BOLO, JAYSON C.

BSPHARMACY IV-B ACTIVITY # 7 ANSWERING QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL

Scenario 3: Dear Pharmacist, I am a 52-year old man. I take Remeron (Mirtazapine) for anxiety and depression. I started to use this medication about 1 week ago. I take the medication in the evening. I read in the patient information leaflet that I should not drink alcohol. How many hours after I take the medication is it safe to drink? Sometimes I drive to work by car. When I had the medication dispensed in the pharmacy, they said that the medication can cause drowsiness. Can I drive if I use this medication? I also use Diapam(Diazepam), is it safe to take these medications together? Yours, MR. DEES CO

Dear Mr. Dees Co, Maam, sleepiness or drowsiness and nausea, are the most common side effects of Mirtazapine which you are experiencing or having right now. You should avoid or you are not advisable to drive a car when having this kind of medication. You should also have to observe precautions when taking it simultaneously with alcohol and/or antianxiety drugs such as Diapam(Diazepam) because it potentiate the sedative effect or can increase sleepiness. Alcohol also causes impairment of cognitive and motor skills produced by mirtazapine. It is not advisable to take mirtazapine and alcohol at the same day. A period of 4-2 hours prior to mirtazapine is allowable. But I advise you to stop drinking alcohol while you are still engaged in this type of medication. Yours, JAYSON