• Trintellix may be taken either in the morning or at night.
• However, if you find Trintellix makes you restless, energized, or interferes with your sleep when you take it at night, try taking it in the morning instead.

​Trintellix (vortioxetine) is an antidepressant that may be used to treat the symptoms of major depressive disorder. Trintellix was previously called Brintellix but the name was changed in 2016 after confusion in the marketplace between Brintellix and another medicine.

Trintellix only needs to be taken once a day. You can choose whether you take Trintellix in the morning or at night; however, if you find Trintellix interferes with your sleep or makes you restless or energized, try taking it in the morning.

How does Trintellix work?

Experts aren’t sure exactly how Trintellix works but it is thought to be due to its increasing levels of a neurotransmitter, called serotonin in the brain. It also has effects on other serotonin receptors, such as 5-HT1A (agonist effects) and 5-HT3 (antagonist effects), although experts are not sure if this action contributes to vortioxetine’s antidepressant effect.

Trintellix is different from other antidepressants currently on the market because of its direct effects on various serotonin receptors as well as inhibiting serotonin reuptake. Because it acts as an antagonist/agonist and partial agonist, this is thought to enhance its antidepressant effects and prevent desensitization of the presynaptic neuron. It aims to reduce depressive symptoms and prevent them from returning.

Trintellix is classified as a miscellaneous antidepressant, although some classify it as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and a serotonin receptor modulator.

How is Trintellix given?

The recommended starting dose of Trintellix is 10 mg administered orally once daily without regard to meals. The dosage may be increased to 20 mg/day, as tolerated, however, dosage increases beyond that have not been evaluated in controlled clinical trials.

Dosage decreases down to 5 mg/day may be considered for patients who do not tolerate higher dosages.

Trintellix has a long half-life (approximately 66 hours) and it takes seven to eleven hours to reach maximum vortioxetine concentrations in the blood after a single dose. Once regular dosing is established, blood levels remain relatively constant. It takes approximately two weeks for levels to stabilize in the body.