How to Stop Trintellix

Co-authored by Kirsten Thompson, MD

Last Updated: December 17, 2022 References

If you’re dealing with depression, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medication like Trintellix to help treat and manage your symptoms. If you and your doctor decide that this isn't the right medication for you, you may need to stop taking it. However, if you abruptly stop taking your meds, you could have some severe side effects or a relapse of your depression symptoms. That doesn’t mean you can’t stop taking Trintellix, but you do need to work with your doctor and follow their instructions. There's no standard dosage schedule to stop taking this medication, so get advice from your doctor about how to lower your dosage safely to help manage and minimize the side effects as you wean yourself off of it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Tapering off of Trintellix

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Talk to your doctor if you want to stop Trintellix. Abruptly stopping Trintellix can lead to serious side effects. If you do want to stop taking it, talk to your doctor, and work with them to develop a strategy to help you successfully (and with minimal side effects) get off of the antidepressant.^{[1]
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- Don’t stop taking Trintellix even when you feel better, too. You could have a relapse in your symptoms if you miss a dose.
- It’s also important that you notify your doctor if you plan to become pregnant. They may change your prescription or your dose to help reduce any negative side effects and make sure your pregnancy isn’t affected.^{[3]
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Stick to the tapering schedule your doctor recommends. Depending on how long you’ve been taking Trintellix and what your current dose is, your doctor will come up with a schedule to gradually reduce how much of the antidepressant you take over time. Follow the schedule your doctor gives you to minimize side effects and work to get off of the drug.^{[4]
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- For instance, if you take 20 mg of Trintellix a day, your doctor may recommend that you take 15 mg for a month, and then 10 mg for a month, and so on to gradually reduce your dose.
- Keep taking the reduced dose for at least 4 weeks to allow your body to adjust to it before you reduce your dose again.^{[6]
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Use a pill cutter to create smaller-dose pills. If your doctor says it’s okay, you can start gradually reducing your dose of Trintellix. A pill cutter is a handy tool that you can use to cut your pills into smaller portions so you can take a lower dose.^{[7]
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- For instance, if you have pills that are 10 mg, you can cut them in half with a pill cutter if you need to take 5 mg.
- Your doctor may be able to prescribe lower doses, but you may sometimes need to cut your medication to fit an exact dosage.
4
Continue tapering off until you’re no longer taking Trintellix. Keep taking the reduced dose of your medication and follow your taper schedule. Eventually, you’ll get down to a dose as low as 1 or 2 mg for a time. If your doctor says it’s safe, you can then stop taking the medication altogether.^{[8]
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- Make sure you check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe before you stop taking Trintellix.
- Keep in mind that you still may have some side effects when you do actually stop taking the Trintellix. But by gradually reducing your dose, they may be less severe.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dealing with Side Effects

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Keep taking your Trintellix as you taper off your dose. Avoid abruptly stopping your medication. Stopping can result in severe side effects and relapse of your depression or psychiatric symptoms. Take your recommended dose to help minimize your symptoms and side effects.^{[9]
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- Some of these side effects might include irritability, nausea, dizziness, and nightmares, among others.^{[10]
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Take your Trintellix as prescribed every day to help reduce your side effects and prevent a relapse of your symptoms. If you do miss a dose, don’t take twice the amount the next day to try to make up for it or it could cause unpleasant side effects. Instead, just try to take your Trintellix as soon as you can.^{[11]
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Make sure you attend every follow-up visit your doctor schedules after you start taking Trintellix. Talk to them about any side effects you’re experiencing. If they’re too severe, your doctor can work to come up with a solution to help minimize them.
If you’re having bad symptoms or side effects, your doctor may prescribe you a different medication on a short-term basis to help ease your symptoms. Take the medication as it’s prescribed and you can stop taking it when your doctor says it’s okay.^{[12]
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Eat well and get regular exercise to take care of your body. Focus on eating healthy foods to give your body the nutrition that it needs. Try to exercise at least 3 times a week to help boost your natural serotonin levels as you come off of your antidepressant medication.^{[13]
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- Choose nutritious foods such as whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats and avoid junk food or processed food.
- Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night so you’re well-rested as well.
Antidepressants like Trintellix can become less effective if you drink alcohol or use drugs while you’re taking them, which can make your condition worse. They can also negatively react with your medication and make you feel more depressed or anxious.^{[14]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

When to Seek Medical Attention

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Get emergency treatment if you show signs of serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs when you take antidepressants like Trintellix with other medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. It causes high levels of serotonin to accumulate in your body.^{[15]
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Go to source} If you show any of the following symptoms, see a doctor right away:^{[16]
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- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Coma or changes in your mental status
- Muscle twitching or muscle control problems
- Stiffness or tightness
- Rapid heartbeat
- High or low blood pressure
- Sweating or fever
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Sometimes antidepressants like Trintellix can increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some folks. If you do start to feel like you might want to hurt yourself, it could be a side effect of the medication. Talk to your doctor or seek medical help right away.
3
Talk to your doctor if you notice changes in your vision. Though it’s less common, Trintellix can cause visual problems such as eye pain, changes in your vision, and swelling or redness in or around your eye. Talk to your doctor or undergo an eye exam to see if it’s being caused by the medication.^{[17]
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- If it’s too severe, your doctor may switch you to a different antidepressant.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I stop taking Trintellix cold turkey?

Kirsten Thompson, MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Kirsten Thompson is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Clinical Instructor at UCLA, and the Founder of Remedy Psychiatry. She specializes in helping patients with mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum depression. Dr. Thompson holds a BS in Operations Research Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MD from The State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine.

Kirsten Thompson, MD

Board Certified Psychiatrist

Expert Answer

That's not a good idea. Typically, getting off mental health-related medications should be a gradual and controlled process that's overseen by your provider.

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Tips

If you’re feeling some unpleasant side effects, try talking to your doctor about it before you choose to stop taking Trintellix. They may be able to help you manage your symptoms.

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Warnings

Don’t take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI), such as the antibiotic linezolid, while you’re taking Trintellix. It could cause serious adverse reactions such as very high blood pressure, chest pains, and severe headache.

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