Two medicines, side by side
Mirtazapine vs quetiapine
Mirtazapine and quetiapine are both labeled for depression. Drugs@FDA records approvals of mirtazapine since 1996 and of quetiapine since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.063 per mirtazapine 15 mg tablet and $0.127 per quetiapine fumarate 300 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the mirtazapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 6, 2025); the quetiapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 10, 2026).
Highlights of the mirtazapine record
Mirtazapine (Remeron) · label of August 6, 2025
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients in short-term studies. Closely monitor all antidepressant-treated patients for clinical worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. REMERON/REMERONSolTab is not approved for use in pediatric patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsREMERON/REMERONSolTab are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. REMERON/REMERONSolTab is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 14, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.063 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the quetiapine record
Quetiapine (Seroquel) · label of April 10, 2026
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. SEROQUEL is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsSEROQUEL is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of: • Schizophrenia ( 1.1 ) • Bipolar I disorder manic episodes (1.2) • Bipolar disorder, depressive episodes (1.2) 1.1 Schizophrenia SEROQUEL is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. The efficacy of SEROQUEL in schizophrenia was established in three 6-week trials in adults and one 6-week trial in adolescents (13-17 years). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 26, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 48 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.127 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Mirtazapine label of August 6, 2025, Quetiapine label of April 10, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do mirtazapine and quetiapine differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Mirtazapine, “The mechanism of action of mirtazapine for the treatment of major depressive disorder, is unclear.”; Quetiapine, “The mechanism of action of quetiapine in the listed indications is unclear.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Mirtazapine, “Elimination Mirtazapine has a half-life of about 20 to 40 hours following oral administration of REMERON or …”; Quetiapine, “Elimination of quetiapine is mainly via hepatic metabolism with a mean terminal half-life of about 6 hours within the …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: mirtazapine since 2003; quetiapine since 2012 (Drugs@FDA).
| Mirtazapine | Quetiapine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of mirtazapine for the treatment of major depressive disorder, is unclear. | The mechanism of action of quetiapine in the listed indications is unclear. However, the efficacy of quetiapine in these indications could be mediated through a combination of dopamine type 2 (D 2 ) and serotonin type 2 (5HT 2 ) antagonism. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination Mirtazapine has a half-life of about 20 to 40 hours following oral administration of REMERON or REMERONSolTab. | Elimination of quetiapine is mainly via hepatic metabolism with a mean terminal half-life of about 6 hours within the proposed clinical dose range. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 14, 1996 | September 26, 1997 |
| First generic approved | January 24, 2003 | March 27, 2012 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 48 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.063 per tablet (Mirtazapine 15 mg tablet) | $0.127 per tablet (Quetiapine fumarate 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -9% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 91,057 | 191,480 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Mirtazapine label, warnings and precautionsIncreased risk when co-administered with other serotonergic drugs (e.g., SSRI, SNRI, triptans), but also when taken alone.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to mirtazapine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions