Trintellix and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "Trintellix has changed my life. I feel a sense of joy and purpose I've never felt before, and have relationships with people in positive, trusting ways. Depression and anxiety are managed and life is manageable for the first time. I take better care of myself and have a more stable, balanced life - and fun! My husband sees a huge difference in me. This med has been a game-changer after trying 9 other antidepressants with little luck. Who knew life could be so good? And no sexual side effects. It has been a lifesaver and I would do whatever I have to to stay on it."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2014

For Depression "This medication is absolutely amazing. I've tried Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Viibryd, Paxil, and Cymbalta over the course of ten years. Trintellix was the first medication that didn't give the unpleasant 'disconnected/sedated' side effects of other SSRIs. As a male, the sexual side effects are minute. I began on 5mg for two weeks and achieved a therapeutic dose of 10mg once a day. I have my life back and it also helps with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. I suggest taking it right before bed, as it can make you a little drowsy."

• ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2020

For Depression "I have been on Trintellix (have worked my way from 5mg dose to 20mg) for 8 months now. It has helped with anxiety a lot. It got me out of a sad place initially, but depressive symptoms came back after 4-5 months of taking it. I gained about 25 pounds and have stomach bloat. Sex drive is gone. I don't recommend Trintellix for long-term use. The weight gain and loss of sex drive only make the depressive symptoms worse."

• Ace...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2014

For Depression "I have been on every antidepressant under the sun. I kind of started to lose really all hope in everything. SSRI or SNRI's had really negative side effects (mostly sexual) or some would give me 'brain zaps' or other issues. Wellbutrin didn't really do much for me but forced up my dosage of Klonopin I had to take. All around, I would say this one is the best one I have tried so far. I have a very noticeable decrease in anxiety. I have only been on it for a month, the depression is better but still there, and I have random episodes of crying which I never had before (embarrassing as a 26-year-old man). No sexual side effects, no known side effects so far except the crying randomly. Will update later."

• Min...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2021

For Depression "I took the full 8 weeks to adjust, with a lot of stomach upset at first, but it gradually took away my anxiety, which was making it hard to function. I was much better but still had some depressive thoughts and early waking (minus anxiety). The doctor explained that 10 mg treats anxiety, 15 mg makes no difference, and 20 mg will treat the depression. So after a while, I opted to level up and experienced some adjustment turbulence again for a couple of weeks, then I was all good. Much, much better. I am living life in a calmer and more constructive way. None of the sexual dysfunction side effects I got from escitalopram (Lexapro), which was great for me otherwise. I swore I’d come back and review this, as I relied so heavily on reading these while I was waiting for relief. I won’t be putting myself back out in the cold with no meds ever again, it’s not pretty."

• cal...
• February 23, 2020

For Depression "Trintellix started working by the end of the second week and continues to. I am happier than I have ever been and so impressed that Trintellix was able to get me through the incredibly difficult last two months, e.g., changed jobs, had a project with an impossible deadline, the holidays, etc. I'm on 10mg daily. Side effect-wise, I have some sexual dysfunction (loss of libido, difficult to achieve orgasm), but right now, it seems worth it to feel this good. I've also lost weight. A new wrinkle as of 2 weeks ago is tinnitus. I only notice it when it's totally quiet, which hasn't made sleeping the best, so I take Trazodone to help with that, which works great. After two months, I'm still feeling great on the Trintellix, but the side effects aren't dissipating, and I'm wondering how long I will be able to deal with them. Definitely not forever. Will update if things change."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2019

For Depression "Reading so many other people having bad issues with this drug has me somewhat concerned. But at least for me so far, I am thrilled with Trintellix! It is not cheap but my insurance pays a good deal. And I have a good job. So I am completely willing to pay. I was taking Viibryd. But it stopped being effective. I have had no nausea or stomach issues. I have only been on it about a month. It was working much better than Viibryd within a week. I am much less irritable. No sexual side effects. I take this for both depression and OCD. It is not labeled for OCD. But antidepressants typically also work for OCD. And it does for me."

• che...
• July 24, 2014

For Depression "I've been on Brintellix for 4 months now. It is providing a mild antidepressant/anti-anxiety effect, but definitely not robust enough for my lifelong generalized anxiety disorder and depression. I'd give it a 3.5/10. It's better for me than Viibryd (the medicine it most closely resembles), but I'm still in a state of deep dysfunction. On the positive side, the side effects have been minimal, the most prominent being some decrease in sexual desire and sexual pleasure. (Not really an issue for me though since my anxiety and depression pretty much have a corner on that non-existent aspect of my life). Also, even with my decent insurance and Takeda's 'discount card,' the cost for a month's supply of 30mg a day (the dose I'm taking) is about $300. Not affordable."

• Lin...
• December 29, 2018

For Depression "I’ve been on Trintellix for 6 months, and it has been a very positive experience. It’s effective for anxiety and depression with little to no sexual side effects. I encourage people to stick with it for a few months before making any judgments. After reaching my titration level, things have been great. Make sure to take it with food. I learned that one the hard way..."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Had tried several other antidepressants and was close to giving up. Trintellix saved my life. I had increased energy and mood within a couple of weeks, started being able to be more active, and was able to think about the future without feeling overwhelmed. It was amazing. I've had depression for years and had forgotten what it felt like to actually be interested in life and not feel like dying every time I woke up in the morning. Side effects have been minimal: lots of nausea that has contributed to some weight loss but not enough to be worrisome, and it lowered my libido and made it slightly harder to orgasm. Compared to other things I tried, the side effects are hardly noticeable! BMI: 19.1, Trintellix 15 mg daily. I have noticed that if I miss a dose (I take it at night to reduce the nausea) and take it the next morning when I remember, I'm pretty irritable and down already just taking it 12 hours late. Overall, definitely recommend!!"

• MSU...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

For Depression "It’s been great. Take 10 mg nightly along with 300 mg Wellbutrin XL in the morning. Initial stomach problems for about 2 months, but now no problems. Could not tolerate drinking on this medication. No sexual side effects, which has been a godsend. If your insurance covers it or you can afford it, I recommend."

• row...
• August 31, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had tried Cipralex for a while when I was younger, and it helped with my depression, but the side effects were unpleasant and unhelpful. I had sexual dysfunction, blunted emotions, and a terrible crash after one beer, resulting in weeks of anxiety. I was off and barely scraping by without help for years when I finally saw a new doctor who listened to my story and recommended Trintellix. On the first day, I noticed my mood improve. Over the weeks, the residual anxiety vanished. I felt excited to wake up with the sun for the first time since childhood. The nausea was difficult to cope with, but if I take it before bed when already sleepy, I am asleep before the nausea starts. It helped my concentration a little, and we added Concerta to the mix. I still cry, but it's when I have a reason to now. Little things people take for granted, like vacuuming and doing laundry, are possible. It drained my savings, but it helped me feel ready to try again. I'm finally employed and getting somewhere again."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've had the side effects of nausea, diarrhea, and low sex drive. Even so, it has helped improve my mood and reduced my anxiety. The side effects have decreased in the past few weeks, but at first, they were bothersome. Largest complaint is the copay! Our cost is $122 after insurance! Outrageous. I probably won't be able to afford it for long. Sad because I finally found something that was working."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2021

For Depression "It took me a month to notice the effects, it works wonders. I have more energy and motivation. I take it in combination with Lamictal. It has no sexual side effects or fatigue. It's good for me, but your mileage may vary."

• jfl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2018

For Depression "I have tried many antidepressants, and I have to say, so far I am very happy with this one. You don't gain weight, you have energy, and you don't feel doom and gloom. It also does not give you anxiety. No sexual side effects. I have been on it for about two months, and so far, no issues. I am currently happy on this medication and hope that more improvements will come with longer usage."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2022

For Depression "I started Trintellix about 2 1/2 months ago. I take it along with Wellbutrin 150 mg and Remeron 7.5 mg at night, both of which I had been taking before I started the Trintellix. I take it for depression and anxiety. I started on 10 mg. From the first day I took it, I could feel a difference in my mood. After a couple of weeks, it really started to do wonders for my depression. My anxiety was greatly reduced as well. So far, the only side effect I have experienced is some sexual dysfunction, but I have suffered that with other SSRIs. A week ago, we increased the dose to 15 mg. I take 1 1/2 tabs daily (I use a good pill cutter). My insurance covered $45 a month without any issue. I don't yet know whether the 10 or 15 mg dose is optimal. I highly recommend this med if you have tried the other SSRIs/SNRIs without success."

• zra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2020

For Depression "I swapped from Cipralex to Trintellix because of the major sexual dysfunction Cipralex caused on me. I've been on 5 mg for 2 weeks now, and after 1.5 weeks, I really noticed improvement. At the beginning, I was feeling nauseous all the time and had diarrhea, but those went away with time. My erection is a lot better than it used to be, and I feel the sensation in my penis is also getting better. With Cipralex, it was just numb, and I had no libido. After 2 weeks, I highly recommend this drug. My anxiety is a lot better, but sleeping is still a bit difficult, and I need Zopinox to fall asleep, hoping it'll get better too."

• Poi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2017

For Depression "I almost never experience major side effects from any medications, and I have been off and on many antidepressants over the past 14 years. I was taking Zoloft for a couple of months, which was helping with my depressive symptoms, but I thought it might've been giving me sexual side effects, but I wasn't sure, so my doctor suggested trying Trintellix. He said it has a lower incidence of sexual side effects. Well, not only did Trintellix give me horrible sexual dysfunction and even lower libido, every time I took this drug for two weeks, I literally felt like I was coming down with the flu about 15 minutes later. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, feverish. I really do think this stuff is poisonous and needs to be pulled from the market."

• Poi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2017

For Depression "I almost never experience major side effects from any medications, and I have been off and on many antidepressants over the past 14 years. I was taking Zoloft for a couple of months, which was helping with my depressive symptoms, but I thought it might've been giving me sexual side effects, but I wasn't sure, so my doctor suggested trying Trintellix. He said it has a lower incidence of sexual side effects. Well, not only did Trintellix give me horrible sexual dysfunction and even lower libido, every time I took this drug for two weeks, I literally felt like I was coming down with the flu about 15 minutes later. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, feverish. I really do think this stuff is poisonous and needs to be pulled from the market."

• nec...
• November 26, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was taking Cipralex/Lexapro for a little over a month. It really helped my depression but gave me minor erectile dysfunction, delayed orgasm, and blocked orgasm. This was not worth staying on the drug. I have switched to Trintellix and now my mood is still great, and all the sexual problems are gone, great drug."

• Blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

For Depression "I have been treated for depression on and off throughout my life, I am currently in my middle sixties. There is a history of depression and bipolar disease in my family. At the beginning of the summer, I felt like I needed some help, I don’t like taking meds, but I just wasn’t feeling right. My therapist recommended a nurse therapist to possibly prescribe something to help my mood. I met with her and was prescribed Trintellix. She gave me samples starting with 5 mg a day for one week, increasing the dose to 10 mg thereafter. The nausea was horrible, it didn’t make a difference whether I took it with food or not. My libido sunk to a new low, I had so many GI symptoms including bloating, gas, and diarrhea. I took the med for 6 weeks. The nausea never subsided. I don’t know whether my depression was any better because I felt so sick. All I can say is this drug did not work for me, I have never had so many side effects from a medication."

• Alb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2015

For Depression "After trying many types of ADs, my psych put me on Brintellix (his guinea pig). Took a good 8 weeks for full effect, but has helped my depression tremendously. The only side effect I guess anyone doesn't want that I have is lower sex drive, apart from that, no others, and I feel fantastic. Still have anxiety, but it is also lower. This has worked for me. Now been 20 weeks."

• Ber...
• August 14, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on 10 mg for 8 weeks. It does help with my depression and panic attacks. But I have gained weight and feel numb towards my feelings. My sex drive is gone. I work out every day, but the weight is still coming. I have never had a problem losing weight, but now I do. The medicine keeps me from feeling the lows, but also from feeling the highs. I can feel that it has slowed metabolism down. I don't know what I should do, because, like I said, it has helped."

• rag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2017

For Depression "I stayed on this medicine for about 3 months. I started on 5 mg and worked to 10 mg. I loved the way I feel on it, but I cannot deal with the nausea it causes. Usually, about 15 minutes after taking it, the nausea sets in for about an hour to 2 hours. Some issues with decreased libido, but other than that, I had no other side effects. I finally asked my doctor to switch me to a different medicine due to the upset stomach."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2022

For Depression "I have been on many SSRIs and SNRIs. All had little to no positive effects and had awful sexual side effects. My GP recommended Trintellix as it is known for having less sexual side effects. I have been using it (10 mg dose) for about 2 years on and off, and it is incredible. I feel like a normal person again. My normal irritability, paranoia, depression, and apathy are completely gone. It is like night and day how I feel on and off this medication. And best of all, no sexual dysfunction! The side effects I had were: intense itching (lasted a week), nausea (ongoing, but hardly noticeable if I take the meds in the morning with food). The side effects are totally outweighed by how much better I feel taking Trintellix."