I'm routing for you, sound like you're being real sensible and doing lots of research ... we'd all love to switch to this new drug if it is quite easy, keep us posted won't you.
When you mention taking a lower dose "over the weekend" to see the side effects of the lower dose - I think you'll see elsewhere on the forum that the effects sometimes hit 2 to 3 weeks later on - therefore if this happened to you and you had a bad effect, and also whilst moving on to another drug, would you be able to see the true picture, i.e. what is causing the symptoms drug (a) or drug (b). This Mirt is a nightmare to quit and I'm not sure dropping off so quickly, even after only 4 weeks is a wise move.
But hey, we're all different, lets hope you have an easier ride than most. Good luck to you.
Yes I am quite excited that they finally came out with a drug that is so similar, but doesnt mess up your metabolism.
According to the link that Kathy posted further above, tapering off Mirtazapine before going on Vortioxetine goes to 15 mg and then you can just switch over. A wash out period is not required. (Crossing fingers)
Now just to be sure I am starting out with half the dose (5mg instead of 10mg) of Vortioxetine, since I am also on Bupropion and Sertraline. I don't want to risk Serotonine Syndrome. That's what the pharma company who is distributing Vortioxetine suggests.
I'll be reducing Bupropion from 450mg (which is quite high anyway) to 300mg and Sertraline from 200 mg to 100 mg. Together with just half the starting dose of Vortioxetine (5mg instead of 10mg) I should be fine.
Hi everyone! Just a little update if anyone cares to know.
I stopped Mirtazapine 15 mg 3 nights ago and exchanged it with 5mg Trintellix. The medication has the same chemical structure and effect, but apparently Trintellix doesnt come with the weight gain issue. That's why I did an immediate switch without tapering off Mirt to a lower dose.
I've been feeling well so far.
Day 1 - Mood was very good - I felt a tiny bit of a lower abdomen pain/pressure, which could have also just been digestion.
Day 2 - Mood was very good - no real side effects, all dandy.
Day 3 - Mood seemed to go down just a tad, no side effects so I decided to up Trintellix to the regular 10mg adult dose.
Day 4 - Mood is good, I've slept well and I've lost a pound (yay)!
All sounds very interesting, making notes as we speak, all the very best on the transition and future of Trintellix, rooting for you & watching your blog with deep empathy
Hi Suzie, no I didnt. I just felt miles better and finally had some energy again. But my dog also put me on 4x0.5mg Clonazepam per day. That sure helps with anxiety.
Day 6 on 10mg Trintellix/Brintellix (as well as (spread over the day: 2 mg clonazepam, 100 mg Sertraline, 300 mg wellbutrin, 2x500 mg Metformin).
No changes - I am still feeling very well, am active, met friends for brunch and walked 5k with my dog (who is pretty annoyed by my outburst of activity, at least he's sound asleep now).
No side effects, feeling myself again, energy is up, anxiety is not noticeable (other than constipation thanks to all the meds, I think each one of them has that as a side effect).
Now I should add that Wellbutrin has a rep to make dieting easier and to help with losing weight. So does Metformin (but in a much smaller range).
I believe that the combination of them all PLUS anxiety and depression going into remission makes my weightloss possible. It has never been easy, but these days, it's different. Doable.
The clonazepam never really made me feel much, but once or twice I forgot to take my mid day dose and thats when I realized that it DOES make me less agitated, calmer, less anxious.
(as well as (spread over the day: 2 mg clonazepam, 100 mg Sertraline, 300 mg wellbutrin, 2x500 mg Metformin).
Just a quick update: I am still feeling well. No side effects. No withdrawal signs. The only thing is that I am much more tired since reducing Wellbutrin from 450mg to 300mg. That'll be something I'll talk to my Pdoc tomorrow.
Otherwise things are well. Sleep is good (vivid dreams that are exhausting, but nothing I couldnt deal with). Weight is going down. I've now lost 3 lbs within this one week of switching from Mirt to Trintellix.
Though I am also keeping the 1000 mg Metformin for the next 6 weeks, which may help with weight loss.
wellbutrin gave me the expected energie throughout the day.
so no side effects, no nausea (other maybe the very first day around lunch)
no pains, no anxiety...smooth ride... I am feeling like my self again and picked a fight with our IT department. Same old same old
my doc suggested now to taper down Sertraline from 100 mg (initially 200) to 25 mg. I am fine with that, but right now I believe the wellbutrin makes me get through the day on 300 mg until about 4pm and then I can fall asleep standing. I'll try to convince him to keep the 450mg up or gove me an alternative for energy in the afternoon with a short half life, so that sleep isn't disturbed.
All sounds good Mermaid, thanks for keeping us posted - I'm sure one or two others are logging in to see if Mirt' wd hits you at some stage - fingers X'D for you
Altho' I have to say, am very confused at all the meds/cocktail you're on but I see they're slowly changing too - so doubley GOOD x
It's been a rocky week. Not due to Trintellix. More due to my lack of coping with stress and anger (directing it towards myself, harming myself).
Now I would say the Trintellix as AntiDepr is working very well combined with Wellbutrin (ADepr) and Clonazepam (AAnxiety). I have lost another 5 lbs and am at my lowest now for a few years at least. People are starting to compliment me, they are noticing now. It's 32 lbs as of this morning
Now comes the caveat - since I still havent learned to deal with anger and disappointment very well and tend to direct it towards myself (self harm) I also had 2 rather bad days this week. Sadly the person who I am most dependable on right now upset me so much that I completely overreacted. (Again, not towards others, but towards myself).
I would like to believe that it's my lack of coping and not the meds. But I leave that up to you to decide.
After a lovely afternoon with friends and diner last night with another friend who I confided in I am feeling much better today. Social network. It sure is important!
No further self harming thoughts or actions, back to routine meds (only the prescribed ones ) and later today my yoga class I enjoy so much.
It's so hard to distinguish between what is you and what is due to the side effects of the meds. You are on a new drug and sometimes ADs can cause an increase in suicidal thoughts, so it would stand to reason that self harm would also be more likely to happen. Hopefully things will settle down for you soon, but if not, then you may have to look again at yoour meds. Hopefully not though!
Sorry I have only just seen this post. I hope you are starting to feel better than you were when you wrote it. I am so sorry you feel so bad at the moment. Please, don't contemplate suicide, you are obviously a very warm and giving person and the world would be a poorer place without you.
I am still struggling to lose any more weight. I have the most terrible insomnia now and am having investigations of my heart due to the palpitations (though I don't think there is anything seriously wrong as I've had them 'forever' and have no problems during exertion). My kidney problems are playing up though which isn't helping my insomnia.
