new medication vortioxetine is anyone in here taking it ?

[Bela64]

Just started taking this new medication and feeling positive that this one is the one that I been looking for 🙏🏽🤞it has being a very long journey I must say 😩 wish me luck everyone 💪🏻

[JP26]

Hi Bela I have started this medication myself around 8 weeks ago, how are you finding the side effects? I am having some stomach issues and constipation as wel as itching but I’m trying to stick with it!Thanks

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

Hi JP ..I’m doing ok just a bit more anxious than usual, but I only have been taking it for 2 weeks.. I also feel a bit sick and dizzy every morning..I started on 5 mg and just started to take 10 mg hope the side effects don’t get any worse.🤞.🙏🏽eight weeks!? Do you start to feel any improvement with mental health? I still feeling not great in fact I think I’m feeling a little worse 😩 what dose are you taking? Please keep me posted..and thank you ...

[JP26 in reply to Bela64]

Hi Bela I have felt an improvement which probably took about 5-6 weeks to notice, I’m not enjoying the side effects though I’m itchy and constipated which isn’t very pleasant and I think it affects my libido too which is getting me down a bit, have you had any of these?

I’ve just upped my dose under doctors orders to 15mg. I think for you 2 weeks is too early and you’ll have to stick with it until at least 6-8 I’d say if you can, I think nausea is a common side effect but I haven’t had that just stomach pain now and then, hang in there!

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

Hi JP so far I haven’t had any those problems that you are having..I just feel very sick and more anxious than usual specially in the mornings ..when did you started to have all those problems..specially the libido? And When did you start the 15 mg ? Please let me know how you getting on ? Is so frustrating all this waiting isn’t?

[JP26 in reply to Bela64]

I’d pretty much say from the start although I’m sure the libido and constipation have worsened since going up to 15mg about two weeks ago. It’s hard to know what effect they are having as every little thing I’m monitoring and putting it down to the medication.

It’s very frustrating and it makes you just question and second guess everything and you don’t know what to do for the best!

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

Yes I understand what you say ..some days I get all those different horrible little feelings ..and I put it down to the medication ..everything is just a nightmare..if don’t my me asking have you tried any others medication before vortioxetine ? Reeding you other post I believe you have tried Claire weekes method!? I have all her books myself and I find it hard to except do way I I’m feeling 😔 have you Reed the book called the power of now -by Eckhart tolle ? Is very good and he explains very well way we are feeling the way we are ..I only just started to listen to the audiobook,i also have the paper version..he has loads of broadcast on YouTube..if you haven’t read it yet it might be worth trying that !? Hey we have to try anything and stay strong 💪🏻We can beat this ..have a lovely day ..

[JP26 in reply to Bela64]

Yes I know what you mean it’s like a hyper self awareness, and every little thing or feeling must be down to the medication which makes it hard to know what is and isn’t a side effect.

I’ve tried venlafaxine for a few years before, not sure it really helped much, that one made me sweat a lot and was difficult to taper off.

I’ve actually got the Claire Weekes books and the power of now too, I understand the concept of it about observing the mind/thoughts it’s just really really hard to do and to just let the thoughts be and watch them without attaching to them, my natural instinct is to fight and resist them.

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

Yes I know this feeling..I’m forever trying to fight it ..and it does makes things worse! at the end of the day I’m exhausted but can’t sleep well because I get so mad at myself self for feeling like this..I also tried venlafaxine but that was not good for me at all 😔 hey let’s hope that vortioxetine will do the job for both of us 🤞sometimes I fell like going out and get super drunk and forget about everything. But I know this would be a big mistake 😡how are you feeling today?

[JP26 in reply to Bela64]

Yes I don’t think getting drunk would help long term maybe just for a short while.

I’m okay today I suppose, been better but been worse it’s more the supposed side effects that’s bothering me more than anything

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

Glad you feeling a little bit better ..try not to think about side effects🌈 easily said than done I know 😔hopefully all the sides effects will goes way soon🤞For constipation try to drink prunes juice and green smoothies first thing in the mornings ..it my helps ..as for libido I’m not sure ! Maybe you can talk to you GP about it !or it might improve once you body adjust to the medication 🤞good luck and please keep me posted...

[JP26 in reply to Bela64]

Yes thanks I’ve been trying to drink more water and prune juice too despite the not so pleasant taste!

Hope you can stick with the medication a bit longer hopefully as I say it takes 4-6 weeks to have an effect so I’m told 👍

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

For sure I’m going to give my best shot !!BTW I’m now starting to have all the others side effects that you mentioned to ad to my existing ones ..😩

[JP26 in reply to Bela64]

No way! Maybe that just shows it’s more a mental thing than anything, now that I’ve said a few different side effects your mind has latched onto that and is now scanning for them, the mind is so creative and destructive like that, I know the more I try to forget about the side effects the more I obsess about them!

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

Yes I agree with that ! every time I Reed the list of sides effects ..I get them all ..decided not to to Reed than ..but is hard not to !! All is just a nightmare ..in need of diazepam today but trying hard not to take than 💪🏻

[Sankissjuice in reply to JP26]

Are you still on venlafaxine? I also used to sweat a lot on it. Was switched off it and all was hell, just got back on venlafaxine 150mg again.

[JP26 in reply to Sankissjuice]

No not anymore, I’m on vortioxetine now, swapped the sweating for itching!

[Bela64 in reply to JP26]

We can’t win whatever we do and that sucks ..I was on mirtazapine I Swapped for the filing tired ,for the feeling sick 🤷‍♀️

[barny1]

Did you carry on with Vortioxetine and did it help? I may go on it eventually.

Currently on Sertraline (zoloft) and Mirtazapine (remeron) for MDD. Took Sertraline on and off for 18 years, always working again after a period of abstinence, but in the last couple of years it has stopped working as normal, I'm on the max dose so no room for improvement. Been given the addition of Mirtazapine, but it only worked for a few months, then gotten to the maximum dose (45mg) and I'm getting palpitations, lightheadedness and chest pain, also feeling agitated/panicky, feel it's the noradrenaline component. I'm trying to withdraw slowly as I've been on it for 18 months, now on 15mg but recently cutting the tablet a bit so about 11 mg. Getting more palpitations and a trembling feeling I hope will wear off.

[Bela64 in reply to barny1]

Hi barny I’m so sorry to hear that you having horrible time .unfortunately Vortioxetine didn’t help me .it made me even worse 😔no any medication help me yet !!!I’m now trying a natural approach to my mental health and see how I get own. Fingers crossed 🤞 I had horrible time getting off mirtazapine ..Omg that was the worse experience not stopping panic attacks and anxiety not to mention on depression..I’m praying for you and hope that vortioxetine will help you .because this illness is horrible and I truly understand what you going trough.. please keep me posted I would like to hear you progress..best wishes. Bela

[barny1 in reply to Bela64]

Hi Bela...thanks for letting me know of your experience with vortioxetine, I'm really sorry it didn't work for you, but they say you have to be patient and try many different antidepressants, there's so many around that there's a good chance one will work for you.

I was lucky that the first one worked for me, but perhaps there are better ones I didn't/don't know about, of course I've had many side-effects, but it was a price worth paying, depression is no way to live. I've found antidepressants don't make you happy, but they allow you to function a little more normally that allow you to make positive changes to your life.

Depression is never cured, you can only hope to relieve it for a time and lessen its impact in future and luckily it's one of the most treatable conditions. I hope you've given each antidepressant enough time to work before having to stop them, you often feel worse before you feel better so hang in there and please don't give up on antidepressants, they're not perfect but it beats feeling constantly miserable and not sleeping well.

I've gone down the route of quitting antidepressants, changing my diet, meditating, finding every alternative there is but in the end my body could not function, that told me my depression is chemical in nature. I truly hope you're successful, there can be a lot to learn about yourself and small gains can add up, also antidepressants work best when you have everything else in place, so it's worth exploring other avenues for sure.

Hope it works, but don't give yourself a hard time and take care of yourself.

[Bela64 in reply to barny1]

Thank you barny .yes I totally agree with you and I do need help..doctor started me on a different medication I need to be strong and take it as prescribed..and hopefully this one is the missing piece of the puzzle that I need ☝️Will keep you up to date with my progress..how are you getting on with the medication? Praying that you doing well 🙏🏽Wish you a really good week ahead..take care of you self. Bela