Aim: With this article, we intend to corroborate the assumed association between mirtazapine and arthralgia by presentation of eight case reports, and we describe a possible mechanism of action.
Methods and results: The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb received eight case reports on arthralgia associated with use of mirtazapine. These case reports are presented in short. We also present worldwide data on this association.
Conclusions: The Lareb reports support the association between mirtazapine and arthralgia. A comparison is made between mirtazapine, mianserin and nefazodone, as these antidepressants show similarities in their mode of action and are all associated with arthralgia. We suggest that this adverse drug reaction may be induced by enhanced 5HT1-mediated neurotransmission.