Trintellix is an oral tablet made up of a miscellaneous antidepressant called vortioxetine. We carry the brand choice of this medication in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg.

This medication is used to help treat major depressive disorder. Depression can be characterized by constant feelings of doom, sadness, hopelessness, all three, and more. Everyone has days where they feel sad, but when it becomes a daily interference, you may have depression. A person with depression may feel depressed throughout each day on most- if not all- days, lack of interest or enjoyment in activities you use to love participating in, over sleeping or insomnia, over eating or not eating enough, and lots more, including suicidal thoughts and actions. The exact cause of this condition is unknown; it is thought to be a chemical imbalance in the brain. What doctors do know is that there are many factors that will cause this unknown mechanism, such as early childhood or teenage trauma, low self-esteem, history of substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, family history, medical conditions, other mental disorders, and a lack of support system, especially in times of grief.

Trintellix (vortioxetine) is effective at treating major depressive disorder because it is able to affect brain chemicals, which may be imbalanced.

Follow only the directions given to you by your doctor. Do not take more or less of a dose than directed. For the full benefit of the medication, ensure you take it regularly and create a routine by taking it around the same time every day.

Trintellix can be taken with or without food.

Do not use Trintellix (vortioxetine)

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to vortioxetine, have used an MAO inhibitor in the past two weeks or plan on using one in the following 2 weeks, or if you are under the age of 18 years old.

Dose adjustment or special precautions may be required

To ensure serotonin syndrome does not occur, tell your doctor if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting.

To ensure this medication is safe for you, tell your doctor about all medical conditions, especially if you have bipolar disorder, a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts, liver disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, seizures or epilepsy, bleeding or blood clotting disorder, or low levels of sodium in your blood.

Risks

Some of the younger patients taking this medication may find suicidal thoughts as one of the possible side effects. Your family and caregivers should be aware of this and monitor you for mood or behavior changes. Your doctor may want you to come in for regular checkups.

Using Trintellix in the final 3 months of pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms, serious lung problems or other complications in the baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant. If you become pregnant while using this medication, do not stop taking your doses. The risk of stopping this medication suddenly may be higher than the risk of harm to the unborn baby if medication is continued.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medication. Speak with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Common side effects of Trintellix (vortioxetine) may include:

nausea; constipation; or vomiting.

The above side effects should not alarm you.

Serious side effects of Trintellix (vortioxetine) may include:

racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, unusual risk-taking behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness, being more talkative than usual; vision changes, eye pain, eye redness or swelling; easy bruising, unusual bleeding, coughing up blood;

low sodium level (may be more likely to occur in older adults) - confusion, memory problems, hallucinations, slurred speech, severe weakness, feeling unsteady; or

new or worsening symptoms - mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

If you have any of the above side effects or signs of complications, contact your doctor right away.

Please note this is not a complete list of side effects. Not everyone experiences side effects; they are not guaranteed. If you do have side effects and they become unmanageable, consult your doctor about alternate medications.

What is the average dose for an adult with depression?

The average dose for an adult with depression is 10mg, taken once a day. This dose may be increased or decreased to 5mg-20mg per day. The maximum dose is 20mg per day.

What should I avoid while using Trintellix?

Avoid driving or participating in other hazardous activities until you understand how this medication affects you. It can cause your reactions to be impaired.

Can children use this medication?

No. Anyone younger than 18 should not use this medication.

What else should I know about Trintellix?

Other drugs that may cause a drug interaction to occur include medicine to treat anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness such as schizophrenia, any other antidepressant, blood thinners, diuretics, fentanyl, tramadol, quinidine, rifampin, St.Johns wort, migraine medicines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like Advil or Motrin), and seizure medicines. This is not a complete list of drug interactions associated with vortioxetine (Trintellix).