Brintellix/trintellix Long Term Side Effects (Page 2)

I have struggled with depression for most of my life, and am always in search of the perfect antidepressant. I work with a psych doctor who is always willing to try new things. 10 months ago I started 5 mg of Brintellix daily, within a week my mood was significantly elevated, I was sleeping better, waking up much earlier and was more motivated to do things in the morning. I went up to 10mg daily However the nausea was dreadful! I pushed through for a couple of weeks, changed to taking the brintellix at night and after a while it subsided. My mood got better and better, I had recently turned 50, and had gained a little weight, so with my new found morning energy I started working out 2times a week with a trainer, and then walking most other mornings! The walking then changed gradually to running, and after 6-7 months I was running 3-4 miles a few times a week and going to the gym twice a week. I was loving life, getting really into good shape and felt better than I had in years! Then I started getting pain in my shoulders and neck, I went for PT and it didn't help, the pain would move from shoulder to neck and down my traps, always changing. Then I started getting foot pain, which my doc said was Plantar Fasciatis from running, and extremely stiff muscles especially in the mornings. I stretched and stretched but to no avail, the foot pain turned to numbness and tingling in my lower legs, and still intermittent with the foot pain. I started backing off on exercise a bit, but nothing changed, I have been to a rheumatologist and infectious disease specialist and tested for everything but they don't know. Currently am undergoing tests for diabetes and ms and other neurological disorders, but the neurologist doesn't think it's that, and wants to blame my depression, or hormonal imbalance. Funny thing is I wasn't at all depressed when this started 3 months ago! now I am not able to even take a ten minute walk without some kind of pain. I tapered off Brintellix because I am terrified it's that, but of course I now have terrible depression and anxiety. I am starting cymbalta for depression today. My question is for anyone who has been on Brintellix did you start experiencing any of these problems after being on it for at least 6 months or more? Shoulder pain, joint pain, muscle cramping and stiffness, bottom of foot pain, numbness, coldness and tingling in feet and legs below knees, dreadfully stiff neck and neck pain. All of these symptoms change daily for me, they are intermittent, but there is never a time now when I am pain free or not stiff. I have been off Brintellix for 3 weeks now.

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Does the severe costipation caused obviously by Trintellix ever go away? Been on it 2 weeks on 10mg for a week, & constipation is severe, cannot handle it, increased my fiber & still no relief.

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After 5-6 months use Trintellix caused nerve like pain and immobility so severe in my groin and hips that I was unable to walk without a cane, and with so much difficulty that I'd fear ended up in a wheelchair. It was the most pain that I have experienced in my life. I also had interrmittet pain under my knee cap, and some weird sensations in my arms after 8 months use. Early in my use, I had tachycardia and high blood pressure spikes a few times that sent me to hospital, but I didn't connect that to the med. No specialists could figure out the cause. I didn't go off it until around 8 months, at which point the intense pain slowly went away over a few months but I noticed some relief in the first week. It is now years later and I have some immobility and tenderness the most affected areas remaining, but I suspect that the med was actually causing my brain to overreact to relatively minor mechanical problems that I already had and didn't notice prior to med use.

I was honestly heartbroken to have to stop the med, because I have taken just about every antidepressant and that was the only one that fully lifted my life long depression. I started planning for the future in joyful ways.

I know that this is an older post, but hope to encourage anyone who gets these pain effects to stop this med before it gets worse,

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Hi everybody. My friend started brintellix 2 months ago and in the first week of using this drug it made him attempt to kill himself twice. He also had sweats at night and depression at the worst level I have seen. I forced him to stop it by tapering off for 3 days after taking this drug for 20 days. He is better clearly now except for some cases of sweating and mood swings (withdrawal side effects?) that have been continuing after 1 month of stopping brintellix. Maybe for some people this drug is good but for others it's a disaster.

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About 6 weeks in I experience excruciating teeth, jaw and gum pain. No findings from my dentist. Once I stopped taking trintellix, all that was relieved in a few days. I had the mild nausea on and off initially and noticeable vision changes.

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After 8 months in the drug I experienced hip, coccyx, lower back, and other joint pain so bad that it was excruciating to walk, even without a cane. I saw so many specialists, and no one could figure out the problem. After a few months off the med I improved drastically, and my psychiatrist mentioned that he had two other patients who complained of joint pain. Go off the med, I am sure that it's your problem. I must mention, however, that it is years later and I've developed pain and immobility in my shoulder, neck, lower back and hips. It may not be related, but I'm concerned that I'm suffering from damage as a result of the med. my psychiatrist's other patients completely returned to normal, however, so it's possible that the med just caused me to experience heightened pain in areas that were already mechanically faulty.

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Re: Jackie (# 18)

I am sorry that you went through this. The med crippled me, but I was the happiest and least anxious that I've ever been, and unlike other antidepressants it was a natural feeling and not exaggerated or uncomfortable. I certainly went through a grieving period. I thought that it was my wonder drug.

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Re: Esther (# 17)

I felt the same way and was heartbroken to stop the med, but it crippled me so that I couldn't walk. Worst pain I've ever experienced. The pain went away after I stopped the medication, but years later some of those areas of my body are hurting and immobile again and I'm concerned that it caused lasting damage. It's your body, but the torture wasn't worth it for me. I took the meds for six or more months since the pain started.

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Re: Ree (# 7)

I went to hospital twice around the time I started taking the med. My blood pressure and heart rate were dangerously high, and doctors wondered if it was seritonin syndrome, and weren't even sure that it was the drug, I remained on the drug for 8 or more months due to amazing mental health benefits, but over that time I developed very severe crippling joint pain. I suspect that those having this type of reaction will go on to suffer more severe side effects. If I had known at the beginning I would never have continued taking this med, it ruined a year of my life, but stopping the med did make the pain go away. My psychiatrist had other patients who also returned to normal after stopping the med. however, many years later those areas are becoming painful and immobile again, and I'm starting investigations into a possible autoimmune disease which could be related, don't know yet. I suggest stopping the med under guidance of a doctor. Don't stop taking it suddenly.

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I have been on Trintellix for about 6 weeks. About 10 days ago I suddenly got very bad vertigo. Nothing is helping and I am looking for help.

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Re: Claire from Clare (# 2)

Hi. There's nasty side effects in every antidepressant. One's like brintellix and mirtazipine are more or less guaranteed to work but when you come off it you come crashing down like a bag of s***, that's called withdrawal. The withdrawal is a million times worse than opiates and lasts far longer. It's wank. Brintellix and mirtazipine should be banned. It's highly addictive but they say its not. It's nasty dirty s***. When you feel down go for a run for a natural buzz. It's the best feeling ever especially when your suffering from mental illness. That's why people with mental illness turn to boxing. It's the best form of exercise to release endorphins and that's why people turn into fitness junkies because of the natural buzz it gives which there's no harm in that. Try niacin tablets. It relaxes you, gets rid of backaches, instantly gets rid of migraines, helps with insomnia, depression. It's a super vitamin b3. Google it. YouTube it. The reason they don't sell it in pharmacies is because they cant charge for it. F***ing brilliant.

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My wife is on trintellix now sent home from hospital after 5 days due to major depressive disorder . She has become very afraid I am going to kill her and take her somewhere and set her off . She makes up reasons not to go with me anywhere. She told me last night she could not walk? I helped her get up and led her to the living room no problem but she still told me she could not walk

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This medication crippled me with joint and muscle pain in my hips, coccyx, groin, painful inflammation in the skin, and nerve pain (shooting pains, pinching sensations a bit like strong pins and needles) in those areas and in my legs. At the start of the med I had severe tachycardia and blood pressure spikes. 8 months in I was walking with a cane and considering a wheelchair. The symptoms mostly went away over a month or two after stopping, and were better even the first week. Some immobility and exercise intolerance remained, but I can walk now. It was definitely the med.

But now it's 3 years later, and my hip, coccyx, and groin pain is returning, though not nearly as severe. Now I'm getting x rays, blood tests, seeing specialists galore. Autoimmune or arthritis is a possibility as I now have more symptoms, like unexplained rashes, gland infections and lymph swelling. My interstitial cystitis has gotten much worse at the same time that the pain and new symptoms arose. I wonder if this med caused it or if it's a coincidence. Many of the pains feel the same.

No test results or answers yet, but I'll try to remember to update for everyone.

Your symptoms are not uncommon, just read through these comments.

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Yes I did! I get it from almost every antidepressant I try now. Been on and off them for years, every time I start one feel better and as it builds up in my system I get sicker and sicker. Have to go way back down on dose. And usually off them. Then I get really sick depression wise. Bad roller coaster ride for 7 years now.

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I'm having exactly the same problem. I take mine at night and have been on it for 6 months. I am walking up every morning with an extremely painful neck and shoulders. I can't even turn my head. I have just been on an antibiotic and was wondering if the two medications perhaps clashed.

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Re: Crippled by this med (# 32)

I'm replying to my own post with an update:

I have just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The rheumatologist said that it was likely triggered by the prolonged pain caused by this med, which makes sense because that's when the pain started. More recent worstening of IC and hormones also may also be contributing to my current symptoms, making them worse (unrelated to trintellix)

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I just wanted to give you all an update, because I had a new side effect that finally made me stop Brintellix: Restless Leg Syndrome.

I was on 20mg Brintellix from August 2017 to May 2018, with lower doses prior to that. Around May, I finally had a breakthrough in my medication and treatment, and it seems like my depression has turned a corner and finally lifted. But at the same time, I started getting Restless Leg Syndrome every night, about 2-3 hours after taking my nightly dose of Brintellix. It sounds like it wouldn't be a big deal, but it is beyond annoying. The itchy, creepy, crawling sensation (only on the outer side of my right leg), and the almost reflex-like need to move that leg would prevent me from sleeping. It just kept on getting worse and worse until I finally went cold turkey on the Brintellix. For about a week, I was finally able to sleep properly, but then the Restless Leg Syndrome returned. I'm hoping that it will finally resolve now that I'm not on the drug anymore.

As for the depression, it didn't return in any significant way even after I stopped Brintellix, though it has only been a week and a few days since. I'm on Xanax as needed, in case of panic attacks or insomnia, and so far I've only had to take it once, when the restless legs kept me awake again.

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Hello,
I had same issue. I had almost same story like you. I use 7 months brintellix. And I had a bad knee pain. I thought that for my daily sports activety. And than more slightly shoulder pain goes on. But I couldnt go any doctor...
When I read your artical, I said this is an side effect. I never think like that.
Most side effects I'm feeling "high"
I try to give up to pills. So I use half to 5 daily. And my knee better now.
My depression and anxiety is still there I know. But I have to do something Im realy boring the drugs

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Hi. I have taken Brintellix, now called Trintellix, for nearly 4 years. I take 30mg. I’m 68 years old. I have taken antidepressants for decades with no improvement in my depression. Trintellix is a life saver, for me, with my depression. I have experienced all the pain symptoms you describe since I was a teenager. It didn’t start with the Trintellix. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which causes the sporadic pain all over, and specifically my shoulders and neck. I now have arthritis which hurts my knees and other joints. It’s aging. Still, I’m never depressed. I had to go off my Trintellix for a while because we couldn’t afford it. That time was horrible, for me. Then we learned that the pharmaceutical company would help with the cost. God bless them. In my experience, your pain is not a result of Trintellix. It is very likely other age related things. Fibromyalgia is relentless. I would talk to my doctor about it. Keeping my depression under control helps me handle my pain. I am very anxious for my psychiatrist to give me medical marijuana. My sister tells me it helps her more than anything ever has. She is a psychologist. She is not just trying to get legal pot. Good luck and God be with you as you figure this out.

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Re: Patty (# 38)

The pain was definitely the med. 8 months on the med and I went from no pain to not being able to walk, it was excruciating. When I stopped the med each day the pain was less, and I was able to walk again after approx two weeks...maybe even less. My psychiatrist had two patients who also developed joint pain on the med, which resolved after it was stopped. Joint pain has since been added to the side effects list.

I am so glad that it helps you with your mental state. It was the best med for me too, and would have stayed on it if I didn't developed the joint, muscle, and nerve pain.

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Re: N Joy (# 1)

Hello,
I had same headache cause of brintellix. I noticed that drug cause low sodium. So I drunk lots of water everyday. And it did very well. Because I didnt want to use painkiller every day. 1 or 2 months later headache was decrease and than stop. If you feel good about your pill, be patient. Headache will stop

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