Trintellix: Is is effective for you?

I am confused. You suffer from major depression and anxiety and in the same breath you say no more antidepressants for you.
From someone who is 74 and also suffer from major depression that makes no sense. I take Zoloft combined with Wellbutrin and Buspar and have been taking it for thirty years. I also take clonazepam and unlike you I have a very enjoyable life.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to be in a major depressive state and resign yourself to that for the rest of your life.
All I can say is good luck to you. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I also feel sorry for your loved ones. I can’t imagine what they must be going through.
The shame is depression is treatable and yet you refuse treatment.

I did 2 rounds of TMS already. I had no positive response the second time so it will not be covered again. I just don’t appreciate a user that implies that I haven’t tried anything. I’ve was on medication for 30 years that worked but stopped working. I’d call that trying. It’s difficult enough as it is and I was just relaying my personal experience with Trintellex. I’ll just keep my mouth shut from now on. It’s not worth being attacked as I was with another user.

Believe it or not the current antidepressants do not work for many people. The person is saying the side effects were not worth taking antidepressants and they will no longer torture themselves with things that don’t work. What’s so hard to understand about that? If they work for you, consider yourself fortunate. I am a mental health professional and, believe me, there are many people for whom antidepressants don’t work, cause more issues than they are worth and most definitely don’t help them with anxiety. I thought your reaction was judgmental and I’m sure the person doesn’t need to be reminded how hard this is on themself and their family. You seem to think they have made an unreasonable decision when this is the decision many are forced to make.

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.

@rosebookay and @daveshaw, I see that you both agree that not one size fits all and that finding the right approach to managing depression is as unique as the person dealing with it. I also acknowledge that both of you are here on Mayo Clinic Connect to share your experience, knowledge, and to support others along the journey. Thank you.

We only have words on the screen without the benefit of body language and tone of voice. Sometimes, the lack of body language and tone of voice can lead to misinterpretation of someone's supportive intent. As per the etiquette of this forum, I thank you for treating each other and other members with respect. 🙂

My sincere apologies. I did not intend this as a response to your post. It was my error and I should have paid closer attention to the protocol. I meant to respond to the comment posted by Horowitz71.

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.

Believe it or not the current antidepressants do not work for many people. The person is saying the side effects were not worth taking antidepressants and they will no longer torture themselves with things that don’t work. What’s so hard to understand about that? If they work for you, consider yourself fortunate. I am a mental health professional and, believe me, there are many people for whom antidepressants don’t work, cause more issues than they are worth and most definitely don’t help them with anxiety. I thought your reaction was judgmental and I’m sure the person doesn’t need to be reminded how hard this is on themself and their family. You seem to think they have made an unreasonable decision when this is the decision many are forced to make.

I did not mean to offend anyone but having suffered depression for most of my adult life I know how debilitating it can be. You are a health care professional so you certainly must know there are other options for treating depression. My only point was it might be good to look in to other options.
Maybe electroshock therapy might be an alternative. It is far more sophisticated than it used to be and a person I knew had it administered to him and he said it changed his life.
Finding the right medication to treat someone’s depression is one of the most frustrating things in the world. Unfortunately it takes six weeks to start to work which as a professional you are aware of. If it doesn’t work you can always try a combination of antidepressants. I take Zoloft, Buspar, Wellbutrin and Clonazepam and fortunately it has worked for me. My first psychiatrist actually said Zoloft and Wellbutrin complimented each other so well they had a name for it. They called it “Welloft”
My final point is knowing how terrible depression is for the person suffering from it and the people around him I wouldn’t give up.
I wish him all the luck in the world. If that is being judgmental I am truly sorry.

@daveshaw

Your comment only brought more pain to me. Please in the future realize that there is no treatment that works for everyone do you spare others from your judgmental opinions. Glad you’re having success but not all are as fortunate.