Trintellix
Vortioxetine
5/10/20mg
Vortioxetine 5mg, 10mg and 20mg tablets, taken for major depressive disorder. An SSRI antidepressant.
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Vortioxetine
Vortioxetine is an antidepressant for major depressive disorder, sold here as generic Trintellix tablets in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths for once-daily dosing.
What vortioxetine is used for
Vortioxetine is an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder in adults: low mood, loss of interest and pleasure, tiredness and trouble concentrating that persist for weeks rather than days. Some people find it helps mental sharpness as well as mood, which is part of why it gets chosen when thinking and focus have slipped alongside the depression. It sits in the antidepressants group.
How vortioxetine works
It acts on serotonin, the chemical messenger nerve cells use to pass mood-related signals. Vortioxetine slows serotonin's reabsorption, so more of it stays in the space between nerve cells, and it also attaches to several serotonin receptors directly, switching some on and others off. That second part is why it is described as a serotonin modulator rather than a plain SSRI. Improvement tends to show after a couple of weeks and builds over about a month.
Taking vortioxetine
One tablet a day. You can take it with or without food, and it helps to keep to the same slot each day so the amount in the body stays steady. Treatment usually starts at 10mg once daily and can move between 5mg and 20mg; people over 65 often begin at 5mg. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water. Keep the strips somewhere dry and out of direct sun.
Side effects and interactions
Nausea is the side effect people notice most, particularly in the first week or two and at the higher strengths; it usually settles. Dry mouth, constipation or loose stools, headache, dizziness, itching and vivid dreams are also reported. A few problems need urgent attention: serotonin syndrome (agitation, confusion, fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, a racing heartbeat), any unusual bleeding or bruising, and signs of low sodium such as headache, confusion or unsteadiness, which are more likely in older people. Vortioxetine is not taken together with an MAO inhibitor, another kind of antidepressant — at least two weeks separate the two. Painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin, and blood thinners, raise the bleeding risk.
The Trintellix tablets on PockDose
Vortioxetine is sold here as Trintellix film-coated tablets in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg. Trintellix is the brand name and vortioxetine the ingredient, so it is the same medicine under either name. Each strength comes in its own pack, and the tablets are swallowed whole.
Sources
- Vortioxetine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Brintellix 20 mg film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Is Vortioxetine available to order in Hong Kong?
Vortioxetine can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is generic Trintellix tablets in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again at no cost, and where that is not possible the order is refunded.
How much does Vortioxetine cost?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Trintellix page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Vortioxetine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order vortioxetine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for vortioxetine?
Trintellix is a brand name of vortioxetine. Here, vortioxetine can be bought online as generic Trintellix. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does vortioxetine take to work?
Mood often starts to lift within two weeks, with the fuller effect building over about four weeks; some people need longer. Sleep and appetite sometimes change before mood does. If nothing has shifted after several weeks on a steady strength, that strength can be reviewed.
Can I drink alcohol with vortioxetine?
Alcohol does not seem to be made stronger by vortioxetine, so it is less of a worry than with older antidepressants. Heavy drinking still works against treatment, because it breaks up sleep and drags mood down over time.
How is vortioxetine different from SSRIs like sertraline?
Vortioxetine does more than an SSRI such as sertraline, which mainly blocks serotonin reuptake. It blocks reuptake as well, and in addition acts directly on several serotonin receptors, hence the label serotonin modulator rather than plain SSRI. Reports of sexual side effects are less frequent with it.
How long do people usually take vortioxetine?
Treatment is usually continued for several months after mood has improved, because stopping early makes a return of symptoms more likely. Some people stay on it for a year or more. How long it runs depends on how long the depression has been going on and how well it has settled.
Does vortioxetine cause nausea?
Nausea is the most common side effect, and it is more likely during the first week or two and at the 20mg strength. It is usually mild and eases as the body adjusts. If it stays troublesome, a lower strength of 5mg or 10mg is often easier to manage.