Drug interactions
Ethanol + Mirtazapine
Severity: Moderate
Ethanol and Mirtazapine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Alcohol intensifies the sedative and psychomotor-impairing effects of mirtazapine. This raises the risk of accidents, falls and excessive drowsiness, and alcohol may worsen depression and reduce treatment benefit.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ethanol and Mirtazapine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from alcohol's GABAergic effects and mirtazapine's histamine H1 antagonism.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid alcohol during mirtazapine therapy, particularly around bedtime dosing. Counsel against driving or operating machinery if alcohol is consumed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Mirtazapine
- Isocarboxazid + Mirtazapine Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ethanol with Mirtazapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ethanol and Mirtazapine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Alcohol intensifies the sedative and psychomotor-impairing effects of mirtazapine. This raises the risk of accidents, falls and excessive drowsiness, and alcohol may worsen depression and reduce treatment benefit.
How serious is the interaction between Ethanol and Mirtazapine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid alcohol during mirtazapine therapy, particularly around bedtime dosing. Counsel against driving or operating machinery if alcohol is consumed.
What other medicines interact with Mirtazapine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mirtazapine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Pimozide. The full list is on the Mirtazapine page.
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