I was started on Trintellix 10mg once a day over 2 months ago. If I don't take it with Zofran, I get nauseous to the point of vomiting within an hour of taking it. I thought such a side effect would subside after the first month, but it definitely hasn't. Is it normal to still be sick? I feel absolutely fine if I take the Zofran, but can I really take that long term, like every day for as long as I am on Trintellix? I'm worried I'm not going to be able to tolerate it, which stinks because it has been helping my depression. I also had an initial side effect of itching all over my body, which went away, and is now back again. :( I'm dreading going back to the doctor because I do not want to start all over again on new medicines. I've tried so many (Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor, Abilify) that haven't worked, I'm afraid I'm running out of options. I just want to feel better.
Is it normal to still have nausea with Trintellix after over 2 months of taking it?
Question posted by Courtneyl0816 on 29 March 2017
Last updated on 10 January 2024
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
29 Answers Page 2
I started taking this about 2 hours ago and the nausea and salivating is so bad i am already online looking to see how quickly (if at all) it subsides.
On 5mg to begin with a view to going up to 10mg next week if i can stomach it then 20mg if needed... but wow... how can something that is supposed to have so many positives make you feel so rubbish almost instantly? What is in it?! I have almost been sick 3 times and i'm not sure i'm going to be able to not be!
It's like having vertigo and last time i had that i was prescribed buccastem to help with the nausea... if this continues i am going to need something more than ginger tea :( !!!
So I gave up. The sickness got better, particularly when I took it just before sleep, but the mild itching I got on 5mg became completely intolerable on 10mg - to the point where my eyeballs felt itchy and who knew that was possible?! And then after a few more days my windpipe was so itchy, then the coughing started... it triggered my asthma, which I usually only get about once a year when the pollen count is really high. So I had to come off it immediately and I will never ever take it again. Same, as it did a lot for my mood, but after this experience no more drugs for me, I have been cold turkey for almost 3 months and it is the only way for me.
Good luck to everyone suffering from nausea from this drug, I cannot figure what is “normal”. I started Trintellix 10mg 5 days ago. For 3 days, I felt amazing. Yesterday, the nausea started. Today, I had an unbelievable hot flash, sweat and all, in a room that was 70°! The nausea is horrendous, feel like I’m going to hurl any moment. (Also, have diarrhea). I did my research before taking this drug and read all the complaints on the side effect of nausea, hundreds of them. So, my question is, why? What is in this drug that causes the nausea and why doesn’t the manufacturer fix it??? Like everyone else, other drugs have either not worked or quit working. I had really high hopes for this one and hoped I would continue to feel as good as I did the first 3 days. Perhaps when I stop 30 mg of Cymbalta it will improve; I’m tapering it off for 7 days along with taking the Trintellix, per instructions of my ARNP.
Fingers crossed! (That’s a terrible thing to have to do when hoping medication works; it is 2018 for goodness sakes!)
I am trying ginger, as I read on one of these blogs, that it helps. I’ll let you know.
I started Trintellix April , 10mg, sick from day 1, so started using Zofran for nausea, now that I’m in to 11 weeks on this, my depression better, but now I am violently throwing up even with the zofran, About an hour after I take it, dosent matter when, with or without food. This is not for me! Cannot leave the house till I’m done Being sick, which can be hours! Seeing Dr. Monday
Wanted to add, I told my Dr. over and over this makes me violently ill every day, his response was Hmm.. I have not heard, this is NOT a common side effect! Mentally I felt great on this.. but cannot function with being so sick from it, even with Zofran, discontinued it after a few months and weight loss, dumped my Dr. who apparently does not know his meds, and now my primary prescribed Zoloft, which I took 25 yrs ago, and it works just fine again.. know your meds Doctors
Hi I will be on Trintillex (Vortoxitine) 5 mg now a week tomorrow (Sunday) I have to say I think it is helping my depression. I’m thinking I may not need to go to 10 mg? Before this I was on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg but had to wean off because it was making me more anxious with a little too much weight loss. My M.S. (multiple sclerosis) psychiatrist put me on this drug and told me that there would only be 10% chance of nausea. So far I have none, but it’s only been a week can it still come?? HOPE NOT! He told me to take it in the morning, so when I wake up at 6:30 AM, that is when I take it and then I fall back asleep most of the time with a couple of squirts of melatonin under my tongue...
I am experiencing a little bit of diarrhea with stomach cramps? I’m also getting a lot of muscle cramps in my hands and feet but mostly in my hands not sure if it is related? My joints are sore as well as my bones and I’m brusing very easily, again not sure if it is related? Also I am getting a few hot flashes and my appetite has increased slightly. My memory thou is worse real worse!
Has anybody else experienced these symptoms that I’m having on Trintellix 5 mg? And also is anybody else finding that their depression has gotten better on just the 5 mg? Or is 10 mg the true dose? Any feedback would be much appreciated. :)
I haven't been on it that long yet. I do have itching and hot flashes with it
I stumbled upon this page after googling for an option to trintellix. I have never had stomach issued with any medication until this. The nausea is awful. I had to go down to 5 mg and take it at night before bed to try to sleep theough it. 5 mg was better but nausea was still there and i questioned the therapeutic dose being enough. - i am looking for combo for both anxiety and depression. I have never tried the basics with paxil etc so that is my next move. Good luck!
Same. I’m currently on and I can’t handle the nausea. Sometimes I actually think I might vomit. I just lay around because getting up makes it worse.
Hi Courtney. 1st time on here, trying 2 navigate correctly. I'm interested in ur current treatmt plan. It wouldn't let me message u after ur message stating ur diagnosis & ur waiting on a treatmt plan. We have a lot in common. I have the same exact diagnosis. Trintellix is the 1st thing 2 ever work. Was told 2 take w/ food, no problems, till recent. I violently get ill after an hr of taking it. So I'm afraid 2 take it, but afraid not 2. Please keep me posted. I'm still hopeful 4 both of us. Ty much
Same with me, I had absolutely no idea what was wrong with me. I did what my doctor told me to do, take it with lunch or dinner. All of a sudden, I would start salivating and boom. Horrible feeling but... the med has helped me with my mood and anxiety. I’ve been on it almost 4 months and I’m not sure why this is still happening. Makes me wonder wonder what is in this stuff!
Research suggests Vortioxetine has various (partly conflicting) actions - acting mostly on the serotonin pathway. Serotonin is mostly made in the gut. Too much info focuses on what it does in the brain. Ok. But look to your gut micro biome health. What are you eating? Check out the Good Guts books. Look at all drugs you are taking - and how they affect your gut. Think about maybe a good Probiotic supplement (and Prebiotics). I’ve reduced/ changed my drugs to minimize those that are worse on the gut. Trial and error led to a really good probiotic (for me) - Lifespace brand. Everyone is different. I’ve improved my diet more (it wasn’t terrible). No more nausea (but have toast with honey /tea - before vortioxetine). The mainstream medicos have resisted the ‘gut /brain’ axis for research - but they are very keen now. Take anti nausea meds if it suits you. Or you have to. But try fixing your gut as well.
Stop eating ‘ultra processed foods.’ Ie most takeaways. Don’t buy foods with preservatives, or emulsifiers (especially). Read the labels on food when shopping (if you can - labeling in Oz requires additives to be declared mostly. Europe is v good. US? Think it’s harder?) Try to minimize eating additives of most types. Good food places will tell you what they are using. They also don’t use ‘partially processed’ ingredients (that have additives). I’m not an extremist. I still do eat the wrong things occasionally. Then the meds might make me feel sick the next morning! (Or maybe it was the pizza??) Good luck! I haven’t had a micro biome test yet - that’s next.
I just started 1 week ago and nausea setting in..am I in for a bumpy ride? Isn't the nausea supposed to go away?
Everyone's body chemistry is different. I was so hopeful with Trintellex because my cognizance and memory improved immensely, but I couldn't tolerate the nausea. If it wasn't for that, maybe my depression would have improved too. I tried for over a month, now I'm back on Cymbalta. Maybe it will be different for you!
I am in the same boat. I have been on Trintellix since May 2017. Was on 10 mg and nausea just seemed to be calming down and now ramping it up to 20 mg. I have also tried several other ADs. My depression has improved but I feel like crap at least half the time, randomly. Also going around with insurance company to get it approved.
I feel you. Did your insurance cover it yet? My doctor said the way to get it covered is they have to list that you have tried many other anti-depressants before. Which sounds like you have. My doc saved me by telling me to sign up for Trintellix online. They give you a member number. Just take a pic to show your a member and give it to your pharmacy. It then only costs $10 a month!!! They keep the info in their system so you don’t have to show monthly but keep just Incase. My pharmacy is amazing so I never have problems. As for the feeling horrible in it so do I. I haven’t tried it before bed so that’s my next thing. What happened when you tried at bedtime?
I absolutely can't take it. I gave it over a month but the constant nausea kicked my butt. Also, it didn't touch my anxiety. It just can't help with depression if I feel sick all the time. Tomorrow I see my doctor. Hopefully, I can go back on Cymbalta (I've been weaning off), or he can prescribe something else.
I have a stomach of Steel. .I thought... but this stuff seems toxic!
I have the same problem. I've tried different remedies but am thinking of going off it. The nausea is quite bad and lasts for hours.
YES, Courtney I agree with my friend Janie, Some people really have a time adjusting to this medication but also in this length of time it would be a good idea to let the doctor know and maybe there is something they can add that well help with the NAUSEA unless you don't seem to be getting much help from it in the long run then it may just be time for a change for you. Best wishes.
Thank you for your response! I started seeing a psychologist today in the same office as my prescribing doctor. I told her the issues I was having and she is going to consult with my doctor on the best course of action. I'm hoping for the best!
That is great Courtney, I agree with Janie and after this amount of time, something should be done if these side effects are not going away. Therapy and a different medication could make a world of difference and to be feeling well physically is over half the battle. best of luck and please feel free to keep in touch.
I have been on Trintellix 10mg since Feb. 15.
Was very nauseous all the for a while, then it stopped, now back again. Take Zofran 4mg
when needed but ins. won’t pay for even the generic. Only for chemo pts. they’ll pay.
Lol... only chemo pts. have nausea?
Anxiety is off the charts sometime, even with taking Klonopin. I was on Prozac for like 8 yrs. It was the best!!! It stopped. Wellbutrin and Effexor was good for a while, but stopped and that’s when I tried Trintellix.
Going to see my Dr. on Wed. I’ve been on them all but either the side-effects were horrible or they stopped working after a few yrs. Definitely running out of options, been on them for 24 yrs.
Effexor withdrawals are horrible, even when weening. Not going to pay $152./month to feel this bad. Seems like what I’m reading, nausea, anxiety and pitching is the theme of this med. I also have MDD and anxiety.
Good luck with your Dr’s working this out together!!
I have just started taking trintellix and just like I read here, I also begin to vomit within an hour of taking the medication. I don't know yet if it helps with my MDD because I haven't been taking it long enough to find out, but I have taken everything else, from prozac, paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, and cymbalta to name a few. If it can be prescribed for MDD, I have taken it, and a lot of these medications helped, but only for a while and then eventually stopped. I hate having to keep starting over on a different medication and sometimes I think of giving up on it but then I remember how much more I hate having major depressive disorder than starting a new medicine. Sleeping all of the time, not being interested in anything at all, and pushing away everyone in my life because I want to be alone and isolated.
I have at times spent months this way and I hate it and I have people say to me that I need to make myself get up and snap out of it and I would love to be able to do that, but if there's a way without medication I have not found it yet. I was really hoping that this trintellix would work but I am not sure if I can handle vomiting every day unless its something that will pass soon or there is something that can alleviate the vomiting like taking it with milk or maybe food. Any suggestions or advice would be very appreciated.
Hi Courtney-
I could not tolerate Trintellix. I had non-stop vomiting. It is known for the nausea it can cause. If it has not gone away after 2 months, the side effect may not decrease.You should not be so sick after 2 months. I have also tried many different antidepressants. I can relate to running out of options and wanting to feel better. It is hard to start over on a new antidepressant. You may want to see a Psychiatrist if you are not already. They specialize in meds and may have some options for you. I have heard that Wellbutrin works well for others.
Let us know how it goes.
Thank you for your response! I actually started seeing a psychologist today in the same office as my prescribing doctor. She can't prescribe, but she's well versed in antidepressants. I told her about the issues I am having and she is going to consult with my doctor to see what the next step should be. Hopefully they can figure out the best course of action. I'm hopeful that therapy will be a big help as well as I've never tried it before. I've never been given a proper diagnosis, but she gave me one today and it's really a relief to have a name for my issues. She says I have major depressive disorder - severe, with anxious distress. In 2 weeks I go back and we're going to form a treatment plan :)
Geez... Add my name to the list too. Hi. I tried Trintellix when I experienced what the doc called the "Prozac Poop-Out." After 2 years of taking it with decent results, it abruptly stopped working. The Trintellix had a profound effect after only 5 days--I didn't think that was even possible! My stomach was a bit grumpy during the first week but I didn't connect the two until after the second week when the nurse said she couldn't take it because it made her vomit. I didn't think much of it because I can take anything without problems. When I thought about it, though, I remembered I had a grumpy stomach a few times that first week and I assumed it had passed as many side effects do. Lo and behold, after a couple more weeks, I was having serious nausea and vomiting. I wanted desperately to keep taking it so I tried everything.
(I mean EVERYTHING) I could think of to prevent the side effect--taking it all different times of the day and night, before meals, after meals, empty stomach/full stomach, with milk or extra water and on and on, but nothing helped. After 2 months I had to give up. Doc put me on an AD I had taken a few years ago but this time it's not helping at all. I'm more depressed than ever and I'm wondering if I should try it again. Sometimes I think I'd rather throw up 3 times a week than feel this way. (Mind you, I have a wonderful life.) As far as I know, Trintellix is a new style of AD, so there isn't anything similar to try. Sorry I don't have any useful info to pass along, just a kindred spirit.
I just stopped Trintellix after about 8 months. I think it helped my depression but I couldn’t tolerate the stomach nausea and vomiting
The psychiatrist and the gastroenterologist told me vomiting would go away with time. At first I massively vomited into the garbage can at grocery store. I took ondansetron frequently
Then three weeks ago I was on a long Uber ride and perhaps it was the car agitation but I got nauseous abs asked driver to slow down
But as soon as I got home I vomited four times
Gosh that could have happened in Uber!
So I tapered but very quickly
I’m still on two mood stabilizers and hope to be ok
This time of year is so hard. Do other people feel sad this time of year??
After a year of nausea, vomiting, Zofran and Phenergan I am now on Vraylar 1.5 mg once a day AN IT IS WORKING WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS! Please try it if you can.
Related topics
zofran, depression, nausea/vomiting, major depressive disorder, side effect, trintellix
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