What Is Axit Used For?

Axit contains the active ingredient mirtazapine and is prescribed to treat depression, including preventing it from coming back.

Primary Uses

Axit is used to treat depression, including helping prevent relapse. Depression is more than just feeling low – it’s a longer-lasting condition that affects your whole body and can cause symptoms like loss of interest in activities, sleep problems, changes in appetite, low energy, and feelings of guilt.

How It Works

Depression is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain. Axit works by correcting this chemical imbalance, which may help relieve the symptoms of depression.

How to Take Axit

Take Axit exactly as your doctor tells you. The dose and timing will be specifically tailored to your needs.

Dosage Instructions

The usual starting dose is 15 mg per day. Your doctor may slowly increase this dose depending on how you respond to Axit. The effective dose for most people is usually between 30 mg and 45 mg per day. Take at about the same time each day, preferably as a single dose at bedtime. If recommended by your doctor, it may be taken in divided doses (once in the morning and once at bedtime). Swallow the tablets with water or other fluid, with or without food. Do not crush or chew the tablets. The 15 mg and 30 mg tablets can be divided in half along the breakline if advised by your doctor.

What If You Miss a Dose?

For once daily dosing: If you forget to take the tablet before bed, do not take the missed dose the next morning as it may cause drowsiness during the day. Continue with your normal evening dose. For twice daily dosing: If you forget the morning dose, take it with your evening dose. If you forget the evening dose, do not take it with the next morning dose. If you forget both doses, do not try to make up for the missed tablets – just continue with your usual doses the next day.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Increased appetite and weight gain
• Lethargy, drowsiness, or sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Nausea, vomiting
• Constipation, diarrhea
• Back pain
• Muscle aches and pains
• Memory problems
• Nightmares/vivid dreams
• Anxiety, insomnia
• Swollen ankles or feet
• Skin rash
• Tiredness
• Tingling fingers or toes
• Restless legs
• Speech disorders
• Difficulty passing urine
• Prolonged painful erection

Important Warnings

There are important safety considerations before taking Axit. Make sure to discuss your medical history with your doctor.

Who Should Not Take Axit

Do not take Axit if you are allergic to mirtazapine or any ingredients in the tablets. Do not take if you are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days, as this can cause a serious reaction with sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, and severe convulsions. Examples include phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and selegiline.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have: thoughts of suicide or self-harm, epilepsy, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, low blood pressure, certain heart rhythm conditions, mental illness (schizophrenia, manic depression), diabetes, glaucoma, enlarged prostate causing urination problems, unexplainable high fever with sore throat and mouth ulcers, or galactose intolerance.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Axit is not recommended during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you take Axit until or shortly before birth, your baby should be supervised for possible adverse effects. It is not known whether Axit passes into breast milk.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Axit and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.

• Erythromycin (antibiotic)
• Ketoconazole (antifungal)
• HIV/AIDS medications
• Cimetidine (for reflux and stomach ulcers)
• Nefazodone (for depression and anxiety)
• Phenytoin or carbamazepine (for epilepsy)
• Rifampicin (for tuberculosis)
• Other depression medicines (SSRIs, venlafaxine, L-tryptophan)
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
• St. John’s Wort
• Benzodiazepines
• Morphine
• Lithium
• Methylene blue
• Tramadol
• Linezolid (antibiotic)
• Triptans (sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan)
• Cetirizine (for allergies)
• Heart rhythm medications
• Warfarin (blood thinner)

Alcohol & Driving

Axit can affect your ability to drive safely and may interact dangerously with alcohol.

Alcohol

You are advised not to drink alcohol while taking Axit. Combining Axit and alcohol can make you more sleepy and less alert.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Axit affects you. Axit may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or sleepiness in some people and affect alertness and concentration.

Storage

Store Axit below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Keep tablets in their blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground, away from children. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills.

Overdose Information

If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Axit, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Symptoms may include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, agitation, and changes to heart rhythm (fast, irregular heartbeat) or fainting. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if there are no signs of discomfort.

Frequently Asked Questions