Mirtazapine vs Citalopram: side-by-side comparison
Mirtazapine (Atypical antidepressant (NaSSA)) and Citalopram (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely substitutes for each other. The comparison is useful when a single patient is weighing both options for adjacent or overlapping needs.
| Property | Mirtazapine | Citalopram |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | Atypical antidepressant (NaSSA) | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) |
| CAS | 85650-52-8 | 59729-33-8 |
| ATC | N06AX11 | N06AB04 |
| Molecular weight | 265.36 g/mol | 324.39 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Mirtazapine and Citalopram share the common regulatory framework for prescription active ingredients, bioequivalence standards for generics, and pharmacist oversight. Beyond that, points in common are limited.
Key differences
Mirtazapine acts by a different mechanism than Citalopram, with indications that barely overlap. Comparing the two is useful when a clinician has mentioned both in the same context or the patient wants to understand why one was prescribed instead of the other.
Mechanisms compared
Mirtazapine: Mirtazapin antagonisiert präsynaptische α2-adrenerge Auto- und Heterorezeptoren und steigert so die Freisetzung von Noradrenalin und Serotonin. Citalopram: Citalopram hemmt selektiv den Serotonin-Wiederaufnahme-Transporter und erhöht die synaptische Verfügbarkeit von Serotonin bei begrenzter Affinität zu Noradrenalin-Transportern oder anderen Rezeptoren.
Indications compared
Mirtazapine: Mirtazapin ist zur Behandlung der schweren depressiven Episode zugelassen. Citalopram: Citalopram ist für die Major Depression zugelassen.
Safety profile
Mirtazapine: Häufige unerwünschte Wirkungen sind Sedierung (am stärksten in niedrigen Dosen 7,5–15 mg, paradoxerweise schwächer in höheren Dosen), gesteigerter Appetit, Gewichtszunahme, Mundtrockenheit und Schwindel. Citalopram: Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind Übelkeit, Mundtrockenheit, Kopfschmerzen, sexuelle Funktionsstörungen, Schlafstörungen und vermehrtes Schwitzen.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Is Mirtazapine better than Citalopram? ▾
Mirtazapine and Citalopram are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Mirtazapine and Citalopram be combined? ▾
Whether they can be combined depends on the indications and the interaction profile of each. If both are in a single prescription, the prescriber has weighed it; in self-medication they should never be combined.
Do they have the same side-effect profile? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each has its own prescribing information.
Products with Mirtazapine
Products with Citalopram
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