Vortioxetine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Mia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

For Depression "I have been on this medication, vortioxetine, for 6 months. I feel awful, such side effects that I have decreased my meds from 10 mg to 5 mg and will be going off it. Anger outbursts, fits of rage. Trouble sleeping, tired all the time, terribly lethargic. I wouldn't recommend it, it has worked for some, but I guess it depends on what other meds you are on and what is right for you."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2021

Vortioxetine for Depression "I have been taking Trintellix for at least a year. I started out at 5 mg, and my doctor increased my dose to 10 mg. I have a long history of antidepressant use. For 25 years, Prozac was a lifesaver, and I was able to work and function in society. Then Prozac stopped working for me, and I experienced a slow descent into a terrible depression along with crippling anxiety and insomnia. My doctor put me on Paxil, which made me feel like a zombie. I also tried several other antidepressants that did not work. Then I was prescribed Trintellix, which helped bring me out of depression and increased my quality of life. My anxiety symptoms have also been reduced, however, I still have insomnia. I have had problems with nausea when I take the 10 mg dose of Trintellix, so my dosage was reduced to 5 mg. I have been on that dose for almost 2 weeks, and my nausea symptoms have improved. The only other issue is the cost. I was paying 100 dollars a month out of pocket after insurance paid the rest."

• Die...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have only been on Trintellix for just over a week, at 10 mg, and have been struggling with insomnia since my first dose. I was taking 150 mg of Zoloft, and it was working very well for my depression, but I still dealt with a lot of fatigue, so I thought I'd try the Trintellix. Along with the insomnia, my mood has gotten worse, I have increased anxiety, and my fatigue has obviously worsened due to no sleep from the insomnia. I did not have any issues with nausea, as so many others have had. I am very torn as to whether I should continue taking the Trintellix because I know just over a week is not nearly enough time to get the full effect and results, but I definitely feel like I have taken a big step backward from how I felt on the Zoloft. I messaged my doctor to get his thoughts but think going back to Zoloft may be the best plan for me. Trintellix only cost me $10 per month with the online discount card, so cost was not an issue."

• WOR...
• May 9, 2022

For Depression "Trintellix is a terrible medication. My doctor kept pushing me to try it for months, and I didn't want to. I finally agreed and took it for 2 weeks. I was getting brain zaps and electric shocks in my legs and couldn't stop kicking my legs. It caused the worst insomnia. It was absolute misery. I stopped taking it and felt weird 2 weeks later. I knew something was very wrong but didn't know what. I had to call my dad to take me to the ER. I was in the room waiting for the doctor, and when he came in, I tried to explain that something was wrong, but I didn't know what. Before I could finish, everything went black, and I just remembered falling back and the doctor calling my name twice. Hours later, I woke up in the ICU, and they informed me that I had a seizure because my sodium levels were 105 and my brain was swelling. Now I have chronic hyponatremia. My body cannot retain sodium from taking this medication for 2 weeks. I have to take 12 grams of sodium tablets daily, and it's still below normal range. Avoid this."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2020

For Depression "Taking this medication for anxiety. I started at 10 mg with no or little effect, then went up to 20 mg. Side effects are crazy dreams, insomnia, nausea, and increased anxiety. I would not recommend this medication to people with GAD. Horrible."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am sensitive to meds, so I started on 5 mg. Not great, but I thought tolerable. Week 2, up to 10 mg. Awful. Beware. Severe agitation, no sleep, angry, hostile, more depressed and suicidal, severe nausea, facial stiffness, burning sensations. Sent home from the hospital to titrate off it myself. It may work for some, but for me, it was a nightmare."

• Huk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2023

"I started at 2.5 mg for a week and had no side effects. I upped the dose to 5 mg and started to have insomnia, woke up every morning at 3 am, had only 2 to 3 hours of sleep, and was very, very tired during the day. On day 3, I suddenly felt all my anxiety just lift up, and I was thinking, it works. But on day 4, my digestive system just shut down. I had one piece of bread in the morning and, for the rest of the day, didn't feel any hunger but just utter tiredness and had to stay in bed the whole day. I stopped the med, and two months have passed. My digestive system still didn't recover. This is a very strong medication, and if you have a weak stomach, you should avoid this."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "Just started the medication Trintellix at 5 mg for depression, and it has been my worst experience yet with antidepressants. Side effects are insomnia, vomiting, incontinence, flu-like symptoms. I will not be continuing the medication."

• Pet...
• March 15, 2016

For Depression "Was put on Brintellix, took for 3.5 days, and in that time, it sent my anxiety through the roof. I ended up losing any confidence I had and basically had a breakdown. While it increased my energy, I couldn't sleep, and it brought back all the fear of my life before."

• Nat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2021

For Depression "I've tried about 8 different antidepressant medications for the last 6 years, and once I tried one that was really helping me (Aurorix), I had to quit because I was about to start using ADHD medication. After 6 months or so on ADHD medication, my depression got bad, my doctor put me on Brintellix. I've used it for about 9 months now, and I can't stand it anymore. The nausea never stops, the headache comes and goes, the feeling of being high in the evening, and the huge sleep problems, not worth it. And even if the medication has improved my depression, it has also made my mood totally flat. I cannot feel anything, I'm flat. I do not even feel anything for my boyfriend, which is a bit scary and makes me wonder if I really do care about him or not. Tomorrow I stop using this medication, I'd rather deal with the depression instead of this careless zombie existence."

• Zar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2021

Vortioxetine for Depression "I wrote a detailed explanation, which was apparently too long for this forum, so long story short, 1st week was good, 2nd week developed extreme anxiety, high BP, high heart rate, insomnia, and horrible akathisia. Had high hopes, but ended up being a nightmare. Akathisia was a nightmare. Will probably work for most, but beware that it may cause akathisia."

• Anonymous
• May 6, 2018

Vortioxetine for Depression "From the start, I can't sleep. My stomach feels like it's on fire, I can't eat or am throwing up when I do eat. I've lost 14 lbs in one month due to not eating. My heart beats super fast, I'm dizzy and unsteady, and the worst of all, it does nothing for anxiety. It has made it worse. Also, the drug interactions, I throw up the pain medication for my back, codeine. You can't take basic medications for colds, allergies, headache, or body ache. After taking or trying to take 20 mg for a month, I just want to crawl in a hole. This is NOT a good medicine. Had a slight improvement with depression, but not worth it."

• Gib...
• January 17, 2017

For Depression "I have been on this medication for 5 months, my doctor put me on it to help with anxiety. I would say it helped with the anxiety, but the medication put me in a bad depressed state, feeling hopeless and feeling lost. I felt like I was living my life in a dream. I started off at 10 mg, worked my way toward 20 mg. When I got to 20 mg, it gave me very bad insomnia, I could not sleep to save my life. I know this medication may work for some, however, no luck for me. To me, it's been poison. Over the past 3 weeks, I weaned myself off it. Today I am at day 3 without the drug, and I seriously feel a massive difference. I feel like my brain is working again. I have had the best 2 sleeps a person could ask for, I feel refreshed!"

• NCd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on most antidepressants, TCAs and SSRIs for 30 years, as well as either Xanax or Klonopin. My doctor started me on 10 mg of Trintellex 3 weeks ago. I have had none of the side effects others have noted: nausea, diarrhea, or insomnia. However, I was on a very high dose of Klonopin (from another doctor) that I have gotten down to 1.5 mg daily. I had been on Lexapro for the last 8 years, and it just stopped working. My question is that I have been more anxious since starting Trintellex. I thought this drug was for both depression and anxiety? Has anyone else experienced an increase in anxiety? If so, has it gone away? For me, anxiety is as bad or worse than depression. Any insights?"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2025

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I used it for depression and anxiety for two months. Dose 10 was good for depression, but it exacerbated anxiety and caused severe constipation, bad nausea, insomnia, and a feeling of detachment from reality, as if I were in a dream. Knowing that it does not increase weight or cause severe sexual dysfunction, but it is not suitable for me."

• Dep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "It caused me nausea, headache (migraine), and insomnia."

• nw ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2015

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "The first week I felt good, but then nauseous all day... migraine and lack of sleep. Expensive too."

• Hec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 19, 2025

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "Trintellix 20 mg makes me passive. However, I believe I suffer from some of its side effects, e.g., insomnia, lack of sexual desire, and gastrointestinal inflammation."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2018

Vortioxetine for Depression "I am not happy with this drug. I stay awake all night and sleep most of the day. It has not made much of a difference in my depression."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2018

Vortioxetine for Depression "I am not happy with this drug. I stay awake all night and sleep most of the day. It has not made much of a difference in my depression."

• PiP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 11, 2019

Vortioxetine for Depression "Oh my God, do not take this medication! I am trying to wean myself off of this horrible drug. I do not feel good at all. The side effects are horrible: can't sleep, physical aspects are awful!"

• Zai...
• February 22, 2016

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "It was bad and sad when I stopped the Seroxat and I started with Brintellix. I cried for 2 weeks. Bad sleep, many dreams."

• jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2018

Vortioxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on Trintellix for 5 months. I have had problems where I cannot sleep. Overall, it has helped with my depression and mood."

• sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Ineffective and intolerable. Tried both 10 mg and 5 mg. Side effects included: nausea, panic attacks and anxiety, insomnia, sexual side effects (only seen at 10 mg)."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "Totally useless for my depression, it gave me insomnia and worsened anxiety. The only benefit was delayed ejaculation."