Brintellix Vortioxetine Hydrobromide

This instruction to the drug is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation for self-treatment. The dosage and duration of treatment should only be prescribed by your doctor.

Brintellix is an antidepressant that is prescribed for the treatment of depressive disorder in adult patients. The active ingredient of the drug is vortioxetine hydrobromide. One tablet contains 10 mg of the active substance.

Pharmacological action

Improvement of the condition in depressive disorder is possible due to the mechanism of direct modulation of receptor activity. The active substance of Brentellix inhibits the serotonin transporter. The efficacy of the drug increases when a larger dose is taken. The 5-20 mg medication has been shown to have an effect on most depressive symptoms on the MADRS scale and anxiety disorders on the HAM-A scale.
Brintellix helps improve the condition of patients diagnosed with a severe course of depression. The medication acts on cognitive function. It normalizes the quality of life. A safe dose of the active ingredient per day is 5-20 mg. There is no drowsiness or insomnia when taking it. After withdrawal, there is no withdrawal syndrome during long-term or short-term use.

The drug has no effect on the metabolism, so the body weight doesn’t change while taking it. It has no effect on the cardiovascular system, heart rate, or blood pressure. Clinical studies have shown no changes in kidney and liver function during drug therapy. The maximum concentration of the substance in the blood is observed 7-10 hours after intake.

Peculiarities of using the drug

When treating patients with suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts, the first effect is observed a few weeks after the start of therapy. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the condition carefully at the beginning of therapy due to the increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Monitor the condition during changes in the amount of medication and immediately inform the physician as soon as changes in behavior appear.

There is a potential risk of seizures in patients with epilepsy or seizures when taking the drug. At the first manifestations of pathology, stop treatment with the drug.
Serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome may occur when taking the drug. The risk of developing a condition that is life-threatening increases with concomitant administration of triptans, MAO inhibitors, antipsychotics, and dopamine antagonists. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome are agitation, hallucinations, up to coma. Tachycardia, impaired coordination of movements, hyperreflexia, gastrointestinal disturbances are possible.

The drug is prescribed with caution in patients with mania. If a manic phase develops, discontinue treatment. When taking any of the serotonergic antidepressants, gynecological bleeding, gastrointestinal hemorrhages, bruising, the purpura may occur. Therefore, the drug should be used with caution to treat patients who simultaneously take anticoagulants and drugs that affect platelets. The drug is contraindicated in patients with blood clotting disorders.

Contraindications, side effects, overdose

The drug shouldn’t be taken if the body is sensitive to the main or additional components. Combinations with MAO or selective MAO-A inhibitors are unacceptable. The drug has an adverse effect on the fetus; therefore, it is contraindicated in pregnancy. It should not be taken during lactation.

When taking it continuously, the following adverse reactions are possible:

– decreased appetite;

– abnormal dreams;

– bruxism;

– nausea, gastrointestinal disorders;

– tooth, sweating.

When taking 40-75 mg of the drug, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, itching, drowsiness occurs. Overdose is treated symptomatically. It’s recommended to carry out therapy in a medical facility, seek help with the first symptoms.

How to take the drug?

Taking Hydrobromide isn’t tied to the dietary regime. The medicine is taken orally. Therapy begins with a dose of 10 mg per day. If the patient tolerates the drug well, taking into account its effect on the body and the manifestation of depression, the dose can be increased to 20 mg or reduced to 5 mg.

If symptoms of depression stop occurring, treatment is continued for 6 months to strengthen the effect and exclude a relapse. It is possible to stop treatment immediately without reducing the dose because the drug doesn’t cause withdrawal syndrome.

Elderly patients do not need to reduce the dose. There is no data on the effect of the antidepressant on children, so treatment with the drug is allowed from 18 years old.

When combined with CYP2D6 inhibitors: bupropion, quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, Brintellix dose should be reduced. The dose of the drug is adjusted if the patient takes rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin. Keep out of reach of children.