The use of complex psychopharmacological regimens is increasingly advocated in more difficult to treat depressive illness. The combination of venlafaxine with mirtazapine – ‘California rocket fuel’ is one such example involving an SNRI combined with a NaSSA. We describe two cases that highlight the potential usefulness of duloxetine used in combination with mirtazapine that also emphasise the danger of drug-induced hypomanic switching. This combination may have a specific role for carefully selected patients but caution is needed given the potential to induce profound alterations in mental state.
