Trintellix and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Iho...
• November 28, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have only been on the drug (5 mg) for 1 week and already feel better. I had been having suicidal thoughts and indescribable feelings of despair, but since starting this drug, it is amazing how fast it has helped. I am supposed to increase to 10 mg today but am terrified of side effects. Weight gain is a non-negotiable for me. Zoloft worked great, but I gained 15 lbs in 8 months and still haven't lost it. Negatives: the cost of this drug is absurd, and if I gain weight, I will lose my mind. It is depression or weight gain-both awful choices... I hope this drug works or I am done."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Before starting Trintellix, I had tried multiple other medicines, and none worked or made me worse (Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, a few others). Within a week of taking Trintellix, I noticed a world of change. My depression was so severe prior to this medication, I honestly didn't know what to do and was thinking about going inpatient for help. Once starting it, I was able to focus, and my brain fog completely lifted like a veil in front of my eyes! I have gained 10 lbs since starting it, which is the only symptom I have noticed on it."

• awo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I don't know what 'feeling like myself again' would even feel like, so in contrast to other users I can't speak on that note. I do feel 'better' since starting Brint. My suicidal thoughts have gone away. Of course, I still feel hopeless and down at times. My anxiety seems to be much better. I have side effects of reddening of my cheeks, weight gain despite eating less. I think I will stop it soon if the weight gain continues."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Trintellix 6 months ago for my MDD. I gained over 10 pounds in the first 3 months of starting Trintellix. I didn’t notice any positive effect on my mood or other symptoms either. Didn’t work for me. This prescription is also extremely expensive if you don’t have insurance!!"

• Cou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 5, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Trintellix since March of this year. Have had major depression and generalized anxiety since childhood. Started on Effexor XR in the 1990s. It seemed to quit working, and so I started Trintellix 5 mg, then up to 10 mg, now at 20 mg. All was great till recently; it feels like 20 mg isn't enough. Depression is back full force. I take another medication for anxiety. I'm wondering if there is another medication that can be used as an adjunct to 20 mg Trintellix which doesn't make me gain 12 lbs. like Rexulti did several years ago. Seeing prescriber in a few days; will see what she says."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2016

For Depression "Weight gain of 40 lbs in 5 months. It worked well for depression and setting and achieving goals, but with the lung problems and mild congestive heart failure I have, being 50+ pounds overweight is not an option. I have tapered off with little difficulty and hope the habits I have made during the last six months stay with me."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2019

For Depression "They put my 11-year-old daughter on this stuff. It's been a nightmare. Her moods are all over the place. She had a gene test done, and we found out certain medicine she can't metabolize. She has been on a lot of different medicine, and so far, the only thing that worked was risperidone. But she gained a lot of weight with it, so that won't work either."

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2021

For Depression "It’s an okay medication for anxiety. Does cause some digestive issues. I’ve been on Citalopram, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Mirtazapine, etc. This one seems to be the best tolerated for me. Zoloft and Citalopram took away my sex drive. Wellbutrin made me anxious, suicidal, and an insomniac. Mirtazapine is a great medication. Prob the best one, but the weight gain isn’t for me. I like to have an active sex life, and getting fat isn’t on my list. My doctor recommended Trintellix. It does limit my sex drive a little (thankfully, I have a high sex drive), but I am still horny and happy. I do struggle to sleep though, so I’m also on Trazodone. If you are skinny, go for Mirtazapine, it’s by far the best for anxiety."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2022

For Depression "5 mg worked well for depression relief for several months, but I experienced weight gain in spite of more exercise and lower sugar consumption (probably due to improved mood, motivation). I went from 138 lbs to 154 lbs over the course of 3 months. However, no sexual side effects, which is more than I can say for every SSRI or SNRI I’ve tried."

• MiD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 21, 2018

For Depression "Terrible headaches every day. I tried 5 mg with minimal help for GAD. Doc upped me to 10 mg, but that made me so tired I could barely function, so back down to 5 mg. I was on it for 6 months and gained 20 lbs. Tapering off now with severe mood swings. I’ve tried Effexor XR, Lexapro, and this, and I always have the same results. I don’t think SSRIs are helpful for my anxiety, it always comes with way worse side effects. Now I have to drop this weight and figure out a nondrug solution to my anxiety."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2018

For Depression "I have been on this medication for 3 months. I've tried so many, and I get all the rare side effects. Well, this seems to be the same. Although I am not gaining weight at 2.5 mg, my ears have been ringing since day 3. The doctor tried increasing to 5 mg, then 10 mg, and I was emotionally raw, terrifying. I have since been put back to 2.5 mg, and although the ringing is crazy, I am getting over my son's death a bit better."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2016

For Depression "Male, mid-30s, depression for ~10 yrs. Was on Cymbalta 60 mg QD for 2 yrs, wasn't working, depressed, so upped to 90 mg QD. Didn't work, had typical side effects. Cross-tapered to Brintellix over a 3-wk period, achieving a 10 mg QD dose. Felt good for 2 wks - more energy, sharper mentally, but very angry and irritable. Then all 'good' effects ceased; all I felt was continual anger and irritation, which worsened every day for 3 wks. Put on 12 lbs/1 mo while being on Brintellix. Stopped the 10 mg dose cold turkey for 1 wk, just started on Fetzima. Can't tell if Brintellix withdrawal or Fetzima, but now having sexual AEs, namely near spontaneous ejaculation without being erect or stimulated - any other men have this with either drug?"

• Pun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2021

"I am a 23-year-old female. Before Trintellix, I tried Lexapro, which I didn’t like because it made me gain weight, have a lower libido, and feel numb to my emotions. When my doctor said that Trintellix would make me less numb, I was willing to give it a try. Unfortunately, I am 1 in 100 who had an adverse effect to the medication. It took 4 days to get into my system. On the 5th day, I was experiencing mania and akathisia. I was not able to sleep for 31 hours one day and 23 the next. It was comparable to being high. Afterwards, on days 7 and 8, I experienced the complete opposite. I had no feeling whatsoever. I felt sadness, anger, guilt, fear, etc., but I couldn’t feel lust, joy, or excitement either. I also found this medication made me quite nauseous (which is saying something because I’m frequently nauseous because I have a vertigo disorder). Perhaps other people will find success, but this medication did not work for me."

• JC7...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 9, 2022

For Depression "I noticed positive effects on my bipolar 2 on the lowest dose of 5 mg's. It lifted my depression and mood to a more positive, motivated, and functional one within just a few days! I have had no side effects except weight gain, but this could be due to another med I'm taking. The downside. For the positive effects didn't last, and my Dr. increased me up to the highest dose gradually with the same results. Only a short-term increase in mood. I'm now on 20 mg's. For me, the medication seems to peak, then I level out to just a subpar result, but definitely better with the med than without it. As far as side effects, so far the best antidepressant I've taken in regards to no side effects. It is somewhat expensive since it's brand name only at this time. Probably better than taking nothing."

• swa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "No side effects, no weight gain, never had a libido to begin with, so I don't know about that. Curbs my depression a little, but not as much as I'd like. On 15 mg now. Likely will try 20."

• Opi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2016

For Depression "First few weeks were weakness, irritability. Now on month two and stopping because of cost ($700 and insurance won't cover it) and major irritability and weight gain. Also still depressed and anxious."

• GSD...
• August 15, 2017

For Depression "Trintellix (30 mg) has helped manage my depression, but has resulted in exceptional weight gain. I have gained 30 lb in 9 months, which just adds to the depression and self-disgust."

• Ata...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Major weight gain, 20-30 lbs. This is the most I’ve ever gained on an antidepressant."

• Ste...
• February 21, 2016

For Depression "Depression got worse. I gained 16 pounds in less than three months, and I had very elevated liver enzymes. Please be careful with this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2021

For Depression "If you do not want to gain a significant amount of weight, stay away from this medication! Our daughter gained 60 pounds in 3 months! Awful."

• TTo...
• October 29, 2015

For Depression "Horrible. Made me gain almost 100 lbs in just over a year. Helped with depression, but not worth it because of weight gain side effects."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Took for 2 weeks. Gained 5 pounds. Experienced anger and really dark thoughts."

• Tea...
• August 25, 2015

For Depression "Tremor and weight gain... not worth it."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2021

For Depression "Taken 10 mg daily for just over a year, noticed moderate positive effect, but nothing substantial. Most common side effects have been slight weight gain and nausea shortly after taking."