As per the outcomes of a comparison study, Mirtazapine was found to be more effective for easing the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms concerning gastric emptying, as published in ‘Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench’. Although no better outcome supported the use of Mirtazapine for anxiety, Mirtazapine revealed better outcomes in functional dyspepsia (FD)-patients with depression.

Negin Jamshidfar and colleagues compared the effectiveness of Mirtazapine and Nortriptyline in FD patients who presented anxiety or depression. To solve the basis of this randomized clinical trial, a total of 42 FD patients were divided into two groups (Mirtazapine 7.5 mg/daily group with 22 patients and Nortriptyline 25 mg/day group with 20 patients) who were treated for 12 weeks. Pregnant patients, those with a history of antidepressant therapy, organic diseases, alcohol misuse and major psychiatric ailments were let off. Included patients were assessed by using the Nepean questionnaire and Hamilton questionnaires, before initiating the treatment, during, and at the end of the treatment.

As compared to Nortriptyline, Mirtazapine considerably repressed the symptoms, such as eructation, epigastric pain and bloated stomach. Also, Mirtazapine had a lower mean depression score of the Hamilton questionnaire at the end of the therapy leading to improved results when compared to Nortriptyline. No significant differences amongst the effects of these antidepressants on the anxiety scale of patients were found.