Brintellix Side Effects Severe (Page 2)

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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 side effects started at 9 weeks and not beginning!! Today was better side effect wise, still nausea, diahrrea (but not as bad), agitation, no appetite (cannot eat at all). Here is kicker: dr wants me to take 2.5mg every other day as wants to keep depression and anxiety symptoms down. I am praying to GOD this works! Anyone out there have a similar experience??? I really desperately need help on this !! Please let me know!

71 Replies (4 Pages)

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21

I have been on Brintellix for 2.5 weeks. I started w 5 mg, then 10 mg and now 20 mg for the last 1 week. The cognitive shutdown and emotional pain of my depression have improved greatly, much less anguish. However I have a constant stomach ache and sometimes nausea, I had bad diarrhea when I upped the dose to 20mg but it has gotten much better now. Headaches are gone last few days. BUT I think something major is wrong? I have this artificial anxiety that randomly floods me for hours or days frequently, not all the time, but more so than not. I feel very worried and think the worst of everyone. I feel like there's no future for me, no hope. I think this is a change for me for the worse on Brintellix. I am also on 600 mg Li and 2mg Neupro. Advice welcome, I can take Ativan to feel better but it makes me too sleepy. I'm already sleepy with no energy. It's weird to be sleepy and anxious at same time, I don't like this drug. I feel kind of a generalized sick feeling. Anyone else have that? I had some feeling on Rexulti- just ill!!!

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22

I started 10 mg a week ago and have been sick with flu like symptoms for 3 days now:(

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23

I only lasted two 5mg doses. I was sick to my stomach, sweating, shaking, and had a complete panic attack. I haven't had one of those in years. I was on 10mg of Lexapro and have .5mg of xanax for anxiety. This all happened within the last three days. I ended up in urgent care for the panic attack. Will becallcalling PCP on Monday morning. I have never felt so awful in my life. This drug is horrible! Never again! Thank goodness I got samples and didn't spend $ on it! Still don't feel quite right.

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24

I thought that too with my Lexapro. 10mg forever. I am thinking after this awful experience I want to go back to that. Talking to PCP on Monday!

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25

Pixie I have been 300 effexor and tapering off to try brintillix. I also take 300 wellbutrin in the am and topirimate at night for sleep and weight loss(doesn't help either) and trazadone - so 2 days ago yesterday were the only days I took 20 mgs (it's called trintellix here)and . I have tried almost every single anti -d on the market. suffered from MDD and Anxiety since I was 14 and I am in my 40's now and I also thought or hoped this might be the last held hope - but it has been the most painful awful two days on any kind of ssri/snri -or anything else! the worst muscle pain in legs, shoulders, abdominal cramping. It feels like a blood pressure strap tightening around my legs. I looked it up and it sounds like an actual reaction to the drug so I called my on-call doc and she said to stop taking and I will most likely have to go back to "no-effectxor"! I think this drug is not such a good one. the pain is unbearable and not worth risking your life for. Hope this info helps. you should check out the brand site. there it lists side effects and then it lists 'reactions' seperately both severe and mild with instructions.

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26

oops kds - I replied to Pixie - read # 25 it is actually for you - well for all of us who are having severe adverse reactions! Everyone should inform themselves and know when to call P-Doc or quit taking as opposed to riding out some bad side effects. The difference could be as extreme as losing your life when we are all struggling so hard to regain just a decent quality of one. Positive thought and hope for all new testers - keep trying until you get it right.:)

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27

I have been on Brintellix for the past month, taking a 5mg dose. I didn't have too many problems in the beginning. However, my skin has been crawling, and I have literally scratched the hide off the tops of my hands and feet and legs. A week ago, my psychiatrist doubled my dose to 10mg. This is when the severe anxiety and nightmares began. I have been taking it in the evenings around 7pm, and the anxiety is HORRIBLE. I can't relax or calm down, and can't sleep. I'm having fears that I am going crazy. My psychiatrist is on vacation, and I can't keep taking this medication. It has me so terrified, I just want to get off of it and deal with the depression without this added craziness. I already dropped back to the 5mg, but I'm still having severe anxiety, and racing thoughts. One other symptom I'm having is fast/irregular heartbeat. The nausea comes and goes, but I have surprisingly not had real issues in the gastrointestinal area. I hate trying new meds for this reason. I've had better luck with Cymbalta. Once I get through this nightmare, I might consider going back on that, but this experience has me too afraid to try something else new. It's just not worth it. Best of luck to everyone who is on it, or trying to get off!

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28

I took Brintillex and have discontinued it due to being both anxious and Severely sluggish and tired. More than my usual sluggish and tired self. I also felt hungry even though I kew I was full and gained about 15 lbs, which I haven't been able to get off.

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29

Kds I'm not a doc but I am a seriously seasoned Guinea pig and the jury is just not back on this drug and won't be until 2020. If it hasn't helped your depression or anxiety after 9 weeks and has only increased issues - if it were me - I would be tot rating off drug. Perhaps your doc is having u do that? Every other day sounds like preparation to stop or switch?

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30

I had no idea you couldn't be in klonipin. I was taking both together and gaining weight and sleeping like crazy.

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31

Just starting on 5mg per day as of yesterday. Noticed a difference the very first day! Hopefully the slight itching will subside and it will be what I've been searching for all these years!

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32

Respectfully- you can notice SIDE EFFECTS the very first day but CHANGES IN MOOD are not felt in one day from these meds. It is important - particularly with this med that people do not get misled by posts. It's great that you have felt no ill effects from taking brintellix. Sounds like u are one of the lucky ones even though it's only been a day.

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33

I just started on Brintillex and I feel terrible. Sick to my stomach, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia. I rarely experience side effects but this is unbelievable. I had to go back on Xanax. Pretty sure I won't last. This transition is doing me in. I think I'll ask to go back on Cymbalta, despite the emotional numbness I was feeling.

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34

I too was on cymbalta for years feeling emotional numbness and overweight . Limbo land. That is why I tried brintelliix - now I am off all of my mood meds except for I am taking two150 xr of Wellbutrin in the am and I have never felt better in my life. I know myself again! I laugh I cry. Life is not perfect but I am human. It has been 30 years on the pharma rollorcoaster and now I am coming to the end of the ride. I hope u find the right thing for you!!!

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35

Blue, while on the Cymbalta, 120mgs, I was also on 150mgs of Lamictal. My doctor wanted me to continue on it with the Brintellix but I've left a message saying the constant flu-like symptoms are getting me down. I wonder if I could just stay on Lamictal and nothing else or go back on Cymbalta at a lower dose. Maybe then my emotions wouldn't be so numbed.

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36

Sue, I am not a doctor and I don't know what specifically you take the lamictal ?for(it may be under a different name where I live) but I titrated very very VERY slowly off of all of my combo meds except Wellbutrin. The last to go was Effexor which replaced my cymbalta. Under my gp's care I just kept halving my doses after set time periods until it was out of my system. I actually did most of it unintentionally preparing to introduce brintellix - so if u r have low doses of most everyone in your system now - it would be a perfect time to talk to your go or p-doc. Nobody can truly tell you what's right for you sue. Listen to your gut! That is your inner voice guiding you. Figure out what u think might be going on with u and then tell yourself you r not going to waste another minute feeling this way. Be firm with your doctor. I found this task very hard for myself for a couple years- I even saw a second doctor on the sly who I could just be myself with. I have a lifelong connection to my other doctor but it has taken me 2 yrs to realize SO WHAT I need to take care of me! So many challenges on top of our challenges. We are sensitive caring people or we wouldn't have been given these wonderful gifts called depression and anxiety. Good luck sue. I am with you. Blue.

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37

I feeling exactly the same.I am on Brintellix for 30 days now, after 3 years of Lexapro. I am feeling irritated , feeling like i will lose control.

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38

Joe G. - I can relate to how you are feeling. I gave up and went back on Cymbalta.
Good luck. It's supposed to be a good drug.

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39

I have been taking brintellix for about 4 months and it seems since they changed the name of this medicine i have had fast and abnormal heartbeat. I contacted my doctor so she told me to cut my pill in half and call her in a week. I cant stand this feeling. Has anyone else been feeling like this.

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40

Congratulations, Marcia. You made it longer than I did. I had to stop and go back on Cymbalta. I'm surprised after 10 weeks you would have those reactions.

Keep in touch.

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