Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• ricks...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 14, 2024

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I had major depressive disorder for decades and had been on every antidepressant med., so when I saw a psychiatrist (2014 or 2015) at the insistence of my psychologist, the psychiatrist confirmed that I had been on every antidepressant med. with, at most, brief benefit. She suggested trying a new med., which was originally called Brintellix. My depressive symptoms had included long periods - weeks, months - of extreme depression in reaction to even minor triggering events. I was in one of the long periods of extreme depression when I began taking this medication. The morning after my first dose, I was relieved of the intensity and even of a mildly depressed affect. Since then, I have had brief periods of very disturbing depression, but they have been only periods of hours. I have not had any periods of depressive affect or behavior lasting more than a few hours. I have had mild symptoms from time to time, but none where I could not function. I can still feel hopeless or sometimes."

• Whobe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2019

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "This stuff Trintellix is pretty close to a miracle for me. I have had terrible reactions to SSRIs to the point where I was told to not try anymore. I went through 2 long depressive periods, the last for several months with almost constant suicidal thoughts. My anxiety was at a level that I was frozen and isolated. I tried the Dr one last time. He prescribed this at 5mg Trintellix and 0.5 klonopin 2x daily. Within one week, I was completely myself again. Myself in a way I hadn't been in years. I don't feel drugged, just normal with normal anxiety in appropriate situations, but that's lowered. I have not gained a pound. There was no nausea for me. The only issue was it does make me sleepy, so I take a few hours before bed. So happy to have found this, I would urge anyone with issues with older SSRIs to give it a shot."

• 3rd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2024

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Switching to this drug was easier than with other SSRIs as I did not have to wean for a month and then start this one. There was only a week of possible issues, but those were mitigated with a temporary medication. It does upset my stomach, even after 3 years on 10 mg, so I have to make sure I take it immediately after eating a good-sized meal. I also take Metamucil regularly due to the tendency toward constipation, although I do have IBS-C anyway. I have lately found it to be less effective than when I first started. There has been an increase in crying, racing thoughts, an increase in irritability, etc. My spouse notices within 24 hours if I have missed a dose due to personality changes. I will be addressing these issues with my doctor at my next scheduled visit. Drugs tend to become less effective with me over time in general, so I'm not sure if this is an issue with the drug itself or with my particular physiology."

• John
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2024

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "74-year-old white male (Retired MD) with multiple years of major depression. No meds until retired at age 70, then prescribed multiple medication treatments, settling on Trintellix 20 mg qam for 4 months. It took at least 3 months before noticing any change. Abilify 5 mg qam was added at 3 months, after which improvement in depression, attitude, and sleep patterns were noticed. During the first 2 months, experienced severe and frequent suicidal thoughts (wrote the letter twice), with no other side effects. If not for my 401k, I could not afford the $300 per month for Trintellix and $200 per month for Abilify. I have been contemplating stopping both medications and trying to manage without them. Unsure whether the depression of life is worse than the depression of depleting my hard-earned 401k. If I were single (widowed), I would definitely consider stopping the medications due to concerns about financial stability. Being old, depressed, and grumpy seems better than being old, depressed, and impoverished."

• eliza...
• August 9, 2016

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "This medication is a game changer. I've been on 20 mg once per day (at night works best for me) for about 5 months. It is by far the best medication I have tried. Initially started on 10 mg, and raised my dose 2 months in. Pros: Overall heightened mood, more energy, ability to feel array of emotions, no sexual dysfunction (many antidepressants are famous for causing this), increases ability to enjoy activities I used to love. Neutral: does not treat my anxiety very well alone. Cons: nausea when starting the medication and increasing dose, more expensive than traditional antidepressants. Overall, I love this medication. I will definitely continue on it. I have seen a big improvement since trying Trintellix."

• Mikey...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2023

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Trintellix has been a life saver. It’s extremely powerful and the side effects are low. It works rather quickly compared to other Antidepressants . It’s kind of like Wellbutrin as the mechanism of action is different than most SSRI / SNRI . It has its own unique feeling . Not as bad emotional blunting and horrible sexual side effects like Zoloft or Prozac . It’s very expensive with no generic available but the insurance companies are starting to cover it and there is supposed to be a generic available in 2027 hopefully. I was in a dark place and it pulled me out . Also it’s not extremely addictive like other antidepressants."

• Trint...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 5, 2020

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Definitely mixed feelings about Trintellix after being on this medication for a year. Prior to this I took Paxil and abandoned that horror due to reduced emotions and feelings for anything or anyone. Began Trintellix and you'd swear I was bipolar (which I'm not). I wake up some mornings, take a 20 mg. tablet and feel happy, but severely anxious. Throughout the day the anxiety builds up until the evening. The evening sucks. The anxiety slowly builds into depression, wake up the next day and it happens all over again like groundhog day."

• jewel...
• April 8, 2014

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Great experience so far. Month three, ramping up to 20 mg a day. Constipation side effect eliminated by 2 fiber capsules a day. No sexual side effects and feeling much more like myself! No weight gain!"

• mlovesd
• January 6, 2021

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I was on every drug in the book for depression, Prozac, Wellburtin, Pristiq, Cipralex, nothing took the edge off at all. Lost my mother to depression in July of 2019. Nothing could be worse. Was not on anything but Prozac at the time, and I wasn't doing well. Addicted to benzos, I was struggling. Doctor placed me on Trintellix, 10mg. Was kind enough to give me samples until I got coverage. Had a bit of a setback and fell into a depression six months later. Was boosted to 20mg and now I am doing fantastic. Depressive episodes do come back for a few days at a time but they are easier to handle if you get back in routine and force yourself. I think this is a great drug, I lost all hope in antidepressants previously."

• Bella
• May 11, 2019

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Prescribed 10 mg a day of Trintellix for depression, and the first 10 days I was sick to my stomach and itching, so I take an antihistamine at the same time at bedtime. Day 11 started feeling markedly better, nausea was gone, still itching, but less. Day 14 my overall feeling was 50 percent better than when I started the drug. Today, day 16 saw my doctor again. I had lost weight, my overall anxiety is much better, the depression 70 percent better. All my aches and pains have disappeared. The doctor gave me 2 months of samples and told me to come back in a month if I thought I needed to, otherwise continue as directed. I've been on multiple antidepressants over the years, none worked even half as well as the Trintellix"

• Reborn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 29, 2018

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I used to be on generic escitalopram for 6-7 years. It worked really well at the time, but as I was now becoming an adult (21 now), my major depressive episodes were happening more frequently. I had more adult stress; full-time student, part-time worker, full-time bills. It was becoming too much. I switched psychiatrist and psychologist due to personal reasons and insurance. My new psychiatrist gave me free samples of Trintellix to try for a month. She said it's newer than escitalopram, it's usually faster and has more SSRIs. After 6 days, I began to feel really great. I was able to pay attention in lectures again, I felt so energetic that I started going back to the gym, and I just felt more like myself again. Like a 2.0. It could've been a placebo effect, but after taking it for almost a year now, I can tell you I feel incredible :)"

• Was...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2014

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I had been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and have been treated with medicines that, at that time, were the best. Venlafaxine being the latest. However, the effects were decreasing over time. After 12 years and having so many side effects, now I am on Trintellix 20mg daily...wow, there is life. My mood is elevated, my outlook, self-esteem, and confidence have returned to normal. My energy level has skyrocketed. My sleep is more restful. Negative thoughts are diminished. Day-to-day living is now controllable. Clear thought process, not a drugged feeling. I am a very content person. Focus on the enabling versus the negativity. Started on 10mg daily, increased to 20mg after 3 weeks, and a slow reduction in my venlafaxine. One side effect is nausea I noted, but a dry snack helps."

• Becca
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2024

"I have refractory MDD and have been on a lot of different antidepressants. SSRIs were of little use, SNRIs seemed to work fine, and an adjunct of quetiapine was useful. Sadly, after a year, I relapsed again and was started on vortioxetine. It made a HUGE difference. I went from actively suicidal to feeling 20 years younger in a few weeks. The main problem, like SNRIs, is that it causes sexual dysfunction. In my case, lowering my dose to 10mg helped, but also meant I retained some sexual function. For me, this was a very good antidepressant, although I cannot comment on its long-term effects. Certainly, 3 weeks has made a huge difference."

• tarad
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2014

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Week four on Trintellix, 10mg to start, upped to 20mg for 3 weeks now, no side effects as of yet. I'm feeling better every day it seems. I feel happy again, less agitation, more energy, and motivation. My personal relationships, which were quickly deteriorating, are seeming to return to normal! My only wish is that I'd found this medication much sooner. Best wishes to anyone else with this medication! (My insurance is needing a pre-authorization to cover this medication, just a note for others.)"

• adria...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2023

"Just hit the 4-week mark and I feel more like me, not artificially happy, just me. Didn't experience the heavy side effects, some days stomach discomfort, one day on week 3 mild nausea, and that's it. Been on 10mg. I'm making plans for Christmas and New Year's, no longer staying in bed or on the couch for endless hours, doing more of the things I used to like, going to the stadium to see my team, playing my instruments, doing my Legos, arranging and cleaning the house, keeping up on work and deadlines. I have MDD, anxiety, and ADHD, and it has helped with all of them. There are still residual feelings sometimes in the background, but nothing major. I started to feel better by week 3, and now it's been 10 normal days. I'm not happy and euphoric all the time, just normal, except when called for. For me, it's the meds for the cerebral and physical issues, and the therapy for the emotional issues. It has to be both, along with better sleep. I hope it works for you as it has for me."

• Rae
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2019

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I have noticed positive improvements in my mood and fatigue since switching from Effexor to Trintellix. I’m not terribly flatlined in my emotions (like with Effexor) but there are other side effects I’ve experienced. Nausea is a consistent side effect of Trintellix, and I typically get it 20ish minutes after taking my meds, and then it fades after a while. Also I’ve noticed appetite suppressing effects, which I’m not upset about, since I gained considerable weight on my last med. Overall I’m satisfied with Trintellix and would recommend it to someone who hasn’t done well on other antidepressants."

• Jashan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2024

"I have tried almost all the antidepressants SNRIs and SSRIs, but never gave a try to this one because I thought it's a new one and might not work as effectively as old ones. Even if I have tried it before, it was only at 5 mg or 10 mg dosage because at that time it was very costly and the generic was not available. Now, after trying all the antidepressants and still having residual symptoms even while on 37.5 mg of paroxetine, my doctor suggested that instead of augmenting with an antipsychotic, I give vortioxetine another try but at a higher dosage. So this time, I started with 20 mg of vortioxetine, and it's only been a week but I'm happy doing my work with no residual symptoms left. I quit paroxetine cold turkey and started 20 mg of vortioxetine without tapering. The only complaint I have is acid reflux after starting it, so I have to take PPI on an empty stomach daily. I'm sharing this review to let people know that it works for me at 20 mg. 5 mg and 10 mg were not effective for me."

• Scotto
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2023

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "So I was on it about a year ago for major depression. At the time of starting it, I was a borderline alcoholic. It helped with my issues but ended up giving me migraines, so I stopped. But besides that, I still don't drink alcohol. I miss drinking, but when I take a sip of any alcoholic beverage, I end up throwing it away. I'm blaming the Trintellix, but in a good way. I don't wake up every day wanting to drink, but I'm still depressed, which sucks. At least I'm not numbing myself by drinking. It definitely gave me a sense of happiness. I do miss taking it for the most part, just the migraines I got were the worst. It was 10mg pills."

• Beans...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2023

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Trintellix was excellent at reducing my anxiety. At my most anxious of times, it would make me feel like it was just another day. My life is super stressful caring for a dying parent so any relief from feeling constantly anxiety-ridden was so helpful. HOWEVER, the side effects outweigh the benefits. I would often feel nauseated and throw up. I got involuntary muscle spasms that have still not gone away 2 months later. I could still enjoy intercourse, but I was never aroused. It also made me feel like I had an eating disorder. When I was hungry, I was HUNGRY. I would overeat and consume WAY too much - especially sugar. I gained like 15-20 lbs on Trintellix and had to be put on blood pressure medication for the first time in my life. Ultimately, my doctor decided it wasn't in my best interest to continue using it. When I got off of Trintellix, I felt like a cloud have been lifted. I felt happier and could feel emotions again. I've also lost some of the weight I put on from using it."

• Alien...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2023

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I took trintellix for three weeks due to my previous antidepressant losing effectiveness. I started with 5 mg and had gone up to 10 mg when I was overwhelmed by anxiety. Because you can’t just quit, I had to wean myself off of the drug. I dropped to 5 mg for a week and then finally stopped. I still have symptoms of anxiety as I wait for the effects to go away. I had never experienced anxiety until I started taking this drug. I am now dealing with major depression and anxiety at the same time. I do not endorse the use of this drug."

• RDCCJJK
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2022

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "First I want to start by saying, a majority of the negative reviews are people coming off a previous antidepressant & starting Trintellix. The "side effects" you may think are from Trintellix, COULD be withdrawal from your previous antidepressant! I've gone through this 6 times with switching from 1 to another & the withdrawals from the previous medication kick in normally by day 3 & can last weeks/months depending on the med your switching off from. With that being said, IF possible, always try to give the new med at least a full 3 months to adjust & the withdrawals from precious med should have subsided. I'm not saying some of the side effects aren't from Trintellix, but majority of the major side effects people feel are withdrawal symptoms. If you stayed reading this long, onto the review. I'm coming off Prozaz onto Trintellix. Slight nausea but nothing major. Take with food. Helps keep the sadness away. Works for me"

• JRH
• November 12, 2016

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I started this med in September of 2015. I have been on 30 psychotropic medications over the past twenty years to manage my MDD and anxiety. Had 30-ish ECT treatments as well. Also have regular CBT therapy. Nothing was working for more than a couple of months. However, I started Trintellix and saw improvement within a month. After a decade of a depressive episode that I never got into remission from, I was in partial remission. No, it isn't complete remission but I've dealt with the fact that that may not be in the cards for me. I haven't had active suicidal thoughts in a year. Until that point, I hadn't gone without suicidal thoughts for more than a month. This drug has been a lifesaver for me. No side effects."

• Better...
• November 21, 2016

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I have been on medication for about 4 weeks. Antidepressants have always been my best friend. This drug has been remarkable thus far. No major side effects physically. The main problem I am dealing with are dreams, but mostly nightmares. I take my medication usually before lunch. I missed it one day and took it before bedtime, never again. I was awake most of the night. I am successfully weaning off of Xanax & THC during this period with great success. No thoughts of suicide. Life seems better. I'm in my late 40s and a full-time student. I would totally recommend this medication because this is the first time in life that I feel more myself. Hey, I can even crack a smile... something I haven't done in years."

• Siege
• June 12, 2019

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "I have tried a few anti-depressants over the years since my 20's, like Celexa, Cymbalta, Lexapro (not good for me), Wellbutrin (not good for me in combo with Cymbalta), and now, Trintillex. I did the genetic testing after my experience on Trintillex and found that I have a genetic expression where my brain does not utilize serotonin very well due to fewer receptor sites (SSRI's are not good for me- it's the SLC6A4 gene if you are curious). Trintillex has a very high effects on serotonin receptor sites, so I did not do well on it at all. I had racing/hypo-manic thoughts, itching, higher appetite with food and sex, tinnitus, loose stools, insomnia, nausea, and very high energy. I would highly recommend doing the genetic test through your PCP or Psychiatrist/Nurse Practitioner to determine your specific needs due to your specific genetics. Not every medication will work for everyone, and reviews can only tell us so much."

• LAano
• May 27, 2017

Trintellix (vortioxetine) "Best (and most expensive) medication I've ever been on. I've been prescribed every other SSRI, and they gave me side effects of sleepiness and indifference. I have only experienced slight nausea for about 2 hours, 15 minutes after I take my Trintellix. This only lasted the first two weeks. The nausea is the only reason I give this a 9/10. Anxiety and paranoia have been greatly reduced, energy is amazing, and no sleepiness or indifference. I had genetic testing done, and I am deficient in folic acid and don't produce it on my own. I complement the Trintellix with methylfolate by Biotics Lab (Deplin is expensive). I'm happier than I've ever been, and no sexual dysfunctions have happened, so I am extremely thankful for this medication."