I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with depression. Like everyone else, I've been on pretty much everything that's out there. I started Trintellix 2.5 weeks ago. The first couple of days, I had a good feeling, like this was the one. I had no side effects... none of the stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting. But as I closed in on the 2 week mark, my anxiety started getting worse. And nonstop. Now I'm debating whether I should stay on it and hope the anxiety goes away or go back to my Effexor (which helps the most, but with side effects). Any thoughts on this?
Will anxiety caused by Trintellix go away?
Question posted by SpyderJames66 on 27 Nov 2016
Last updated on 11 February 2019 by KateHale
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Answers
KateHale
11 Feb 2019
Early last year I was put on Trintellix and it did help for a while but my breathing became not normal and my anxiety just went up in April, I had to go to ER twice in one week, told my psychiatrist what was happening and asked to go back to Celexa. By June or July 2018, my anxiety went down better however I was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus and gastroparesis. I walked for 30 minutes 5 times a week in the summer until it got too cold, I stopped. Then last October I asked to try Trintellix again and now I have the same symptoms with breathing and increased anxiety. I'm seeing my doctor next Monday to tell him. I don't want to go back to ER again. I'm also taking Remeron at night which helps with depression, anxiety and sleep.
WildcatVet
27 Nov 2016
Hi, SpyderJames! Increased anxiety is practically a given side effect of all antidepressants for the first few days to weeks. There's a very good chance that if you can hang in just a bit longer the anxiety will resolve and you'll feel the full benefits by 3-4 weeks after starting.
SpyderJames66
27 Nov 2016
Thanks Wildcat. I'll try to stick it out to at least week 3. It's not easy.
Wheezy27
2 Dec 2016
If you can stick it out for a while more, especially if you go to 20mg/day, the anxiety tends to go away. Mine did so I hope yours does too, but of course it's individualized. Hope it does for you too!
SpyderJames66
3 Dec 2016
Thanks Wheezy. I'm only on 5mg a day now. The anxiety is improving... I have pretty good days and not so good days. I may ask my pdoc if I can go up to 10mg. I'm just nervous that my anxiety will skyrocket if I do.
WildcatVet
4 Dec 2016
If it does, it will be temporary.
SpyderJames66
4 Dec 2016
I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks for your advice, it really has been helpful :)
migrainesuf1166
17 Jan 2017
How are you guys doing now with your anxiety? I am on 10 mg and week 8 and seeing my dr tomorrow and still having depression and some anxiety so debating what to do
SpyderJames66
17 Jan 2017
Gave up on trintellix. Increased my anxiety. Back in Effexor. It helps, but not nearly enough. I've basically given up.
migrainesuf1166
17 Jan 2017
I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope that you find something that helps you
Wheezy27
17 Jan 2017
Still going on 20 mg. Anxiety is still there but tolerable, any big triggers (everything medical lol) tho are the same as before.
Wheezy27
17 Jan 2017
Still going on 20 mg. Anxiety is still there but tolerable, any big triggers (everything medical lol) tho are the same as before. I should mention again, this is my second time on Trintellix after going off for a couple months. The first time was much better for anxiety than this time.
migrainesuf1166
17 Jan 2017
Did you start this for depression as well or mainly anxiety? If so, did it help your depression?
Wheezy27
17 Jan 2017
Depression first reason, anxieties second. Worked great both times for depression, working for anxiety but not as well for this second time as the first time.
Wheezy27
23 Jan 2017
I started on it for mood, it was expected it would help with the add and anxiety.
mtp123
23 Jan 2017
Jumping in on this thread if you don't mind :) I've been on everything under the sun for the last 20 yrs or so, my body seems to be rejecting almost all SSRI's and related meds at this point. I started Trintellix at 2.5mg on 5.Jan for anxiety mostly and accompanying mild depression as result of anxiety and med issues. Went up to 5mg after a week at 2.5 but anxiety got a bit high for my liking. Backed down to 2.5 on 21.Jan. Still having anxiety which is quelled by Klonopin. Plan to ride this out for another few weeks at 2.5 and see if the anxiety lifts (I can tell this med related side from experience) so I can bump back to 5. I'll be chiming back in but hope to hear from you on continued experience with the med as there isn't much on it. Thanks
Notalone426
8 May 2017
The doctor recently put me on Tintellix but still have not taking it. I am scared to take it, I am afraid that my Anxiety will increased what should i do?
Cleo230
17 May 2017
I started taking Trintellix last September with 5mg, then 10mg, 15 and have prolonged increasing to 20mg as my psychiatrist is prescribing. I also take 0.25mg of Clonazepam for anxiety (been taking this for 30 years; same time I started on anti-depressants.) Long story but I have been experiencing severe anxiety with Trintellix and up until seeing this blog, I thought I was losing it. Along with the anxiety I have the awful experience (several times now), of having to all of a sudden dash to the bathroom for surprise bowel movements. Two weekends ago my chorus and I traveled to a singing contest. I was popping Immodium the whole weekend to try and ensure I wouldn't have to make a run for it at the contest. It worked, thankfully. Thanks for sharing this info about anxiety and Trintellix. I realize I have to make a change now.
KingKong9
14 July 2017
I began taking Trintellix about two months ago starting at 5mg and moving up to 10mg after a few weeks. When I was prescribed it I didn't even think I had anxiety and I wasn't depressed. For the first few weeks though I did feel pretty good. Now, I have anxiety every single day, always in the morning and then sometimes at night. It is pretty consistent and I have to constantly tell myself its just in my head and to remain patient. Basically I went from just being stressed to taking Trintellix and now having real anxiety all the time. I will be seeing my doc in two weeks and by then I will have been on it about 6 weeks so hopefully he will have a good answer for me.
WildcatVet
14 July 2017
For the anxiety sufferers: ask your doctors about taking BuSpar or adding it to your current medication. BuSpar is not an anti-psychotic nor is it an antidepressant. It specifically targets anxiety and it's symptoms, is very effective for most people with very few side effects.
BigAl222
3 Sep 2017
I've always taken Klonopin for anxiety, my doctor switched me to Trintelix and after a few weeks I had to go back to Klonopin.
WildcatVet
3 Sep 2017
*The long-term use of benzodiazepines may have a similar effect on the brain as alcohol, and are also implicated in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mania, psychosis, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, delirium, and neurocognitive disorders.[34][35] As with alcohol, the effects of benzodiazepine on neurochemistry, such as decreased levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, are believed to be responsible for their effects on mood and anxiety.[37][38][39][40][41][42] Additionally, benzodiazepines can indirectly cause or worsen other psychiatric symptoms (e.g., mood, anxiety, psychosis, irritability) by worsening sleep (i.e., benzodiazepine-induced sleep disorder).
Sleep architecture can be adversely affected by benzodiazepine dependence. Possible adverse effects on sleep include induction or worsening of sleep disordered breathing. Like alcohol, benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat insomnia in the short term (both prescribed and self-medicated), but worsen sleep in the long term. Although benzodiazepines can put people to sleep, while asleep, the drugs disrupt sleep architecture: decreasing sleep time, delaying time to and decreased REM sleep, increasing alpha and beta activity, decreasing K complexes and delta activity, and decreasing deep slow-wave sleep (i.e., NREM stages 3 and 4, the most restorative part of sleep for both energy and mood).[30][31][32][33]
Numbers of benzodiazepine prescriptions have been declining, due primarily to concerns of dependence. In the short term, benzodiazepines can be effective drugs for acute anxiety or insomnia. With longer-term use, other therapies, both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic, become more effective. This is in part due to the greater effectiveness over time of other forms of therapy, and also due to the eventual development of pharmacological benzodiazepine tolerance.[9][10]*
Hopeful1818
23 Feb 2018
I had been on Effexor 300mg for over 15 years with good results minus the high blood pressure side effect, which was treated with meds. I foolishly (with the help of my doc) discontinued Effexor and started trintellix, increasing to 20mg. Thinking, there are no meds on the market that may be better and not impact cardiovascular issues. It was miserable. Intestinal issues, body aches and anxiety. Doc added 10 mg of abilify and klonopin 0.5 twice a day. This transition has been going on for 6 months and I am still miserable with anxiety. I am now starting to decrease the trintellix to go back on Effexor.
Related topics
depression, anxiety, disorder, trintellix
Further information
- Trintellix uses and safety info
- Trintellix prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Trintellix (detailed)
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