Key takeaways:
Trintellix (vortioxetine) is an oral medication that treats depression in adults. It’s available in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets.
The recommended Trintellix dosage is 10 mg by mouth once daily. If needed, your prescriber may increase your dosage up to a maximum of 20 mg daily.
There are many ways to save on Trintellix. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you get Trintellix for as little as $10 per 30- or 90-day prescription. A patient assistance program is also available.
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If you’re living with depression, finding the right medication and dosage to manage your symptoms can make all the difference. Trintellix (vortioxetine) is an antidepressant option for adults. But what doses are available, and what’s the best way to take it? Here, we’ll review the recommended Trintellix dosages so you can have an idea about what to expect. But keep in mind that it’s best to follow your prescriber’s directions, even if they differ from what’s described below.
What’s the typical Trintellix dosage for adults?
Trintellix is FDA approved to treat adults living with depression. It comes in 5 mg (pink), 10 mg (yellow), and 20 mg (red) tablets.
The recommended starting dose of Trillentix is 10 mg by mouth once daily. Your prescriber may increase your dosage up to a maximum of 20 mg daily if needed. They may also lower your dose to 5 mg daily if you’re unable to tolerate the 10 mg dose due to side effects.
You can take Trintellix with or without food. But taking it with food may help lessen nausea, a common Trintellix side effect. It’s recommended to take Trintellix at around the same time every day for the best results.
Are there any Trintellix dosage adjustments for medical conditions or drug interactions?
Many medications require a change in dose if you have kidney or liver problems. But Trintellix isn’t affected by these conditions. However, you may need a different Trintellix dosage if you’re taking a medication that interacts with it.
Some medications can increase Trintellix levels in the body. A lower maximum Trintellix dosage of 10 mg daily is recommended if you take one of these medications. If you’re already taking Trintellix when you start one of these medications, your prescriber will likely reduce your Trintellix dosage by half. Examples include common antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) and fluoxetine (Prozac). It also includes terbinafine (Lamisil) and quinidine.
Other medications have the opposite effect — they can decrease Trintellix levels in the body if they’re combined. You may need a higher Trintellix dosage if you take it along with one of these medications. But the Trintellix dosage shouldn’t go higher than 3 times the original dose. If you stop taking the interacting medication, your Trintellix dosage should be lowered within 14 days. Examples include rifampin (Rafadin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenytoin (Dilantin).
Keep in mind: You shouldn’t make changes to your Trintellix dosage on your own. Instead, be sure to discuss your current medication list with your prescriber or pharmacist to make sure there aren’t any interactions with Trintellix. And get your prescriber’s OK before making any changes to the medications you take, in case they may affect Trintellix.
What happens if you miss a dose of Trintellix?
If you miss a dose of Trintellix by mistake, it’s not likely to cause an issue. Just take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed — don’t take 2 doses at once.
If you’re taking 15 mg or more of Trintellix daily and you miss several doses in a row, you may notice withdrawal effects, such as a headache or tense muscles. You may also notice a return of your depression symptoms. This may be uncomfortable, but it’s not likely to be dangerous. Talk to your prescriber about how to get back on track if you’ve missed several doses of Trintellix in a row.
If you’re having trouble remembering to take Trintellix every day, consider using a pill box, medication reminder app, or daily alarm to help.
What should you do if you take too much Trintellix?
As with a missed dose, if you take an extra dose of Trintellix by mistake, it’s not likely to cause a serious problem. You may notice more side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, or diarrhea. Other possible symptoms include itching, fatigue, and red, flushed skin.
But large amounts of Trintellix can be more serious. Too much Trintellix may lead to seizures and/or serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome happens when serotonin levels in the body are too high. Symptoms include sweating, confusion, and muscle spasms.
Trintellix and weight changes: Here, we take a deep dive into whether Trintellix (vortioxetine) causes weight gain.
How to take Trintellix: Taking the right Trintellix dose can help manage or prevent some side effects. This dosage guide explains typical dosages and when a dose adjustment might be needed.
Trintellix side effects: Read about possible Trintellix side effects to watch for and how to manage them if they occur.
If you or a loved one takes more Trintellix than prescribed, contact your prescriber or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If you have any symptoms that seem severe or life-threatening, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.
How to save on Trintellix
There are ways to save on Trintellix, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for a 30- or 90-day supply of Trintellix using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Trintellix’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
Frequently asked questions
No, Trintellix isn’t a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Rather, it’s considered an atypical antidepressant. Trintellix and SSRIs both increase serotonin levels to help treat depression. But Trintellix also acts on serotonin receptors (binding sites), while SSRIs do not.
Weight gain isn’t common with Trintellix, but it can happen for some people — especially with long-term use. Overall, Trintellix is typically considered a weight-neutral antidepressant. This means it’s less likely to cause weight gain than some other antidepressants. If you’re concerned about weight gain while taking Trintellix, talk to your healthcare team for guidance. They can help determine the cause and the best steps to manage it based on your personal history.
In clinical studies, Trintellix typically started working after 2 weeks of treatment and reached its full effect after at least 4 weeks. This timeline is common with most antidepressant medications. But keep in mind that it can vary from person to person. It’s also helpful to know that side effects tend to start right away, then improve over time. So it can take a month or so to truly tell how Trintellix is working for you. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact your healthcare team if any unpleasant or concerning side effects occur.
No, Trintellix isn’t a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Rather, it’s considered an atypical antidepressant. Trintellix and SSRIs both increase serotonin levels to help treat depression. But Trintellix also acts on serotonin receptors (binding sites), while SSRIs do not.
Weight gain isn’t common with Trintellix, but it can happen for some people — especially with long-term use. Overall, Trintellix is typically considered a weight-neutral antidepressant. This means it’s less likely to cause weight gain than some other antidepressants. If you’re concerned about weight gain while taking Trintellix, talk to your healthcare team for guidance. They can help determine the cause and the best steps to manage it based on your personal history.
In clinical studies, Trintellix typically started working after 2 weeks of treatment and reached its full effect after at least 4 weeks. This timeline is common with most antidepressant medications. But keep in mind that it can vary from person to person. It’s also helpful to know that side effects tend to start right away, then improve over time. So it can take a month or so to truly tell how Trintellix is working for you. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact your healthcare team if any unpleasant or concerning side effects occur.
The bottom line
Trintellix (vortioxetine) is an oral medication that treats depression in adults. The recommended Trintellix dosage starts at 10 mg by mouth once daily. If you can’t tolerate a 10 mg dose, your prescriber may lower it to 5 mg daily. And if 10 mg isn’t helping your symptoms, your prescriber may raise your Trintellix dosage up to a maximum of 20 mg daily.
If you’re taking medications that interact with Trintellix, your prescriber may need to raise or lower your Trintellix dosage to keep your levels where they should be. Make sure to review your medication list with your healthcare team and let them know about any changes before and while taking Trintellix.
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References
Chen, G., et al. (2017). Vortioxetine: Clinical pharmacokinetics and drug interactions. Clinical Pharmacokinetics.
Daneshmend, A., et al. (2024). Analytically confirmed intentional overdose of the antidepressant vortioxetine. Journal of Medical Toxicology.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Vortioxetine.
Remedyrepack. (2025). Trintellix - vortioxetine tablet, film coated [package insert].
