How TRINTELLIX®
(vortioxetine) works

Patient portrayal.

Individual results may vary.

TRINTELLIX® (vortioxetine) is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). TRINTELLIX has not been shown to be safe and effective for use in children.

Wondering how TRINTELLIX works?

Experts believe that MDD results when certain chemicals in the brain are out of balance. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, send messages from one brain cell to another by acting at specific receptors.

Although it’s not fully understood, TRINTELLIX is thought to work as an antidepressant by enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter called serotonin in the brain by blocking serotonin reuptake. TRINTELLIX also affects 5 serotonin receptors, but it’s not known whether this contributes to the antidepressant effect of TRINTELLIX.

Frequently Asked Questions

TRINTELLIX may cause serious side effects, including:

  • See the “What is the most important information I should know about TRINTELLIX?” FAQ by following the link below.
  • Serotonin syndrome. A potentially life-threatening problem called serotonin syndrome can happen when you take TRINTELLIX with certain other medicines. See the “Who should not take TRINTELLIX?” FAQ by following the link below. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome:
  • agitation
  • seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
  • confusion
  • coma
  • fast heart-beat
  • changes in blood pressure
  • dizziness
  • sweating
  • flushing
  • high body temperature (hyperthermia)
  • shaking (tremors), stiff muscles, or muscle twitching
  • loss of coordination
  • seizures
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Increased risk of bleeding. Taking TRINTELLIX with aspirin, non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin or blood thinners may add to this risk. Tell your healthcare provider right away about any unusual bleeding or bruising.
  • Manic episodes. Manic episodes may happen in people with bipolar disorder who take TRINTELLIX. Symptoms may include:
  • greatly increased energy
  • racing thoughts
  • unusually grand ideas
  • talking more or faster than usual
  • severe problems sleeping
  • reckless behavior
  • excessive happiness or irritability
  • Discontinuation episodes. Suddenly stopping TRINTELLIX may cause you to have serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may want to decrease your dose slowly. Symptoms may include:
  • nausea
  • sweating
  • changes in your mood 
  • irritability and agitation 
  • dizziness
  • electric shock feeling (paresthesia)
  • tremor
  • anxiety
  • confusion
  • headache
  • tiredness
  • problems sleeping
  • hypomania
  • ringing in your ears (tinnitus) 
  • seizures
  • Eye problems (angle-closure glaucoma). TRINTELLIX may cause a type of eye problem called angle-closure glaucoma in people with certain other eye conditions. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are. Call your healthcare provider if you have eye pain, changes in your vision, or swelling or redness in or around the eye.
  • Low levels of sodium in your blood (hyponatremia). Low sodium levels in your blood that may be serious and may cause death, can happen during treatment with TRINTELLIX. Elderly people and people who take certain medicines may be at a greater risk for developing low sodium levels in your blood. Signs and symptoms may include:
  • headache
  • difficulty concentrating
  • memory changes
  • confusion
  • weakness and unsteadiness on your feet, which can lead to falls

In more severe or more sudden cases, signs and symptoms include:

  • seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
  • fainting
  • seizures
  • coma
  • stopping breathing (respiratory arrest)
  • Sexual problems (dysfunction). Taking TRINTELLIX may cause sexual problems.

Symptoms in males may include:

  • delayed ejaculation or inability to have an ejaculation
  • problems getting or keeping an erection
  • decreased sex drive

Symptoms in females may include:

  • decreased sex drive
  • delayed orgasm or inability to have an orgasm

Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any changes in your sexual function or if you have any questions or concerns about sexual problems during treatment with TRINTELLIX. There may be treatments your healthcare provider can suggest.

The most common side effects of TRINTELLIX include nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRINTELLIX.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, since TRINTELLIX and some medicines may cause serious side effects (or may not work as well) when taken together.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • medicines for migraine headache called triptans
  • tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, or buspirone
  • opioids (such as fentanyl, tramadol, meperidine, and methadone)
  • over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John’s Wort
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • aspirin
  • warfarin 
  • diuretics
  • medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • medicines used to treat seizures or convulsions

Ask your healthcare professional if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines. Before you take TRINTELLIX with any of these medicines, talk to your healthcare professional about serotonin syndrome. For more information, see the “What are the possible side effects of TRINTELLIX?” FAQ above. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare professional or pharmacist when you get new medicine.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a common type of antidepressant used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) by enhancing the activity of serotonin in specific pathways of the brain.

The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of TRINTELLIX is not fully understood. However, the antidepressant effect of both TRINTELLIX and SSRIs is thought to be related to their enhancement of serotonin activity in the central nervous system. Experts believe that MDD results when certain chemicals in the brain are out of balance. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, send messages from one brain cell to another by acting at specific receptors. The function and effect of TRINTELLIX is believed to be related to the inhibition of serotonin reuptake. In addition, TRINTELLIX blocks the activities of certain receptors while enhancing that of others. The contribution of these functions to TRINTELLIX's antidepressant effect has not been established.

   

View all FAQs

Real stories from people taking
TRINTELLIX. Meet the TRINTELLERS.

Click here for Medication Guide

Superscript: When you think of life with Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, what do you see?

Voice over: When you think of life with Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, what do you see? People may think they know exactly what MDD looks like. But the truth is that MDD looks different for everyone because everyone experiences it differently. To get a more authentic picture of MDD, we have to look at not just the disorder, but also some people living with it. Because when a patient works with their doctor to find the treatment plan that’s right for them, it may have a noticeable impact on their MDD. That’s what I want other patients to know. 

Superscript: Who am I?

Voice over: Who am I? 

Superscript: A real patient with MDD.

Voice over: My name is Jesus. 

Voice over: My name is Ruth.

Voice over: Hi, I am Tatiana. 

Superscript: What is TRINTELLIX? TRINTELLIX (vortioxetine) is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). By prescription only.

Voice over: Our doctors told us about TRINTELLIX, a prescription medicine for adults with a type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD. 

Superscript: TRINTELLIX + STORYTELLERS = TRINTELLERS are real MDD patients treated with TRINTELLIX who are here to share their stories with others.

Voice over: Now-We’ve become the first TRINTELLERS, a collection of actual TRINTELLIX patients who are telling personal stories of our lives with MDD. Each of us will be recording one second of our lives everyday, as well as telling you about our recent experiences with MDD, working with our doctors, and our journey with TRINTELLIX. 

Superscript: TRINTELLIX and other antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some people 24 years of age and younger. TRINTELLIX is not approved for children under 18.

Voice over: Antidepressants, like TRINTELLIX, may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some people 24 years of age and younger. 

Superscript: Call your doctor or get emergency help right away if you have new or worsening depression symptoms, new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts or feelings, or suicidal thoughts or actions.

Voice over: Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in mood, behavior or thoughts, or suicidal thoughts or actions while taking it. 

Superscript: Do not take it if you take MAOIs, or if you are allergic to vortioxetine or any other ingredients in TRINTELLIX.

Voice over: Do not take it if you take MAOIs, or if you are allergic to vortioxetine or any other ingredients in TRINTELLIX. 

Superscript: Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and all the medicines you take. Taking TRINTELLIX with certain medicines can result in a life-threatening condition.

Voice over: Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including migraine, psychiatric, and depression medicines, to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition. 

Superscript: TRINTELLIX may increase risk of bleeding. Tell your doctor right away about any unusual bleeding or bruising.

Voice over: Increased risk of bleeding and bruising may occur, especially if taken with aspirin, NSAID pain relievers, warfarin, or blood thinners.

Superscript: Call your doctor if you have any new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings.

Voice over: Manic episodes can occur in people with bipolar disorder. Call your doctor if you have any new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings.

Superscript: Suddenly stopping TRINTELLIX may cause you to have serious side effects. Visual problems may occur in some people. TRINTELLIX may cause low sodium levels and sexual problems.

Voice over: Suddenly stopping TRINTELLIX may cause you to have serious side effects. Visual problems may occur in some people. TRINTELLIX may cause low sodium levels and sexual problems.

Superscript: Common side effects of TRINTELLIX include nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

Voice over: Common side effects include nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

Voice over: Although we know there isn’t a cure for MDD and that we’ll continue to face challenges, we want to start the conversation and raise awareness for others who may be living with MDD.

Superscript: Individual results may vary.

Voice over: Together, we hope to encourage other MDD patients to work with their doctor to find the treatment plan that works for them. 

Superscript: Medication may not be appropriate for everyone.

Voice over: Thank you and see y’all soon. 

Superscript: For more safety information, including Boxed WARNING for Suicidal Thoughts and Actions, please click on the link to Medication Guide located at bottom of this video player and talk to your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Superscript: TRINTELLIX is a trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. TAKEDA and the TAKEDA logo are registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

©2021 Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. All rights reserved. 1-877-TAKEDA-7 (877-825-3327).

US-VOR-0821v1.0 11/21

Real stories from people taking
TRINTELLIX. Meet the TRINTELLERS.

TRINTELLIX + Storytellers = TRINTELLERS.

TRINTELLERS are real patients with MDD treated with TRINTELLIX and who are here to share their stories with others.

These videos were filmed by the TRINTELLERS themselves to help give you an inside look at their lives with MDD. 

Hear more stories

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TRINTELLIX is a trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. TAKEDA and the TAKEDA logo are registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

©2023 Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. All rights reserved.
1-877-TAKEDA-7 (1-877-825-3327).

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