fontana: How to taper Vortioxetine/Trintellix 5mg on 2 month use only.

[fontana]

Hi, new here.

 

Been taking Vortioxetine/Trintellix 5mg for 2 months now. Would like to get off due to side effects like nausea, dizziness, constipation, etc.

 

Do I need to taper by 10% after only taking it for 2 months? How about cutting to 2.5mg>1.2mg then crumbs of it?

 

Thanks

 

 

Edited July 17, 2023 by manymoretodays
name to topic title

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @fontana

 

Generally, adaptation to antidepressants occurs in about a month, then tapering is required. 

 

Have you ever accidentally skipped a dose of vortioxetine? What happened then?

 

FYI Tips for tapering off vortioxetine (Trintellix, previously called Brintellix)
 

[fontana]

Hi,

 

Yes. I did not feel anything significant.

 

Maybe because this has a 66 hours half life?

 

Maybe i will feel something after 2-3 days.

 

Thanks

 

[Altostrata]

11 hours ago, fontana said:

Maybe because this has a 66 hours half life?

 

@fontana that is possible. However, we see withdrawal syndrome from fluoxetine, which also has a long half-life, so we do encourage people to taper it.

 

What's the longest period that you haven't taken your scheduled dose?

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[fontana]

About one day. I did not want to try longer than that yet.

 

I dry cut my Vortioxetine 5mg to 2.5mg (for 9 days) and to 1.25mg now. Hmmm the side effects seems to be lesser but I have this mild irritable feeling like obsessing on things. Not sure if it is part of withdrawal. Also sometimes feeling a bit relaxed or spaced-out.

 

BTW I am also 2 months++ off low dose Alprazolam, on and off use for several months. Maybe some of my symptoms now are also part of Benzo withdrawal?

 

I might stick to 1.25mg Vortioxetine for longer maybe 2-3 weeks, then I'll try if I can mix it with water to go even slower.

 

Also followed the advice here, taking Omega 3 Fish Oil twice a day and Magnesium Glycinate 130mg at night.

 

Wish me good on my healing journey. Thanks.

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

What's the longest period that you haven't taken your scheduled dose?

 

 

[Altostrata]

9 hours ago, fontana said:

I might stick to 1.25mg Vortioxetine for longer maybe 2-3 weeks, then I'll try if I can mix it with water to go even slower.

 

 

Good idea, let your nervous system settle down.

 

It's best to taper the lower doses even more gradually. Tips for tapering off vortioxetine (Trintellix, previously called Brintellix) describes how to do this.

[fontana]

I just feel off today. Not sure if it's because I am 6th day on 1.25mg or because I woke up reading some topics and comments in an Facebook group about SSRI Withdrawal Support.

 

Some stuff i'm reading are scary. I think I need to read less of these FB groups? I don't think I am getting support, but just getting more anxious about other people's experiences/suffering.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[fontana]

Oh...sometimes I can sit on my chair and computer for hours and not feel or give a damn what is going on around the house. Is this depersonalization?

[fontana]

6 days stayed on 1.25mg Brintellix. Vivid dreams recall upon waking up. I also remember having vivid anxious dreams when I started this drug in May.

 

7th day - try not to take the drug today, more hungry as i usually don't have appetite minutes/hours after taking this drug even on such low dose. 

[fontana]

Hi altostrata,

 

Yesterday I did not take the 1.25mg dose and I think I felt better. Today I took it again and nausea and being space-out once again is bothering me.

 

I am thinking maybe I can go faster off this drug? It is a mystery why I felt better the day I miss my dose???

[fontana]

Doing lower doses and I'm feeling much better! Down to 0.8mg or around that, hard to shave accurately with a knife.

 

Been swimming and went to the park every other day. Can do some work too. Dizziness is fading out.

 

Anyone did 2-3 months on an AD and tapered off and ACTUALLY got better than being on them? This is a mystery or I am a unique body chemistry?!

 

[fontana]

From crumbs of Vortioxetine, I jump off around August 17. 

 

The past few days, I wake up really earlier than usual. Is this withdrawal? 

 

From https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/ site: 

How Long Does Brintellix (Vortioxetine) Stay In Your System?

Because Brintellix has a relatively short half-life of 57 to 66 hours, it is likely the medication will be completely removed from your body within 16 days. 

 

Wow 16 days. It seems to be on point. So no more of this in my body, and now I am going trough withdrawal?