Remeron vs. Seroquel

Remeron (mirtazapine) and Seroquel (quetiapine) are both used to treat depression.

Remeron has also been used to treat nausea, anxiety, post traumatic stress syndrome, and as an appetite stimulant.

Seroquel is also used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Remeron and Seroquel belong to different drug classes. Remeron is a tetracyclic antidepressant and Seroquel is an anti-psychotic medication.

Common side effects of Remeron include:

• drowsiness
• increased appetite
• weight gain
• dizziness, and
• nausea

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Remeron including agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast or uneven heart rate, loss of coordination or feeling unsteady, stiff muscles, confusion, tremors, flu symptoms, memory problems, weakness, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, sweating, feeling like you might pass out, chills, body aches, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips, headache, or trouble concentrating.

Common side effects of Seroquel include:

• mood or behavior changes,
• constipation,
• stomach pain,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• trouble sleeping,
• dry mouth,
• sore throat,
• breast swelling or discharge,
• missed menstrual periods,
• increased appetite, or
• weight gain.

Remeron is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Remeron treatment.

Seroquel (quetiapine) is a psychotropic medication used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old. Seroquel is also used in the treatment of major depression and bipolar disorder.

Remeron may interact with other drugs that make you sleepy (cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures or anxiety), cimetidine, lithium, blood thinners, other antidepressants, or migraine headache medicines.

Remeron may also interact with conivaptan, imatinib, isoniazid, St. John's wort, tramadol, antibiotics, antifungal medications, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, or seizure medications.

Seroquel may interact with other drugs that make you sleepy (cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures or anxiety), heart or blood pressure medications, antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, migraine headache medicines, or seizure medications.

Seroquel may also interact with medications to treat Parkinson's disease, steroids, anti-malaria medications, heart rhythm medicines, and other medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

• Take Remeron exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Remeron until it is the right dose for you.
• Take Remeron at the same time each day, preferably in the evening at bedtime.
• Swallow Remeron as directed.
• It is common for antidepressant medicines such as Remeron to take up to a few weeks before you start to feel better. Do not stop taking Remeron if you do not feel results right away.
• Do not stop taking or change the dose of Remeron without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel better.
• Remeron may be taken with or without food.
• If you miss a dose of Remeron, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Remeron at the same time.
• If you take too much Remeron, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment. The signs of an overdose of Remeron (without other medicines or alcohol) include:
  • confusion,
  • memory problems
  • drowsiness
  • increased heart rate.

The symptoms of a possible overdose may include changes to your heart rhythm (fast, irregular heartbeat) or fainting, which could be symptoms of a life-threatening condition known as Torsades de Pointes.

Dosing preparations are 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg tablets.

• Take Seroquel exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change the dose yourself.
• Take Seroquel by mouth, with or without food.
• If you feel you need to stop SEROQUEL, talk with your healthcare provider first. If you suddenly stop taking SEROQUEL, you may have side effects such as trouble sleeping or trouble staying asleep (insomnia), nausea, and vomiting.
• If you miss a dose of SEROQUEL, take it as soon as you remember. If you are close to your next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time unless your healthcare provider tells you to. If you are not sure about your dosing, call your healthcare provider.