Brintellix Side Effects Severe (Page 2)
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DESPERATELY NEED HELP ABOUT BRINTELLIX!!! I have been on 5mg Brintellix for last 10 weeks. About 9 days About 9 days ago I started to feel like i was coming down with flu. week progressed and flu like symptoms got worse every day: flushing, feeling like i had high fever but without actual fever, agitation, muscle cramps, bad nausea, diahrrea all day long, fast heart beat, headache, etc. after several days of symptoms getting worse, on Sunday last I had the feeling i was going to DIE!!! worst flu like symptoms and severe anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. I skipped the sunday dose and then cut the monday dose down to 2.5mg. it is wednesday, and most of bad symptoms have gone to mild or moderate. Dr thinks i had case of serotonin syndrome n this med. But, no one can explain why side effects started at 9 weeks and not beginning!! Today was better side effect wise, still nausea, diahrrea (but not as bad), agitation, no appetite (cannot eat at all). Here is kicker: dr wants me to take 2.5mg every other day as wants to keep depression and anxiety symptoms down. I am praying to GOD this works! Anyone out there have a similar experience??? I really desperately need help on this !! Please let me know!

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51

I thought I'd do an update since my post on the 8th October 2016.
I've been in Brintellix for over 4 months now and it's been a challenge initially, but have stuck with it because the good outweighs the bad for me.
I have major melancholic depressive disorder, gone through 16 rounds of ECT(Electric Convulsive Therapy), been on God knows how many different medications because I'm a medical excreter and my body becomes immune to medication quickly. The only medication that has appeared to help as been Concerta(aka= slow release Ritalin) which I've been on for 5 yrs now. However antidepressants don't work for long with me. So far with Brintellix I am feeling ok. I still experience the awful nausea about 10-15 minutes after I take it, so I take it as soon as I'm heading to bed for the night. I'm on 10mgs and so far it's ok.
I initially mentioned in my first post about experiencing incessant itching. It was awful, but I pushed through and it's not as bad. I find occasionally I experience sporadically, but not to the same serverity.
Each person reacts and responds differently to meds. This drug may not be the best for some, but don't be swayed by others. In some ways I'm glad I kept pushing through cause, for now I'm feeling better than I have for a while. But saying that, considering my body's endless rejections of medication, I could be jinxing myself.
I'll keep you posted.

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50

I posted a complaint in December and have since discontinued using brintellix. I tried 5mg but still felt nauseous like the flu it morning sickness. As soon as I stopped taking it I felt better. Good luck.

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49

I have been using Brintellix now for ±5 weeks (Started with 5 mg now on 10 mg). My anxiety increased and feels as if my heart is beating out of my chest - I do not feel well. I am now thinking of lowering the dosage to 5 mg. I do have high blood pressure and use medication for that. It is under control. I do not want to feel this way.

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48

I discontinued Brintellix after a month of taking 10 mg daily ....it was horrible with very bad side effects all that listed above....it has been 3 weeks now since i discontinued it but i am still having some side effects like agitating, nervousness, increase depression....please do any one know when these symptoms should go away ???

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47

Yes I've had the same now I'm experiencing migraines I'm cutting my dose in half n getting off of it

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46

Thanks for sharing your situation. I might be in the same boat, cutting back to 5 mg to alleviate nausea I'. Having on the 10 mg. I was miserable on pristiq head sweating so severe I' looked lime I' showered and bruising, foggyness tired all the time. I'm really hoping to get past the nausea and finally have something that works!

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45


I've been on Brintellix for 1.5 months and experienced vomiting and nausea in the first week. Since then experiences of drowsiness in the late afternoons have been hard, constipation, gas and itching. The 3rd week I couldn't stop itching my legs and bum, especially the ankles. It eventually went away, but the last three days it's come back bad. Today in particularly my breasts have been THE WORST. It's constant to the point I have bruised them from scratching so much.
The past week I've noticed my fingers are all dry and cracked and the last few days my face is dry and flakey.
I have noticed my moods not as low, but the itchy is so frustrating.
I'll try an antihistamine and hope that helps.

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44

Yes. Sick all the time but depression and anxiety were so much better. Had colonoscopy and upper gi. Both clear. I'm tapering down. On 10mg last 4 days and nausea way better. But the depression is creeping back in. Wish I knew of a good alternative or if I could go back up and if Zofran might work. Sad to see so many people not doing well on the drug. I was so hoping it was my ticket.

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43

Has anyone had bleeding from their rectum while taking Trintellix? I have been taking 10mg once a day for 5 weeks now and have had bleeding for the past 3 weeks (bright red blood). It has gotten progressively worse (now dripping into the toilet with every single bowel movement). I was so worried that I called my gastroenterologist and scheduled both a colonoscopy and an edoscopy, and both came out just fine. It seems like I have a mild case of Colitis, but the bleeding just continues. I feel like the Trintellix is somehow causing this - like it is making it difficult for me to clot/coagulate. I am now tapering off - taking 5mg for the next 5 days and then diacontinuing the drug to see if the bleeding stops. This is very scary and concerning, and if the drug is in fact causing it, then I don't believe this drug should remain on the market. It is still so new, and in the future, I will not take any drug (no matter how highly it is recommended by my doctor) until it has been on the market for at least 7 years.

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42

Kim, I am on 10mg of and the heartbeat has calmed down a bit. I'm going to call my doctor to get off this. I don't like taking medicine that makes my heart beat abnormal. Not sure what what else to try.

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41

So what are you taking now? I'm on 20 mg and have nausea and vomiting. Needed something.

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40

Congratulations, Marcia. You made it longer than I did. I had to stop and go back on Cymbalta. I'm surprised after 10 weeks you would have those reactions.

Keep in touch.

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39

I have been taking brintellix for about 4 months and it seems since they changed the name of this medicine i have had fast and abnormal heartbeat. I contacted my doctor so she told me to cut my pill in half and call her in a week. I cant stand this feeling. Has anyone else been feeling like this.

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38

Joe G. - I can relate to how you are feeling. I gave up and went back on Cymbalta.
Good luck. It's supposed to be a good drug.

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37

I feeling exactly the same.I am on Brintellix for 30 days now, after 3 years of Lexapro. I am feeling irritated , feeling like i will lose control.

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36

Sue, I am not a doctor and I don't know what specifically you take the lamictal ?for(it may be under a different name where I live) but I titrated very very VERY slowly off of all of my combo meds except Wellbutrin. The last to go was Effexor which replaced my cymbalta. Under my gp's care I just kept halving my doses after set time periods until it was out of my system. I actually did most of it unintentionally preparing to introduce brintellix - so if u r have low doses of most everyone in your system now - it would be a perfect time to talk to your go or p-doc. Nobody can truly tell you what's right for you sue. Listen to your gut! That is your inner voice guiding you. Figure out what u think might be going on with u and then tell yourself you r not going to waste another minute feeling this way. Be firm with your doctor. I found this task very hard for myself for a couple years- I even saw a second doctor on the sly who I could just be myself with. I have a lifelong connection to my other doctor but it has taken me 2 yrs to realize SO WHAT I need to take care of me! So many challenges on top of our challenges. We are sensitive caring people or we wouldn't have been given these wonderful gifts called depression and anxiety. Good luck sue. I am with you. Blue.

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35

Blue, while on the Cymbalta, 120mgs, I was also on 150mgs of Lamictal. My doctor wanted me to continue on it with the Brintellix but I've left a message saying the constant flu-like symptoms are getting me down. I wonder if I could just stay on Lamictal and nothing else or go back on Cymbalta at a lower dose. Maybe then my emotions wouldn't be so numbed.

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34

I too was on cymbalta for years feeling emotional numbness and overweight . Limbo land. That is why I tried brintelliix - now I am off all of my mood meds except for I am taking two150 xr of Wellbutrin in the am and I have never felt better in my life. I know myself again! I laugh I cry. Life is not perfect but I am human. It has been 30 years on the pharma rollorcoaster and now I am coming to the end of the ride. I hope u find the right thing for you!!!

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33

I just started on Brintillex and I feel terrible. Sick to my stomach, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia. I rarely experience side effects but this is unbelievable. I had to go back on Xanax. Pretty sure I won't last. This transition is doing me in. I think I'll ask to go back on Cymbalta, despite the emotional numbness I was feeling.

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32

Respectfully- you can notice SIDE EFFECTS the very first day but CHANGES IN MOOD are not felt in one day from these meds. It is important - particularly with this med that people do not get misled by posts. It's great that you have felt no ill effects from taking brintellix. Sounds like u are one of the lucky ones even though it's only been a day.

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