drowsiness.

Remeron and Its Role With Mental Illness

This drug is prescribed explicitly in conjunction with treating mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even decrease nausea. It has a role with mental illness because it can help decrease these symptoms and even aid in reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Unfortunately, although Remeron has been proven to do a lot of good, its use can also backfire. Remeron is known to create more mental illness problems by stimulating feelings of suicide.

Remeron and Its Role With Schizophrenia

Remeron is one of the main treatments for schizophrenia, which is one of the antipsychotic medications you take. It can help with treating some of the symptoms of schizophrenia and it shouldn’t be something you regularly use to replace for psychological treatment. 

Antipsychotic medications are the main treatment for schizophrenia, with Remeron being one of them. This drug can be effective in treating some of the symptoms of schizophrenia but should not be a replacement for psychological treatment.

Creating a Supportive Environment for Recovery from Mirtazapine Addiction

When you are in the process of recovering from mirtazapine addiction, it requires a more hands-on approach to medical treatment. It is necessary for a supportive and understanding environment that encourages healing and growth. The support system from families and friends plays an important role in addiction treatment and can make the process of recovery smoother. Being able to create a supportive environment for someone going through recovery requires it to be a non-judgmental, empathetic, and encouraging space for them to fully feel safe. When going through the recovery process, it’s important for your family and friends to educate themselves on the challenges you’re going through with addiction and figure out how you can provide support properly. There’s also the psychological component of addiction that can be scarring mentally if therapy isn’t implemented or even family counseling. 

Beyond having a social circle you can confide in, it’s important to also find a supportive community specifically dealing with Remeron addiction, whether through group therapy or support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous. This can give people going through recovery more of a feeling of belonging and support from others with similar backgrounds to their addiction. These groups are safe places and platforms for people to share their struggles and what has worked for them in the past while also getting support from others and being accountable for sticking to their recovery. Besides getting support for your mental health during drug addiction recovery, you should also enroll in some type of rehab program, such as an inpatient or outpatient program. These addiction programs aren’t just restricted to offering medical and psychological support but also incorporate coping mechanisms and skills needed for long-term recovery. Part of creating a supportive environment is implementing medical treatment along with emotional and social support. 

Treatment Options for Remeron Addiction and Abuse

If you’re addicted to Remeron, it’s important to note that you’re not the only one. That’s why there are a ton of common treatment options for Remeron addiction for both inpatient and outpatient rehab. Both of these forms of treatment focus on recovery. You will always have options regardless of going through different symptoms or similar symptoms as someone else with the same addiction. 

When patients enroll in addiction rehab at Resurgence Behavioral Health, they can either sign up for inpatient or outpatient services. There are also other treatment programs, such as partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Give us a call today at 855-458-0050 to get on the right track and get your addiction treated. 

*As required by law, all communications with Resurgence Behavioral Health are HIPAA Compliant and 100% Confidential