If you have depression, your doctor may recommend that you take Trintellix. Trintellix can be used to treat a condition called major depressive disorder in adults.

Trintellix basics

Trintellix contains the active drug ingredient vortioxetine. It’s available as a tablet that you take by mouth. It belongs to a group of medications called antidepressants.

Trintellix generic

At this time, Trintellix is only available as a brand-name drug. It isn’t available as a generic medication.

Trintellix has side effects, and you can learn more about them.

Trintellix may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common side effects of Trintellix are described in the lists below. All possible side effects are not included in these lists.

Side effects of a drug can depend on other factors.

  • Your age.
  • You have other health conditions.
  • You take other drugs.

For more information about Trintellix’s side effects, see this article. Your doctor or pharmacist can also tell you more about the potential side effects of Trintellix. And they can suggest ways to help relieve side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Trintellix can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Trintellix’s prescribing information.

Trintellix has been reported to have some mild side effects.

The side effect focus section gives more information about this side effect.

The side effects of many drugs can be gone in a few days. If they become intolerable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Trintellix can have serious side effects, but they are not common. If you have serious side effects from Trintellix, you should call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, you should call the emergency number.

Trintellix has been reported to have serious side effects.

The side effect focus section gives more information about this side effect.

Side effect focus

Trintellix may cause some side effects.

Boxed warning

Trintellix has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Although rare, it’s possible for antidepressants such as Trintellix to cause suicidal thoughts or behaviors in people who are ages 18 to 24 years. (Trintellix is not recommended for use in children at this time.)

What can help?

Before you start taking Trintellix, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. They may monitor you more often for mood changes, especially when you start taking Trintellix or your dosage changes.

While you are taking Trintellix, your family or friends should also watch for changes in your mood or suicidal thoughts. They should let you and your doctor know of any changes they notice.

If you have suicidal thoughts or behaviors during Trintellix treatment, you should tell your doctor. They may recommend changing your medication.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

If you think someone is at risk of self-injury or hurting another person.

  • You can call your local emergency number.
  • Stay with the person until help arrives.
  • Guns, knives, medications, and other things should be removed.
  • “Don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you should get help from a hotline. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255.

Sexual side effects

Sexual side effects often occur from taking antidepressants such as Trintellix, and they can affect both males and females.*

Trintellix may cause sexual side effects.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

What can help?

If you have any sexual side effects, talk to your doctor. They may be able to recommend treatment that will decrease your sexual side effects.

Nausea and vomiting

You may experience nausea and vomiting while taking Trintellix. In studies, these two side effects commonly occurred in people taking the drug.

What can help?

Some side effects may lessen as you continue taking Trintellix. For example, in studies of this drug, nausea usually lasted for about 2 weeks. But in some people, this side effect lasted longer.

If you are having nausea or vomiting from taking Trintellix, talk to your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to relieve the side effects. Your doctor may recommend that you take another medication.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Trintellix.

A mild allergic reaction can include some symptoms.

A more severe allergic reaction is not uncommon. A severe allergic reaction can cause swelling under your skin, which can be seen in your eyes, lips, hands, and feet. They can include swelling of your mouth, throat, and tongue, which can cause trouble breathing.

If you have an allergic reaction to Trintellix, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, call the emergency number.

Find out what the answers are to some questions.

Are any reviews available from people who’ve taken Trintellix?

While the manufacturer doesn’t have reviews on its website, it does feature first-person testimonials. Learning about the experiences of others who’ve taken Trintellix may help you decide whether the drug is right for you.

“Every person has their own body response to medications. You can’t tell how your body will react to a treatment based on someone else’s experience.”

Is Trintellix used for anxiety, ADHD, OCD, or bipolar disorder?

No, it isn’t. At this time, Trintellix is only used to treat major depressive disorder. It’s not used to treat anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or bipolar disorder. It’s not known whether the drug is a safe or effective treatment option for these conditions.

But your doctor could recommend taking the drug off-label for any of these conditions except for bipolar disorder. This means using the medication for a purpose other than what it’s approved for by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Studies suggest that Trintellix may be effective for treating anxiety or ADHD, though more research is needed. You should take Trintellix for these conditions only if your doctor prescribes it.

If you want to take Trintellix off-label, you need to talk to your doctor.

Does Trintellix cause weight gain, It is too sleepy., There is a throbbing head., insomnia, or hair loss?

Trintellix has side effects.

In studies of people taking Trintellix, no major changes in weight were reported. But other antidepressants, such as A drug., may cause weight gain.

Sleepiness, There is a throbbing head., and insomnia (trouble sleeping or falling asleep) also aren’t side effects of Trintellix. But you may develop these side effects if you suddenly stop taking Trintellix. (This is referred to as discontinuation syndrome.) So it’s recommended that you do not stop taking Trintellix without first talking with your doctor.

“If you need to stop taking Trintellix, your doctor will likely recommend that you slowly stop taking the drug. This will allow your body to adjust, so you won’t have the side effects.”

Although Trintellix doesn’t cause hair loss, it can be a side effect of other antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac).

If you are experiencing any of the following during your treatment with Trintellix, please talk to your doctor. They may be able to determine what is causing these symptoms and suggest the right treatment options to address them.

Is Trintellix an SSRI?

No, Trintellix isn’t a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs work by increasing serotonin levels in your brain. Although Trintellix is an antidepressant and does affect serotonin levels, it’s not considered an SSRI. It isn’t completely understood exactly how Trintellix works to treat depression.

Will I have withdrawal symptoms from stopping Trintellix treatment?

If you suddenly stop taking Trintellix, you may have withdrawal symptoms. People taking 15 to 20mg of Trintellix daily reported this. Symptoms may include:

If you stop taking Trintellix, you can avoid withdrawal symptoms by reducing your dose. If you need to stop taking Trintellix, you should talk to your doctor.

Is Trintellix a controlled substance?

Trintellix is not a controlled substance. The federal government regulates controlled substances.

In most cases, controlled substances can be misused and may even cause dependence. Misuse is taking a medication in a different way than how it was prescribed. Dependence is when you need to take a medication to function as usual.

Most medications used to treat depression are not controlled substances.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Trintellix that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Forms and strengths

Trintellix is a small, soft, tasteless, and odorless, tablets that you can take by mouth. It has strengths of 5, 10, and 20.

Recommended dosages

Your doctor will tell you the best dose to take. You will take this medication by mouth.

Your doctor can increase or decrease the dose of the drug for you based on how well it is working for you. The maximum dosage for Trintellix can be given to your doctor.

Questions about Trintellix’s dosage

There are answers to a few questions about Trintellix.

  • What if I miss a dose of Trintellix? If you miss your dose of Trintellix, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to take your next dose. In some cases, they may recommend taking your dose as soon as you remember. Or they may recommend skipping your missed dose and taking your next dose as scheduled.
  • Will I need to use Trintellix long term? If Trintellix is working to treat your depression, your doctor will likely recommend that you take it long term.
  • How long does Trintellix take to work? Trintellix begins working after you take your first dose of medication. But it can take up to 2 weeks for Trintellix to reach a steady level in your body. So you may not see the maximum benefit of taking Trintellix for 2 weeks.

For more details on Trintellix’s dosage, see this article.

If you’d like to learn about alternatives to Trintellix, such as sertraline (Zoloft), check out this article. It has detailed comparisons of Trintellix versus Zoloft and these drugs:

Talk to your doctor about the drugs that are recommended for your condition.

Trintellix is used to treat adults with major depressive disorder.

A person with major depressive disorder feels sad or depressed for a prolonged period of time. You may also hear this disorder referred to as depression. Symptoms may include:

It’s thought that people with depression may have a lower amount of a chemical called serotonin in their brain. Though it’s not known exactly how Trintellix works to treat depression, it’s believed to increase serotonin and its activity in your brain.

There are many factors that affect the cost of a prescription drug. What your insurance plan covers is one of the factors.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And you may want to visit the Trintellix manufacturer’s website to see if it has support options.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Before you start taking Trintellix, talk with your doctor about any You take other drugs. and other medical conditions you may have. This will help them determine if Trintellix may be a safe treatment option for you.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Trintellix, you should tell your doctor about all your medication. You should describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions that may occur.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Trintellix can interact with a lot of drugs. These drugs are used.

Some drugs that may interact with Trintellix are not on this list. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions.

Other interactions

Trintellix may also interact with the herbal supplement St. John’s wort. This supplement can also increase serotonin levels, which in turn may increase your risk of serotonin syndrome, a serious side effect.

Boxed warning

Trintellix has a boxed warning. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. It’s possible for antidepressants such as Trintellix to cause suicidal thoughts or behaviors in people who are ages 18 to 24 years.

For more information, see the “What are Trintellix’s side effects?” section above.

Other warnings

If you have a medical condition that affects your health, Trintellix may not be right for you. Before you take Trintellix, talk to your doctor about your health history. The factors to consider are listed below.

  • Bipolar disorder. Trintellix may cause changes in mood, including mania or hypomania. People with bipolar disorder may have an increased risk of mania or hypomania. If you have this mental health condition, your doctor may monitor you more often for mood changes while you’re taking Trintellix.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Trintellix or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Trintellix. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.
  • Glaucoma or other eye conditions. Trintellix can cause an eye condition called closed-angle glaucoma. If you already have glaucoma or another eye condition, you may have an increased risk of developing closed-angle glaucoma. Your doctor may recommend treating your eye problem before starting Trintellix. They may also recommend monitoring your eyes throughout treatment with Trintellix.
  • Low sodium levels in the blood or a condition called syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Trintellix can cause low sodium levels in the blood, which may become serious if left untreated. If you have low sodium levels or a condition that causes this, such as SIADH, taking Trintellix can further decrease your sodium levels. In this case, your doctor may monitor your sodium levels throughout treatment. And if you develop low sodium levels, they might recommend a different treatment option for you.
  • Bleeding problems. Trintellix may increase the risk of There was bleeding.. If you have a There was bleeding. problem, your risk could increase more when taking Trintellix. The same goes if you take the drug with certain medications that also increase There was bleeding. risk, such as A drug called aspirin. or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Before you start taking Trintellix, talk with your doctor about your risk of There was bleeding.. They may monitor you more often or recommend a different treatment option for you.

Trintellix and alcohol

If you drink alcohol while taking Trintellix, you may have an increased risk of certain side effects. For example, both alcohol and Trintellix can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and There was bleeding..

If you want to drink alcohol during Trintellix treatment, you should talk to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you to consume.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

“Trintellix is safe to take during a baby’s first year of life.”

Pregnancy

It’s not known if Trintellix may be safe to take during pregnancy. Taking drugs that affect serotonin levels, such as Trintellix, in late pregnancy may increase the risk of complications in the newborn baby. This may include the baby needing breathing support, tube feedings, or hospitalization for longer than usual.

Note that females* who stopped taking antidepressants during pregnancy were more likely to have symptoms of depression. If you’re pregnant, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of taking Trintellix during this time.

There is a pregnancy registry for antidepressants such as Trintellix. The registry collects information about pregnant females who took antidepressants and effects the drugs may have had on their babies. This can help determine if there are risks from taking a medication during pregnancy. You can sign up for the pregnancy registry by calling 866-961-2388 or visiting its website.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about Trintellix.

* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Breastfeeding

It is not known if Trintellix can affect a breastfeeding child. Before starting Trintellix, you should talk with your doctor about breastfeeding and other issues. They can discuss the risks and benefits of breastfeeding with you.

“Don’t take more than your doctor prescribes. Taking more than this can cause serious side effects.”

Symptoms of overdose

There are symptoms caused by an overdose.

What to do in case you take too much Trintellix

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Trintellix. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

“Your doctor will explain how to take Trintellix. They will explain how much to take and how often. Follow your doctor’s instructions.”

Taking Trintellix

Your doctor will tell you when to take your dose of Trintellix. You can take the drug at different times of the day, but try to take it at the same time each day.

Questions about taking Trintellix

There are answers to a few questions.

  • Can Trintellix be chewed, crushed, or split? The manufacturer of Trintellix doesn’t make any recommendations on whether the drug can be chewed, crushed, or split. If you’re having difficulty swallowing your Trintellix tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Or get tips on how to swallow pills from this article.
  • Should I take Trintellix with food? You can take your dose of Trintellix with or without food.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Trintellix. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help you.

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Trintellix affect my life?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment to make you feel more comfortable.
  • “If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it.”

“Your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. They want you to get the best care possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give feedback on your treatment”

If you have questions about Trintellix, talk to your doctor. They can discuss with you its possible side effects. This will help you and your doctor decide if this drug is the right option for you. Here are a few questions to ask.

  • Is it possible for my dose to be reduced if I have side effects?
  • What should I do if I get pregnant while taking Trintellix?
  • How should I treat the side effects of Trintellix?
  • Will my other health conditions increase my risk of side effects from Trintellix?

To learn more about possible treatment options for depression, see this article.

“There are articles about Trintellix’s side effects.”

And consider signing up for Healthline’s online newsletter to get advice for managing depression and stories from others living with this condition.

Q:

Can I take other antidepressants together with Trintellix?

Anonymous

A:

It’s possible that your doctor may prescribe other antidepressants with Trintellix. But studies haven’t looked at whether this is safe or effective.

It is likely that taking Trintellix will increase your risk of side effects.

For example, Trintellix can cause serotonin syndrome (high levels of the chemical serotonin). Your risk of this side effect can increase if you take Trintellix with other antidepressants containing serotonin, such as escitalopram (Lexapro), duloxetine (Cymbalta), or A drug..

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can include There was a small earthquake., increased heart rate, and sweating. If you begin to have any of these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately.

“If you are interested in taking other antidepressants, you should talk to your doctor. Let them know if you think Trintellix isn’t working to treat depression.”

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.