Mianserin is a tetracyclic antidepressant that is similar to the tricyclic anti-depressants (TCAs).

When depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of the chemicals noradrenaline and serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain. When these chemicals are released from nerve cells they act to lighten mood. When they are reabsorbed into the nerve cells, they no longer have an effect on mood.

Mianserin works by preventing the re-absorption of noradrenaline back into the nerve cells. It may also act to block certain receptors in the brain that bind released serotonin. This helps enhance and prolong the mood-lightening effect of any released noradrenaline and serotonin, thereby helping relieve depression.

Special precautions

• People who have recently had a heart attack
• Enlarged prostate gland (prostatic hypertrophy)
• Elderly people
• Diabetes
• Defect of the heart's electrical message pathways resulting in decreased function of the heart (heart block)
• Decreased liver function
• Decreased kidney function
• Closed angle glaucoma

Not to be used in

• Severe liver disease
• Mania
• Epilepsy
• Children
• Breastfeeding

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• The safety of this medicine during breastfeeding has not been established. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
• This medicine should not be used in pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. Joint pain (arthralgia)

• Disturbances of liver function
• Breast pain and tenderness or male breast enlargement
• Mild yellowing of the skin and eyes (mild jaundice)
• A mild degree of mania (hypomania)
• A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)
• Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling (oedema)
• Dizziness
• Decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow (bone marrow suppression)
• Seizures (convulsions)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep all appointments with your doctor.