Vortioxetine and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Cla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2020

Vortioxetine for Depression "I have anxiety, OCD, and depression. I took this pill for a year, and it was the most amazing medication I had ever been on for my anxiety. I started low and took it at night to try and sleep away most side effects. But I did have diarrhea for the first 3 days of upping my dose, and I only went up to 10mg. But then it would go away, and I noticed a difference in my anxiety at 7.5mg, but I seriously was able to live my life, and I never knew what genuine happiness was until this medicine. However, after taking it for 6 months, I started to gain weight so fast. I gained 40 pounds in the following 6 months and then stopped taking it because it made me starving, I never felt full, and these kinds of meds are known to affect your metabolism in a bad way. So yes, this pill is amazing, but I got fat on it."

• Eli...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2017

Vortioxetine for Depression "This drug has been the best antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication I have ever been on. I have been off and on different medications for the past 10 years. (Prozac, Wellbutrin, Cipralex) The first 2 weeks on this medication were rough with nausea and vomiting. My doctor encouraged me to push through the first two weeks, which I did. After 2 weeks, the nausea went away and I haven't had any side effects since. It's the first medication I have felt a notable difference with. My anxiety is very low. No more tightening chest, vomiting, diarrhea, not being able to breathe when in a situation that would previously make me anxious. Only butterflies in my stomach now. I have never felt better in my life. Very optimistic. Is this what normal feels like."

• Tyl...
• August 25, 2016

Vortioxetine for Depression "Felt positive effects immediately at 10 mg. Had one day of diarrhea and some nausea, but that went away when I started taking it after dinner. I'm going to ask to be bumped up to 20 mg on my next appointment. Very happy with Trintellix. Works better than Wellbutrin, Pristiq, or Lexapro, and side effects are much less."

• Jul...
• March 23, 2016

Vortioxetine for Depression "Mid 30s with depression for over 4 years. Was on Lexapro 10mg, then 20mg for a little while, but it wasn't enough and the psych doc wouldn't listen to me or change my meds. So after 2 years of dealing with him, I switched to another psych doc who actually listened to me. First, she added Wellbutrin 150 then 300 XL. It wasn't such a great difference, so she switched me to Trintellix after insurance approval. She started me out at 5mg, then titrated up to 10mg, then 20mg. The first few days were the worst with side effects, but mine were nausea and diarrhea, that only got better in time. The feeling after being on this medication was great! I felt more like my old self again, happier, more motivated, less isolated, and got my sex drive back."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2016

Vortioxetine for Depression "My doctor noticed that the other medication that I was on was not working well and had me start Trintellix (10 mg per day) from samples he had. There was a direct transition from the other medicine to this one - no tapering off or anything like that. After just a few days, the medicine and I apparently agreed that it would work for me. The side effects that I have are mild headache and sometimes loose stool - to be polite. I'm excited about this one. Big differences in a short time."

• Sie...
• June 12, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have tried a few anti-depressants over the years since my 20s, like Celexa, Cymbalta, Lexapro (not good for me), Wellbutrin (not good for me in combination with Cymbalta), and now, Trintellix. I did the genetic testing after my experience on Trintellix and found that I have a genetic expression where my brain does not utilize serotonin very well due to fewer receptor sites (SSRIs are not good for me-it's the SLC6A4 gene if you are curious). Trintellix has a very high effect on serotonin receptor sites, so I did not do well on it at all. I had racing/hypo-manic thoughts, itching, higher appetite with food and sex, tinnitus, loose stools, insomnia, nausea, and very high energy. I would highly recommend doing the genetic test through your PCP or psychiatrist/nurse practitioner to determine your specific needs due to your specific genetics. Not every medication will work for everyone, and reviews can only tell us so much."

• Mea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I tried getting off of Effexor for a while, but withdrawals were bad. Lowering the dosage while increasing with Trintellix helped. 5 mg was fine. 10 mg was hard to get used to: nausea, diarrhea, really tired. I was also very itchy, but all of these symptoms went away after a week or two. One thing to note, I was a smoker and after a week of being on 10 mg, I can't stand smoking and quit. I also can't stand soda anymore. So, I am in love with this drug."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2014

Vortioxetine for Depression "I have had great results from this medication for my depression and also my anxiety. I did not experience the 'dumbing' down that I have felt with other antidepressants. My focus is good and I've not had memory problems. One side effect I've noticed is lack of motivation / procrastination. It may sound odd but being a full-time college student, I've never put things off until the last minute like I have been doing since starting this medicine. Other side effects I've had are gas and bloating, diarrhea, nausea. These have lessened over the past 8 weeks. All in all, I'm very pleased with the results. Insurance: I'm not sure how much our co-pay will be for this, as I've been using samples given to me by my physician."

• Jak...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 21, 2024

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I saw little to no effect for the first year. After 1 year, in addition to stoicism research and therapy, I began to notice a dramatic stability in my mind and reduced thoughts of suicide. If I miss more than 1 day of it now, I notice my mood dramatically drops, more towards anger than depression, though. I have had 1-2 weeks in the past of forgetting to take my pill, in which case my life began to completely fall apart. I love this drug sincerely and have come to accept that I may need to be on it for the rest of my life, no matter how much therapy or mental stability I have. It has given me stability I never thought I could obtain and has led me to living a very happy life ever since year 2 on the drug. The side effects I had in the first 1-2 years were an upset stomach and diarrhea if I didn't take it with a large meal. Now, 4-5 years later, I can eat it without a meal and feel perfectly fine. The primary side effect I still have is severely reduced sex drive."

• apa...
• March 9, 2015

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "1 month in and I'm tolerating this medicine really well. I have Bipolar Disorder, but I'm taking it for depression and anxiety. I'm currently taking 10mg. I have occasional diarrhea and nightmares (may be the Lamotrigine), but that's it. So far I'm feeling more optimistic, I'm making plans for the future, I want to go out and socialize more often, and feel much more calm. I've tried more antidepressants than I can count and have been taking them since 1991. This is by far the best so far."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2014

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I've had the side effects of nausea, diarrhea, and low sex drive. Even so, it has helped improve my mood and reduced my anxiety. The side effects have decreased in the past few weeks, but at first, they were bothersome. Largest complaint is the copay! Our cost is $122 after insurance! Outrageous. I probably won't be able to afford it for long. Sad because I finally found something that was working."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "Only on the Trintellix 5 mg for week #1. I feel better already. I was a failure of 2 different other antidepressants. I was losing my temper at work, wanting to get even with those who made me mad. I recognized that I needed a change as that was not me. My Dr. told me to take the medication with peanut butter, or at least with a meal, so I wouldn’t be sick as it is a side effect. I know I’m only in the first week, but I am getting back to me already, as noted in better hygiene on my days off, actually getting out of bed. I have started cleaning up my house again. Yes, it has given me diarrhea some, but I have no gallbladder, which also gave me diarrhea. Simple fix with incorporating yogurt into my daily diet. So far, I am very pleased with Trintellix. My insurance company, thankfully, will cover the medication because of the past failure of the previous 2 I have tried."

• Lem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "I had to discontinue Trintellix after one week. Was starting on 5 mg every other day and advised to increase weekly until I reached a maintenance dose of 10 mg daily. This isn’t my first antidepressant, so I was prepared for side effects and an adjustment period. Each time I ingested a tablet of this, though, I felt as if I was poisoning myself. I did not experience the nausea that so many do, but rather diarrhea, insomnia, loss of appetite, itching, and a marked increase of tinnitus that had been in remission. I decided that my body couldn’t handle this particular pharmaceutical and will be addressing my depression, for now, with a combination of lifestyle changes and more frequent counseling appointments. I hope everyone finds an approach that works, whether it’s Trintellix or an alternative."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "My Dr. began me on 10 mg of Trintellix on Aug 6. As of Aug 7, I vomited violently every morning and had diarrhea as well. Sometimes both at the same time. Nasty. Nausea persisted through the day, making eating virtually impossible until dinner time. By Aug 21, I was so irritable I became mean. I couldn't stop verbally berating my husband. It was awful. I began taking the pill at night to escape the GI side effects. I escaped the vomiting but still had gas, bloating, and loose stool. As of today, I still have nausea and loose stool. My Dr. increased my dose to 20 mg on Aug 29. I think it finally started working on Sept 12. I feel like 'me' again. Fingers crossed! As I live in Canada and have drug coverage through work, I am fortunate to not have to pay out of pocket for this med."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "My Dr. began me on 10 mg of Trintellix on Aug 6. As of Aug 7, I vomited violently every morning and had diarrhea as well. Sometimes both at the same time. Nasty. Nausea persisted through the day, making eating virtually impossible until dinner time. By Aug 21, I was so irritable I became mean. I couldn't stop verbally berating my husband. It was awful. I began taking the pill at night to escape the GI side effects. I escaped the vomiting but still had gas, bloating, and loose stool. As of today, I still have nausea and loose stool. My Dr. increased my dose to 20 mg on Aug 29. I think it finally started working on Sept 12. I feel like 'me' again. Fingers crossed! As I live in Canada and have drug coverage through work, I am fortunate to not have to pay out of pocket for this med."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "I give this a 10, however, the cost makes it a 1! I am dealing with postpartum depression. I was given a 30-day sample. I took it right before bed and slept amazing. Had some loose stools the first week, but nothing bad. When I went to pick up a prescription, it was $375! Even with a savings card, it came to $275! Now I’m trying something different and terrified. The first meds I tried made me a zombie, which I can't be when living and looking after 3 kids."

• Bay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2016

Vortioxetine for Depression "Tried to take months earlier but stopped due to nausea and diarrhea. Gave it another try today... bad idea. Very sick within 1 hour of taking. Horrific headache followed by vomiting everything in my stomach."

• zra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2020

Vortioxetine for Depression "I swapped from Cipralex to Trintellix because of the major sexual dysfunction Cipralex caused on me. I've been on 5 mg for 2 weeks now, and after 1.5 weeks, I really noticed improvement. At the beginning, I was feeling nauseous all the time and had diarrhea, but those went away with time. My erection is a lot better than it used to be, and I feel the sensation in my penis is also getting better. With Cipralex, it was just numb, and I had no libido. After 2 weeks, I highly recommend this drug. My anxiety is a lot better, but sleeping is still a bit difficult, and I need Zopinox to fall asleep, hoping it'll get better too."

• mis...
• July 11, 2016

For Depression "I started getting nausea the first day on half of the smallest dose. Four doses and I'm crying, have diarrhea, can't deal with anything. Can't get a hold of the nurse that prescribed it. Miserable. Crisis centers couldn't help. It's been hell. Don't try this unless you can get immediate help from your psychiatrist."

• Blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "I have been treated for depression on and off throughout my life, I am currently in my middle sixties. There is a history of depression and bipolar disease in my family. At the beginning of the summer, I felt like I needed some help, I don’t like taking meds, but I just wasn’t feeling right. My therapist recommended a nurse therapist to possibly prescribe something to help my mood. I met with her and was prescribed Trintellix. She gave me samples starting with 5 mg a day for one week, increasing the dose to 10 mg thereafter. The nausea was horrible, it didn’t make a difference whether I took it with food or not. My libido sunk to a new low, I had so many GI symptoms including bloating, gas, and diarrhea. I took the med for 6 weeks. The nausea never subsided. I don’t know whether my depression was any better because I felt so sick. All I can say is this drug did not work for me, I have never had so many side effects from a medication."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on 20 mg for more than 3 months now. My depression is bad, sleeping more than I ever have, no desire to participate in any house chores, I just don’t care. I am sweating, have bad diarrhea, and just want to give up. I will stick with it for at least 3 more months, but if no improvement, then I don’t know."

• lab...
• August 1, 2016

For Depression "I was given 60 days' samples of Brintellix 10 mg from my CNP to replace ibuprofen (Wellbutrin) 150 mg and generic Lexapro 20 mg - which was causing my BP to go up. I also take Ritalin up to 40 mg per day as needed. I am a 46-year-old female with GAD and ADHD. Brintellix was an option to address the GAD without affecting BP. I began Brintellix on 7/16 and quit 7/30 because I couldn't tolerate the following side effects: • dizziness!! • mental fog • diarrhea every morning • increased appetite (gained 10 lbs in the 15 days I was on this med) • increased irritability • floaters in my vision, including seeing sparkly flashes of light - very weird! I stopped taking Brintellix on 7/31. Side effect symptoms have mostly gone, but I'm still feeling brain foggy."

• OBR...
• October 25, 2015

Vortioxetine for Depression "No serious side effects except for diarrhea for the first few days. Not much of an appetite, but improves over time. I take Klonopin to help with anxiety and sleeplessness. You may also experience fatigue for the first few days as well, so make sure you take it 12 hours before waking up in the morning."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2017

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "This medication has changed my life. It's been a miracle drug for me after cycling through different meds for the last 3 years, trying to find what worked. I've powered through the nausea and vomiting and diarrhea for the last two months. Unfortunately, I'm at a point that I am not sure I want to continue the medication due to the nausea. Beside that, I haven't experienced any other side effects."

• Ber...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "In the beginning, this medication was helpful for my depression. However, the side effects were horrible. I experienced nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea continually. I had to stop taking this medication due to the side effects. They were unmanageable for me."