Trintellix: Is is effective for you?

@csmiller, fellow members @elwooodsdad @petangelkat1 @sunshinestacy @marjou @tink1 @kelster69 and others have experience with Trintellix (vortioxetine) that they can share with you.

You might also be interested in browsing the comments in these 2 discussions:
- Switching to Trintellix or Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN): https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/trintillix/
- Anyone have nausea with Trintellix?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/trintellix-nausea/

Are you adding this medication or switching medications?

Does anyone take Trintellix for Major Depression or Anxiety?My doctor recently (5 weeks ago) took me off Zoloft/sertraline and prescribed me the relatively new medication Trintellix (vortioxetine),10 mg/daily. Along with Parkinson's Disease, I've lived with PTSD most of my life (currently 74 yrs old), was diagnose Bipolar 1 many years ago, and my social anxiety has gotten progressively worse. I went out on my own at age 14 after being severely beaten by my stepfather (my father was incarcerated for four years when I was eleven, and I had been living with various relatives until returning home at age 13). I'm a Vietnam vet, seeing a psychiatrist and neurologist through the VA--a hit and miss situation, especially since the recent staffing changes. I'd been taking Benzos (prescribed as much as 4 mg/day, along with Ambien, for more than 30 years when diagnosed with PD while living abroad). Upon my return to the states, I had a doctor who continued my Benzos--2 mg/daily until relocating to Monterey, CA. The VA does not prescribe Benzos, but my neurologist (outside of VA) prescribed Xanax/alprazolam 2 mg/day (for my Parkinson's) until I found a better neurologist at the Palo Alto VA Hospital--next to Stanford Univ., where I got the head of the school's neurology department to see me, but abruptly stopped Benzos. That was about five months ago. I'm not adapting well at all. Without being active: surfing , playing tennis regularly, and doing martial arts, I've become isolated and nervous/afraid; I have horrible insomnia and am afraid to even leave the apartment unless necessary. I try to go to a H2O class for people with MS and PD, but am no longer able to drive and can only afford Lyft for seniors when I share a ride--doesn't happen often. My psychiatrist understands my situation, but cannot prescribe anti-anxiety meds (prohibited by the VA). I haven't found anybody in my area (through Medicare or otherwise) who will prescribe Benzos). My VA doctor prescribed Trintellix because it "may" have a side effect of reducing my anxiety. It's been five weeks since I began taking 5 mg/day (dr. says if it helps, he will increase to 10 mg.) I haven't felt any difference between the Zoloft I'd been taking and Trintellix. Has anyone taken this medication, and if so, how long did it take to work, and what did you experience? I know that abruptly stopping Benzos is no advised, and even gradually reducing them can be extraordinarily difficult and may take years to adjust even when tapering under clinical supervision. Has anyone tried either inpatient or outpatient treatment for Benzo detox? I don't even know if that is an option for me, but it's difficult for me to make it through each day. I'm nervous, afraid, and have never felt depressed for such a long time as now. I've gotten used to brief periods of depression, but have never suffered major or long-term depression. I know it will end, but currently, life is not much fun.

I was on Trintellex for approximately 3 years after my previous medications, sertraline and Wellbutrin stopped working and also had two rounds of TMS.
I’ve suffered major depression and anxiety my entire life, I’m 70 now. I also have been taking Xanax for 30 years which I continue doing with a small dose of lamictal to help stabilize my mood. No more antidepressants for me.
Trintellex was awful for me, not only did it not work it made me very nauseous. I would never take it again, I believe it actually made my depression worse. I hope you have a better response. Good luck yo you.

Does anyone take Trintellix for Major Depression or Anxiety?My doctor recently (5 weeks ago) took me off Zoloft/sertraline and prescribed me the relatively new medication Trintellix (vortioxetine),10 mg/daily. Along with Parkinson's Disease, I've lived with PTSD most of my life (currently 74 yrs old), was diagnose Bipolar 1 many years ago, and my social anxiety has gotten progressively worse. I went out on my own at age 14 after being severely beaten by my stepfather (my father was incarcerated for four years when I was eleven, and I had been living with various relatives until returning home at age 13). I'm a Vietnam vet, seeing a psychiatrist and neurologist through the VA--a hit and miss situation, especially since the recent staffing changes. I'd been taking Benzos (prescribed as much as 4 mg/day, along with Ambien, for more than 30 years when diagnosed with PD while living abroad). Upon my return to the states, I had a doctor who continued my Benzos--2 mg/daily until relocating to Monterey, CA. The VA does not prescribe Benzos, but my neurologist (outside of VA) prescribed Xanax/alprazolam 2 mg/day (for my Parkinson's) until I found a better neurologist at the Palo Alto VA Hospital--next to Stanford Univ., where I got the head of the school's neurology department to see me, but abruptly stopped Benzos. That was about five months ago. I'm not adapting well at all. Without being active: surfing , playing tennis regularly, and doing martial arts, I've become isolated and nervous/afraid; I have horrible insomnia and am afraid to even leave the apartment unless necessary. I try to go to a H2O class for people with MS and PD, but am no longer able to drive and can only afford Lyft for seniors when I share a ride--doesn't happen often. My psychiatrist understands my situation, but cannot prescribe anti-anxiety meds (prohibited by the VA). I haven't found anybody in my area (through Medicare or otherwise) who will prescribe Benzos). My VA doctor prescribed Trintellix because it "may" have a side effect of reducing my anxiety. It's been five weeks since I began taking 5 mg/day (dr. says if it helps, he will increase to 10 mg.) I haven't felt any difference between the Zoloft I'd been taking and Trintellix. Has anyone taken this medication, and if so, how long did it take to work, and what did you experience? I know that abruptly stopping Benzos is no advised, and even gradually reducing them can be extraordinarily difficult and may take years to adjust even when tapering under clinical supervision. Has anyone tried either inpatient or outpatient treatment for Benzo detox? I don't even know if that is an option for me, but it's difficult for me to make it through each day. I'm nervous, afraid, and have never felt depressed for such a long time as now. I've gotten used to brief periods of depression, but have never suffered major or long-term depression. I know it will end, but currently, life is not much fun.

@ daveshaw

I have NEVER refused treatment! Who are you to assume I haven’t done everything I could do for the past 50 years if my life?? I took medication for 40 years with varying success.

My point was that antidepressants no longer work for me and haven’t for years. I have been under the supervision of the same psychiatrist for the past 35 years.
Zoloft, Wellbutrin and other antidepressants had worked for me over many years but then I became “treatment resistant. “
I don’t know what’s so hard to understand. Trintellex was the final antidepressant I ever took. Depression remains a part of my daily life but I’m done trying drugs that do not work for me and gave nasty side effects.

Don’t feel sorry for my family, they are educated and understand that for many, medication either doesn’t work or stops working. Your comment was insensitive at best and downright judgmental at worst!

I haven't investigated it for myself, but perhaps you could look into TMS - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation? There is a discussion of it on today's "Connect". You can look at Reddit as well for more first hand experiences.
BTW, I just turned 80 in April, diagnosed with early PD two years ago and have suffered from depression since 16 years of age. I just switched from 20 mg Prozac (after nearly 35 years, coincidentally ) to Trintellix (5 mg) this past Monday. I was anxious about the change but am hoping it will be for the better. I was primarily motivated by alleged potential benefits of Trintellix on cognitive stability in PD patients. That is being studied now, after some initial research was positive.
I'm sorry, though not surprised, to learn of your difficulties at the VA treatment centers.
Best of luck.