Nausea Caused By Trintellix And How To Manage It

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!