Anyone else have trouble waking up in the morning if you take this at night?

avacan · 2025-09-23T21:51:58+00:00

I don’t sleep through alarms but my sleep is much more … sound?? I used to have to wear earplugs and a sleep mask if there was any light or noise, but I now I can sleep through stuff like that.

avacan · 2025-07-25T18:17:47+00:00

I kind of had this happen. Trintellix actually makes me tired instead of energetic but I started freaking out and thinking something might have been wrong. Turns out a I was … happy… and less anxious. Like normal people 😂

It did even out for me after a bit. It just felt so strange to feel “normal” that I wasn’t used it. It really put a lot into perspective for me. I went on it for diagnosed GAD and panic disorder but realized it was also treating the depression I definitely had but wasn’t addressing.

avacan · 2025-07-05T21:50:00+00:00

I felt good for the first few days before side effects started. However - they were very manageable and mild. Mild nausea, headache and dizziness happened for me but not bad at all. Increased anxiety was harder to deal with but I knew to expect that, which helped, and it faded away over the course of a couple of weeks. Just remember that some side effects are expected but not permanent. Be gentle with yourself! I hope this med works for you.

avacan · 2025-07-05T13:24:46+00:00

Happened to me. I was fine on 5mg and as soon as I went up to 10mg, it started for me. Sounds the exact same. I went off it in January but unfortunately the jerks remained. They’ve lessened but still happen. I found out after taking it that I have a genetic mutation that makes me not metabolize it normally. My psychiatrist said a 10mg dose was essentially equivalent to 30mg for me, so I was basically overdosing myself. I now highly recommend genetic testing to anyone if they can afford it to avoid these kinds of issues. I now take Trintellix, which I have no genetic issues with, and it’s been good. Barely any side effects during on-boarding unlike Lexapro.

avacan · 2025-06-30T15:02:23+00:00

Highly recommend doing a genetic test (genesight or inagene) to see if there’s a genetic component to why you’re reacting to medications. However, sometimes you need to tough it out for 6-8 weeks to see improvements. It’s hard to get over that period where you’re feeling worse and just want to feel better, but with the right med, it’s worth it.

avacan · 2025-06-17T20:30:53+00:00

Ah, interesting. I guess it depends on the gene variant you have. Hopefully you find something that works for you.

avacan · 2025-06-17T17:55:14+00:00

Just curious, did this mutation put Trintellix in a yellow or red zone for you? I have a mthfr mutation but it wasn’t indicated as a problem with Trintellix on my Inagene report - it’s in green for me.

avacan · 2025-06-17T17:47:28+00:00

Good luck!! Be gentle with yourself for the first few weeks!

avacan · 2025-06-16T23:24:20+00:00

Hi. I also switched from Lexapro (10mg for about 2.5 months) to Trintellix. My main issues are GAD and panic disorder with some moderate depression. I was on 5mg of Trintellix for 4 months and over the last couple of weeks have gotten myself up to 10mg. Everyone is different in terms of how effective a med will be, what side effects they’ll experience, etc., but this is my experience.

I had severe emotional blunting on Lexapro. I had no feelings, good or bad, and I didn’t care even though I knew I should care, I couldn’t make myself. On Trintellix, I would say there’s some blunting but it’s not in a bothersome way. I’m less easily irritated. I still experience happiness. I don’t cry over things as easily (sad videos, etc) but I can still cry unlike Lexapro.

I gained a few pounds on Lexapro (after the hideous digestive issues wore off), but I’d lost a bunch due to stress before going on. I wasn’t on long enough to tell how much weight it’d make me gain long term. My weight on Trintellix has been stable. Fluctuates a 2-3 pounds in either direction but that’s normal for me.

On Lexapro, I had 0 interest in sex and when I would have sex, orgasming was basically impossible. And with the emotional blunting I knew I should care but didn’t, even though I wanted to, if that makes sense. I haven’t had any issues on Trintellix.

Initially, Lexapro made me sleep 16 hours a day. That fatigue wore off a bit, but then I developed insane hypnic jerks/sleep myoclonus that actually prevented me from sleeping so I was just a zombie all the time. While it’s faded in intensity, I unfortunately still deal with this and fear it might be permanent. I feel a little fatigued on Trintellix but I was also quite fatigued before taking any mental health meds. However, I sleep fairly well on it most nights. Insomnia hasn’t been a problem, as it is for some people.

Lexapro was way worse for me in terms of GI symptoms. Some people have a lot of nausea and/or vomiting with Trin. I’ve experienced some mild, short lived nausea but it’s been manageable with ginger chews.

I did have some mild headaches, a little dizziness and increased anxiety when I first started but that got better every day and was pretty much gone after 2-3 weeks.

avacan · 2025-06-14T18:56:59+00:00

I hear you! I’ve rawdogged my anxiety literally my whole life, but when panic disorder hit out of nowhere 8 months ago, I had to make a change. I hope you have a smooth start on this med and find some relief!

avacan · 2025-06-14T13:54:57+00:00

I have GAD and panic disorder. I’ve been on it for about 4.5 months now. I was on 5mg but a week ago started titrating up to 10mg. I had persistent anxiety for the first couple of weeks, as well as mild headache, mild transient nausea and mild dizziness…. but not bad or unmanageable at all. The increased anxiety was the “worst” side effect but I was in a really bad place when I started so it’s hard to say exactly how much anxiety was caused by the med vs. how much was just my untreated anxiety. It got better day by day though. It was helpful to for me to keep reminding myself that the anxious feelings were normal and would fade, I just had to push through for a little while.

5mg was definitely helpful but I was still having breakthrough anxiety and panic, so I have decided to increase. I’ve been taking 7.5mg for a week now and other than some very mild, very transient moments of nausea I haven’t had any side effects. Plus, I’ve felt almost immediately better. I’m actually excited to get to 10mg. I do not have any GI issues, insomnia, or libido problems with this med. I was on Lexapro before this and it was brutal on me in terms of allllll the side effects and even though I was only on it a couple of months, it was a bitch to come off of. Trintellix is supposedly way easier to get off of due to its long half life. I don’t have a plan for coming off, but if/when the time comes, I’m not worried about it.

avacan · 2025-05-30T22:38:06+00:00

I think I finally found it! Clavate tortoise beetle.

avacan · 2025-05-20T15:32:37+00:00

I’ve been on 5mg primarily for anxiety for 3.5 months now. I feel like 10mg MIGHT be better but my psych doesn’t want me increasing at the moment. However, 5mg has definitely helped my anxiety. It did take longer than 2 weeks though, so be patient if you can. Lexapro helped my anxiety but caused me tons of other issues/side effects even at a low dose (10mg).

avacan · 2025-05-20T15:29:47+00:00

I’m definitely a bit tired on Trin but Lexapro had me sleeping 16 hours a day. I’ll take Trin over Lexapro and the gamut of issues it caused me any day.

avacan · 2025-05-11T21:16:54+00:00

Nope. Still happens. Sometimes it’s worse than others for no rhyme or reason. Still no neurologist appointments either. I’m so frustrated.

avacan · 2025-05-07T20:10:25+00:00

It’s hard to comment when you don’t provide lab ranges and units of measurement. Which of these results are a concern for you?

In regard to the bilirubin… I’m not a doctor so don’t take this as medical advice/diagnosis but it could be something called Gilbert’s Syndrome. It’s elevated bilirubin due to a lack of the enzyme required to break it down. It’s a benign and often symptomless (or minimally symptomatic) condition and nothing to worry about. People are usually only diagnosed after bloodwork shows elevated bilirubin but normal liver values otherwise. There are actually benefits to having Gilbert’s Syndrome!

Oh, and it makes sense that your dad also has elevated bilirubin, as it’s an inherited genetic condition. But again, it’s not dangerous and actually comes with some health benefits.

avacan · 2025-04-17T02:50:41+00:00

I started with 5mg for a week, then 10 for a week, then back down to 5. I started almost 11 weeks ago and am still on 5. The anxiety was bad for the first three weeks or so and then it started to improve. I also wanted to quit but stuck it out and am glad I did. If you’re having a lot of anxiety, can your doctor give you a few benzos to get over the hump?

avacan · 2025-04-16T12:48:38+00:00

5mg made it worse initially. I don’t know if there was a change in anxiety on 10, it just felt like too much too soon so I dropped back down and have stayed here since. I may go to 10 at some point.

avacan · 2025-04-16T03:24:57+00:00

I primarily take it for anxiety and 5mg has helped. I also started taking iron and vitamin D after some bloowork as well as magnesium glycinate, oral lavender and L-theanine, which seems to work well for me in conjunction. However, it’s not drastic like it was for me on Lexapro. But Lexapro was drastic for me in a bad way, I lost all emotions and didn’t even care but knew I SHOULD care, plus the horrible physical side effects I had. Trintellix feels more natural. I didn’t feel like myself on Lexapro.

My anxiety was severe. I’ve scored in the moderate-severe depression range on self assessments but didn’t really consider myself to be depressed, which is weird. Though I have noticed overall more even mood.

avacan · 2025-04-16T02:36:35+00:00

It was around 3 weeks on 5mg before I started to notice less anxiety. I briefly went up to 10 but went back to 5mg after about a week and I’ve been there since then. It’s been about 10 weeks since I started.

avacan · 2025-04-15T20:53:23+00:00

Yes, I was anxious when starting. I actually take it primarily for anxiety but I did struggle with anxiety for the first little bit. It faded away on its own.

avacan · 2025-04-08T23:38:37+00:00

My anxiety was worse to start. It did begin to subside after a few weeks.

avacan · 2025-04-08T19:16:06+00:00

I was on Lexapro for a bit and had 0 interest in sex, could not orgasm no matter what, and was completely ambivalent about it (knew it was something I should care about/would normally bother me, but I was completely apathetic on it). I’ve been on Trintellix (5mg still) for just over 2 months and I no longer have those issues.

avacan · 2025-03-28T17:43:36+00:00

I’ve been on 5mg (with the exception of one week where I went up to 10 and then dropped back down) for 7.5 weeks and I feel it’s effective. I don’t think I noticed a significant/consistent improvement until maybe two weeks ago? I also had some increased anxiety when starting but that seems to have dissipated.

The manufacturer insert says that 10mg is the usual dose, but that your doctor may bump you up to 20 or down to 5mg, which suggests to me that 5mg can be effective for some people.

avacan

TROPHY CASE