Brintellix Side Effects Severe (Top voted first)

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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!

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16

Brintellix has been wonderful for me. I take it at night. Meds that bother your stomach seem to fair better in the evening. And yes I drink with it quite frequently and it doesn't bother me. Maybe you're still in the adjustment phase. Maybe try eating something on it so your stomach isn't empty. I have gotten very sleepy on it though. Good luck JB

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4

I used to be on Zoloft and Wellbutrin and they worked very well with virtually no side effects (maybe a little in the beginning but quickly went away). I was on that for years and was doing well but Zoloft has a sexual side effect that I was hoping to stop. My psychiatrist tried Lexapro (also WITH Welllbutrin) but this was no different. Then she tried Cymbalta but that had very little difference (I was taken off of Wellbutrin with that one). I also had crying bouts with Cymbalta. Finally, she tried Brintellix and when she switched me from 5mg (with 30 mg of Cymbalta which was ok) to just 10 mg of Brintellix, I got terrible side effects (dizziness, nausea, headaches, my irritable bowel acted up terribly, loss of taste, etc). I was terrified as you were. Even after she switched me to 5 mgs and then taken off the Brintellix altogether the symptoms remained. That was 2 weeks later. I went to my family Dr and he told me my symptoms revealed that the drug was still in my system and told me to drink LOTS of fluids to flush it out. I have just started that process. I FEEL your anxieity and fear. I told my psychiatrist, that I want to go back on the Zoloft and Wellbutrin (I'm afraid to try anything new after this). I'll learn to live with the sexual side effect.

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11

I was on Brintellix, 10mg for nearly 6 months. I think it was the worst 6 months of my life, I felt nausea everyday, had diarrhea most everyday. Paranoia like I've never experienced before, I considered suicude too many times to list. I experienced chest pain and about a month before stopping, muscle twitching started, mostly in my legs. I've been on many medications and never had a worse experience than Brintellix. Headaches often, I honestly felt unwell the entire 6 months, I did not want to leave the house. I also gained several pounds even though felt sick daily, I felt very swollen. I've been off of it nearly two weeks, did not taper, my dr put me back on Wellbutrin, which is what I had been on before. I'm starting to feel better, muscle twitching in my legs is still there. I'm hoping that goes away. If you have good luck with this med, I am happy for you but for me and dealing with different meds for 15 years now, this was by far my worst experience. My dr made out like I was her only patient that didn't like this drug but I thought whatever. Best of luck to all!!

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15

Don't take the Brintellix! It is a living nightmare! You will get sick and think you have the flu! Thought I was going crazy, nausea, diarreah, light headedness, body aches and pains, insomnia, anziety, nightmares, mental instability. I only took it for 3 weeks. That was enough! It took 4 months after discontinuance for all of what I just described to go away! Not even worth trying! Spare yourself.

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13

Has anyone experienced severe itching while taking Brintellix? I am beside myself with severe itching. I'm planning to discontinue as I can't stand this side effect. Just wondering if anyone else experienced that.

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10

I had to go off this med. Had all the same side effects, so severe i did not get out of bed for a week except to vomit or deal with diarrhea. I too was terrified, my dr was away so i called the drug company thT
akes this drug. They were no help. My pharmacist helped me wean off it but i still felt poorly for about 10 days. I have been on ssri meds for over 20 yrs but this experience scared me so much that i am not taking anything for the last 8 months. I would rather suffer from depression and anxiety than go through anything like that again o

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17

Yes, I have been taking Brintellix 10 mg for six weeks, and have had severe itching, headache almost constantly, bloating weight gain and no energy. I was in hopes that it would be the cure, but am very disappointed. It works great for my sister, though. Everyone is different, and will experience varied side effects.

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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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2

thank you so much for reply! i have been on effexor, paxil, lexapro, tofranil, remeron
in past and nothing but tofranil worked as well as this med in the beginning. about 9 weeks in, i had full blown serotonin syndrome on this med. also take trazodone but cutting that down. now down to 2.5 mg dose of this and some of physical symptoms are better but still feel terrible. i am at wits end. i dont know what to do. under care of psychiatrist and he wants me to stay at 2.5 to see if side effects ease and still get some of the depression and anxiety relief. but i am not seeing much of that as i am so terrified of the syndrome coming back. still have fast heartbeat and agitation in morning along with diahrrea and nausea. i am so so scared. i dont know what to do. scared to stop this med as anxiety and depression are horrible with terrible racing thoughts. have you or anyone you know ever had something like this?? please let me know. i am so terrified right now.

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5

My dr prescribed Brintellix after Lexapro seemed to stop working. I feel like Brintellix is so hard on the stomach. Im not an alcoholic by any means but I do like to socially drink with my girlfriends but Im scared to death to drink on this medication because of the way it messes with your stomach. Anyone else drank with the drug?

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12

Totally agree, worst experience ever for me. I hope you are feeling better

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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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18

I've been on brintellex for about a month. Light nausea in the beginning. I'm up to 20mg now. I tried taking 10 an 10 today with good results. I have been having horrible nausea and vomiting the last week but today I'm doing good! I guess it's hit or miss with this drug. I also take latuda, remeron for sleep with
Ambien, adderall, and Xanax. I'm hoping that the nausea and vomiting has gone away but I cannot take it on an empty stomach. Seems like 3 pm is a good time. I'm not full from lunch but still have some food in my stomach. I have also had a horrible cold with lots of sinus drainage which could be related to the nausea. Overall, I feel better. I haven't felt this happy and like I have things together in a long time. I was on lexapro for almost 10 years and didn't think it was working anymore. Good luck to everyone and hang in there!

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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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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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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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7

As far as i know Trazodone can not be taken with brintellix according to their website. Its pretty sad some docs don't explain interactions, mostly because they don't know or haven't taken the time to look.I always try my best to look up interactions before starting any new meds.I recently was put on Luvox.Pdoc went over some sides and that is it.When i got home and did research I found i can't have caffeine as it multiples the effect greatly to the point you can od on caffeine. Secondly couldn't take klonapin as it can do the same.Something to do with how to liver breaks it down.So had to switch to Ativan because its processed different.Ive been on a ton of ssri's and so far they all seem to make me worse or i should say the sides are worse than the mild depression and anxiety i have.Will be starting Britellex tomorrow,hopefully better results.

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14

I have had itching and a slight rash on my wrists and a few fingers. I used a cortizone cream and that really helps with the itching. I have been on 20 mg for 8 weeks.

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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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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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