Mirtazapine may be useful in treating nausea and insomnia of cancer chemotherapy

Abstract

Mirtazapine is an antidepressant that has a receptor-binding profile that may suit it for use in controlling the nausea and insomnia of highly emetic cancer chemotherapy. Mirtazapine binds to and is antagonistic at the 5HT3 receptor, as are the group of medicines related to ondansetron. Mirtazapine is anxiolytic by virtue of its antagonism of the 5HT2 receptor, and is strongly sleep inducing. The resulting sleep quality tends to be superior to that induced by benzodiazapines. There has been concern about mirtazapine’s potential to suppress bone marrow function, so that further study is required before routine use in chemotherapy can be adopted.