Vortioxetine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• cte...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2022

Vortioxetine for Depression "I have had depression for the last 28 years. I have tried several medications that have worked for a while but stopped working over time. I had been taking Lexapro that worked for a while, and then my doctor changed me to taking Trintellix. I have been taking it for about 3 months, and I became suicidal and had a suicide attempt. Thankfully, I called 911! I have been having headaches, insomnia, nausea, feeling numb, dizzy, weight gain, itchy rash all over my body, foggy brain… I wish I had known about this site before I decided to take this medication. I would not have taken it. Please beware!!"

• nai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2015

Vortioxetine for Depression "My experience with Brintellix has been terrible. This is the worst antidepressant I have ever taken. Bad if you have insomnia. Bad if you have problems with rumination. Bad if you have anxiety. Enough said."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "So Trintellix was weird for me. 20 mg worked well for my depression but triggered some awful OCD episodes. If you have OCD or anxiety, you might want to stay away from this one. The nausea was not fun. Even when taken with a dose of Zofran (anti-nausea pill), my stomach would gurgle and churn all morning. I also had insomnia, and when I finally did fall asleep, I’d have weird and sometimes disturbing dreams. Positive things about it: I didn’t gain any weight and had no sexual side effects. Antidepressants are all different, and this particular one didn’t really work for me. But I will try as many as I have to until I find something that works."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2018

Vortioxetine for Depression "My doctor started me on 10 mg for situational depression in mid-December. After a month, I was able to have a conversation without crying (mostly), but still wasn’t where I needed to be. She increased the dosage to 20 mg, and almost immediately I felt better. I have had no nausea; my energy level, interest in life, and libido have all increased. I will say, I started taking the medication at night, but did experience insomnia. I switched to taking it in the morning, and my sleep has improved greatly. I’ve had people who did not know what was going on with me comment that I look 10 years younger and happier. It has given me the ability to take care of the issues that were causing my depression. I don’t know how long I will be taking the medication, but I am grateful for its effectiveness."

• Bel...
• October 12, 2015

Vortioxetine for Depression "I have been taking 5 mg 1x daily in the am of Brintellix. This dosage has knocked out my depressive symptoms very effectively, but my anxiety is unchanged. My doctor is going to have me try clonazepam for the anxiety issues, but I am really pleased with what Brintellix has done for my depression. In a little over a year, I have weaned off of paroxetine and tried fluoxetine, duloxetine, bupropion, and they have had varied undesirable side effects. The whole time I've also been taking trazodone for problems sleeping. I look forward to seeing how the clonazepam will work with the Brintellix."

• Noa...
• August 5, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve been using Trintellix for almost three months. I started 10 mg for like 10 days, then increased to 20 mg. I’d like to share my experience with you guys. During those 3 months, I had these side effects: 1. Nausea: at the beginning for 12 days, then it’s gone. 2. Insomnia: at the beginning and continued for two weeks, then it’s gone. 3. Itching: started in the second month of using, but it lasted only for one week, and it’s gone. I don’t experience any changes in my weight. Right now I’ve completed 3 months of using, and I don’t have any side effects. My problem is that I don’t feel any improvement in my major depression."

• Don...
• September 14, 2022

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "Horrible from beginning to end. I think you may be able to tell from the first few days on this one whether it's going to work. Crying the very next day over nothing. Repetitive thoughts. Hear a song and won't leave my head. Insomnia worsened week after week. Led to extremely suicidal thoughts. I was previously on Zoloft for 25 years and tried switching. So this may be the cause. Oh, and the cost... ridiculous!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2021

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have never written a review for a medication before but felt I should share my experience with this one in case it could help someone else. I switched from Zoloft to Trintellix about 9 months ago only because of gaining weight with Zoloft. (Zoloft worked very well for depression and anxiety, but I decided to switch to Trintellix per my doctor’s suggestion.) I have taken several different SSRIs before, and I will tell you this is by far the worst medication I have ever tried! It did not work for my depression at all. Unfortunately, I stuck with it and even increased the dosage to the maximum 20 mg, still no improvement. If anything, it made me more anxious along with the depression. The side effects of this drug were horrible! The worst ones were severe nausea that never went away, insomnia, and headaches. This medicine basically made me feel much worse than if I were taking nothing for depression. Sadly, I wasted 9 months of my life on this awful medication. On to Lexapro!"

• Jer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "I was put on 5 mg Trintellix to start for my depression, and it made me feel 10 times worse. I was suffering from severe migraines that lasted all day and night, basically. I told my husband it felt like I was having a brain aneurysm, on top of that, I felt like a zombie. For someone who gets up every day at 5 a.m., it was hard for that to happen-definitely a struggle. I haven’t slept in until noon since I was a teenager, and it’s very unusual for that to happen. I would sleep the days away or struggle to function because of the migraines that hurt the whole top of my head and down the right side, making everything hurt. I felt more emotional and would cry more, basically, I felt a feeling of doom. It definitely made my depression worse. So now I’m switching back to Celexa but upping the dose from 10 mg to 20 mg as this seemed to be helping more with fewer side effects. I wish anyone who tries this the best of luck, as I know everyone reacts differently to different meds, but this is definitely not for me."

• Emm...
• July 29, 2016

For Depression "Holy doodles, this is by far the most insane med I have ever been on. My anxiety has been getting hard to handle, so my dr prescribed me this to see if it would help. I started it Monday morning, and by today (Thursday), I was so manic I thought I was losing my mind. It increased my anxiety tenfold, caused horrible insomnia, shakes... I basically thought I'd flown the coup!!! Be aware of changes after you start taking this!!!"

• JLG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "My experience with Trintellix was nothing short of the worst. Absolutely the worst drug I’ve ever been prescribed, and I’ve been on antidepressants since 1993. After titrating successfully from Paxil 40 mg in January (lost the desired weight immediately), my psychiatrist suggested Trintellix as I’m dealing with an autoimmune illness and resulting unemployment, still living at home, etc. I hesitated but decided to try it since it doesn't have any 'discontinuation syndrome.' I gave it 60 days... huge mistake. My depression was off the charts, panic, mania, brain fog, insomnia was so bad (had to take Ambien, another awful drug), constipation, and zero appetite (lost 25 lbs in 30 days). I quit the 10 mg (could not tolerate 20 mg) cold turkey. I was able to eat/sleep almost immediately, however, the anxiety and brain fog haven’t lifted after 6 weeks. I pray that my brain recovers from what feels like a chemical frontal lobotomy."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2019

Vortioxetine "I've been on 10 mg Trintellix for about a month to combat my anxiety disorder. It definitely works. No more insomnia, no more heart palpitations and panic attacks, but I did notice an increase in depressive symptoms. Other than that, it's pretty good. I find the experience comparable to Lexapro without the sexual side effects and mania. I don't like the fearmongering reviews on here. It's a pretty good drug for anxiety symptoms. The nausea was very, very mild, only happens maybe once a week and it's gone in 30 minutes. This medication, however, does give me constant flatulence, which happens nonstop every day. My experience may differ from other people because I eat high protein and avoid junk food, hence less nausea and more flatulence."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 28, 2018

Vortioxetine for Depression "I was started on Trintellix 5 mg 2x a day, I was hopeful. It didn’t run me crazy. Then suddenly it wasn’t effective. My dose was increased to 10 mg 2x a day, emotions all over the place. Dose now at 20 mg with clonazepam. I cry all the time, I have no interest in anything. I go nowhere, I talk to no one, I can’t remember things, I don’t sleep more than a couple of hours at a time. I’ve lost my appetite, my sex drive, coping skills, and now it’s destroying my marriage. I question my own existence. I’ve lost my job, my friends, my life. I don’t get dressed or leave my house except for doctor appointments. This is an expensive medication and I’ve told my doctors it’s not helping and all I get is this is the strongest dose we can give you!"

• xva...
• December 11, 2019

Vortioxetine "I’ve been on Trintellix, prescribed for PMDD, for just a little over a week now, and I’ve had some of the worst side effects from this than any med I’ve ever taken: 1. Constant itchiness, especially on my feet at night. 2. Fatigue, insomnia. 3. Bloated, gassy. 4. Always thirsty and hungry, but rarely being able to go to the restroom. 5. Mood swings and severe agitation. 6. Vision gets blurry, and sometimes I start seeing black spots. 7. Nightmares. 8. My muscles are so stiff/sore it’s hard to bend my back, turn my neck, or even use my arms because my shoulders are in so much pain. 9. Shortness of breath with physical activity I’m used to. 10. Paranoia and a vivid filter on my vision. 11. Headaches. 12. Body tremors. 13. Hair loss. Needless to say, I’m calling my psychiatrist first thing in the morning. The side effects have been so horrible, and I cannot take them much longer. I’m glad it’s helping other people, unfortunately, I’m in the percent that it doesn’t."

• Man...
• July 30, 2016

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was switched to Trintellix after several other SSRI medications didn't seem to work. I was started on 10 mg. The first week, I felt fine. But then, it's as if overnight I became a different person. I went straight into a mania phase. I wasn't sleeping or eating. I felt like I had no control of my emotions or my body. It almost cost me my marriage. Thankfully, my husband knew me well enough to know this was not normal for me and had me go back to my PCP, and now I'm back on Zoloft and waiting to get in with a psychiatrist to find some other options. I don't want to experience anything like that again."

• Lei...
• August 5, 2015

Vortioxetine for Depression "Started on Brintellix 10 mg for depression/anxiety three weeks ago. No side effects at all, apart from some difficulty sleeping. I think I am feeling clearer, but can't say I feel less depressed. Maybe a little calmer, but still having some anxiety."

• Het...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2016

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "At the age of 53, I have been suffering from depression for about 10 years now and have tried most of the common antidepressants. The only one to help for a while was Venlafaxine. Have been on Brintellix for a year now, but only because my doctor doesn't know what else to try. No noticeable effect on my depression; restlessness and sleeping problems as side effects if taking the full dose of 20 mgs. No effect on thinking and concentration either. I am rather disappointed."

• smf...
• December 28, 2015

Vortioxetine for Depression "Was on Zoloft and then Effexor (150 mg) and did great on both, but because I am a long-term forever user, I needed to change it up - weaning from the Effexor was so horrible. I am now taking 10 mg, and it's been a week. I am experiencing sleep disruption, some nausea, I am now VERY regular, and my joints and muscles are stiff and sore. I am finally seeing a glimmer of hope as far as my despair goes - so I am optimistic that the above side effects will go away and all will be well in my world again in a few weeks."

• Des...
• November 7, 2016

Vortioxetine for Depression "6 weeks I've taken this, and I'm laughing and crying from one minute to the next. Can't sleep. But also, my insurance made me quit cold turkey off of Prozac and Seroquel at the same time I started this, and I was on the Seroquel for 3 years! I feel like I'm losing my mind."

• cmc...
• January 21, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I asked my doctor for Trintellix by name, and he said he’d never prescribed it. I liked that it claimed to have no impact on weight, as many other drugs have weight gain. All I can say is there’s a reason the pharma companies spend what they do to advertise a drug so heavily. It’s because they are trying to generate business for a marginally effective drug. I took the lowest dosage and felt it helped my depression marginally. The issue was it gave me severe insomnia. I’d go to bed at my normal time and just lay there wide awake, almost manic, which was due solely to Trintellix. This was taking the medicine in the AM upon waking, not at night. Unfortunately, I could not handle the insomnia, especially for an only marginal improvement and got myself off this terrible drug."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2020

Vortioxetine "I was out on 5 mg of Trintellix for anxiety and have only taken it for 3 days, and the side effects are awful. I quit taking it as of tonight. I can hardly walk, and it gave me a headache, severe dizziness, sweating, and insomnia. This medication is awful and do not recommend it to anyone. I will try other ways to deal with my anxiety/dizziness."

• My...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2017

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "After 3 days of 5 mg, I'd had enough of this RX. Being knocked out during the day for 1-4 hours, but only sleeping in 2-hour increments at night, with violent/disturbing dreams, even waking with auditory hallucinations. The nausea wasn't extreme, but the overabundance of gas buildup was too much for me. My depression only worsened because of the sleep deprivation."

• Kat...
• December 1, 2015

Vortioxetine for Depression "Used it for three months. I started with 10 mg/day and then it was taken down to 5 mg because of vomiting and back up to 10 mg. Nausea every day, vomiting nearly every day, until I got Primperan for it. It felt at first that it was working on depression, took off the sadness, and my energy came back. But after a few weeks, I became anxious and irritated, and then came insomnia. Finally, I could not fall asleep without sleeping pills, and with them, I slept 2-3 hours and woke up and could not fall asleep again. My doctor suggested lifting the dose to 20 mg/day. I said NO. I could not take the nausea, vomiting, and sleeplessness any longer, especially when it did not even work on the depression anymore, not to mention the anxiety and loss of sex drive."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "This Trintellix for my MDD was downright nasty the two months I took it. I even went and had ECT done for a month because it seemed to make my depression even worse. The ECT must have only masked the symptoms because I was mostly okay while I was getting the treatments. But the symptoms came back hard right after I finished ECT. Uncontrolled appetite, sleep problems, extreme irritability, and short-temperedness...not fun stuff at all. But shortly after I got off of Trintellix completely and went back to a previous antidepressant that did work for me, I started feeling better already."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was on Trintellix for 3 months, started on 5 mg. I felt somewhat better, then the doctor increased it to 10 mg, still about the same, then increased it to 20 mg. The longer I have been on the medication, the worse the fog is getting. I am not sleeping any better, in fact, now I am taking meds for sleep also. But the fog has been terrible, so much so that I have been put on probation at work because I am making so many mistakes, memory is horrible, and no motivation at all. We fought like heck to get my insurance to pay for it, and now we are going to have to go on something different. The funny thing is, I called the doctor to make them aware, and they said to drop it down to 15 mg. I was not getting any better, so I started to titrate down, and now I am off. I feel better, more motivation, and the fog is starting to go away. I hope it goes completely away very soon. This was not a miracle drug for me, sadly. Back to the drawing board."