Nausea Caused By Trintellix And How To Manage It
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses nausea caused by Trintellix and some strategies to resolve it.
Hi there. I am currently taking Trintellix (vortioxetine) for ADHD and depression, and it's given me some nasty nausea, which I've heard is a common side effect. Is there a good OTC anti-nausea medication I could potentially take alongside it to calm nausea?
May 09, 2023- Nausea is a common side effect of Trintellix, especially at higher doses, but it often improves after a few weeks of taking the medication. Taking Trintellix with food and starting at a low dose that increases gradually can help reduce nausea. Over-the-counter antinausea medications like Dramamine or meclizine may provide temporary relief during the first few weeks while your body adjusts to the drug.
Answer
Hello, and thanks for reaching out! Yes, Trintellix (vortioxetine) can certainly cause nausea. In fact, according to the prescribing information for the drug, nausea was the most common side effect reported in clinical trials.
In terms of how to manage it, there are several strategies, including some over-the-counter options as you mentioned in your question to us.
How Common Is Nausea In Those Taking Trintellix?
Nausea is a 'dose-related' side effect, meaning that it occurs more commonly, and often more severely, in those taking higher doses.
Below is a chart from the prescribing information for Trintellix showing the incidence rate of nausea for each dosage of the drug.
You can see that nausea was reported as follows:
- Trintellix 5mg: 21% of individuals experienced nausea
- Trintellix 10mg: 26% of individuals experienced nausea
- Trintellix 15mg: 32% of individuals experienced nausea
- Trintellix 20mg: 32% of individuals experienced nausea
Strategies To Relieve Nausea
It is important to note that Trintellix, and other antidepressant drugs that affect the neurotransmitter serotonin, commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. As mentioned in the section above, these side effects are dose-dependent.
The good news is that these side effects very often tend to get better after you have been taking the drug for a few weeks. So, your first strategy is really to try and get through the first few weeks of therapy.
Taking Trintellix with food can help to lessen the severity of these gastrointestinal side effects and it is generally recommended to do so. Food doesn't affect how Trintellix works or is absorbed, so you can feel safe doing so.
Another strategy to reduce nausea is to start on a low dose of Trintellix, and slowly increase your dosage over the course of a few weeks. Since nausea is dose-dependent, you are less likely to experience it on lower doses, and starting at these lower doses allows your body to get used to the drug.
Although generally not recommended for long-term use, over-the-counter antinausea medications can help during those first few weeks of therapy.
Drugs like Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), meclizine, and Benadryl (diphenhydramine), all available over the counter, can help reduce symptoms of nausea.
Final Words
Thanks so much for reaching out and I hope you found this helpful!
References & sources
- Trintellix Prescribing Information — Takeda
- PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR THE Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder — Psychiatry Online
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Trintellix
- A brand name for the antidepressant medication vortioxetine used to treat depression.
- Vortioxetine
- The generic chemical name for the antidepressant drug sold under the brand name Trintellix.
- Dose-related
- A side effect that becomes more common or severe as the amount of medication taken increases.
- Neurotransmitter
- A chemical messenger in the brain that transmits signals between nerve cells.
- Serotonin
- A neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate mood and is targeted by antidepressant medications.
- Gastrointestinal
- Related to the stomach and digestive system.
- Dramamine
- An over-the-counter brand name medication containing dimenhydrinate used to relieve nausea and motion sickness.
- Dimenhydrinate
- The active ingredient in Dramamine that helps reduce nausea and dizziness.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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