However , mirtazapine showed effectiveness in treating depression , anxiety , sleep disorders , emesis and neuropathic pain .
Across all studies , mirtazapine is safe to use , with drowsiness and dizziness the most common side-effects .
Cancer patients often experience multiple distressing symptoms which are challenging to manage .
It would therefore be helpful to find a treatment that alleviates more than one symptom , to avoid polypharmacy : mirtazapine has been used in several studies for this purpose .
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine in alleviating one or more frequently encountered cancer-related symptoms .
Phase II Trial of Mirtazapine for Cancer-Related Cachexia and Anorexia
We performed an open-label single-institution phase II trial of mirtazapine ( 15 - 30 mg by mouth [ po ] every day [ qd ] ) , a tetracyclic antidepressant that may lead to weight gain , for 8 weeks in nondepressed patients with cancer-related cachexia/anorexia ( CRCA ) . The primary end point was the proportion of patients who gained ≥1 kg at week 4 . Secondary end points were quality of life and appetite . From June 2006 to July 2007 , 17 of 58 eligible patients were enrolled . On intention-to-treat analysis at week 4 , 4 of 17 patients ( 24 % ) gained 1 kg or more , 1 patient maintained weight ( gain of 400 g ) and 2 patients lost weight ( 800 g and 1.2 kg ) ; 24 % and 6 % improved appetite and health-related quality of life ( HQOL ) , respectively . Mirtazapine is a promising agent for the treatment of CRCA
However , mirtazapine showed effectiveness in treating depression , anxiety , sleep disorders , emesis and neuropathic pain .
Across all studies , mirtazapine is safe to use , with drowsiness and dizziness the most common side-effects .
Cancer patients often experience multiple distressing symptoms which are challenging to manage .
It would therefore be helpful to find a treatment that alleviates more than one symptom , to avoid polypharmacy : mirtazapine has been used in several studies for this purpose .
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine in alleviating one or more frequently encountered cancer-related symptoms .