Employing mirtazapine to aid benzodiazepine withdrawal

Chandrasekaran PK
Correspondence: Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran, premkumar@pah.com.my

ABSTRACT
Insomnia and depression are frequently encountered in patients during withdrawal from substances. While there are no approved medications for treating them, off-label attempts to address these phenomena with mirtazapine have shown some promising results. This case describes the use of mirtazapine as an aid in benzodiazepine withdrawal and its potential benefits in alleviating insomnia and depression in a 32-year-old man. It was found to ameliorate sleep myoclonus that was thought to be associated with his withdrawal syndrome. It is hoped this report will generate interest and stimulate further research in this area of psychopharmacology.

Keywords: benzodiazepine withdrawal, depression, insomnia, mirtazapine, noradregenic selective serotonin antidepressant, sleep myoclonus
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(6): e166-e167