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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Adult Nightmares While On Mirtazapine For Macular Degeneration?

I was diagnosed with macular degeneration last Feb. 2015. In May my doctor put me on Mirtazapine. Can this drug adversely affect AMD? My second question is, can this drug cause nightmares? In the past, I rarely even remembered my dreams, but now I usually remember them every morning and beyond. I don t mind the dreams especially, but I also started having terrible nightmares. The nightmares only happen once or twice a month, but they are quite severe, to the point that I wake up feeling terrified and it can take up to hour to calm down.
posted on Sat, 20 Feb 2016
Twitter Wed, 16 Mar 2016 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 17 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. Mirtazapine is a NASsA drug and is used in depression and anxiety disorders. The drug also helps in sleep thus used as good alternative to sleep medicines. Though there are not much studies but the drug doesn't increase the risk of Age related macular degeneration (AMD). But consult your ophthalmologist for a second opinion. Over all the drug doesn't cause optic nerve damage.

The drug alters the sleep architecture and thus can lead to weird dreams, increased intensities of nightmares. The drug helps in sleep but is known to cause dreams. If the problem of nightmares is distressing then you should ask your psychiatrist to reduce the doses of Mirtazapine. Reduction of dose would help in improvement of symptoms. Other option is to add some low dose benzodiazepine that would help in sound sleep and will reduce the risk of dreams. Please consult your doctor for these options.

Thanks, Hope this clears your doubt. Take care

Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
(Consultant Psychiatrist)
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What Causes Adult Nightmares While On Mirtazapine For Macular Degeneration?

Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern. Mirtazapine is a NASsA drug and is used in depression and anxiety disorders. The drug also helps in sleep thus used as good alternative to sleep medicines. Though there are not much studies but the drug doesn t increase the risk of Age related macular degeneration (AMD). But consult your ophthalmologist for a second opinion. Over all the drug doesn t cause optic nerve damage. The drug alters the sleep architecture and thus can lead to weird dreams, increased intensities of nightmares. The drug helps in sleep but is known to cause dreams. If the problem of nightmares is distressing then you should ask your psychiatrist to reduce the doses of Mirtazapine. Reduction of dose would help in improvement of symptoms. Other option is to add some low dose benzodiazepine that would help in sound sleep and will reduce the risk of dreams. Please consult your doctor for these options. Thanks, Hope this clears your doubt. Take care Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (Consultant Psychiatrist)