Brintellix

Brintellix is a prescription medication used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD).

Brintellix belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin modulators. These work by increasing serotonin, a natural substance in the brain.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken usually once a day, with or without food.

Common side effects of nausea, constipation and vomiting.

Brintellix can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Brintellix affects you.

Brintellix is a prescription medication used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• how well you can metabolize Brintellix

The recommended dose of Brintellix for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) is 20 mg/day.

WARNINGS: Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24; there was a trend toward reduced risk with antidepressant use in patients aged 65 and older.
In patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy, monitor closely for worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Advise families and caregivers of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber.
Brintellix has not been evaluated for use in pediatric patients.

Serious side effects have been reported with Brintellix including the following:

• Hypersensitivity. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of hypersensitivity.
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Angioedema. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of angioedema, which include the following:
  • swelling of face, eyes, lips, tongue, larynx and extremities
  • difficulty in swallowing or breathing
  • hoarseness (having difficulty making sounds when trying to speak)

• Low levels of salt (sodium) in your blood. Symptoms of this may include the following:
  • headache
  • difficulty concentrating
  • memory changes
  • confusion
  • weakness and unsteadiness on your feet

• Serotonin syndrome. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of serotonin syndrome, which include the following:
  • agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status
  • problems controlling your movements or muscle twitching
  • fast heartbeat
  • high or low blood pressure
  • sweating or fever
  • nausea or vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • muscle stiffness or tightness
• Abnormal bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of bleeding.
• Suicide risk. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, which may include the following:
  • attempts to commit suicide
  • acting aggressive, being angry or violent
  • thoughts about suicide or dying
  • new or worse depression
• Hypomania (manic episodes). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms:
  • greatly increased energy
  • severe problems sleeping
  • racing thoughts
  • reckless behavior
  • unusually grand ideas
  • excessive happiness or irritability
  • talking more or faster than usual

Brintellix can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Brintellix affects you.

Do not take Brintellix if you:

• are allergic to Brintellix or to any of its ingredients
• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid
• if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days

Serious side effects have been reported with Brintellix. See the “Brintellix Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Brintellix include the following:

• Nausea
• Constipation 
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Sexual Dysfunction

This is not a complete list of Brintellix side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medications that block a protein in the body (CYP2D6) such as bupropion, quinidine (Qualaquin), fluoxetine (Prozac,Sarafem), amitriptyline (Elavil, Amitril, Amitid), and paroxetine (Paxil)
• medications that increase the activity of the CYP pathway such as carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, Carbatrol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), St John's wort, and nimodipine (Nimotop)

This is not a complete list of Brintellix drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Brintellix falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Brintellix crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Brintellix.

Vortioxetine and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some patients adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.

Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice:

• New or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.
• Pay particular attention to such changes when vortioxetine is started or when the dose is changed.

It may take a few weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of vortioxetine.  Continue to take vortioxetine even if you feel well. Do not stop vortioxetine without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping vortioxetine too quickly may cause serious problems.