Trying Brintellix

I have been quickly tapered off of Pristiq 200 mg....and now am on Brintellix 10 mg. (Total time of taper 2 weeks) I feel like I have the flu. I hate trying new meds and wish there was something that would make these flu like symptoms go away! (Headache, queasy yet having horrible carb cravings, a weird sensation-aches)

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Hello, Mary! How are you?

Most likely, you're experiencing both some withdrawal effects and some side effects, at the same time and it will probably take a couple of weeks, before they taper off and things start to improve.

Learn more Brintellix details here.

The Brintellix is fairly new and its side effects may include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness….which explains most of your flu-like symptoms.

Was the Pristiq no longer working for you?

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Hi. No I liked the Pristiq well enough, however I have terrible memory issues. My doc said the Brintellix is supposed to have some positive qualities related to memory. Otherwise...no way....hate changing meds : /

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OMG I feel exactly as you do! Off the Pristiq and on Brintellix. Feel like s***. Yes, very much like the flu. Some days are better than others. Today is bad, bad, bad. My doctor added a low dose of Prozac that he says will get me over the hump. Geeez, I hope so. This is just awful.

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Janice, how are you now? Are the flu symptoms gone and are you still on the med... ? I'm only on day 5 of Brintellix 2.5mg and yes that 1/4 a 10 mg pill. I'm so sensitive to meds and I feel like I'm going to die... or vomit.. ! Thank you!

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I will be trying Brintellix soon also at 2.5mg. How are you doing now?

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I was put on Brintellix for coping with severe depression and within short days I felt more alert and 'content' with no sleeping problems. So I researched about it and read a review of Brintellix on Consumer Health Digest and found it helpful. Still I haven’t experienced any major side effects other than anxiety and feel my new self.

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How are you doing with Brintellix? I was switched off of Viibryd since it wasn't really working well..the switch to 10 mg was difficult from Viibryd from withdrawal.

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have been taking 50 mg pristiq for years and have flatlined lately...not working any more. today my doctor suggested a quick taper (couple of days) off pristiq and beginning brintellix; 5 to 10 mg within 5 days. been reading all the reviews and bad side effects and am very nervous!!! not sure that I want to try it! Maybe would be better off adding abilify to pristiq? thoughts...?

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Very definitely Viibryd has a hearty withdrawl. It should absolutely have a LONG Taper. They have packs to taper off that your Dr. should be able to give you so you don't have to split pills or anything.

Now, Brintellix. Oh dear. We are switching my medications due to side effects. We initially tried to go from Viibryd to Wellbutrin but the Wellbutrin gave me hives. So, we opted for Brintellix. I'm on Day 2 of 5mg. I almost feel "lucky" after reading some of the other experiences because I do not have a headache. In fact, I think that from a depression point of view I'm feeling fairly well. Although a bit emotional from all the medication swap. However, I take the Brintellix and about an hour later I feel a little nauseated. Then a little MORE nauseated. Then vomiting. It's terrible. I know it says vomiting can be a side effect, but it doesn't say if vomiting is supposed to be a show stopper. I know the nausea and vomiting certainly feel like a show stopper, but if this is a "tough it out" kind of thing, that would be helpful to know. Wow, I've never vomited from a medication before. It's awful. I mean really really awful. Of course, one of the side effects we were looking to mitigate was the massive viibryd weight gain. Somehow, I don't think this is the way anyone meant for that to work! Feedback?

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Hi - I had abilify with Lexapro. The side effects from Abilify (1/4 tablet) were horrendous; headaches, body tremors, dry mouth, weight gain the whole 6 months I was taking. That said, it did boost the Lexapro effectively until my dr felt it time to change it.

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I fired my doctor for switching me to Brintellix. He said it was a new drug without the usual side effects. I don't know if he was outright lying or just believing whatever the drug company told him. Either way he proved himself not competent enough to treat me. just 5mg a day was awful and after 5 days I got very depressed, and I was being treated for anxiety not depression. So I researched patient reports on the Internet and it was about 90% horror stories. terrible side effects.

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Only addressing the Brintellix, not everyone has such severe reactions. I do carry lozenges for specifically for dry mouth and I always have water with me. It's pretty constant but I deal with it. I do get frequent headaches and that is no fun at all but Brintellix has been a lifesaver for me. My depression has been severe and lifelong, but it actually allows me to have a positive attitude. I'm so sorry for people that are having such bad reactions; it sounds terrible. Like any other medications, different people will have different reactions.

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I have been on SSRIs for over 20 years. Every 18 mths or so they stop working for me. I have MDS, PD and PTSD. I was taken off Lexapro last month after nearly 3 years. Last 3 years I haven't functioned. Started Brintellix 15 days ago (10 mg) . Its a bloody miracle. No side effects whatsoever and the darkness has gone. My family cannot believe the difference. Today I woke up and was excited about life again. For people like me who have tried many anti depressants and who relapse then brintellix might also work for you. I was hospitalised during my meds change over and there were women and men there that brintellix didn't work for. BUT their illnesses were different to mine. Alot had bipolar and others were "new" to depression. I'm nearly 50. An old hand at depression and I'm grateful this worked. I'll keep you all updated.

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Oh my God I really hope this will be the case for me.I am to finish my reducing dose of Effexor xl in 4 days and I started Brintellix 5mg 3 days ago.So in 5 days time I'll be off effexor and on 10mg Brintellix.This last week and a half have been terrible.Diagnosed with treatment resistant depression.How long did you feel it too for your mood to lift.

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Prozac has side effects, no érections. That's why I switched to Brintellix. Much better.

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Did you switch in one day? My Dr. wants me to start Brintellix today @ 10mgs after taking my last Viibryd yesterday @ 20mgs.

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I did! I switched from Fetzima 120mg to Brintellix 10mg in one day. The only side effect I have is more energy, the very reason for the switch. Hallelujah!

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OK, I was afraid to just switch so I weaned off if Viibryd. I'm not on anything now. I will probably try Brintellix at some point. Thanks for your response, I hope it continues to work for you

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My doc likened Brintellix to Fetzima "on steroids". Says that's why my transition was so easy

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I am going off trazodone to brintellix,took 5mg today ,I was a bit shakey,little sick stomach but after about 3hours I was feeling better.I'm excited to see how each day does.as for abilify,my grandson gained 75pounds and the doc just keeps him on.

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Re: Bob (# 11)

Esta bien loco, echar a alguien por querer ayudarte, estas enfermedadesson prueba y error como iba a saber el.

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Re: LittleBug (# 24)

I had the same feeling for about a week but it's gone now

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I hope your Dr is a Psychiatrist. A primary care physician IS NOT really trained to handle mental issues an all the meds. Primaries just hand out antidepressants like candy an do not understand withdrawal or side effects, etc. Better get a Psychiatrist to help you.

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I started Brintellix 5mg a couple of months ago. I felt a little nausea and had a headache but this disappeared within a couple of days. I take the tablet with my breakfast and always have a huge bowl of porridge which I think helps prepare my stomach. I increased to 10mg after a week, then 15mg for a month and now I have increase to 20mg. I feel a little drowsy each time I increase the medication but this subsides within a couple of days. I have experienced practically no side effects. I do get strange dreams and a slight upset stomach but I've changed my diet and take probiotics which ease it. Overall my mood has lifted dramatically, my anxiety has decreased and I can leave the house again. I am able to go back to work and function properly. In the past I tried 18 different antidepressants, having the most horrendous side effects and no benefit. This is the only one to work. Very happy with it at the moment.

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Is body itch a side effect? I switched from Viibryd to Brintellix, which is now Trintellix, and I feel like I'm having an allergic reaction. My entire body itches constantly.

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Brintellix was a hard drug to get use to. For the first couple of weeks, I had indigestion, chest pains, jaw pain, nausea and vomiting. I called my dr because I thought I was having a heart attack one day and she said it's the Brintellix . Omg I thought but it was reassuring. I've been on it now for a year and a half at 10 mg with 2 mg of Abilify and it's probably the best antidepressant I've taken and I've tried them all. Hang in there everyone . The side effects go away!!

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I switched myself from 100 mg Prestiq taken for well over 7 years to Brintellix 10 mg and did so as recommended by my Doc. Since I have been on just about every SSRI on the market with no side effects, I was shocked at how poorly I feel after 2 weeks on Brintellix - vomiting, flu-like headaches, diarrhea to constipation, you name, I've got it; and frankly I thought this drug was a state of the art answer to SSRIs especially for seniors. So, I have no idea whether to keep on this or get back to Prestiq which was not helping my depression at all - and who knows what this new drug is doing?

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Im so glad to hear this im taking wellbutin its making my hair fall out so i hope to god this works for me with out hair loss issues that i heard its a side effect. Have you exeperiinced ny hair loss?

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