Key takeaways

  • Trintellix commonly causes digestive issues like nausea, constipation, and vomiting. Nausea is the most frequent side effect, usually peaking during the first week of treatment and resolving within about 2 weeks.
  • This medication carries a boxed warning for the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults, particularly when starting treatment or adjusting dosage. This drug is only approved for adults ages 18 years and older.
  • Stopping Trintellix abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, confusion, and tiredness, so doctors recommend gradually reducing the dosage over time to minimize these effects.

Trintellix (vortioxetine) is a brand-name oral tablet prescribed for major depressive disorder. It belongs to a drug class called atypical antidepressants. This drug is not available in a generic version.

Trintellix has a boxed warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Note: Trintellix may cause side effects, some of which are more common than others. Side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if they’re ongoing, bothersome, or severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The most common side effects reported by people who took Trintellix in clinical trials were:

  • nausea
  • constipation
  • vomiting

Other mild side effects that have been reported with Trintellix include:

These aren’t all of the possible mild side effects of Trintellix. For more information, refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Experiencing side effects? After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews its side effects. If you develop a side effect while taking this medication and want to report it to the FDA, you can visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Trintellix may cause serious side effects, although this is rare. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, including how long side effects may last, refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Trintellix, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: A missed dose of Trintellix isn’t likely to cause serious side effects. However, you should not stop taking the drug without first talking with your doctor. Suddenly stopping Trintellix can cause side effects such as nausea, confusion, and tiredness.

Trintellix has a boxed warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in children and young adults. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts patients and doctors about potentially dangerous drug effects.

Antidepressants, including Trintellix, can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults. It’s important to note that Trintellix is only approved for use in people ages 18 years and older.

This risk is higher when people first start taking Trintellix, and whenever their Trintellix dosage is adjusted.

What you can do

While taking Trintellix, try to be aware of any changes in your thoughts and behavior. Caregivers and people you spend time with should also watch for any changes. This is especially important when you first start taking Trintellix, and whenever your dose is adjusted.

Tell your doctor about any changes in your thoughts or actions while taking Trintellix. But if you have thoughts about suicide, seek help immediately.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Learn more about some of the side effects Trintellix may cause.

Sexual side effects

Like other drugs used to treat major depressive disorder, Trintellix can cause sexual side effects. In fact, these were commonly reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

Sexual side effects may include:

What you can do

If you experience sexual side effects while taking Trintellix, tell your doctor. They can recommend a treatment for the side effect, or they may suggest you stop taking Trintellix and try a different medication for your condition.

Withdrawal symptoms

It’s possible to have withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop taking Trintellix. Withdrawal occurs if you suddenly stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.

Withdrawal symptoms caused by suddenly stopping Trintellix can include:

What you can do

Talk with your doctor before stopping Trintellix. If you both agree that it’s best for you to stop treatment, they’ll instruct you on how to decrease your dosage over time. This lowers your risk of withdrawal symptoms.

People taking 15 milligrams (mg) or 20 mg of Trintellix per day may be at higher risk of withdrawal than people taking lower doses. For this reason, your doctor may lower your dosage to 10 mg per day for 1 week before having you completely stop Trintellix.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Trintellix can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but has been reported since Trintellix was approved.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash or hives
  • itchiness
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin — typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Trintellix. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

It isn’t likely. In clinical trials of Trintellix, weight gain wasn’t reported as a side effect. Weight gain has been reported by people taking Trintellix since the drug was approved, but it’s not clear whether the medication caused this weight gain.

If you’re concerned about weight gain while taking Trintellix, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.

It’s possible, if you already have certain other eye conditions. But in people without existing eye conditions, Trintellix hasn’t been shown to cause vision-related side effects in clinical trials.

Specifically, in people with narrow angles in their eyes, antidepressants such as Trintellix can trigger a condition called angle-closure glaucoma (also called closed-angle glaucoma). Symptoms can include:

  • changes in vision
  • eye pain
  • redness, discoloration, or swelling in or around the eye

Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency. If you develop the symptoms mentioned above, get medical attention right away. Go to your nearest emergency room or hospital, or talk with an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Before you begin taking Trintellix, your doctor may recommend an eye exam to check if you’re at risk for angle-closure glaucoma. If you are, your doctor may prescribe treatment to prevent it from developing while you’re taking Trintellix.

If you notice other vision or eye-related side effects while taking Trintellix, call your doctor. They can help determine what could be causing them.

Note: Other drugs used to treat major depressive disorder such as sertraline (Zoloft) may cause blurry vision.

The following are precautions to consider before starting this medication.

Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts

Other precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Trintellix. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health.

Conditions and factors to consider include:

Bipolar disorder: Treatment with Trintellix may cause mania or hypomania in people with bipolar disorder. You should tell your doctor if you or any members of your family have or have had bipolar disorder or mania. If so, your doctor may monitor you more closely than usual during Trintellix treatment. Or they may recommend a different medication to treat your condition.

Bleeding disorder: Trintellix can increase your risk of bleeding. People with an existing bleeding disorder, such as factor VII deficiency, may have an even higher risk of bleeding with Trintellix. Be sure to discuss any bleeding disorders you may have with your doctor before starting this medication.

Using Trintellix with certain other drugs can increase this risk even more. If you’re taking warfarin, your doctor will monitor your blood clotting ability. (Warfarin increases the risk of bleeding.) Your doctor will check your blood clotting when you start taking Trintellix, after any dosage changes, and if you stop taking Trintellix.

Certain eye problems: In rare cases, antidepressants such as Trintellix can cause a condition called angle-closure glaucoma (also called closed-angle glaucoma) in people with narrow angles in their eyes. Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency.

Before you begin taking Trintellix, your doctor may recommend an eye exam to check if you’re at risk for angle-closure glaucoma. If you have narrow angles in your eye, your doctor may prescribe treatment to prevent angle-closure glaucoma while you’re taking Trintellix.

Allergic reaction: You should not take Trintellix if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients. Talk with your doctor about other treatments that might be better choices for you.

Use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): You should not take Trintellix if you’re taking an MAOI to treat a mental health condition or if you’re taking the MAOI linezolid (Zyvox), which is an antibiotic. And you should not take Trintellix if you’re receiving the MAOI methylene blue as an intravenous (IV) injection. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you’re taking before starting Trintellix.

Alcohol and Trintellix

There aren’t any known interactions between Trintellix and alcohol. However, drinking alcohol may make certain side effects of Trintellix worse, such as dizziness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. For this reason, if you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe during Trintellix treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Trintellix

It’s not known if Trintellix is safe to take during pregnancy. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits of this medication during pregnancy.

If you take Trintellix while pregnant, consider signing up for the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants. This registry collects information about antidepressant use during pregnancy. Your doctor can provide more information.

It’s also not known whether it’s safe to breastfeed while taking Trintellix. This is because it isn’t known whether the drug passes into breast milk. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to feed your child while taking Trintellix.

Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.