---
title: Mirtazapine Effectively Treats Methamphetamine Use Disorder
description: Among adults with methamphetamine use disorder, mirtazapine delivered in routine clinical practice reduced methamphetamine use compared with a placebo.
---

[Psych News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org)

# [Mirtazapine Effectively Treats Methamphetamine Use Disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/mirtazapine-effectively-treats-methamphetamine-use-disorder)

 Written by [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) | 4/3/26 6:09 PM

Among adults with methamphetamine use disorder, mirtazapine delivered in routine clinical practice reduced methamphetamine use compared with a placebo, according to a [study](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2847070) published in *JAMA Psychiatry*.

 

**Why It’s Relevant**

There is currently no approved medication to treat methamphetamine use disorder, even though it’s a [leading cause](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2839215) of drug-related deaths in the United States. Mirtazapine is a generic tetracyclic antidepressant that has [shown promise](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1107430) for reducing the use of methamphetamine among active users and is an appealing option due to its well-established safety profile.

 

**By the Numbers**

- Based in Australia, the researchers administered 30 mg per day of mirtazapine or placebo to 339 participants with methamphetamine use disorder (average age of 42, 37% female) for 12 weeks. At baseline, participants had used methamphetamine for a median of 24 of the past 28 days.
- By the end of the 12 weeks, **reported methamphetamine use in the past 28 days decreased by an average of seven days in the mirtazapine group compared with baseline**, while it fell by an average of 4.8 days in the placebo group.
- Mirtazapine was associated with an **8% reduction in the risk of methamphetamine use** for a given day.

 

**What’s More**

More participants in the mirtazapine group reported adverse events than the placebo group, including drowsiness (47% versus 33%) and weight gain (10% versus 3%). Forty participants discontinued mirtazapine due to adverse events compared with 25 participants in the placebo group.

 

**The Other Side**

The treatment effects of mirtazapine may have been diluted in this study because the participants were heavy users, had poor medication adherence, and had high discontinuation rates.

 

**Takeaway Message**

Reducing the number of days an individual uses methamphetamine has a positive impact on functional outcomes, including decreasing the risk of methamphetamine-related psychotic symptoms, the researchers wrote. “The clinical significance of these findings lies in identifying a safe and cheap generic medication that can be prescribed to help people reduce methamphetamine use,” they added.

 

**Related Information**

“[Naltrexone-Bupropion Combination May Reduce Methamphetamine Use](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2021.3.17)”

 

**Source**

Rebecca McKetin, et al. Mirtazapine for methamphetamine use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. *JAMA Psychiatry*. Published April 1, 2026. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0159

 

(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen)

 

[View full post](https://alert.psychnews.org/mirtazapine-effectively-treats-methamphetamine-use-disorder)

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