mirtazapine

I have been taking mirtazapine for a month now. It seems the affectiveness of mirtazapine for keeping asleep for 6 to seven hours on cpap treatment. I am back to 4 to 5 hours. But it helps me fall asleep. But i have gained weight. I also quit smoking around the same time so with mirtazapine i have gained a lot of weight. Why does mirtazaine make you gain weight. I know it makes you hungrier but i have not changed my eating habits, now i am eating less and still gaining weight, WHY? I would value some insight into this? Thank you

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Many of the antidepressants can make you hungry or gain weight. Check with your prescribing doctor to see if there's an alternative. If you've gained a significant amount of weight since your last CPAP titration, the pressure may need to be re-calibrated. If your sleep apnea is not being treated effectively, then that's another reason to gain weight.