Mirtazapine Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Switching to or from a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOl) - At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of an MAOl and initiation of therapy with mirtazapine. In addition, allow at least 14 days after stopping mirtazapine before starting an MAOl. 

FIGURE 9-6. Various treatments can be given in combination for panic disorder (i.e., panic combos). The basis of all many combination treatments is a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other antidepressants such as venlafaxine, nefazodone, mirtazapine, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors can all have antipanic actions, although they are second-line treatments, as are the benzodiazepines. On the other hand, benzodiazepines are often added to SSRIs, particularly at the initiation of an SSRI and intermittently when there is breakthrough panic. Cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies can also be added to any of these drug treatments. 

Figure 7.1. Structural formulae of some monoamine oxidase inhibitors (moclobe-mide, pirlindole and toloxatone) and alpha2 adrenoceptor antagonists [S-mirtazapine and setiptiline (teciptiline)].

In the 1980s an entirely new class of antidepressant arrived with the SSRIs, firstly fluvoxamine immediately followed by fluoxetine (Prozac). Within 10 years, the SSRI class accounted for half of antidepressant prescriptions in the United Kingdom. Further developments in the evolution of the antidepressants have been novel compounds such as venlafaxine, reboxetine, nefazodone and mirtazapine, and a reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor, moclobemide. 

Many noncyclic antidepressants are now available, including trazodone (Desyrel l), nefazodone (Serzone ), fluoxetine (Prozac ), sertraline (Zolotf ), citalopram (Celexa ), escitalopram (Lexapro ), paroxetine (Paxil ), tluvoxamine (Luvox ), venlafaxine (Effexor ), and bupropion (Wellbutrin ). Bupropion is also marketed under the brand name Zyban tor smoking cessation. Mirtazapine (Remeron ), a tetracyclic antidepressant, has recently become available. In general, these drugs are much less toxic than the tricyclic antidepressants (see p 90) and the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (p 269), although serious effects such as seizures and hypotension occasionally occur. Noncyclic and tricyclic antidepressants are described in Table 11-7. 

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