Brintellix Forums

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has switched from Effexor to Brintellix? I was currently taking Wellbutrin 300mg daily and Effexor 37.5 mg daily. I was at a stand still for a while and just found I still was struggling. So on Monday I did a direct switch from Effexor to Brintellix 10mg. I took a dose of Effexor on Sunday then started Brintellix Monday. Since then I have had flu like symptoms, high anxiety, muscle aches, and very dizzy to the point I shouldn't drive!! It is now day 5...will these symptoms subside or should I see the Dr.? Need your help.. anyone in the same situation? Thanks ## Contact your doctor! I went through something similar and I was in withdrawal from effexor. He/she should be able to advise you. I do know I was so dizzy that I could barely walk or stand stra...

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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) ## 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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I was diagnosed with meningioma 5yrs ago and became epileptic thereafter. I was prescribed Tegretol 400mg twice a day for depression & I'm taking Brintellix 20mg + Cilift (citalopram) 20mg that I've just been prescribed along with Lamictin (lamotrigine) 25mg. Does this mean I have bipolar disorder? ## Has a doctor diagnosed you as having bipolar disorder? Taking a medication that is most commonly prescribed for a specific condition doesn't necessarily mean that you have that condition, it might be that the medication is known to help with issues/symptoms that you're experiencing. Many mental health medications help with a wide variety of mental health issues, and some of the anti-epileptic medications are known to help with nerve pain. What did your doctor say was th...

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I have Bipolar, PTSD, Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia. I'm on 20mg and two months in. Since taking it I have gone to parties, socialized, smile more often, no more insomnia, clearer thinking, more motivation, optimistic/planning for the future, and best of all completely calm! No panic attacks in months vs as many as 4/day (on average 4/week). No manic symptoms, no side effects. I had a few gastro symptoms at first but they went away. I noticed a significant improvement each time I raised my dose. It took about 6 weeks to notice a major change in my anxiety, but now I feel normal. Way better than even benzos in my case, and I can think on this drug. I have been taking antidepressants since 1991 and this one is by far the best for me. It's worth a try, but like any drug it's not f...

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I have struggled with depression for most of my life, and am always in search of the perfect antidepressant. I work with a psych doctor who is always willing to try new things. 10 months ago I started 5 mg of Brintellix daily, within a week my mood was significantly elevated, I was sleeping better, waking up much earlier and was more motivated to do things in the morning. I went up to 10mg daily However the nausea was dreadful! I pushed through for a couple of weeks, changed to taking the brintellix at night and after a while it subsided. My mood got better and better, I had recently turned 50, and had gained a little weight, so with my new found morning energy I started working out 2times a week with a trainer, and then walking most other mornings! The walking then changed gradually to...

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I recently was prescribed Trintellix by my psychiatrist for anxiety and depression. I told her I cannot be on a medication that will cause weight gain and or fluid retention. Since starting this medication I've been on it for two days I feel really weird, lazy and like I just don't want to do anything. Low mood. I honestly have zero appetite, and my cognitive thinking is very slow. I honestly feel like I am on a super low dose of Vyvanse. She also gave me samples of Viibryd but I heard that medication is notorious for weight gain on here and I am scared to take it. Did anyone else have these side effects when starting this medication? Did they go away? Also, if this isn't the medication for me, does anyone else know what others are good that will not cause horrible weight ga...

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DESPERATELY NEED HELP ABOUT BRINTELLIX!!! I have been on 5mg Brintellix for last 10 weeks. About 9 days About 9 days ago I started to feel like i was coming down with flu. week progressed and flu like symptoms got worse every day: flushing, feeling like i had high fever but without actual fever, agitation, muscle cramps, bad nausea, diahrrea all day long, fast heart beat, headache, etc. after several days of symptoms getting worse, on Sunday last I had the feeling i was going to DIE!!! worst flu like symptoms and severe anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. I skipped the sunday dose and then cut the monday dose down to 2.5mg. it is wednesday, and most of bad symptoms have gone to mild or moderate. Dr thinks i had case of serotonin syndrome n this med. But, no one can explain why si...

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I started Trintellix in December 2015. I did have nausea in the beginning but only short term. It worked pretty well for me-took it mainly for anxiety. I noticed I lost a couple pounds when I first started it but it seemed to normalize for the most part. At the first of this year I found out my insurance won't pay for it and the monthly cost is too much. I tapered off over about 10 days-was only on 5 mg. I have experienced multiple side effects, more than I bargained for-runny nose, fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling cold, bursts of irritability, decreased alcohol tolerance, and most disturbing: weight gain. I'm a small person-5,3", usually 112 pounds. But I am gaining 0.5-1 pound/week. Has anyone else experienced weight gain after stopping? The other side effects seem to...

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I have been taking 10mg of Trintellix in the mornings for just under 3 weeks and it works well for me, but I can't sleep well and the lack of sleep alone is making me consider stopping this medication. Would it be better to take it at night? Is the sleep issue something that normally goes away? ## If the Trintellix is making you drowsy, it may be a good idea to try taking it at night, like you mentioned. Another issue is, were you already having difficulty sleeping before you started taking the Trintellix? If you were, it may not be the Trintellix. If you weren't, it probably is. You can also maybe lower it to 5 mgs for maybe 3 weeks, then jack it back up to 10 mgs if you feel you have to. That may help your body adjust to it. Good luck. ## Most medications in this class can cau...

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Tapering off of Cymbalta and starting 10 mg of Trintellix for 7 days soon to increase to 20 mg. I have suffered with Major Depressive Disorder for 23 years. Tried so many antidepressants and settled with Cymbalta. Take Abilify 20 mg. No side effects so far. Seem to have less fatigue, more energy and increased ability to focus. I have ADD and take 70 mg Vyvanse. Overall, very pleased with Trintellix. I can honestly say this was a Godsend. My family has noticed a difference in me already. Amazing drug well worth the high cost. Blessed insurance finally agreed to cover after several appeals and pleas for help. ## Awesome! I am so happy that this medication is working so well for you. The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, and constipation....

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I tapered off Effexor XR and onto 10mg Brintellix. No withdrawal symptoms - seamless transition. I have been on Brintellix now for about 3 weeks. I have to say I feel more alert, my anxiety is low, my sleep is better. So far so good. I had to stop taking Tramadol and Buspar to avoid the interaction but have had no need for the Buspar since and I can just take another opiod pain killer if I need to. Did not experience the nausea that seems to be the most common side effect. Keep your fingers crossed. ## Awesome! I am very glad that it's working so well for you. Can you post back and update me? Thanks! Do you have any questions or concerns? ## Hi I will be trying Brintellix soon to get ease the depression and anxiety from tapering Effexor. How are you doing now. I need help desperatel...

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I was prescribed brintellix. Best medication ever!! I have tried Cymbalta, Zoloft, Lexapro (omg, never again) Clonidine, Ativan, Prazosin, Ambien, and the list goes on. Brintellix did wonders to decresse my anxieyy. BUT the dose is too strong!! At 5mg I am a zombie, I feel motivated and clear headed, but can't move or get out of bed, I cut the pill in half and only take it every other day and the med works best for me this way. But where can I actually fill my prescription at? I also before I actually started this medication, went on this site and was warned that it was a difficult medication to get. So I went to the pharmacy every month for 6 months and it would take weeks before I could get the medication! I just stocked the medication for 6 months. Now when I go to the pharmacy a...

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Hi....I was given a 2 week sample of Trintellix to add to my Paxil 60mg. I'm one to do all the research that's possible & also one to read all the reviews available before starting a new medication when it comes to my mental health. I'm very hesitant after reading so many negative reviews with people complaining of severe nausea and stomach pain. I'm absolutely cannot handle vomiting.... I'd rather take a beating than to vomit. However, can I get some advice about this situation? Is it really worth the awful side effects? Should I also ask my doctor to prescribe me some antibiotics nausea medication to take along with the Trintellix? I certainly could use some advice on this. Thanks! ## There are quite a few typos in my original message I see. I did not mean to p...

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I was prescribed this medication to take with my vyvanse for my add and cognitive problems that I have been dealing with most of my life. As of two years ago, at age of 28, I started to get lost while driving and I also started to get bad memory blocks that would last about 10 or so seconds. I forgot how to turn on the car as well as forgot how to use the microwave. My speech gets mumbled up and I always seem to forget what I'm saying in midst of sentences. I started vyvanse and lexapro, and other first class ssri's and none of them worked. The vyvanse does help but only to a certain extent. It makes me very relaxed and ridiculously tired, so the vyvanse does help to calm me down but it does not help my memory at all! I told my Psychiatrist all this and he put me on 5 mg Brintel...

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Started 10 mg Trintellix 3 weeks ago. Vomiting at least 2x a day and constant nausea, fatigue, muscle and back pain. Trying to wean off it - doctor said take it every second day for a week then go see her. What is the normal time frame for withdrawal? I am terrified of this drug. I am diabetic and it is making my sugars wildly fluctuate too. ## Called Lundbeck (canadian office in Montreal) today to get advice on how to wean off/stop taking Trintellix. Shocked to be told "there is NO protocol for weaning/stopping this drug. You have to let your doctor decide how to proceed"! "Everyone has a different reaction". My doctor is away for a week so. My pharmacist and I are trying to figure something out, but I am absolutely stunned at Lundbeck's answer ## Hi Judy, Sorry to ...

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Why did I read that you should not take this medicine till 2020? I was just given a lot of samples of 5mg that my doctor wants me to start for my depression. I am scared to death to start because of the horrible reviews & side effects that sound horrible. I have never heard of this drug. Can you please help me with this. Also if I do decide to start when is the very best time to take it? ## Has anyone else gone down from 10 to 5 mg of trintellix? I am afraid I will have some anxiety doing this. Can anyone give me advice? ## I've been on Brintellix/ Trintellix for going on 2 years. Saved my life. I am on a low dose, with buspar piggy back, but no longer a handful of drugs. If you've failed the rest, give it a shot. Start low. I am great on just 10mg, and I was suffering from ...

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Hello, I just wanted to put this out there; I missed 2 days of my Brintellix, as I had to wait for the pharmacy to order it, and I have been crying constantly for 2 days now. I got it today, but just wondering if anyone thinks I'm being ridiculous or is it possible? ## Hello, Lili! How are you? You aren't crazy, that is entirely possible. Please don't beat yourself up over it. In the future, you may want to talk to them about keeping it in stock for you, or requesting your refill a few days ahead of time, so they can order it in by the time you need it. The FDA lists the typical side effects of this medication as possibly including nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, weight changes and vision changes. Is there anything else I can help with? ## I stopped 3 days of my brintellix 20 ...

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I'm scared to start Trintellix. I have Major Depression. I get scared to start any new medicines but especially depression meds. My Dr gave me samples. I was also waiting to see if my insurance would cover it. (New insurance Oct. 1st) They said no unless I can produce dates and why others wouldn't work. That's impossible. I take Vyvanse and Klonopin. I've taken myself off depression medicines if they make me feel bad or weird. I can't take any that will make me gain weight. That just adds to the depression. After back surgery I only have 10 more lbs to lose. I can't do anything that I used to do because of back problems, so inactivity and not doing the things I love has made my depression worse. Other issues as well. I feel empty, things that used to make me shin...

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Hello, I have been going to physiatrist and getting brintellix for about 3 months. Before taking any meds I constantly having suicidal thoughts very frequently. Then I start to go to physiatrist and taking brintellix 5mg for about 2 months, I was getting better until they change brintellix dose to 10mg. Now I’m back to where I was before taking any meds, getting worse and worse. Do anyone know how to help and why? ## I found the same when I went from 5mg to 10mg it kinda made intrusive thoughts amplify I have found after about 8 weeks that 5mg is best taken at night that way I dont get the nausea and just feel relaxed even 2.5mg would be ok for me I think.. ## The NIH does warn that these issues can be a side effect of this medication, and it is normal for them to worsen, when you...

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I was on Trintillex for about 3 weeks and developed a rash all over my body. I didn't know where it was from originally so I did not stop taking it. After about 21 days I decided to stop taking it because my doctor said it could be a potential side effect. My rash is so severe and I have been off of the medication for about a week now but the rash won't subside. Does anyone have an idea of when it will go away? I know the half life is 66 hours so I am nervous it's going to be in my system for a long time and the side effects won't go away. I was taking 5 mg. If anyone has any ideas of when it will go away or how to help it/ make it go out of my system faster PLEASE let me know. Thanks ## Julia! I am so sorry about the problem you've experienced. How are you doing, no...

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